A pure Container
Titus 2:1-10
Prayer-
Good morning everyone
We begin a series today that will focus on the works of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
I don’t think from the pulpit pastors speak into the life of believers enough the need to allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives and the power that comes from being directed and guided by the Spirit of God. To live by the Spirit of God the life that the Lord desires for us.
I have titled the message “A pure container” The only way we are able to be a pure container is to allow the Lord to be in our lives to get rid of the things that pollute us from being a vessel of honor.
It does not mean that we are perfect…it means that the Holy Spirit is allowed to lead and guide our lives.
I shared last week that it was 5 years since Covid-19 changed the way we do some things. It is also 5 years for me that my mother passed away and we had to get all of her affairs in line.
It was hard 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.
I found myself praying more…
Praying that we would make the best of the trip home and the best of a bad situation.
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 pier in the back yard talking to the Lord. Having a heart to heart- anyone know what I am talking about?
This is the same pier 2 days before we left had a massive part of our 80 foot willow tree fall into the water and just miss that pier.
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.
To be a pure vessel or container
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 personally willing to allow the Lord to do whatever is needed in your life?
To surrender our lives.
To say that you want more of God and you want the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you is important, but more important is allowing Him to be able to do that in our lives.
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 Jesus.
Our duty is to nurture those we come in contact with God’s “goodness”
We cannot live out 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, most 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.
Another thing Paul writes to Titus is to lead people to live lives of discipline and self control.
Another place we struggle because we have it our way mentality and society tells us it is all about us and when it is not all about us- voice your opinion loud.
Paul was fighting with the Jewish converts who had a hang up on circumcision-
Anyone who was not circumcised was considered not of the faith because instead of seeing that our salvation was in Jesus they believed in was in the act of circumcision.
Paul tells them in these passages that there are three types of people we have to minister to –
Rebels…those who are rebelling against the things of God.
Empty talkers…Those who are always “gonna” come to faith or ‘gonna” do service for Jesus. Bad English but you understand.
Deceivers
So let’s talk about these three types of people for a minute-
We all know rebels- Those that want nothing to do with the things of God
Atheist- Those that claim they do not believe in God.
I cannot quite understand that if you do not believe in God why it is so hard for you to let someone else believe in something you don’t think exist.
If I said I believe in unicorns, they would not fight me. They would just disagree with me.
Agnostic- Person’s that believes even if there is a higher power of authority that you could never have a relationship with that God.
Atheist has put their faith in that there is no God- That is a religion because it is their belief and doctrine.
Agnostic believes that there might be a God out there but the path to knowing him is impossible so they treat it like there is no God.
Again those that rebel against God are usually ones that will fight that what they don’t believe is not possible because they have not experienced it or do not acknowledge it.
Paul directs us that we have a responsibility as a believer to get in conversation with them to show them that a relationship is not only possible but beneficial for their lives.
(2) Empty talkers- Those that say they believe or at least acknowledge that there is a God. They’re going to check it out.
Someday never comes for them-
They are going to read their bibles
They are going to check out your church.
Coulda, shoulda, woulda…
Paul in numerous scripture references that these people are the most dangerous to themselves.
They put off the important things in their life for another time.
They are procrastinators and procrastinators miss God’s best because everything goes to the back burner.
There are really four kinds of procrastinators-
“I work well under pressure” and wait to the last minute to do something- they never accomplish what they could because they do not use the time and opportunities given them
Perfectionist could be in this category too- they put all the pressure on themselves because everything has to be perfect.
Everything is on a back burner because something has to happen before they can move forward.
They never seem to pull the trigger because it is not a perfect situation to pull the trigger.
Done is better than perfect- Most perfectionist never get things done.
“I’m so busy”- the over booker
Now it is true, if you want something done go to a busy person- you don’t go to a lazy person or one that does not get motivated.
An overbooker a lot of times is one who avoids the priorities in their life because they have created a busy schedule to avoid it.
An act of accomplishment for them is to keep their schedule full and always be trying to multitask.
“I have the best ideas” The dreamers who are always dreaming and coming up with new things but they never go past the dream phase. The ideas never materialize.
Illustration-
They act like a trout that you fling a shiny lure in front of them. They are not hungry and they don’t want it but because you throw that shiny object in front, they have to strike it and they have to grab it but they never are able to complete the project because they are caught up in so much other stuff.
So Paul tells us that we must speak to the rebels of God Word and we are to speak to the empty talkers.
Lastly here, he tells us that we are to speak to the deceivers-
Deceivers are the ones that would take away from the gospel- saved by works, saved because we are good people. Saved because I was circumcised. Saved because I belong to a church.
Deceivers are people drawing us away from God instead of closer to God.
1 John 4:1
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Acts 20:29-30
For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.
Titus 1:16
They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.
So how do I speak to those that are rebels, empty talkers, and deceivers who need Jesus?
He gives us a clear picture of who we are to be and what we are to say to them-
BE AN EXAMPLE
(7) Above all, set yourself apart as a model of life nobly lived. With dignity, demonstrate integrity in all that you teach. Bring a clear, wholesome message that cannot be condemned, and then your critics will be embarrassed, with nothing bad to say about us. Servants are to be supportive of their masters and do what is pleasing in every way. They are not to be argumentative nor steal but prove themselves to be completely loyal and trustworthy. By doing this they will advertise through all they do the beautiful teachings of God our savior.”
I want to speak to your soul for a minute and this is between you and the Lord-
Why would people be excited about your Jesus if you are not excited about Him?
Why would they want your Jesus if your Jesus looks like the world instead of the Holy God of creation that loves them and wants to see a transformational change in their lives?
When People come to Jesus for what they can get, it does not last long- it has to be for what Jesus has already done for them. When they experience Jesus holiness and their sinfulness and then when god is god and man is man- you experience the love of God flood your soul where there is an allegiance to Him above all others things!
That is where we become the containers or vessels that God can use and we become the mouthpiece of Almighty God!
Is there still a part of you that loves sin? Give it today to Him!
Transformational change is what God desires from us- life changing because God is involved.
I can have what He says I can have-
I can do what He says I can do-
Illustration- parachute
If you were going on a long flight and everyone was handed a parachute and told to put them on. You would put them on because you had to. As the flight was going and things were smooth, you would be tempted to take them off because you don’t think you would need them. Some would take off that parachute because you would think the plane was never going to crash and nothing will happen. Superman doesn’t need a parachute. But if you were told in the beginning that the reason you were getting the parachute was because at some point, you would be jumping out of the plane at 25,000 feet, that parachute would become your best friend. People today are carrying the parachute in their hands or toss it in the corner because they are not knowing that one day, the plane will crash and without a parachute, you will be lost and killed. We need to tell people to put the parachutes on and except the safety harness of salvation that Christ has offered to all of us. All are offered the parachute but not everyone will be wearing them when their life comes to an end. They will scramble but not be able to find the parachute.
We are the ones God chooses to use to reach the people around us- we are living in challenging times bit we are also living in times that we can make an impact on people’s lives- He will give us His anointing to touch people’s lives in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Blind people to God’s love will have their eyes opened.
Lost people headed away from God will be brought to Him by the gospel being shared with them by you and I.
People dead in their sins will be resurrected by the power of God to see the wonderful gift of God’s love through us!
Amen?
Pray-
