But speak thou the things

Service Notes

Andersons with us tonight

Q & A Concerning Israel on last Sunday night of the month

Bible Reading

Reading 19 verses this morning. Right in the heart of this book.

2 Sermons from this Passage / unless you packed a lunch and are ready for both.

So far we have looked at..

Opening words of encouragement to Titus on an island and in a culture that was opposed to the Gospel / the truth about truth

We saw the theme of grace and how important our understanding of it is to a correct view of God

To confront false teaching and teachers Elders needed to be appointed in all of the churches

Last week we saw how truth and only truth leads to godliness / with an exhortation to silence the wrong influences in your life and hold fast the Word of God

Titus 1:9–2:12 (KJV)

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.

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.

6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.

7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,

8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

9 Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;

10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Sermon Introduction

Have you ever taught someone to drive?

- Confusing when Stephanie and I use different words “blinker or turn signal”, “passing lane or turning lane”, or worse when we say “slow down and speed up.”

- Can’t micromanage a driver, though you back seat drivers try, they must learn discernment and how to make real time decisions

- Faces challenges that I don’t face in a small town.

Titus 2:12 “12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;”

This “present world” has always been opposed to the things of God

As seen in places described in the Bible, to the places read about around the world, and through our study of history.

Even in our own country.

Can you picture a painting that shows an old country church building. It is filled with people. There is singing, kids playing outside the church, it was the “good ol’ days.” If you zoom out in the photo you will see the farmer next to the church working his field and if you zoom farther out you will see the Salon filled with people.

In 1776 less than 17% of the country attended church regularly.

Though the amount of people who attend once or twice amount has nearly doubled, the amount of people who attended faithfully has never risen above 20% (The Churching of America, 1776-2005 / ROGER FINKE & RODNEY STARK)

I tell you this not to just challenge you perception of US History, but you encourage you in the fact that all those who have lived faithfully through the ages did so inspite of their culture and not because of it. Though we face unique challenges today, facing challenges is not unique to God’s people.

There is always another gospel being preached as we preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:4 “4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.”

There will always be those who want to create confusion about the simplicity that is Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:3 “3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”

There is always another spirit in this world as we teach our children to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit.

2 Corinthians 11:4 “4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.”

It was pointed out to me in the last baptism I alternated between saying I b

aptized you in the name of the “The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit” and saying in the name of “The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.”

Both are appropriate names for the third person of the Trinity.

The importance is that He is the HOLY GHOST and the HOLY SPIRIT

Holy - separate, distinct, pertaining to God

Here are some truths that we should teach concerning the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is God. Acts 5:3–4 “3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.”

He is personal and active in our lives. He convicts us of sin and leads the sons of God. Romans 8:14 “14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”

The Holy Spirit is Sovereign John 3:8 “8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”

The Holy Spirit leads into Truth John 16:13 “13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”

The Holy Spirit empowers you to do God’s will Ephesians 3:7 “7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.”

Calls us to holiness and out of the world. 1 John 4:4–5 “4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.”

The Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus Christ John 15:26 “26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:”

We saw last week we saw in Galatians that these vain talking, unruly, deceiving influencers in our lives want to..

Distracts you from obeying the truth of the gospel.

Make their voice in your life louder than hearing God’s Word.

Altar the truth ever so slightly.

They do so through fear, which causes confusion and discouragement.

They misrepresent the position of others to isolate you and lead you astray.

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

The spirit of the world wants to replace the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives

1 Corinthians 2:12 “12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”

The spirit of the world would teach us the Holy Spirit is an..

Impersonal Force / think Star Wars

Can make you a deity. “Satan to Eve “you shall be as God”. Enlightment - enough truth and you will be as God.

Can be controlled and invoked. “I declare that the Spirit is going pour financial wealth upon you.” “When you say I am blessed the angels go to work and do your bidding.” “Give the universe permission to come and help you.” “Holy Spirit activate” What?

