Latest / Mount Eaton Church / Titus - Doctrine & Devotion - Chapter 1

Transcript

Titus - Doctrine & Devotion - Chapter 1 · Mount Eaton Church

0:09
So before we get started, we are going to do
0:12
our doctrinal statement, but today we're actually
0:15
going to do the Nassian Creed, an amazing creed.
0:19
I love this creed. So we're going to read it
0:21
together and then I'm going to pray and then
0:22
we're going to get into the word. You guys ready?
0:24
The Nassian Creed. We believe in one God, the
0:28
Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth,
0:32
of all that is seen and unseen. We believe in
0:37
one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God,
0:41
eternally begotten of the Father, God from God,
0:45
light from a light, true God from true God, begotten,
0:50
not made, of one being with the Father. Through
0:55
him all things were made. For us and for our
0:59
salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate
1:04
of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became
1:08
truly human. For our sake he was crucified under
1:13
Pontius Pilate. He suffered death and was buried.
1:17
On the third day he rose again in accordance
1:20
with the scriptures. He ascended into heaven
1:24
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
1:27
He will come again in glory to judge the living
1:31
and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
1:35
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the
1:38
giver of life. who proceeds from the Father and
1:41
the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped
1:46
and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.
1:50
We believe in one holy Christian church. We acknowledge
1:54
one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look
1:58
for the resurrection of the dead and the life
2:01
of the world to come. Amen. What an amazing...
2:06
creed, true God from true God. Do you get that?
2:11
That Christ is God. And it's out of all of the
2:16
creeds, this is probably my favorite. The language
2:20
is so clear. So let's pray. Father, I want to
2:23
thank you so much that we can come before you,
2:25
that your word is true. That, Lord, you are working
2:29
in us and conforming us and molding us into the
2:32
image of your Son. That you use all things for
2:34
your purpose and your glory to bring about the...
2:38
transformation of our lives as you sanctify our
2:41
lives and sanctify us in your word. Lord, I thank
2:45
you that your word is living and active, sharper
2:47
than a two -edged sword, divides soul and spirit,
2:49
bone and marrow, and judges the thoughts and
2:51
intents of our heart. I pray that we learn as
2:54
men of God and women of God that we must be obedient,
2:56
willing to honor and glorify you in all things,
2:59
that we would love you, love your word, love
3:01
your ways, and love your things, that you'd be
3:03
high and lifted up because you are the God of
3:05
our lives. In Jesus' name, amen. So I'm going
3:09
to, this is about Titus. We are now on a journey
3:11
with Titus. I will tell you, the more I'm reading
3:14
and doing this book, this letter, it's, oh. So
3:16
good. So first thing I'm going to do is I'm going
3:19
to go through Titus' ministry history. Then we're
3:21
going to read 2 Corinthians, some scriptures
3:24
there to clarify Titus' character. And then we're
3:28
going to get into Titus chapter 1. And I think
3:31
it's important so you understand why Paul or
3:34
why God has assigned to Titus the responsibility
3:38
to oversee the Cretan church or the church in
3:42
Crete. Let's go. Timothy's ministry history.
3:46
First, Paul's first missionary journey. Paul
3:49
was present at Titus' conversion, Titus 1 -4.
3:54
Titus went with Paul and Barnabas on Paul's second
3:58
visit to Jerusalem, to the church there, the
4:01
council, Acts 15, and is also mentioned in Galatians
4:05
2, verses 1 -3. And what you'll see is when they
4:07
go to... when they go to the church in Jerusalem
4:11
in Acts 15, they're really dealing with the issue
4:13
of circumcision for the Gentiles. And so Paul
4:17
praises God and is so thankful that he didn't
4:22
have to rebuke the leaders at the church there
4:26
because they did not force Titus or anyone else,
4:30
any other Gentiles, to receive circumcision.
4:33
And then third missionary journey. There may
4:35
be some mention of second missionary journey,
4:38
but it's really not really clear in the scripture.
