Truth Leads to Godliness

Service Notes

Tonight will be a Night with Nate / learn about the culture of Benin and how the Word of God is more than sufficient to change lives.

Last Sunday night the testimony of the Word having free course in the lives of some families in Mexico. Joy(ful)

Titus 1:1 “1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;”

Message of Titus: Truth Leads to Godliness

Bible Reading

Titus 1 (KJV)

1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; 2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; 3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour; 4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.

5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. 7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; 8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;

9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake. 12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. 13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; 14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. 15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. 16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Pastoral Prayer

We live in a world that is opposed to our God. We thank God for His Word that navigates our lives through this cultural storm.

Sermon Introduction

Pastor yelling Pharoah occasionally as the man preached.

A pastor was invited at another church to preach. When he began his sermon, there was enthusiasm. The more the congregation responded loud to his sermon, the longer he went on. Finally, he noticed that the host pastor had started responding to his sermon by saying "Amen, Pharaoh."

After a long-winded sermon and the host pastor's constant repetition of "Amen, Pharaoh," he finally ended. Back in the office, he was bold enough to ask the host pastor, "Why did you say 'Amen Pharaoh' to my sermon?"

The pastor responded: "I was simply trying to tell you to 'Let my people go!'"

Famous line “Let my people go” but what is next?

The point was not saving us from something, but to something.

The answer is given 6 times. Exodus 8:1 “1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, Go unto Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Let my people go, that they may serve me.”

The truth sets us free and produces our ability to follow God.

The word has made these men zealous of good words. Titus 2:14 “14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

God’s purpose in the gospel is to create for himself a God-loving and God-like people. When God saved us, he saved us for himself. - JD Greaer

False teaching will never do this. Titus 1:16 “16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”

Message of Titus: Truth Leads to Godliness

Two groups are represented on this Island, as seen in this passage

People of the Book

The Koran refers to you and as “Ahl al-Kitāb.” We are people of a divine book.

Look at what the implications of being people of the book should bring in our lives.

Description of the elders. Ch. 1 Titus 1:6–7 “6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. 7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;”

Description of men, women, young, and old. Ch 2 Titus 2:1–5 “1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: 2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. 3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.”

Both of these lists should be the fruit of a life lived obeying God’s Word.

Road trip with 4 men yesterday.(1) Dad excepted a challenge to read the NT. (2) My brother gave me a bible. (3) Never heard a message like that. (4) Read the Bible and realized need of a Savior.

Nic - I do not want any of the friends of our teenagers to ever say they did not know a Christian in High School.

Sam - You spoke about hearing the Word of God preached with a call to action. I want that to always be the case among us.

Description of the wrong influences

Description of false teachers in Titus 1:10–11 “10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.”

Unruly: Those who are unwilling to place themselves under authority. The spirit of unrestrained independence is at the core of man’s sinfulness.

Vain Talkers: Those who don’t talk alot aren’t the only ones who don’t say much. Paul had warned Timothy of this same danger 1 Timothy 1:6 “6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;”

Deceivers: literally mind misleaders / put wrong thoughts in minds of their listeners.

Specially they of the circumcision:

Even their on prophets knew they were trouble. Titus 1:12 “12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.”

Devices defined. A key to defeating one’s enemy is to be aware of his activity (1 Peter 5:8) and to be knowledgeable of his devices. 2 Corinthians 2:11 “11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.”

Illustration

Carsen and the football. How is he going to make it to the endzone. Hold on to the ball.

Carsen and the Bible. How is going to make it adulthood without being tackled by this fallen culture.

Ch. 2 we will look at your role in helping him, but today I want us to focus on holding fast and ignoring the crowd

Don’t drop the Word & Silence the Critics

Hold Fast to the Word

Titus 1:9 “9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.”

What are we to hold onto?

faithful word - God’s Word is trust worthy

what we have been taught - We have been taught this truths from faithful people

sound doctrine - it is healthy and life giving

What does holding fast to sound doctrine allow us to do?

Titus 1:9 “9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.”

Story: Nervous habit of saying “To be able to..” Parents what you are wanting to do will not be done without holding fast to this Word.

