While We Wait: Older & Younger Men
Men’s Breakfast • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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After preaching this last Sunday morning and as I began to think about what I was wanting to speak about for this morning,
I thought about how in the book of Micah there is a lot of expectancy and hope filled prophecy there . And within chapter 5,
I believe that there is a lot of exhortation for the would be church and body of Jesus — in that there was an expectation for those who would be in Christ… to be present in the fight against the enemies of God and not just bystanders during during the week.
This life we live in Christ as men is something that is an everyday task given to us by the grace shown to us.
I was thinking about this as I was reading Titus chapter 2 this week in my personal reading.
Paul is exhorting Titus as he shepherds the church in Crete to “put what remains in order”.
Now, as we are making our way through the book of Micah it is important that we have been reminded about the ACTIVE WAITING that we are to be ENDURING as a church body.
You see Micah often refer to the part of salvation that we are in now but then also the complete fulfillment of our salvation when Christ returns.
AS MEN… it’s good for us to be thinking about how well WE ARE ACTIVELY WAITING FOR “our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ”, as Paul says in Titus 2:13.
Especially when we think about that the setting in which Titus was trying to Shepherd..
We are told of false teachers in their midst who are
insubordinate (rebellious) not able to place themselves under authority
empty talkers - good at speaking but bad at DOING,
deceivers within the circumcised party. Were deceiving people with false doctrine.
They’re upsetting families, their teaching for their own gain.
Cretans are known to be liars,
evil beasts, lazy gluttons - THEY WERE WORLDY in all accounts. They lived for their own appetites. One commentator said that these people were celebrities and not servants.
devoting themselves to myths listening to the commands of others rather than God.
TO WHICH PAUL HELPS TITUS in thinking about this by giving him some thoughts to exhort the church by speaking directly to “Older Men & Younger Men” as well as Older and younger women along with bondservants.
“TITUS IS NOT TO STAND QUIETLY BY AND LET THIS FORM OF THOUGHT TAKE OVER.
AND SO THE BEST WEAPON IS GOD’S TRUTH.
SOUND DOCTRINE. THIS THOUGHT THAT GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF GOD, OUR THEOLOGY COMES OUT IN OUR PRACTICES AND THE WAY WE CARRY OURSELVES.
Paul is telling Titus here that while they wait on Christ…
MEN ARE THE ONES WHO ARE TO SET THE TONE FOR THESE THINGS WITHIN THE CHURCH FAMILY.
ARE WE HOLDING OURSELVES TO THE STANDARD OF GOD’S TRUTH… GOD’S WAYS… or are we allowing worldly standards to circumvent our walk with the Lord from true sanctification WHILE WE WAIT FOR THE FULLNESS OF SALVATION TO COME.
This is a hard question… Because if we are allowing worldly standards to leak into our motives and actions…
What we do now will be easy… but what will come later will be hard.
But if we seek to honor GOD NOW… right now will be hard but later will be filled with joy and peace in the Lord and a true spiritual health that can be found in nothing else.
OLDER MEN:
V. 2: Sober-minded: “temperate in the use of wine”
But even more than the ability to control yourself from excess…
A temperate person avoids excess [IN GENERAL], extravagance and over-indulgence of appetites and passions.
Someone has well said that we should never expect to govern others until we have learned to govern ourselves!
The temperate older man
- is able to discern more clearly which things are of the greatest importance and value.
- He uses his time, his money, and his energy more carefully and selectively than when he was younger and less mature.
- His priorities are in the right order, and he is satisfied with fewer and simpler things.
This makes me think of a few very GODLY MEN that I know but who are ALSO VERY WELL OFF in their finances. You would never know it. They live simple, the don’t over indulge, they enjoy themselves at times yes, but not at the expense of their relationship with the Lord and their testimony to others.
AND THEY GIVE THEIR THINGS AWAY. They give their money, they give their time.
They are clear and sober minded in their understanding of where they’re treasure truly is.
V. 2: dignified: “Worthy of respect”, “revered”, “honorable”
This man is serious in all the right ways.
This man understands that he is to live for heaven more than he is to live for this world.
He lives in light of eternity.
He understands that this life is but a vapor in the wind.
He does not laugh at immorality, sin, ungodliness. Or at anything that comes at the expense of others.
They have learned the value of time and opportunity given to them by the grace of God in all situations.
They are better than younger men at accepting and comprehending their own mortality, the imperfections of this present world, and the inability of material things to bring true joy and lasting, deep satisfaction.
V. 2: self-controlled: Prudent, sensible. “having Mastery Over”
“Acting like one with a “saved mind”.
Curbing one’s desires and impulses —-> restrained. His mind is under control of the Holy Spirit.
Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus Be Self-Controlled (Titus 2:2)
This person has his passions under control and is self-disciplined.
He is not careless or foolish with his words or in his behavior.
Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus (Be Self-Controlled (Titus 2:2))
John MacArthur summarizes well this quality of life, saying that such men “should have the discernment, discretion, and judgment that comes from walking with God for many years. They control their physical passions and they reject worldly standards and resist worldly attractions”
V. 2: sound in faith: “HEALTHY IN FAITH”
“Sound” here means uncorrupt, wholesome, protecting and preserving life.
And so the older man, though he is older, his body beginning to fail, he still remains sound in his faith by the WORD OF GOD.