4:41
So I don't want to get into possibilities. These
4:44
are clear mentions of Titus being present in
4:48
missionary journeys. Paul's third missionary
4:50
journey. Titus is mentioned to be with Paul in
4:53
Ephesus, was charged to deliver the Corinthian
4:57
church his first letter and to assess the condition
5:01
of the church. Titus returned to Paul in Philippi.
5:06
That's in 2 Corinthians 7, 6 -7 and Acts 20,
5:11
1 -3. Titus willingly volunteers to go back to
5:16
Corinth to deliver Paul's second letter and was
5:20
given the stewardship of collecting the monies
5:23
they vowed to give to the Jerusalem church. And
5:25
that's 2 Corinthians 8, 16 through 17. So what
5:29
happens is the Corinthian church was still struggling.
5:32
Paul felt really compelled to send them a letter,
5:35
a second letter. What's interesting is Titus
5:41
willingly volunteers to take this letter to them.
5:45
He does it of his own accord. And I love what
5:48
Paul says about him. And we're going to read
5:50
that. And so he does. And he's there to collect
5:53
the money so that they can take it to the Jerusalem
5:55
church who was really suffering financially.
5:59
All right. And that's 2 Corinthians chapter 8,
6:01
16 through 17. Fourth missionary journey. Paul's
6:05
fourth missionary journey. Paul left Titus as
6:08
the overseer of the Crete church to... Put what
6:12
remained in order and appoint elders in every
6:15
town, Titus 1 .5. So on his fourth missionary
6:19
journey, as he is with him, Paul tells Titus,
6:24
you need to go there and finish what was started.
6:27
And so he sends him. After finishing his work
6:30
in Crete, Titus... Titus meets Paul at Nicopolis.
6:36
And you'll see that in Titus 3 verse 12. And
6:40
then from there, Paul sends Titus to Dalmatia,
6:43
which is, I think it's 1 Timothy chapter 4 verse
6:47
10. If it's not 1 Timothy, it's 2 Timothy. I
6:50
know it's chapter 4 verse 10. I forgot the number
6:52
there. And off the top of my head, I can't, I
6:54
didn't memorize that part. So that's, Titus'
6:59
ministry is quite busy. And there's some things
7:02
I want you to notice about Titus during his time.
7:07
So for you guys who are history buffs, I'm sure
7:09
that sounded fun, right? There's a reason why
7:14
Paul has this kind of confidence in Titus. Titus
7:18
was with Paul from the very beginning. Paul sees
7:21
him come to Christ. He then goes with Paul and
7:25
Barnabas to Jerusalem as a witness, an example
7:28
of why put a burden on the Gentiles that wasn't
7:30
theirs to take. And then he sticks with Paul
7:33
for almost most of his missionary journeys. And
7:37
he's committed to the gospel. And we're going
7:41
to see that. 2 Corinthians chapter 2. If you
7:43
would turn there, please. 2 Corinthians chapter
7:46
2. I'm going to read these verses and I'll give
7:49
you the verses you can follow. 2 Corinthians
7:51
chapter 2, verse 12 and 13. When I came to Troas
7:57
to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a
8:01
door was open for me in the Lord, my spirit was
8:04
not at rest because I did not find my brother
8:07
Titus there. So I took leave of them and went
8:11
on to Macedonia. So I want you to notice that.
8:14
So here, Paul is going to, came to Troas to preach
8:22
the gospel there. And the Lord opened a door
8:24
for him. This was an opportunity for him to do,
8:28
to go. And it doesn't happen. Paul's like, Titus
8:33
isn't here, so I just don't feel comfortable.
8:35
And so he doesn't. Isn't that interesting? So
8:39
how many times have we said, well, the Lord's
8:41
opened the door. I think I should go. Right?
8:44
Well, here's one of those moments where he wants
8:47
a confidant. He wants Titus there. And he's like,
8:50
nah, this is something I'm not comfortable with.
8:52
I need to kind of wait. This may hit home for
8:55
a couple of you guys. But then there's that moment
8:58
in chapter 7. Turn there. Verse 5 through 9.