We need to exhort those who are talking contrary Scripture.

Some people speak against the Word of God unintentionally and just need to be exhorted. (ie Apollos, me,)

I may err – I am a man – but a heretic I cannot be, because I ask constantly for instruction in the word of God," Balthasar Hubmaier

Others know exactly what they are doing. We need to refute/rebuke/convince them. Matthew 22:34 “34 But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.”

Confusion is the goal.

Galatians 5:7–12 (KJV)

7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? A false teacher distracts you from obeying the truth of the gospel.

8 This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. A false teacher is more concerned about your hearing their voice than hearing God’s voice.

9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. A false teacher only needs to alter the truth slightly.

10 I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. A false teacher leads through fear, which causes confusion and discouragement.

11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased. False teachers misrepresent the position of others to make their point.

12 I would they were even cut off which trouble you. False teachers must be silenced in our lives.

Silence the Critics

Titus 1:11 “11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.”

My Sunday morning prayer. 1 Peter 4:11 “11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God..”

This happens by speaking the revealed Word of God.

Paul’s instruction to Titus is very, very important.  “Titus, it isn't enough to teach truth; you've got to silence certain people.”

Some of you, who were once critics, have already had our mouths shut. Romans 3:19 “19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.”

Why do they need to be silenced?

Story of Odyssey:

Subvert families

Titus 1:11 “11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.”

Sub-vert: Underneath, change of direction. Have you ever experienced a strong under current?

For their sake

Titus 1:13 “13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;”

How are we to silence those who desire to cause doctrinal confusion

We do not give them influence in our lives.

We can silence them by giving them no place to speak.

Paul gives Timothy on where to eat. 1 Timothy 4:6 “6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.”

He goes on to tell him what to avoid. 1 Timothy 4:7 “7 But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.”

Picture Paul and Timothy walking around a church potluck and Paul advising him on what to eat and not eat.

In his second letter he goes on to say it again. 2 Timothy 3:13–14 “13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;”

This is timeless wisdom. It is the kind we should be given to one another.

There is an obligation on the part of Christianity to give voice to some and to silence others.  And we silence them by taking away their platform.

When you think of platform you may think of what I am standing on. But you know what is also referred to as a platform. Social Media.

You need to decide what differences make a difference.

Titus 1:14 “14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.”

I would like for you to consider what you are saying. Shortly we will look at the importance of good hygiene or sound doctrine in meal preparation.

Marriage according to God’s design if between a man and a woman.

God has preserved His Word and it is without error.

Salvation is a gift of God, not of works.

Jesus was born of a virgin.

Live an irrefutable, holy life.

1 Peter 2:15 “15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:”

Paul and Peter are simply repeating something that Jesus said on numerous occasions: “By their fruits you will know them.”

False teachers are motivated by “filthy gain” and it shows in their life.

Our actions are a heart diagnostic. Titus 1:16 “16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”

False doctrine cannot produce godly lives

Titus 1:15 “15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.”

How many of you are germ-a-phobes? Can you imagine a place with a low Health Score arguing they were using good, locally grown ingredients?

False religion emphasizes adherence to rules rather than a real change of heart.

It uses God filthy lucre - for the sake of dishonest gain. vs. 11

God is a means to an end. He’s the means to houses or cars or a better life now or eternity in heaven.

If not wealth, it leads to the type of moral, well behaved family that others envy.

False religion, in fact, leads to the opposite of godliness:

Instead of gratefulness, false religion produces pride.

Instead of full surrender, false religion calls for relationship of negotiating

False religion keeps you busy: Rituals, commands, words. But religion never curbs sin. If anything, it encourages it.

“Run, John, run, the law commands, But gives us neither feet nor hands, Far better news the gospel brings: It bids us fly and gives us wings.” - John Bunyan

Time of Response

Evaluate the religious teaching you are receiving.

Do not be naive to believe that teaching only comes in this form.

Almost every form of communication you receive has the motive to shape your life.

Evaluate your sincerity as a believer

Titus 1:1 “1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;”

Have you acknowledged truth and it that leading you to godliness?

Not speaking of perfectionism, but growth, desire for holiness.