Turn in your Bibles to Titus 3:1-8. We are winding down our study through Paul’s letter to his protégé named Titus. Today, we’re going to look at a passage that teaches us to express a sweet spirit.
I’m glad to be here this morning. How about you? Did you get out of bed this morning and say, “Good morning, Lord!” Or did you say, “Good Lord, it’s morning?”
My attitude toward the day determines if I’m going to be a person that people want to be with or not. I do fail at it sometimes but I try to be someone who is an enjoyable person to be around.
Jesus was an enjoyable person to be around. His followers found that being with Jesus made their lives better. It was easy to be with Him.
All kinds of people were attracted to Jesus. Sinners, like the woman at the well in John 4. Intellectuals, like Nicodemus in John 3. Doubters, like Thomas. All kinds of people were comfortable in the presence of Jesus. His closest friends loved to be around Him.
Jesus had a sweet spirit about him that attracted people to Him. The more we grow in Christ, the more his attitude should be seen in us. Christians should not be mean-spirited, quick-tempered, critical people. We ought to be developing a sweet spirit inside us that makes us easy to be with.
I think this is one of the most desirable qualities in a spouse. Solomon, who had some experience with marriage after having 700 weddings, said that it is “Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and ill-tempered wife,” in Prov. 21:19)
It's a joy to live with someone who is pleasant. But it's miserable to live with anyone who doesn't have a sweet spirit, no matter how beautiful or attractive they are.
I believe this is true of the church as well. If the church is going to represent Jesus to the world, then there ought to be a sweet spirit in the church. People should be glad to be at church. There should be a feeling of joy in the place.
In Titus 3:3 - 8, we are instructed to replace malice, envy and hatred with a devotion to kindness and doing what is good. Most importantly, these verses give us the reason we ought to develop this sweet spirit. If we don't have a sweet spirit it is because we have forgotten what God has done for us or we haven't allowed Him to transform us. Once we realize who we are in Christ Jesus, we can't help but have a good attitude.
Titus 3:1-8 – Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.
3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
8 This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.
How
How are we to express a sweet spirit? Paul says let me give you some examples. The first way is that we are to be respectful of authority. He says in vs 1: Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities.
The New Testament emphasizes this teaching in other passages. Rom. 13:1-2 – Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
God is the One who has established authority in this world. In fact, God has established 3 basic authorities: the home, the church, and the government. God set up these authorities so that there would be order in the world. A church is going to have a greater impact in the community when its members are model citizens.
The first area I want to focus on in being respectful of authority is the home. God has established the home as an authority and I believe that respect for any authority begins in the home.
For the kids: Eph. 6:1-3 – Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother” [quote from 10 Commandments and Paul points out] —which is the first commandment with a promise— [quotes Deut. 5:16] 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Kids learn to respect authority in general when they learn to respect their parents in the home.
Parents, we should model respect in the home. Ladies, show respect to your husband. Eph. 5:22-24 – Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord.23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
Men, demonstrate love for your wife. Eph. 5:25-28 – Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
The second area in which we should show respect for authority is in the church. Heb. 13:17 – Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.
Paul puts it this way in 1 Thess. 5:12-13 – Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you.13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.
The third area where we should show respect is to governmental authorities. Please remember that since our governmental institutions are run by people, and people are imperfect, then those institutions will be imperfect as well.
1 Pet. 2:13-14 – Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.
The only time we have the right to refuse to obey those in authority over us is when following their laws or instructions would cause us to disobey God. If that’s ever the case, our duty is to follow God.
When the apostles were arrested for violating the Jewish authorities’ command to stop preaching in the name of Jesus, they were brought before these authorities and gave this reply in Acts 5:29 – “We must obey God rather than human beings!”
The second way to express a sweet spirit is to do whatever is good. When we say that something is good, we mean that it’s worth having. We also use it to mean that someone is useful, dependable, and worth having around. That general idea is in use in this passage. In the original language, the term “good” can be used to describe someone as kind or generous. It also means to be joyful, agreeable, and happy.
Paul literally says that we should be PREPARED to do whatever is good. When the opportunity presents itself, we should already have made up our minds to do good and readied our resources to be utilized for good.
How do we do good? Paul says do not slander. We express a sweet spirit by the way we speak about other people.
Alice Roosevelt was the daughter of Teddy Roosevelt. She was known for having a sharp, slanderous tongue. She had a saying, “If you can’t say anything good about someone, come sit by me.”
Unfortunately some Christians are like that. They want to tell people all the gossip they can, and many times its slander. Their favorite hymn is “I love to tell the Story.” James 1:26 – Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.
Paul says that a second way for us to express a sweet spirit by doing good is to be peaceable.
Have you ever been around someone who is always looking for a fight? Paul says not to be like that. Don’t always look for something to fight about. Be peaceable. Rom. 12:18 – If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
It’s not always possible to live at peace with everybody. There are just some people that make it really difficult to do so. There are also certain issues that have to be addressed from time to time. The point is that we should do our best to not be the source of conflict.
James 3:18 – Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. If we can be known as people who are peaceable, then we will have a better chance of influencing others for Christ.
