Sermon for 2/11/2001
Temperate
Titus 2:2; 1 Timothy 3:2
Introduction:
A. Once the devil was walking along with one of his demons. They saw a man ahead of them pick up something shiny. “What did he find?” asked the demon. “A piece of the truth,” the devil replied. “Doesn’t it bother you that he found a piece of the truth?” asked the demon. “No,” said the devil, “I will see to it that he makes a religion out of it.”
WBTU:
A. (Eccl 7:18 NIV) It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. The man who fears God will avoid all extremes.
B. This is not found in other versions, translations of the Bible. However, the concept is clearly defined in the context.
1. Avoid extremism in seeking to be righteous and wise, lest you destroy yourself.
2. Do not be so holier than thou.
3. Avoid extremism in wickedness and foolishness, lest you die before your time.
4. Those people who give into their weaknesses and sins end up dead.
5. Don’t refrain from true righteousness and wisdom.
6. Fearing God will help one escape extremism.
7. The Pharisees tithed a tenth of their garden spices but forgot other portions of the Law which where more important.
C. Look up 1 Timothy 3:2- Temperate.
D. What do we think of when we here the word temperate? Drinking or anger. Both of these apply and so much more.
E. Webster’s Dictionary- Not extreme or excessive; moderate in indulgence of appetite or desire; moderate in the use of intoxicating liquors.
F. Focus in on the first phrase more than the others, the rest modifies the first.
G. NIV uses the word temperate, KJV uses the word vigilant.
H. Paul was describing a person who has a clear focus on life. Practically speaking, a temperate man doesn’t lose his physical, psychological and spiritual orientation. He is stable and steadfast, and his thinking is clear.
I. This person has a correct perspective on life in this world. He/she knows what truly is important.
J. A temperate man doesn’t go to extremes. On the one hand, he doesn’t believe he is responsible to solve all the problems in the world, allowing himself to get sidetracked from his priority as a Christian. On the other hand, he does what he can to solve humankind’s social ills, but again without neglecting his biblical priorities.
K. A temperate man/woman doesn’t go on emotional tangents. He/she has a sense of inner peace and security, no matter what is happening in life generally.
L. Fits of rage do not describe a mature Christian. Not violent. Not quick-tempered.
M. This person is sober and calm in judgment. He is someone who is stable and does not overreact to situations, becoming overwhelmed, nervous, or insecure.
N. Warren Bennis- Effective leaders reward dissent, as well as encourage it. They understand that whatever momentary discomfort they experience as a result of being told from time to time that they are wrong is more than offset by the fact that “reflective back talk” increases a leader’s ability to make good decisions.
O. A person who does not want any constructive criticism is not a mature Christian. Cannot improve if we do not know where we are wrong or weak.
P. Also, in our world we can get sidetracked onto extremes. Take for instance the issues that we discussed last week.
1. Homosexuality- Matthew Shepherd to whatever.
2. Sexuality- Mark them with an “A” and shun them to well everybody does it in this world.
3. Abortion- Kill the abortion doctors to whatever.
4. Addictions- Kill the drug dealers and boycott all bars and sellers of alcohol and lock up the drugies, to whatever.
5. The government- Timothy McVeigh to whatever.
Q. Some people have become like Rush Limbaugh and this is all of there message. Maybe gone ever more extreme than that.
R. As we watch the news, are we lead into a frenzy because of the corruptness around us. Many people get sidetracked and forget that God is still God and that He is in control of the universe and our nation. Need to get back into balance. We should be concerned but this should not be our focus.
S. Gene Getz- God never called us as Christians to save America- as a nation, that is. Rather, we are to be “light” and “salt” in a world that desperately needs Christ.
T. Protesting is good sometimes, but some people are so into this that they forget the most important thing is to be witnesses in this world.
U. However, this does not mean we should not be good citizens. We should be informed. We should take every opportunity to voice our opinions through the political process.
V. The New Testament Christians did this and were defeated in the political realm. However, they were joyful in the midst of trials and tribulations. Many people are not in our world.