9:02
This is when you know it's time. This is when
9:04
Paul knew. Alright, my dude. Here we go. Chapter
9:09
9. Chapter 7, verse 5. Even when we came into
9:14
Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were
9:17
afflicted at every turn, fighting without and
9:22
fear within. But God, who comforts the downcast,
9:26
comforted us by the coming of Titus. It's like
9:31
God has Titus show up exactly when it's necessary.
9:36
exactly when it's necessary. And not only by
9:39
his coming, but also by the comfort with which
9:44
he was comforted by you. So not only did Titus
9:48
come as a comfort to them, but he was comforted
9:51
by them, by the Corinthians. And he's coming
9:55
to Paul as a comfort because of what had happened
9:59
with the Corinthians. He, as he told us, of your
10:03
longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so
10:08
that I rejoice still more. In other words, Paul's
10:15
comfort not only in seeing his brother Titus,
10:17
but in the fact of the news that the Corinthian
10:20
church was doing well. For even if I made you
10:24
grieve with my letter, I do not regret it. Though
10:28
I did regret it, for I see that the letter grieved
10:31
you. And this is what he means. He didn't regret
10:34
writing the letter. He regretted the fact that
10:37
they were hurting because he rebuked them for
10:39
their sin. But the good news is, the reason why
10:43
he's rejoicing is, even though he was grieved
10:46
because of their sin and his rebuke was necessary,
10:50
he is rejoicing in their repentance. Look what
10:53
it says in verse 9. As it is, I rejoice, not
10:59
because you were grieved, but because you were
11:02
grieved into repenting. Like that's the key.
11:06
He has a lot to rejoice about. I wrote you the
11:09
letter and it was necessary, but it moved me.
11:12
I felt so terrible that I had to rebuke you.
11:16
But praise God it works because you repented
11:18
of your sin. That's what he's saying here. For
11:21
you felt a godly grief so that you suffered no
11:24
loss through us. In other words, even though
11:27
this brought you grief, you suffered no loss
11:31
on behalf of my rebuke. You didn't lose anybody.
11:34
Nobody left. They were committed to each other.
11:37
Verse 13 through 16. Therefore, we are comforted.
11:43
And beside our own comfort, we rejoice still
11:46
more at the joy of Titus. Because his spirit
11:50
has been refreshed by all of you or by you all.
11:55
For whatever boasts I made to him about you,
12:00
I was not put to shame. But just as everything
12:05
we've said to you was true, so also are boasting
12:10
before Titus has proved to be true. Look what
12:14
it says. And his affliction for you is... is
12:18
even greater, or sorry, affection. And his affection
12:21
for you is even greater as he remembers the obedience
12:25
of you all. You have received him with fear and
12:29
trembling. I rejoice because I have complete
12:32
confidence in you. What an amazing man, Titus.
12:37
That this is the kind of man that Paul can absolutely
12:41
depend on to get the job done. It's an amazing
12:44
thing. Chapter 8, verse 6 and 7. accordingly
12:47
we urge Titus that as he had started so he should
12:54
complete among you this act of grace but as you
12:58
excel in everything In faith, in speech, in knowledge,
13:04
in all eagerness, and in our love for you, see
13:08
that you excel in this act of grace also. So
13:12
what Titus is coming to give you, you excel in
13:15
that too. Because you have excelled in everything
13:17
that I have challenged you to do. When you read
13:22
these letters of Corinth, you think that this
13:24
church has no hope. But here is this church that
13:28
is predominantly Greek. predominantly idolaters,
13:32
have converted to Christ and Paul challenges
13:35
them in such a way that they repent. Wow, what
13:39
an amazing thing. Now, verse 16 through 24 of
13:43
chapter 8. But thanks be to God who put it into
13:47
the heart of Titus, the same earnest care I have
13:52
for you. Do you see the character of Titus? Titus...
13:55
loved the church of Corinth in the same way that
13:59
Paul does. They were like -minded, like -hearted.
14:03
They wanted the same things. For he not only
14:07
accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest,
14:12
he is going to you of his own accord. Now, I
14:15
want you to see that. This is what Paul says.
