What Good can I Do?

Intro:

Tonight, we will conclude our study through the book of Titus entitled, [Equipment for the Assignment], the subject of tonight’s message is [What Good Can I Do?].

As Christians we have to balance faith with works. There are some who believe they can sneak into heaven because they are a good person. People will try and do good deeds to cover a multitude of sins.

Then there is they other type of Christian who feels they do not have to do ANYTHING because they are saved by faith. They believe in God and that is enough. They may be rude, inconsiderate, and downright hateful, but they have faith.

Which one is right? Do we need faith or works? Tonight we will see how our faith causes us to do good.

Let’s pretend someone started a successful business. The business grew so successfully that they moved into the global market. The founder and CEO comes to us and informs us, I am moving to Europe for eight months, I want you to be in charge while I am gone.

I now have the responsibility to keep the business going. The owner sends us letters, emails, and even video chats with us to inform us how to get on and keep the business going.

Imagine the shock of the owner upon his return to see that the grass is overgrown at the headquarters. When he walks in the office, the trash is overrun, lights are burnt out and not replaced, and the whole place seems like chaos.

The owner and CEO comes in and ask, what is going on here? It’s like you haven’t done ANYTHING since I have been gone. Didn’t you get my letters, emails, and what about the times I spoke to you over FaceTime?

Wouldn’t the owner be upset if I replied, Boss, I got those letters and emails. We took them and studied them. I developed outlines to explain them. We had group discussion. There were even some who memorized parts of the letters. We had full confidence and faith that you knew what you were talking about in your letters.

And by the way, we really appreciated the few times that you spoke to us. The staff was encouraged. Some even got overcome with emotion because it had been a while since we heard your voice. Thanks for that, we really appreciate what you had to say.

How would the owner respond? He would be frustrated because we had the knowledge, the insight, and the instructions, but we didn’t do anything with what he said.

Sadly this often describes the church. Faith is not a problem. People understand sound doctrine. We take God’s word, study it at length, even memorizing portions. And as Pentecostal people, we LOVE it when He speaks to us!

However, the problem comes when we do NOTHING with what He gave us. The problems intensifies when we have knowledge but do not have action. When we have information but no impartation.

Part of the assignment we have as Christians is to take what scripture teaches and what God has shown and exemplify it to the world!

The saying goes, talk is cheap. People are less interested in what we have to say and more interested in what we do with what we have to say.

Tonight I want us to ask, what good can I do? With all I know about the Lord, how can I turn my knowledge of God into supernatural actions. How can I balance my faith with what I can do with my faith?

I have three points, [I Can Show Respect], [I Can Seek Renewal], and [I Can Serve in Relationships].

Let’s begin

1. I Can Show Respect

As we have studied Paul’s writings, I have noticed that a common theme in many of his letters: respect for authority. While this is necessary for those in church concerning the spiritual authority in God’s house, it also has to deal with governmental leaders.

One thing I like about American Politics, if we do not like our president, in four to eight years we get a new one. Normally the party switches and half of the country is happy for a while.

But this was not the case in the Roman Empire. We could take our most corrupt, immoral, and terrible president, and it would not come close to the Emperor Nero.

He was a cruel, oppressive, immoral, and murderous emperor who demanded the utmost respect and worship from his people. As corrupt as he was, Paul called on the church to obey the rulers and authorities in their society.

Why would Paul do this? In those days, Jewish people isolated themselves from society. They despised the corrupt leaders of the day because they had not had their own king in over four decades.

Instead of winning the respect of foreign leaders, many people despised the Jews. Because Christianity was considered as part of Judaism for much of the first century, Paul did not want Christians to follow that path.

If Christians were to win people to the Lord, they had to be ready to do good works that would draw people to Christ. How could they do this? By showing respect.

Paul outlines to negative actions that occured and then followed them with two positive actions that would help.

What good can we do?

We can start by not speaking evil of people. Instead of cursing, slandering or hating those in authority, Christians are to pray for their leaders.

In addition, we are to be peaceable. By telling them to be peaceable, Paul wanted them to walk away from quarrels and fights. Instead of being a hothead, always looking for an argument, we can show respect to others.

Furthermore, we must live with gentleness and humility or meekness. These two words do not describe our society as it did not describe the Cretan society.

Being gentle does not mean to be a doormat, but to be reasonable and exhibit dignity. We do not lie down when we are pushed, but we keep everything in perspective.

Part of showing respect is remembering that we too were once in sin. It is easy for Christians to become self-righteous and forget we too needed God and we still need Him.

But thankfully the grace of God appeared to us, setting us free from foolishness, disobedience, deception, envy, and hate. Therefore, we must remember how we were and pray God to help us deal with those who are still in preconversion.

What good can I do? I can show respect.

2. I Can Seek Renewal

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We must never get over the simple fact that we are saved! Isn’t it wonderful that the kindness and love of God appeared to us! However, salvation is more than a one-time event.

Sure, we were saved when we repented, but now we are in the process of becoming more like the Lord. How does this happen? We stay close to God through the Holy Spirit.

The process of salvation was intertwined with the work of the Holy Spirit. He is the one who regenerated us, making us new! However, since we have been made new, we need to be renewed by the Holy Spirit.

Being renewed by the Holy Spirit helps us in our daily walk with the Lord.