Older men who are sound in faith understand that the WORD OF GOD is sufficient in every way, profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and training in righteousness making the MAN OF GOD COMPLETE. (2 Tim. 3:16)
23 Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
The older man has understood and seen this to be true in his own life.
The Word of God, and him walking by the Spirit has been his source of eternal health.
AND SO, OLDER MEN DO not waiver in their hope that His sovereign plan will be fulfilled.
1 A long time afterward, when the Lord had given rest to Israel from all their surrounding enemies, and Joshua was old and well advanced in years, 2 Joshua summoned all Israel, its elders and heads, its judges and officers, and said to them, “I am now old and well advanced in years.
14 “And now I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed.
V. 2: in love, in steadfastness:
“Love”: “Agape”. “Unconditional, sacrificial love. This is the “LOVE THAT GOD IS” (1 John 4:8), and the love that God has shown by sending His son.
The older man understands that this kind of love is by choice and not based on his feelings.
He has learned to LOVE even when his love is not deserved.
He continues to love when it’s rejected. And even when he suffers for it.
He lovingly serves and he lovingly forgives.
Steadfastness: “remaining under” trials and afflictions in a way that honors God.
Remaining under discipline.
It portrays a picture of steadfastly and unflinchingly bearing up under a heavy load and describes that quality of CHARACTER which does not allow one to surrender to circumstances or succumb under trial.
CONSTANCY / ENDURANCE.
15 As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.
This is not a comprehensive list.
But Paul just seems to associate certain traits that should be had by these older men and are not automatically developed by age.
AND SO… IF YOU STRUGGLE WITH ONE OF THESE, YOU SHOULD FOCUS ON THAT RATHER THAN JUST LETTING IT GO…
These older men should be Godly as to attract others to JESUS and especially younger men to Jesus.
THE CHURCH IS EDIFIED WHEN OLDER MEN DECIDE TO LIVE OUT THE OLD MAN PATIENTLY AND FAITHFULLY WAITING FOR JESUS KIND OF LIFE.
The younger men see it. The younger men yearn for it and ask about it. The younger men want to copy it. The younger men… even though they won’t tell you… want to learn it!
(MONTEY BEGINNING TO GIVE ME ADIVE OVER THE PHONE) - Some men won’t do this because they don’t want to over step or say something wrong…
OLDER MEN… Do you have a younger man that you are aiding in looking like this!
LIKEWISE; URGE: PAUSE & PONDER what we are comparing to… The OLDER MEN.
URGE: Means to literally call one alongside, to summon. A call to action.
Implications that they would be shown the way to go by Titus and by the OLDER MEN.
Youn Men have a need to be mentored by older men. To instruct them in patterns of discipleship. (Godly Character, conviction, commitment)
YOUNGER MEN:
V. 6: Self-controlled: Prudent, sensible.
“Acting like one with a “saved mind”.
Curbing one’s desires and impulses —-> restrained. His mind is under control of the Holy Spirit.
This is in contrast to the lack of restraint Titus would have see from the other young men in Crete who were lazy gluttons doing everything for shameful gain.
26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
The self controlled man actively engages in the battle for the mind.
He must control and discipline his thought life to win battles in the Christian life.
V. 7: Model of good works in all respects:
Addressing Titus,
he also is speaking to the younger men…
A young man, a young leader is to set the tone for those around them giving them a type or mold in which others can seek a likeness to them.
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Two: How to Have a Healthy Church (Titus 2–3)
The word originally meant “
V. 7-8: In your teaching show:
integrity, dignity:
Soundness/Incorruption.
But also the characteristic of somebody who kind of commands respect, they live as if they are a royal in their conduct, their actions and words.
Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus Be Sound in Doctrine (Titus 2:7)
Content and character
sound speech
Along with that soundness and guarding ourselves from a corrupt heart… from that flows a healthy speech.
V. 8: SO THAT: Our opponents may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about you.
TO OBE ABOVE REPROACH. Not in a fearful way but in a pointing toWARD YAHWEH kind of way.
A MOTTO FOR A MAN’S LIFE… “ALL THAT MATTERS IN LIFE IS PLEASING GOD.”
9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.
MEN, ARE WE TEACHING SOUND DOCTRINE… ARE WE TEACHING OTHER YOUNGER MEN WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO FOLLOW JESUS…
Discipleship is primarily modeled, not just taught.
Paul starts with character traits… which means let these younger men see you up close. Invite them into your normal rhythms. Be honest about your struggles and victories.
2. Aim at whole life transformation. Not just bible knowledge. LOGOS AND ETHOS. THE WORD AND HABITS.
3. Build intentional small relationships. Paul assumes proximity and relationship.
A. 1-3 younger men.
B. Keep it simple. read scripture, ask accountability questions. Pray.
C Stay consistent.
4. Call for / URGE for growth.
5. Emphasize Self control as foundation.
Help them to fight their desires and inclinations.
Encourage habits.
Are we teaching them how to be different than the culture around them?
Are we living outside of ourselves? Imparting the grace that God has given us to others?
Seek to take another younger man under your wing so to speak and begin to disciple them.
Have simple questions you ask them each time you meet.
As we do this…
Grace will reform and transform us. V. 12.
Grace will reward us with CHRIST. V. 13