14:18
When we presented this appeal to him, he was
14:21
like, I will do it. Why? Because Titus is being
14:25
Titus. Can we say that about ourselves? Can someone
14:30
say to you, when a task is given to you by God
14:33
or by church leadership or any task that you're
14:37
given, and you go, yeah, I'm all about that.
14:40
I'll do it. And they go, you see that? That's
14:43
exactly why I asked them, because they're just
14:45
being themselves. They're just being as God intended
14:47
them to be. That's the kind of men and women
14:50
we should be. I want God to be able to say of
14:52
me, that's just Joe being Joe. Because that's
14:56
the way I've created him to be. That's what I'm
14:58
molding him to be. That's what I want him to
14:59
be. That really popped out at me. Now, verse
15:03
18. With him, we are sending the brother who
15:07
is famous among all the churches for his preaching
15:10
of the gospel. Now, I know. I'm like, see that?
15:14
There goes another. Got to be a Billy Graham.
15:17
Not really. I'm just joking. But. You don't ever
15:21
know this guy's name. You ever notice that Paul
15:24
never mentions this guy's name? We just know
15:27
he's famous among the churches because the dude
15:29
can preach, but he never mentions him because
15:32
good preaching doesn't produce healthy churches.
15:35
Godly shepherding produces healthy churches.
15:38
God's word produces healthy churches. Preaching
15:40
the full counsel of God's word, expository preaching
15:43
produces healthy churches. A willingness to work
15:47
amongst each other, even dealing with each other,
15:49
produces healthy churches. Titus is all about
15:51
that. Titus gets it. He never mentions this guy.
15:54
It's very interesting. And not only that, but
15:58
he has been appointed by the churches to travel
16:00
with us as we carry out this act of grace that
16:04
is being ministered by us for the glory of the
16:08
Lord himself to show our goodwill. So this guy's
16:13
been assigned by the church to go with Paul.
16:16
Like this guy could preach better than Paul can
16:18
preach, but he's never mentioned. I just find
16:21
that really interesting. We take this course
16:24
so that no one should blame us without this generous
16:28
gift that is being administered by us. For we
16:32
aim at what is honorable, not only in the Lord's
16:36
sight, but also in the sight of men. See Paul's
16:40
heart, see Titus' heart. We aim for honor, not
16:44
for fame, okay? Then he says, And with them,
16:50
we are sending our brother whom we have often
16:53
tested and found earnest in many matters, but
16:56
who is now more earnest than ever because of
17:01
his great confidence in you. As for Titus, he
17:05
is my partner and fellow worker for your benefit.
17:10
And as for our brothers, they are messengers
17:14
of the churches, the glory of Christ. So give.
17:18
Proof before the churches of your love and of
17:21
your boasting about you to these men. But he
17:24
mentions only Titus. Why? Titus is my partner
17:28
and fellow worker for your benefit. For your
17:32
benefit. Very interesting. Now, flip over to
17:37
chapter 12, verse 17 and 18. 17 and 18. So I'm
17:41
giving you some history so when we get into Titus
17:44
1, you see why Paul speaks and challenges Titus
17:47
the way he does. Chapter 12, verse 17 and 18.
17:50
Did I take advantage of you though through any
17:53
of those whom I sent to you? In other words,
17:56
Paul's saying, I sent these men to you. Did I
17:58
take advantage of you? Nope. I urged Titus to
18:02
go and sent the brother with him. Did Titus take
18:06
advantage of you? Nope. Did we act in the same
18:11
spirit? Did we not take the same steps? What
18:15
do you notice about Titus? When you see Titus,
18:18
you see Paul. And when you see Paul, you see
18:20
Jesus. And what does Titus say? Follow me as
18:23
I follow. Titus is following Paul and Paul is
18:27
following Christ. Titus is acting the way Jesus
18:30
would because Paul is acting the way Jesus would.
18:33
Very interesting. Very important. Very good stuff.