W. Many of us are being lulled to sleep. Most of these issues don’t involve me so who cares?
X. (1 Th 5:3 NIV) While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly
Y. We will all go through momentary periods in our lives when we are temporarily confused and our thinking becomes distorted and blurred.
1. Man who believed that everyone must come to church in a suit and tie.
2. The dispute over the American flag.
3. The woman who came to me about if her dogs were going to be in heaven.
4. More interest in the worship service if it is changed than in winning souls.
5. Dietary things. Man who came to a pig pickin’.
6. Take up a Biblical position to an extreme:
a) Woman cannot speak, sing in the church.
b) Once saved always saved, or lose my salvation over one sin (Purgatory).
c) End times theology (Rapture).
d) Only the 144,000 will be in heaven.
e) Baptism extremes- Baptizing babies, it is not important belief, who cares if there is no change.
f) Alcohol issues. However, we should never say that we are never going to associate with those who are addicted to alcohol.
g) Cannot fellowship with you because you do not attend a Christian church/Church of Christ.
Z. Let’s take it down a notch. Thinking is not in balance and our lives are not in balance. Make it more personal.
1. Too much work, not enough family time.
2. Too much study, not enough service.
3. Too much recreation, not enough prayer.
4. Too much fellowship, not enough witnessing.
5. Too many tasks, not enough people time.
6. Pray without ceasing.
7. In my life, working 90 hours a week, no time for prayer, no time for friends. Out of balance.
8. No time for church and spiritual things.
AA. The person who is stable. The person that you would go to about being out of balance.
BB. Hot and cold Christians. Out of balance all the time. Out of control.
CC. If we are maturing in Christ, these are “moments” in our journey compared with the “periods” when our minds are clear, our focus is accurate and we are living “temperate” lives.
DD. Our focus is all wrong. The radio station.
Thesis: How can we become temperate in all things? Titus 2:2.
For instances:
I. Be a person of faith.
A. A mature person of God steps out and acts on the promises of God.
B. Like so many others.
C. Hebrews 12:1-2
D. A temperate person looks to Jesus.
E. The Second Coming. What is important?
F. (2 Pet 3:10 NIV) But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.(2 Pet 3:11 NIV) Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives
G. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.
H. (Jude 1:20 NIV) But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.(Jude 1:21 NIV) Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
I. Build on it. Young Christians are vulnerable to every new Spiritual fad.
J. Help to keep us in balance. Sound in faith
II. Be a person of hope.
A. We have an eternal inheritance as Christians.
B. Helmet, hope of salvation.
C. We have an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.
D. Hope also is a present state of being.
E. and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. It gives us endurance.
F. Do not need to focus on the riches and the things of this world.
G. We need to hold onto our hope without wavering.
H. Be joyful in hope.
I. or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.
J. This person’s past, present and future perspectives are clear, sharp and theologically correct.
K. No retirement for Christians. If believe in heaven, need to do something about it.
L. Sound in endurance
III. Be a person of love.
A. (1 Cor 13:13 NIV) And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
B. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.
C. (Rom 13:9 NIV) The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself."(Rom 13:10 NIV) Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
D. Why is love the greatest? Because it never fails.
E. Talk more about this later.
F. People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.
G. There’s a tendency for some older Christian people to get crotchety, super dogmatic, legalistic. But a Christian should become more unselfish and more compassionate with age and have a positive influence.
H. Sound in love.
G. Not focused on these things, we are off balance, not focused.
Conclusion:
A. Practical suggestions.
1. Develop a plan for personal Bible study and prayer.
2. Interact with mature Christians. People with balance, temperate.
3. Read biographies of great Christians.
4. Set Biblical priorities.
5. Discern what is temporal and what is eternal.
6. Verbalize praise and thanksgiving to God for loving and saving us.
7. Get plenty of rest and relaxation. It is easy to lose perspective when we are mentally and emotionally drained.
8. We are in this for the long haul.
B. How was Jesus temperate?
C. He got right to the heart of the issue in his teaching. Did not dwell on trivia.
D. He kept his eyes and mind on the goal.
E. He made time for the important things.
F. Did not have fits of anger. Always under control
G. He had faith, hope and love. Above all, love. Tough love, but love.
H. Hebrews 12:1-2- Invitation.
