The Needed Example Of Older Saints - part 3

Returning to chapter 2 of Paul’s letter to Titus this week, I want to remind you that this chapter focuses on the character of believers in the Church.

Chapter 1 focused on the character of the leadership; chapter 2 focuses on the character of the people

Read Titus 2:1-10

Older men and women in the church are to be respected and looked to as examples.

In essence, due to their age and maturity, they are to be like parents in the congregation

As we know, parents were to play a pivotal role in the raising of children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4).

Read Deuteronomy 6:5-9

Reverence for parents was of utmost importance to God, as noted in the Law.

Exodus 20:12 - 1 of the 10 commandments (w/ a promise) Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

Exodus 21:15, 17 - capital punishment for striking or cursing a parent Whoever strikes his father or his mother shall be put to death… whoever curses his father or mother shall be put to death.

Unfortunately, the United States of America is a different story. There is no reverence for parents.

Women are celebrated for killing their babies

Men are vilified as being controlling dictators

The government is constantly increasing its efforts to have influence over your children

In fact, the lasting impact of second and third wave feminism in America is lessening the truly unique and honorable role that a woman plays in society, and specifically in the home.

Martyn Lloyd-Jones The protagonists of feminism think that they are exalting women, but actually they are not doing so. Men and women are different, and are meant to be different, and a truly Christian woman always recognizes this.

The cultural war on biblical truth when it comes to women has brought a measure of confusion into the church. And it is in this area, particularly, that older women can help younger women understand their God given purpose.

John MacArthur Their own examples of godliness (v. 3) give older women the right and the credibility to instruct younger women in the church. The obvious implication is that older women must exemplify the virtues (v. 4, 5) that they “encourage.”

The Example Of Older Women

Likewise…

Older men have already been given instruction as to how they are to conduct themselves.

Women, are not off the hook

They too, like the men, are to be…

reverent in [their] behavior...

The Greek word for reverent has the root meaning of being priest-like and refers to “that which is appropriate to holiness”

Older women are to be godly examples of holiness

Leviticus 11:44 - holiness = expectation of God’s people For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy.

1 Peter 2:9–10 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

EXAMPLE: Anna at the Temple

Luke 2:36–37 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.

Anna, though advanced in years, was still a devout believer who was reverent in her behavior.

There are occasions in the church where older ladies may need to be reminded of their testimony.

Philippians 4:2–3 (LSB) I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to think the same way in the Lord. Indeed, I ask you also, genuine companion, help these women who have contended together alongside of me in the gospel, with also Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

Paul addresses them publicly as being in discord, but also commends them for their work and commitment to the gospel.

When someone needs to be corrected, it must be done in a respectful way. Particularly, older men as fathers and older ladies as mothers.

1 Timothy 5:1–2 Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.

not slanderers…

This is the Greek word diabolos

Appears 34 times in the New Testament as a name for Satan. 

Nothing is more Satan-like than slander. 

Men tend to be rough or violent in their action

Women have a tendency to be rough or violent in their words. 

Satan is a malicious slanderer, slandering night and day. 

John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Don't be Satan-like.  Older women may have a lot of time on their hands because they have less to occupy their time.

That can lead to someone being given over to talk.

And that talk can become gossip, criticism, fault finding, slander. 

Paul says that's the devil's work.  Older women should not vent their depravity through their speech.

Remember the destructive capability of the tongue:

Read James 3:2-10

not slaves to much wine…

Knowing what we know about the trials of getting old, we can understand that it was not uncommon for older people to turn to alcohol as a means of enduring the pains, frustrations, and loneliness of old age.

Even today, people turn to the bottle in order to cope with life.

Paul warns older women not to be enslaved (“to be held and controlled against one’s will”) to wine.

When it is depended on, alcohol can become more of a prison than a means of escape.

2023 National Institute of Health survey on “Alcohol Use Disorder” 28.9 million people ages 12+ had AUD in the past year.

Worse still, an older believer who becomes so addicted brings:

Dishonor to the Lord’s name

Damage to the reputation of the church

More often than not, leads others into following his or her ungodly example.

teach what is good...

We are going to dive into this next week, as Paul moves from the character of the older saint to the active teaching ministry of the older saint.

Discipleship 101

Warren Wiersbe Salvation is God’s gift to us because Jesus died for us on the cross. Discipleship is our gift to Him as we take up our cross, die to self, and follow the Lord in everything.