18:37
Now, Turn to Titus chapter 1. I'm going to give
18:41
you three very important principles. Okay? Three
18:44
very important principles to understand what
18:46
it is to be a godly man. Now this is specifically
18:49
to men, but I am also going to challenge you,
18:53
even if you're a woman, that the principles of
18:56
these things are clear in the way you should
18:59
live too. Just because it's directed to men,
19:03
right, as the key example in the head, it is
19:06
also required of women to act the same way in
19:11
accordance with other women, especially daughters.
19:14
So this is important. And that's what we're going
19:16
to see here. Godly men are faithful in preaching
19:20
the gospel. Verse 1. Godly men are faithful in
19:24
preaching the gospel. 1 Corinthians 4, verse
19:28
1 and 2. This is how one should regard us as
19:32
servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries
19:36
of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards
19:39
that they be found faithful. What's the mysteries
19:43
of God? The doctrines of God and the gospel of
19:47
God. That's what he's talking about here. Titus
19:50
chapter 1, verse 1 through 3. Paul, a servant
19:53
of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the
19:57
sake of the faith of God's elect. Do you see
20:01
that? Paul is a slave of God and an apostle of
20:06
God for their sake, not for his own. That's Paul's
20:11
duty, is to, for the sake of God's elect. Make
20:16
the knowledge of the truth firm. That's the idea.
20:20
Let's keep reading. For the sake of the faith
20:23
of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth,
20:26
which accords with godliness in hope of eternal
20:30
life, which God, who never lies, promised before
20:34
the ages began. Do you see that? What's Paul's
20:37
purpose? Preach the gospel. Teach the truth.
20:41
He's going to tell Titus the same thing. Here's
20:45
the key. How do we know that this is important?
20:48
Because before the ages began, at the proper
20:51
time manifested in his word through the preaching
20:55
with which the command of God, our Savior, has
20:59
entrusted to me. In other words, at the exact
21:01
proper time when it was necessary, I was given
21:05
this trust as a steward, which is the word of
21:09
God and the gospel of Christ, to preach it. As
21:13
God has commanded, go and make disciples of all
21:15
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father
21:18
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching
21:20
them to observe all that I've commanded you.
21:24
Matthew 28, 19 and 20. That is what Paul's doing.
21:28
The fullness of ministry. The fullness of ministry.
21:32
This is a calling. This is a duty. It's a difficult
21:36
thing, okay? And so God has commanded us to preach
21:39
and to teach. godly men faithfully fulfill their
21:44
duty by completing the task assigned to them
21:47
they are required by god to fulfill what god
21:51
has given to them that's exactly what we taught
21:53
taught these young ones today John 17, 4, Jesus
21:58
said, I glorified you on earth, having accomplished
22:01
the work that you gave me to do. Christ didn't
22:04
come just because he wanted to. He had a responsibility
22:07
to fulfill, a task that was given by the Father.
22:12
If you have any questions about that, read Ephesians
22:14
chapter 1. God the Father set the plan. God the
22:17
Son came and fulfilled the plan. And God the
22:19
Holy Spirit sealed the plan and guarantees our
22:22
inheritance. Very important. Now, Titus chapter
22:25
1, verse 4 through 9. To Titus, my true child
22:29
in common faith. So there it is. This is Paul
22:34
saying, this is the young man I brought up in
22:38
Christ. And this is the young man that God had
22:40
given as a responsibility to me to guide and
22:45
mentor and develop in faith because God saved
22:48
him. My true child in common faith. Grace and
22:51
peace from God the Father. Christ Jesus, our
22:54
savior. So he's giving him encouragement. Now,
22:58
here's where the nit and grit happens. This is
23:01
Titus's responsibility. Here's his duty, his
23:04
task. This is why I left you in Crete so that
23:07
you might put what remained into order and appoint,
23:12
cathistame, give, put in charge elders in every
23:18
town as I directed you. So Titus, here's your
23:21
responsibility. Put together, put in order everything
23:24
that's remained and assign elders for these churches,
23:27
for these gatherings in the city of Crete or
23:31
in the island of Crete. Now, do you guys know
23:35
that Crete still exists today? And it's called
23:38
Crete. Crete was established in like 65. Crete
23:46
has been Crete since they started Crete. Now.
