SEVEN WONDERS
Titus 2:11-14 (KJV)
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live
soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great
God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and
purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Introduction:
Novelty hunters are very numerous.
Like the Athenians of Acts 17:21 they are grasping for something new.
Acts 17:21 (KJV) For all the Athenians and strangers which were there
spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell,
or to hear some new thing.
The greatest wonder in the world is the Bible with Its superhuman
origin, teachings, and power.
Theme: The wonders of God and His Word must be where allegiance and
focus is to be placed.
I. The Magnificient Seven
A. Wonderful Exhibition, B. Wonderful Character, C. Wonderful Gift,
D. Wonderful Work, E. Wonderful People, F. Wonderful Life,
G. Wonderful Prospect
II. Wonderful Exhibition
A. Titus 2:11 (KJV) For the grace of God that bringeth salvation
hath appeared to all men,...
1. Grace teaches us obedience.
2. “Wherever the grace of God comes effectually,
it makes the loose liver deny the desires of the flesh;
it causes the man who lusted after gold to conquer
his greediness; it brings the proud man away from his
ambitions; it trains the idler to diligence, and it sobers
the wanton mind which cared only for the frivolities of life.
Not only do we leave these lusts, but we deny them.” (Spurgeon)
B. attributes of God flowing out to men
1. Natural
a. omniscience
b. omnipotence
c. omnipresence
d. eternity
2. Moral
a. holiness
b. righteousness
c. faithfulness
d. mercy
e. lovingkindness
f. love
3. quote: It will be well with thee, my heart, if thou canst always
hide thyself in the bulwarks of His glorious attributes,
all of which are guarantees of safety for those who put
their trust in Him. Blessed be the name of the Lord,...
_______Spurgeon’s Morning And Evening Devotionals
C. At Calvary God put his love on exhibition.
1. His son bleeding and dying in our place
2. The world’s great exhibits pale by comparison
III. Wonderful Character
A. Titus 2:13 (KJV) Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious
appearing of the great God and our Saviour
Jesus Christ;...
B. Jesus -- more than a mere man
1. Paul declares Him to be the Great God.
2. Paul says that He is Wonderful.
3. Paul assays Him to be the Mighty God.
4. Jesus’ character is a great consolation for the Christian.
C. It takes a Great God to save and sustain a soul.
1. Fear not.
2. Trust Him.
3. quote: Some trust in chariots, and some in horses:
but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.
-The Bible (KJV): Psalms 20:7
D. Looking for indicates that Christians should live in active
expectation of the return of Jesus.
It should be precious for Christians to consider:
He came the first time to save the soul of man;
He will come a second time to resurrect the body.
He came the first time to save the individual;
He will come a second time to save society.
He came the first time to a crucifixion;
He will come a second time to a coronation.
He came the first time to a tree;
He will come a second time to a throne.
He came the first time in humility;
He will come a second time in glory.
He came the first time and was judged by men;
He will come a second time to judge all men.
He came the first time and stood before Pilate;
He will come a second time and Pilate will stand before Him.
____Selected
IV. Wonderful Gift
A. Titus 2:14 (KJV) Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem
us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a
peculiar people, zealous of good works.
B. Christ died while we were yet His enemies.
1. willing to die for His own murders
2. TAKE TIME TO THANK THE HEAVENLY FATHER FOR SUCH A GIFT!
C. Poem: "Room and time now give to Jesus,
Soon will pass God’s day of grace;
Soon thy heart be cold and silent,
And thy Saviour’s pleading cease."
___Selected
V. Wonderful Work
A. cleansed
B. John 15:3, Now ye are clean through the word
which I have spoken unto you.
C. Strong’s Greek #2513,
1. clean, pure physically
2. purified by fire
3. like a vine cleansed by pruning and so fitted to bear fruit
4. clean, the use of which is not forbidden, imparts no uncleanness
5. free from corrupt desire, from sin and guilt
6. free from every mixture of what is false
7. blameless, innocent, sincere, genuine
8. unstained with the guilt of anything
______Blue Letter Bible. "Dictionary and Word Search for katharos (Strong’s 2513)".
Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2008. 21 Nov 2008.
< http:// www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?
Strongs=G2513&t=KJV >
D. Christ works to purify, purchase, redeem, and cleanse.
1. illustration: A set of china is purchased. It is then
washed before it is used.
2. Dishes are bought then washed.
E. Lord uses us--
1. not because we are great
2. not because we are gifted
3. because we are clean
F. Being redeemed and cleansed brings glory to God.
1. A heart enclosed in Jesus Christ will seek to please
God.
