A Pure Container

A pure Container

Titus 2:1-10

Prayer-

Introduction-

Good morning everyone, I am so glad to be back home from a time away to take care of some of my mother’s affairs in Milwaukee.

It has been a hard couple weeks going through her things and seeing my family under such hard times.

We were not able to get closure of her death because of the Corona virus.

Just like a lot of people, we were forced to do something that we did not want to do.

ANBODY RELATE TO THAT?

I found myself praying more…

Praying that we would make the best of this trip.

Even though I didn’t want to do it, it was needed and there was no way to get out of it.

I found myself one morning on my mother’s peer talking to the Lord. Having a heart to heart- anyone know what I am talking about?

The same peer I was on everyday to get phone reception. No service, no text went through. It was horrible. Handstands to get a message out to my family that we got there safely.

This is the same peer 2 days before we left had a massive part of our 80 foot willow fall into the water and just miss that peer.

Why am I saying all this? Because in our troubles and trails God wants to speak to us and make us more into the image of Christ.

He wants to use us for His honor and glory.

The object of a believer is to hear from the Lord, follow the Lord and become more the image of the one you are following. (Repeat)

He will use these times of trial to redirect us, to refocus us, to change us, to reposition us so that we can experience Him fresh and new.

Do you want that? I hope so.

Are you willing to allow the Lord to do whatever is needed in your life?

Apostle Paul wrote letters to Timothy and Titus to give them instructions for building churches, and raising leaders in a time of turmoil and a time of needed leadership.

These words are the words the Lord wants us to receive this morning.

Is there more a time for leaders to be leaders and the church to be the church?

Is there more a time for followers of Jesus Christ to be wholeheartedly surrendered and following His teaching?

The Lord is looking for you and me to be what we were created to be.

Men and women of God who are willing to be used of God.

Our Character matters!

Our Words matter!

Our Actions matter!

Now more than ever people are watching to see what you are really made of.

I want to read a portion of scripture from Titus and close with a word from Timothy to be an encouragement and also a reminder of who we are to be as Christians.

Titus 2:1-10 Read from Bible (I am reading from the passion version)

BE AN EXAMPLE- A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHAT A BELIEVER AND FOLLOWER OF JESUS LOOKS LIKE

Teach them to live a lifestyle that is consistent of the doctrine of Christ.

Know what you believe and live what you believe so that others will see your Jesus.

Our duty is to nurture those we come in contact with God’s “goodness”

I shared this week on Facebook of a man that Becky and I prayed for while in Milwaukee who was never prayed for and when asked if we could pray for him said “I guess that would be okay” We prayed for him and his first words after was that he was a good person, that he tried to do good things for others.

While scripture tells us to be good people in the fact that we are to be kind, gracious and generous to those in need. The thing that is needed from us most is to let people know that goodness will not get them to heaven.

We cannot live out the Ten Commandments

We have all stolen something.

We have all been jealous and coveted something that someone else has had.

We have all put things in front of God as priority in their lives.

We have all bear false witness, gossiped and lied.

Because they have not murdered anyone, they believe their goodness and kindness is enough for a holy God to let them into heaven.

That is called self-righteousness and not the righteousness of God needed to get into heaven because in self-righteousness there is no need for God.

If you believe that what you do is enough to get you into heaven then you are not living the words of the one holy God who tells us our righteousness is as filthy rags compared to God and His righteousness.