Leads you away from the truth. 1 Timothy 4:1 “1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;” 1 John 4:6 “6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.”

Empowers you to do you own will.

Draws us into the world. Ephesians 2:2 “2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:”

Glorifies you; speaks much to our legacy and self worth.

Biblical Response to Wrong Influences

There is a group that is harmful to others. 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.”

When a stone was not fit to be put into the building - it had some serious flaw - they would scratch an "a" on it, an alpha.

There are those who are “useless” for the building up of God’s people.

That is not who you are today. Everyone of you who love the Lord and desire to help others know the truth of God’s Word have a meaningful place in the life of the church

You are truly useful by teaching the behavior that is consistent with sound doctrine

We know what the world will do but what are we to do about it? Titus 2:1 “1 But (you) speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:” / you is the implied subject

You speak the things things that become sound doctrine.

Yes is important to proclaim/preach sound doctrine as it says in 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.”

`Here is something more specific. Speak what becomes. We are to teach others how to live out doctrine in their lives.

The word for teaching has in mind what a parent does for a child. It speaks of the entire training process: teaching, encouragement, correction, and discipline.

Sound Doctrine leads to Sound lives, Sound Lives teach Sound Doctrine

After being told to “speak what becomes of sound doctrine” we are not referred to a large, Theology book. We are pointed to the life of faithful people.

There are four groups mentioned here. v.1,2,4, & 6

Aged men

Aged women

Young women

Young men

What are the four of us to do?

Titus 2:11–12 “11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;”

Live out the grace of God in your lives.

Grace puts ungodliness and worldly lusts in our past. Grace teaches us to renounce those things, not only to avoid them.

Grace teaches us how to live in the present world.

“Thus you see that grace has its own disciples. Are you a disciple of the grace of God? Did you ever come and submit yourself to it?” (Spurgeon)

These words should describe our lives.

Sober - self controlled / Sober, like minded, sober, sober minded.

Righteous - in the way we interact with those around us / we do right

Godly - we take God and the things of God seriously

What should this look like?

Our lives should provide a pattern for good works.

Titus 2:7 “7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,”

Titus had to be more than a teacher, he also had to be an example.

We all need examples in our lives.

We can’t escape it. The Bible is a book that tells us how to live.

It is the height of hypocrisy to say that we believe its truth if we ignore how it tells us to live our lives.

Last week we went to lunch with the Wilkersons. I told Nate to follow me. He said “I’ll follow you as you follow Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1 “1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.”

You see the world doesn't judge us by our theology, the world judges us by our behavior.

Is it possible to live a holy, God honoring life in this present world?

Why should people believe it's life-changing truth if your life isn't changed?

In Romans a powerful statement was said about Israel. Romans 2:24 “24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.”

Here we have the strategy of the church.  We reach the world and our family by holiness, not by technique.

What an opportunity!

Young women can live so the Word of God is blasphemed. Titus 2:5 “5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.”

Young men you can live so that those who don’t believe in our God have their mouths shut. Titus 2:8 “8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.”

Here is what we are able to do with out lives. Titus 2:10 “10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.”

Stephanie and I were at Disney Springs. There was an hour long line for Gideons Cookies. I said “dear I could never bring myself to wait in line for an hour for a cookie.” As we were walking away I say a young couple eating cookies. The girl said “it is worth the wait.” Next thing I know I was in line getting a cookie and tellin you “if you are ever in Orlando, find a Gideon cookie.”

Time of Response

Let it not be said about you. “the name of God has been blasphemed because of you..”

Next week we will look at the end of Titus 2:7 “7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,”

All of you have a life that is teaching. You all are Theology Professors.

Ecclesiology / doctrine of the church. It is taught when you get to church when it is hard to do so.

Eschatology / doctrine of the ends time. As people around you hear you speak of the Lord’s return and how it shapes your life.

Sotierology / doctrine of salvation. Those around you were learning about this as you share your story.

We should live lives that give a clear message of the power of the Word of God.

Titus 2:15 “15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.”