2. Following Christ is better than following the flesh
3. 1 Peter 2:11 (KJV) Dearly beloved, I beseech you as
strangers and pilgrims, abstain from
fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
VI. Wonderful People
A. Titus 2:14 (KJV) Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem
us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a
peculiar people, zealous of good works.
B. The redeemed and purified
1. are to be a peculiar people
a. peculiar, Strong’s Greek #1519, a place in which an object can
be hidden, i.e., our lives are hid with Christ in God per
Colossians 3:3
b. peculiar, Strong’s Greek #4047, purchased possession
2. are special to the heart of God
3. have their citizenship in Heaven
a. because the have been born from above
b. confirmed by John 1:13 (KJV) Which were born,
not of blood,
nor of the will of the flesh,
nor of the will of man,
but of God.
c. verified by 1 Peter 1:23 (KJV) Being born again,
not of corruptible seed,
but of incorruptible,
by the word of God,
which liveth and abideth for ever.
C. Now those are wonderful people.
VII. Wonderful Life(of the redeemed)
A. resisting life - denying ungodliness
B. sober life - reflected in
1. drinking
2. eating
3. clothing
4. speaking
5. thinking
C. righteous life
1. trustworthy
2. punctual
D. Godly life
1. gentle
2. truthful
E. active life-zealous of good works
1. Action may not always bring happiness;
but there is no happiness without action.
-Beaconsfield
2. Every action of our lives touches on some
chord that will vibrate in eternity.
-Edwin Hubbel Chapin
VIII. Wonderful Prospect
A. Titus 2:13 (KJV) Looking for that blessed hope,
and the glorious appearing of the
great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
B. "Prospect" means something expected
1. looking for Jesus’ glorious appearing
2. Jesus said He would come quickly
a. Rev 2:16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly,
and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
b. Rev 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast,
that no man take thy crown.
c. Rev 22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings
of the prophecy of this book.
d. Rev 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward [is] with me,
to give every man according as his work shall be.
e. Rev 22:20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly.
Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus
C. We must be prepared for that day.
1. Two thousand plus years have passed.
2. "...one day is with the Lord as a thousand years,
and a thousand years as one day (2 Peter 3:8 (KJV)."
3. Maybe the Lord said, under His breath, "See you in
a couple of days."
Conclusion: The awareness of these seven wonders: Wonderful Exhibition, Wonderful Character, Wonderful Gift, Wonderful Work, Wonderful People, Wonderful Life, Wonderful Prospect behooves us to draw closer to God in our spirits and service. Titus 3:8 compliments the above admonition when it states: "This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men."
Charles Spurgeon further illustrates our edict in his comments concerning Proverbs 30:26--
"’The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks.’ —Proverbs 30:26
Conscious of their own natural defenselessness, the conies resort to burrows in the rocks, and are secure from their enemies.
My heart, be willing to gather a lesson from these feeble folk. Thou art as weak and as exposed to peril as the timid cony, be as wise to seek a shelter.
My best security is within the munitions of an immutable Jehovah, where His unalterable promises stand like giant walls of rock.
It will be well with thee, my heart, if thou canst always hide thyself in the bulwarks of His glorious attributes, all of which are guarantees of safety for those who put their trust in Him. Blessed be the name of the Lord, I have so done, and have found myself like David in Adullam, safe from the cruelty of my enemy;
I have not now to find out the blessedness of the man who puts his trust in the Lord, for long ago, when Satan and my sins pursued me, I fled to the cleft of the rock Christ Jesus, and in His riven side I found a delightful resting-place.
My heart, run to Him anew to-night, whatever thy present grief may be; Jesus feels for thee; Jesus consoles thee; Jesus will help thee.
No monarch in his impregnable fortress is more secure than the cony in his rocky burrow.
The master of ten thousand chariots is not one whit better protected than the little dweller in the mountain’s cleft.
In Jesus the weak are strong, and the defenceless safe; they could not be more strong if they were giants, or more safe if they were in heaven.
Faith gives to men on earth the protection of the God of heaven. More they cannot need, and need not wish.
The conies cannot build a castle, but they avail themselves of what is there already: I cannot make myself a refuge, but Jesus has provided it,
His Father has given it,
His Spirit has revealed it,
and lo, again to-night I enter it,
and am safe from every foe."
___Spurgeon’s Morning And
Evening Devotionals
