The Resource Of Obligation-1 Series

THE RESOURCE OF OBLIGATION-1—Titus 1:1-4

Paul saw his spiritual obligation as a resource for Titus’ ministry.

Spiritual obligation is a resource for the ministry of others.

How is one’s obligation a resource for the ministry of others?

A Resource—something others can rely on, turn to & learn from.

My Obligation becomes a resource for others when it aligns/correlates with Christian....

Parallel:

2Pet. 1:2-4—“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

1—My Obligation is a resource for others when it correlates with Christian....

OWNERSHIP(:1)

Explanation:(:1) “Bondservant”

:1—“Paul, a bondservant of God & an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect & the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness,”

This is the only instance of his calling himself a “bondservant of God” rather than a bondservant of Christ as elsewhere. On 5 occasions, Moses is called the “servant of God.”

He is thus bound, by virtue of commitment(voluntary ownership), to perform all which God compels Paul to put his hands to.

*“Paul had no life that he called his own, no will of his own, purpose of his own, or plan of his own. All was subject to his Lord.”—MacArthur

“Bondservant/Servant”—doulov—1) A slave, bondman, man of servile condition—1a) A slave, 1b) Metaph., one who gives himself up to another’s will those whose service is used by Christ in extending & advancing his cause among men, 1c) Devoted to another to the disregard of one’s own interests; 2) A servant, attendant. The usual word for slave, one who is permanently in servitude, in subjection to a master.

Indentured, not forced—‘An agreement binding an apprentice to a master.’

Both Individual choice/decision, yet compelled to belong.

Argumentation:

Mal. 1:6—““A son honors his father, And a servant his master. If then I am the Father, Where is My honor? And if I am a Master, Where is My reverence? Says the LORD of hosts To you priests who despise My name. Yet you say, ‘In what way have we despised Your name?’”

Deut. 11:13—“‘....love the LORD your God & serve Him with all your heart & with all your soul,”

Ps. 100:2-4—“Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, & not we ourselves; We are His people & the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, & bless His name.”

Lk. 12:37-38—““Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself & have them sit down to eat, & will come & serve them. “And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, & find them so, blessed are those servants.”

1Cor. 6:15—“Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ & make them members of a harlot? Certainly not!”

*1Cor. 6:19-20—“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, & you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body & in your spirit, which are God’s.”

Rom. 14:7-8—“For none of us lives to himself, & no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; & if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.”

2Cor. 5:15—“& He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them & rose again.”

Illustration:

Bank still owns my house/Can call in the loan at any time/I can commit myself to Monthly payments, a Lump-sum payment or No payment/OWNERSHIP

My dog “Mollie”/Escaped & returned/Broken leg/We couldn’t afford treatment/Gave her up to United Yorkie Rescue/Solution was our choice, not hers/OWNERSHIP

Leased car/Return in excellent condition/No scratches, dents, stains, dirt/Why?/Car dealer still ownes it!/OWNERSHIP

Application:

?Your Obligation to Christ correlate with Christian OWNERSHIP?

?Your Obligation to Christ a Resource for others?

2—My Obligation is a resource for others when it correlates with Christian....

REPRESENTATION(:1)

Explanation:(:1) “Apostle”

:1—“Paul, a bondservant of God & an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect & the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness,”