Godly Men Series

Last week we looked at godly instructions for women. As promised, it is our turn today guys. As we study the Letter to Titus, which is really a letter from God to all Christians, how can we men be better for the glory of God and to be of help to many?

Please open your Bibles to Titus…..

Before reading our passage for today, let us pray our commitment to God’s Word…..

Read along with me Titus 2:1-6….

We noted last week, and we need to note them again, from v1:

a. All of us are to teach and learn sound doctrine (as we noted last week, teaching is meaningless if no one learns; and why teach when there’s no one willing to learn?); sound doctrine = instructions of Jesus Christ and the Bible!; otherwise, we would understand nothing!

b. We are to teach but always focus on what God is telling you personally instead of what God is telling others. You see, if we desire godly people around us, we are to pursue godliness first ourselves. And so, husbands, if we desire a godly wife, let’s work on our part.

Ladies, especially those of you who are still single, you should not fall asleep with this message; when you’re looking for a potential spouse, look for men pursuing the characteristics listed in this passage. Do you know the best way to tell what counterfeit money looks like? – Get to know the real!

Men, the world needs real men for God!

There are 4 basic instructions for men from God in this passage (from v2 & 6); what are they and what do they mean? At quick glance, the 3 phrases listed (temperate, worthy of respect, and self-controlled) can be read all meaning the same thing. Let’s take a closer look at the original Greek words used:

1. nephalios – meaning sober or temperate; basically, similar to the command for women, not to be intoxicated by anything except by the Holy Spirit!

2. semnos – reverent, honorable, dignified = good public behavior (speech, dress, action)

3. sophron – sel-controlled, prudent, sensible = basically for a Christian, to keeps life in check with God! …… Another way of looking at this is to be a man of prayer!

And the instructions for men ends with being sound in 3 areas; first of all, what does being sound mean?

4. to be sound (hugiainó) – uncorrupted!

Guys, how uncorrupted are our lives?

a. in faith (pistis) – total dependence on God

in other words, trusting God alone and His Word for everything! You see, we can say we believe the Bible, then we add other things to it, either with our own wisdom or other wisdom from the world; 1 Corinthians 3:19 tells us, For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. When we inject the world’s wisdom, or our own, into the Bible, we corrupt God’s Word!

Being sound in faith means we will accept God’s Word as written, otherwise we will have corrupt faith! It’s really not about how we or how others see ourselves, it is about how God sees us!

b. in love (agape) – God type love; I have said this often, you cannot give what you don’t have! And so, in order to agape love, one must trust in God’s love through Jesus Christ. How can we apply this? Know, receive, and always think of God’s love through Jesus Christ and apply that principle for loving others.

You know we can be so hard on those who do not believe Jesus Christ when really they have no real power to do the right thing; we are to hate the sin but not the people; and the way to love them is to tell them about Jesus Christ without being offensive. Share the truth in love!

c. in endurance (hupomone) – steadfast; basically, patiently pursuing the right things

Men, if we’re honest with ourselves, we all have work to do, because we all stray from God, when we are to be totally dependent on God. This is the key to the Christian life, to accept the truth that we need to totally depend on God with everything.

Let’s commit to this: Always ask yourself “Am I intoxicated by God the Holy Spirit or have I allowed something else creep into my life?”

And think about this: Our dependent on God equates to our prayer life! How is our prayer life? It is to be constant!

Let’s do it right now; right where you are, quietly pray.

Men, pray about your learning and pursuing of Titus 2:2.

Ladies, pray for the men in your life (husband, relative, or friend) for them to pursue Titus 2:2.