One of the first books I read on the Holy Spirit was titled, “They Speak with Other Tongues.” The author, John Sherrill, wrote for the Guidepost. He assigned himself the task to disprove and discuss Pentecostalism and speaking in tongues.

Long story short, he ended up being truly saved and was filled with the Holy Spirit. What helped him was the spiritual gap that took place in his life. He was saved in a hospital bed during the process of his study. He said it was as though a bright light shined in his room and he experienced God.

But that is where he stopped. He became cold and distant in his relationship with the Lord, that is, until he was baptized in the Holy Spirit. Then he experienced the renewal that the Holy Spirit brings.

I am convinced that the church in Crete was a Spirit-filled church. I believe both Titus and Paul spoke in tongues. However, these too are more than a one-time event. If the Holy Spirit was evident at their conversion, He would give them renewals or refillings of His Spirit.

For when we are renewed by the Holy Spirit, He will remind us of God’s abundant love and favor. He will remind us that we are justified, our sins are forgiven just as if we never sinned.

What results follow a spiritual renewal?

Titus 3:8 NKJV

8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.

If we believe in God and we do, our faith should be followed by good works. Notice the progression, faith comes first. Then because of what we believe and what God did, we do all we can to be an example of God’s love!

What good is a Holy Spirit renewal if it does not call us to action? Renewal and revival are for more than getting emotional, which we value. But the emotions at the altar should turn into an action with the unbeliever.

What good can I do? First, I can show respect, then I can seek a renewal of the Holy Spirit!

3. I Can Serve in Relationships

Titus 3:9–11 NKJV

9 But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. 10 Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.

A wise man once told me, your resource is in your relationships. Someone can have all the knowledge and education, but without healthy relationships, their attributes profit little.

Remember, Titus was a pastor, and these instructions were for him. He was to avoid three things: foolish controversies, genealogies, and strife and disputes about the law.

Knowing what we know about Crete, I guarantee that there were many controversial events that took place. It would have been easy for Titus to sink to their level and engage in idle gossip and useless talk about what was going on in Crete.

Instead, Titus was to be above reproach. Instead of getting consumed with the issues of the day, he was to focus on what was most important, serve the people he is called to lead.

Second, Titus was to avoid genealogies. There were false Jewish teachers who made up stories of things about God’s people that didn’t really happen.

While these stories may have been fascinating, the fact is they were false. Titus should not get distracted by their falsehood nor should he share the stories further.

Finally, he was to avoid theological debates that did no good. Many people like to debate scripture instead of live scripture. They will try and trap people in conversations about things that are beneficial.

For instance, I read of two seminary students that were disciplined over a disagreement over the doctrine of sanctification that escalated into a fistfight.

Or I heard about two women that almost got into a fistfight over who was a stronger and better prayer warrior!

If our focus is on serving and cultivating Godly relationships, these events will not happen. Therefore, if there are people like that in a Godly relationship, we must be patient with them, showing grace, but if repentance and change do not follow, Titus was to reject them.

Titus could not use the excuse, well that is just who they are, there is not changing them. That is the point. When people get to that point, they are warped in sin and have condemned themselves. Why? Because their faith was not followed by righteous and honorable deeds.

In the relationships Titus had in the church at Crete, he was to serve and develop Godly relationships. Paul wanted Titus to be both tender and tough at the same time. He had to have a love for those he lead, but also lead with the authority God gave him.

It reminds me of something Pastor Tucker told me when I answered the call to preach. He said, “Daniel, you need to have the heart of a lamb and the skin of a rhino!”

His point, because of hurts that come with ministry, if you are not careful, you can become calloused and difficult to be around. Therefore, love the people lead, and develop thick skin so you can continue to love them and lead them.

Paul wanted Titus to do the same thing. He needed to show his love for the people he lead by not only teaching them, but showing them how to live.

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Speaking of relationships, Paul wanted Titus to know that he was not alone. Paul was going send reinforcements through people who would love him and help him in his effort to set the church in order.

Close:

Close:

Paul concluided

Titus 3:14–15 NKJV

14 And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful. 15 All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.

Paul concluded with one more reminder that the church need to maintain good works and be fruitful in their faithfulness. He told Titus goodbye, asking him to express his love and appreciation for those in Crete.

Paul concluided

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading Paul’s writings to Titus. As a pastor, I have gleaned and learned from Paul. As the pastor, so goes the church.

If the pastor does not live with integrity, the church will cut corners and cheat people.

If the pastor is not generous, the church will be stingy.

If the pastor does not pray, the church will be powerless.

And if the pastor does not seek God for a renewal of the Holy Spirit, the church will never be revived.

As I prepared this message, I couldn’t wait to get to the close, because that meant we would get to the altar service.

Tonight, I believe that the Lord wants to give each of us a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit. But I want our prayer to be different than normal.

Generally, we pray for a fresh touch, feel something, and then go home. Tonight, I want our prayer to be, “Lord renew me, so that I can show respect and serve in the relationships you have given me! Let my faith be followed by Spirit-empowered works!”

I want a fresh touch of the Holy Spirit so that I might do more for you and your kingdom.

What good can I do? On my own, not much. But with the help of the Holy Spirit, I can do great things for God!

Who wants His help to do more for Him?