23:52
That's important because all the other cities
23:55
that were ministered to, they don't exist anymore.
23:59
Anybody know, ever heard of Philippi in the Bible?
24:03
But how about today? How about Ephesus? Is there
24:05
a city named Ephesus? No. But Crete exists. As
24:09
a matter of fact, the church that Titus was ordained
24:14
as the overseer still exists today. And it's
24:19
called... the church of St. Titus. Isn't this
24:23
interesting? That speaks volumes of Titus's legacy,
24:26
doesn't it? Now, Titus is important. Look what
24:31
it says. This is why I left you in Crete so that
24:34
you might put what remained in order and appoint,
24:37
put in charge elders in every town as I directed
24:40
you. If anyone is above reproach, a one woman
24:44
man or a husband of one wife, And his children
24:47
are believers and not open to the discharge of
24:49
debauchery, meaning being without control or
24:53
insubordinate, disobedient. This is the men you
24:57
should be looking for. Notice the one thing he
24:59
says here, above reproach. It's the very first
25:03
thing that comes out of Paul's mouth to Titus.
25:06
If anyone is above reproach, first thing, notice
25:09
what it says in verse 7. For an overseer, as
25:13
God's steward, must be above reproach. There
25:17
you go. What's the first standard of every overseer,
25:21
of every elder, of every pastor? Be above reproach.
25:25
You got to be living in such a way where there
25:28
aren't genuine, real accusations about your life.
25:33
Very interesting. Must be above reproach. He
25:36
must not be arrogant. This word arrogant means
25:39
self -pleasing or self -willed, quick -tempered
25:42
or a drunkard or violent. or greedy for gain.
25:47
He must be hospitable. Philoxenos is the word
25:50
here. Generous to the guests. He must go out
25:53
of his way to not only touch every new person
25:57
that walks in the building, but if he has enough
25:59
time to try to touch everybody that is here.
26:02
Not only the family, but especially the guests.
26:05
A lover of good. It's very simple. How can we
26:09
be a lover of good? It's in our purpose statement.
26:13
Love God, love his word, love his ways, love
26:14
his things. If you love God, you'll love his
26:16
word. If you love his word, you'll love his ways.
26:18
If you love his ways, you'll love his things.
26:20
If you steward his things, if you love his things,
26:23
you're living his ways. That means you're loving
26:24
his ways because you're living them. If you're
26:26
living his ways, you're loving his word because
26:28
you're being obedient to his word. And if you're
26:30
obedient to his word, you're going to love God
26:31
because that's the sign of obedience. If you
26:33
love me, you'll obey me. Very interesting. I
26:36
love that. Love that. Now, He must be self -controlled.
26:41
I don't know why they put self -controlled here
26:42
because it's a totally different word than self
26:44
-controlled. This word actually means to be sober
26:47
-minded, level -headed. He's got to be able to
26:49
make decisions within a crisis that is immediate
26:53
and not be emotional in the moment, but be wise.
26:58
And he has to make those decisions according
27:00
to the word of God. That is his standard. He
27:04
must be upright. That means to be righteous in
27:07
his living. He must be holy, sanctified, different.
27:11
He must be disciplined. This word disciplined
27:13
means self -controlled. He can't let his emotions
27:16
dominate him. He must hold firm to the trustworthy,
27:19
faithful word as taught. Not as I want it to
27:23
be, but as it's taught, as it's taught by the
27:26
spirit and as it's taught in the scripture so
27:29
that he may be able to give instruction and exhort
27:33
in sound doctrine. The only way that a man of
27:37
God can direct his family and teach his family
27:40
and shepherd the church, this is not just pastors,
27:44
but any man, you must be able to teach the trustworthy
27:50
word as taught to you so that you can exhort
27:53
in sound doctrine to your family. Now, notice
27:57
he says also. That if you are able to stick with
28:02
the trustworthy faithful word as taught and able
28:04
to exhort in sound doctrine, then you also to
28:08
rebuke, to bring to light, to expose those who
28:11
contradict it. That is not fun. Now, godly men
28:15
faithfully contend for the faith. Godly men faithfully
28:19
contend for the faith. Jude 3. Jude is one chapter.