Paul says that there’s another way for us to express a sweet spirit by doing good is to be considerate. Phil. 2:3-4 – Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Two women were riding on a train together and began to argue over the window. They called the conductor and one of them said, “If this window is open I will catch a cold and die.” The other woman said, “If this window is closed, I will suffocate.” And the two women glared at each other.
The conductor didn’t know what to do so he asked the advice of a man who was sitting nearby. The man said, “First, open the window and that will kill one of them. Then close the window and that will kill the other and then we’ll have some peace around here.”
The fourth way Paul mentions to express a sweet spirit by doing good is to be gentle.
Phil. 4:5 – Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. The idea here is of humility and meekness. Jesus said about himself in Matt. 11:28 – Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Paul says that not only are we to be gentle, we’re to be gentle to all people. You don’t just behave that way toward people who will be that way back to you. This means you treat the waitress at the restaurant with the same kindness you would treat the owner. We dare not treat the CEO any better than we treat the janitor.
Why
What we once were
Titus 2:3 – At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.
Paul is talking about our lives before Christ.
First, we were foolish. It seems insulting to be called foolish, doesn't it? But the Bible says that a fool is anyone who says in their heart that there is no God. You do not have to be an atheist to be a fool. A fool is one who does not honor God in his life. A fool does not acknowledge God's authority over him. It does not matter how many degrees that individual has; if he does not submit to God, he is a foolish.
Second, we were disobedient to God. We didn’t follow God’s will or God’s way. We all have been disobedient to God at some point in our lives. We have acted as if God has no authority in matters. In the words of Frank Sinatra, “We did it our way.”
Third, we were deceived. We were led away from the truth of God. The devil moved us away from the path of righteousness. Jesus told the Pharisees in Jn. 8:44 – You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
Third, we were enslaved. Jesus said in Jn. 8:34 – “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.” We were in bondage. We couldn’t free ourselves – no matter how hard we tried.
Once we are deceived, we find ourselves as Paul said, “enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures.” The very thing that we set out to enjoy, we find ourselves mastered by it. Sure, when we start out things are fun for a while, but we eventually find ourselves enslaved by it. That's why we hear about people who are consumed by greed, or addicted to drugs or alcohol or pornography.
The last thing Paul mentions here is that we were full of malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. When you hate someone, you usually retaliate. It becomes a vicious cycle. You hate them, they hate you. But Eph. 4:31-32 tells us – Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Paul said, “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient.” See, Paul is not just talking about other people. He includes himself in this description. He was a fool. He rejected Christ and was persecuting the church. Saul of Tarsus was selfish until Jesus Christ got a hold of his life. Once Jesus got a hold, look at the change that took place...
What God did
Paul goes on to write, "4But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,"
What did God do? First, he saved us. Titus 3:4-5a – But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.
We can’t save ourselves. Remember how Paul described us in vs. 2? Without Christ, we are foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved, malicious, and envious, hating one another and being hated. But Christ saved us! He gave his perfect life for our sinful ones. He showered us with his mercy and grace.
What is it that we were saved from? The Bible says that those who follow Jesus are saved from God's wrath. We are saved from the debt and consequences of our sins. Rom. 8:1 – Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Paul tells us that we are saved through the washing of rebirth. When we make the decision to follow Jesus and are baptized into him for the forgiveness of sins, we receive this washing of rebirth. Jesus told Nicodemus in Jn. 3:3 – “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
Second, he gave us the Holy Spirit. When Peter preached the first gospel sermon on the day of Pentecost in the 1st century AD, he said that those want to respond to the message of Jesus should repent and be baptized. Those who do will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
The very Spirit of Christ is given to us to enlighten us, guide us, and empower us. The work of the Spirit in our lives is the evidence that our rebirth is a real thing.
Third, he gave us the promise of eternal life. Titus 3:7 – [Paul says God did those things] so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
Jesus promises that when we become Christians, we will live with Him forever in Heaven after we die. That's not just wishful thinking. That isn't something we just say at a funeral. That is a fact based on Jesus Christ who died and rose from the grave. In Jn. 11:25 Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.”
Take just a moment and think about how incredibly kind God has been to us. We were foolish and rebellious, but instead of punishing us, He saves us. He gives us the gift of His Spirit to empower us. And He promises that we will be with Him in Heaven. Max Lucado wrote, "Grace is absurd to the human mind. In fact, the only thing more absurd than the gift is our stubborn unwillingness to receive it."
Because of what God has done, we are to live in a way that honors him and leads others to know him. Titus 3:8 – This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.
Close
A prairie fire had swept across a farm a few years back. Afterward, the farmer was walking over the area that had burned. He kicked a lump of charcoal that he thought was a stump. But when he kicked it, little baby chicks ran out from beneath.
Looking closer at it he realized it wasn't a burned stump. The lump was the remains of a mother hen who had realized her chicks would not escape the fire. So she gathered her chicks under her wings and sat there and endured the fire so that her chicks might live.
That was Christ's response to us. Knowing that we would not be able to escape on our own, Jesus voluntarily went to the cross and took all the punishment and pain so that we might live. We live a changed life. 2 Cor. 5:17 – Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