28:24
So this is Jude verse 3. It's not Jude chapter
28:27
1 verse 3. There is no chapter 1. It is just
28:29
Jude. Okay. So Jude verse 3. Beloved, although
28:34
I was very eager to write to you about our common
28:37
salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing
28:42
to you to contend for the faith that was once
28:45
for all delivered to the saints. What is the
28:48
responsibility of every godly man to fight for
28:51
the gospel? To fight for the gospel. For there
28:56
are many who are insubordinate, disobedient,
29:00
rebellious. There are. They're empty talkers.
29:05
They're babblers and they talk nonsense. That's
29:08
what that word means. And deceivers, meaning
29:10
seducers, especially those of the circumcision
29:13
party. So what is Paul saying here? Paul, you're
29:16
going to be dealing with men who are going to
29:18
come in and they're going to be disobedient.
29:22
and rebellious, and they're going to babble and
29:23
talk nonsense, and they're going to try to seduce
29:26
people, especially those who are of this group.
29:30
And this is what Paul says to Titus. Titus, they
29:33
must, it is necessary for them to be silenced,
29:38
muzzled. In other words, they need to shut their
29:41
mouth. I mean, it's pretty clear what Paul's
29:46
saying here. I want to give you something. I
29:48
heard several years ago, And I was watching Vodou
29:53
Bakum this morning, and he brought it up, and
29:55
I was like, that fits perfectly. Actually, not
29:57
only fits perfectly, it fits perfectly in our
29:59
day and time. Okay? And here it is. Hard men
30:03
make good times. Good times make weak men. Weak
30:08
men make bad times. Guess what time we're living
30:11
in? A bunch of sissified men. Weak men in this
30:15
country. Weak men in our churches. There's weak
30:18
men who won't lead. It's terrible. And we lost
30:23
one who was not weak but strong, a brother, John
30:28
MacArthur. He was the only one who would stand
30:30
up against nonsense concerning the church. Nothing
30:33
determines what the church should and shouldn't
30:35
do except for Christ, who is the king of her,
30:38
period. But what do we have? Weak men who aren't
30:43
willing to point out issue and deal with issue.
30:46
So hard men make good times, good times. Make
30:51
weak men, weak men make bad times. We live in
30:54
bad times. But God is raising up hard men out
30:59
of bad times. Now, that's why he says they must.
31:03
I love he's, Timothy is already tough. Timothy
31:07
is not only a godly man, but a hard man. So it's
31:10
okay to be a hard man. It's okay. It's all right.
31:13
And he's like, yo, these guys need to shut up.
31:16
Basically what he's saying without saying it,
31:18
be silenced is the word. Close their mouth, literally.
31:22
Since they are upsetting, they are overthrowing,
31:26
overturning, destroying, and subverting whole
31:29
families by teaching for shameful gain. Not to
31:34
be taught. Do you guard your family against bad
31:38
teaching? I was just talking to someone a little
31:40
earlier today after first service that they had
31:44
walked in, happened to do some work at the hospital,
31:47
I guess. And they walk in and they're watching
31:49
this older lady who's watching David Jeremiah.
31:53
And the first thing David says as she heard it
31:56
is, buy both my books. Really? How about the
32:00
gospel, man? How about if you don't even sell
32:02
a book? How about if you just sit in front of
32:05
the TV or the camera because you got millions
32:09
of dollars. It's not like you need your book
32:10
sold. How about if you just preach the gospel?
32:13
No, not going to happen. You know why? Because
32:18
it's the small churches that the full gospel
32:20
and the sound doctrine and the teaching is being
32:22
taught. Small churches. Big churches are full
32:25
of people that are being taught bad stuff. It's
32:29
crazy. Look what it says. Since they are upsetting,
32:32
subverting, destroying whole families by teaching
32:35
for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.
32:38
They're not teachers. And Paul says this. He
32:41
says, one of the Cretans, a prophet of their
32:43
own said, Cretans are. always liars, evil beasts,
32:47
and lazy gluttons. I love Paul. He just says
32:53
it. And then he turns around and says, this testimony
32:56
is true. He doesn't go, well, that's kind of
33:00
rough. He actually says, no, they are. Can you
33:04
imagine if you as Titus have been set as overseer,
33:10
the pastor, of the churches, of the Cretan church,
33:13
all the gatherings that are happening. And he
33:17
says concerning these people, listen, they're
33:20
liars all the time. They're evil beasts and lazy
33:22
gluttons. You need to rebuke them. That's exactly
33:26
what he says. Now, can you imagine Titus is rebuking
33:30
the entire island? Like, what are you doing,
33:33
you crazy gluttons and evil beasts? therefore
33:38
rebuke them, expose them sharply, harshly, severely,
33:42
rigorously, that they may be sound, healthy in
33:46
faith. So he says, listen, these guys who are
33:49
liars, evil beasts, and lazy gluttons, you need
33:53
to expose them for what they are, harshly and
33:56
severely and rigorously do it with the hope that
33:59
they become healthy in faith, that they repent.
34:04
Because if they don't, That means they're actually
34:08
going to be doing this, verse 14. Not devoting
34:11
themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of
34:13
people who turn away, rebel, desert from the
34:17
truth. Because if they don't become healthy in
34:21
faith, they are going to rebel and desert from
34:24
the truth. Why? Here's why. To the pure, all
34:30
things are pure. But to the defiled and unbelieving,
34:33
nothing is pure. To those who love God, all things
34:40
concerning God are pure. But to the unbelieving,
34:44
to those who hate God, who refuse to believe,
34:48
not even the purest thing is pure to them. But
34:52
both their minds and their consciences are defiled.
34:57
They profess to know God, but they deny him.
35:00
They disown him. They repudiate him by their
35:03
works or by their deeds or by their actions.
35:06
Their very life is a contradiction to him. They
35:11
are detestable. The word detestable here means
35:14
an abomination. They are disobedient and unfit
35:20
for any good work. This is what Paul is saying
35:23
to Titus. Absolutely worthless. How do you feel
35:30
about a statement like that? In a country where,
35:34
and in churches, where we've taken the importance
35:38
of the image of God and the value of the image
35:41
of God to a level where we look at someone's
35:45
bad, sinful behavior and just ignore it. Because
35:48
everybody has a chance. God's a God of second
35:50
chances. No. God is God of the only chance. The
35:56
only chance. That's hard. They are detestable,
36:03
an abomination. They are disobedient, unfit for
36:06
any good work. They're unusable. That's what
36:09
he's saying. How I was this way. I was detestable.
36:15
I was an abomination. I was disobedient and unfit
36:18
for any good work. How can I be changed to be
36:22
usable for all of his work? By the power of the
36:26
living God who takes and converts a broken man
36:28
like me, a sinful, disgusting man like me, and
36:33
he saves me. And not only does he save me, he
36:36
makes me useful, a vessel of honorable use. If
36:40
he's done that for me, he will absolutely do
36:43
it for you. Christ died for you, was buried and
36:47
rose again on the third day for you. He will
36:50
save his people. The question is, are you part
36:53
of the family? I can't answer that. I don't know.
36:56
For those who haven't come to faith in Christ
36:59
yet. God knows if you're his. So if you are absolutely
37:03
being convicted of the truth, of the reality
37:05
that Jesus is God, the Lord of all creation,
37:09
submit to him now and repent. Now. Not when you
37:14
got to think up, you got to clean up your life.
37:16
You ain't good enough to clean up your life.
37:19
And even the best that you can do is dirty. You
37:22
just go make everything dirty. Just be real.
37:25
Come to Christ. That's chapter one. All right.
37:31
Father, I want to thank you so much for your
37:32
goodness and faithfulness. Thank you for your
37:34
word. Thank you that you are living and active
37:36
in our lives, that you are accomplishing your
37:39
purpose and will. And I pray that you are high
37:41
and lifted up and glorified. We praise you and
37:44
thank you in Jesus' name. Amen.