GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS TO PROMOTE SPIRITUAL GROWTH IN MEN
Titus 2:2-8
I. THE INTRODUCTION
God has placed an awesome responsibility upon us men. He has given us the responsibility of leading His church and our families. When He gave us His name, Father, He designated us as His primary representative in the church and in the family. We have the responsibility to lead others to walk in His paths of righteousness. We are to be the point men leading our families through this treacherous world. To accomplish our mission we must be spiritually mature and ever growing into deeper levels of Christ-likeness.
Men, what do you need to do in order to grow into spiritual maturity? How can you insure that you will continue to grow into Christ-likeness? How can you become a man who is spiritually equipped to lead his family through this treacherous world in which we live?
Paul answers those questions in our text, Titus 2:2-8. Remember Paul is writing to Titus who is on the island of Crete. Paul is giving him instructions on how to promote spiritual growth among the Christians there. Paul’s instructions are timeless truths that speak to us today as well. The same things that promoted spiritual growth in the men in Crete will promote spiritual growth in your life.
Last week, we saw the first thing you must do to insure your spiritual growth into Christ-likeness is to place yourself under qualified spiritual leadership--Paul talks about that in the first part of chapter one. The second thing you must do is shun false teachers. Paul deals with this in verses 10-16.
In chapter two, Paul moves from giving general instructions for all Christians to particular instructions for three particular groups of people—men, women, and slaves. God’s Word today is addressed to the men in our congregation. He has something in particular to say to you older men and something particular to say to us younger men. Ladies, you can sit back and enjoy this sermon. Your turn will come next week!
II. GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS TO PROMOTE SPIRITUAL GROWTH IN OLDER MEN (2)
By older men, Paul is probably referring to men whose children are grown and have left home. A man’s age is not as important here as the cultural view. The question is does the culture see him as an older man?
Old age presents particular challenges to spiritual growth. Increased age typically brings decreased energy, diminished vision and hearing, more aches and pains, and often more depression, hopelessness, and cynicism. In the last chapter of Ecclesiastes we are told, "Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, ’I have no delight in them’; before the sun, the light, the moon, and the stars are darkened, and clouds return after the rain; in the day that the watchmen of the house tremble, and mighty men stoop" (12:1-3).
For the Christian, however, old age should be different. Old age should be associated with such things as maturity, wisdom, and patience. Like Job said, “Wisdom is with aged men, and with long life is understanding.” Job 12:12. For Christians, old age should bring greater love for God, greater love for the people of God, and greater love for the things of God. Instead of depression and despair there should be hope and joyous expectation of seeing Jesus face to face. With retirement comes more time to serve God.
We have things reversed. We think the older a person gets the less committed he should be in serving God. The truth is: the older a person get the more devoted he should be in serving God. Moses was 80 years old when God called him to lead Israel out of the bondage of Egypt.
Look at John Wesley. At the age of 83--after having traveled some 250,000 miles on horseback, preached more than 40,000 sermons, and produced some 200 books and pamphlets--John Wesley regretted that he was unable to read and write for more than 15 hours a day without his eyes becoming too tired to work. After his 86th birthday, he admitted to an increasing tendency to lie in bed until 5:30 in the morning!
Christian do not retire they get retreaded! To be that man who is going strong for God at eighty-six there are certain qualities that need to be in your life.
The first quality an older man is to have is temperance. The word in the Greek has to do with sobriety from wine. It refers to either the total abstinence from wine or at the very least a very moderate us of it. The idea seems to be that these elderly men must not be drunkards or given to drinking much alcohol. It is probably used metaphorically to refer to the older man’s life must be free from excesses. He must avoid overindulgences or extravagances. Men, look at your life. Are there any excesses there? Is temperance a quality of your life? Temperance comes from allowing the Holy Spirit to control your life. Walk in the fullness of the Holy Spirit and you will have self-control.
Next, Paul says the older men must be dignified. This word carries the idea of honorable, worthy of reverence and respect. Older men are naturally respected and they should conduct themselves in such a way that promotes that respect. The older men are not to act like silly boys. Everyone realizes it is inappropriate for old men to be silly. They can laugh and be humorous but they are not to be silly or foolish. Men, are you dignified? Ask your wife. She can tell you. Dignity comes from a close relationship with God. The closer you walk with Jesus the more honorable and reverent your life will be.
The third thing Paul says is older men are to be sensible. Not only must the older men be temperate and dignified, but they must also be sensible. The literally meaning of this word is “healthy mind.” It carries the idea of sound judgment and self-control that comes from walking with God for many years. The elder men are to be level-headed and sound in their judgments. Paul is saying the older men by being “sensible” and sound in their judgments can have a steadying effect upon the church. Particularly in my earlier years in the ministry, I would consult the older men in the church about new ideas or things I wanted to do in the church. I wanted to draw from their wisdom and sound judgment to help temper my youthful enthusiasm. Men, are you sensible? Do you have sound judgment? This comes from spending much time with God in His Word. The more we saturate our minds with the thoughts and judgments of God the more sound our judgments will be!
The fourth things Paul says is the older men are to be sound in faith, love, and perseverance. A key to understanding what Paul is saying is the word “sound.” This adjective applies to all three of the nouns; love, faith, and perseverance. The word “sound” means healthy or well. It means to be free from sickness, disease, and error. It means things are as they should be; proper and whole. Paul uses this word several times in Titus, 1:9, 2:1, 2, and 8.
Paul first applies sound to the older men’s faith. The Greek New Testament has the article “the” before faith, thus meaning “the faith.” Paul is talking about the body of Christian truth, the doctrines of Christianity. To be sound in the faith means one is true and correct in his doctrinal beliefs. There is no disease or error in his doctrines. Older men are to be solidly rooted in the Biblical truths of our faith. This enables them to have a steadying and purifying effect in the church. They are so healthy in their doctrinal beliefs they immediately see any theological disease! They help keep the church on the right track. Men, are you solid in your doctrinal beliefs? This comes from studying the Word, formulating your beliefs from the Word and studying doctrinal books.
Older men are to not only be sound in their beliefs but they are also to be sound in their love. The word for love is agape, the unconditional self-giving love of God. This is the love produced in the heart of a yielded Christian by the Holy Spirit. Older men are to be the epitome of self-giving love in the church. This is the love of 1 Cor. 13. This is the love that bears one another’s burdens and in so doing fulfill the law of Christ, (Gal. 6:2). Men, do you have this agape love for others?
Third, Paul says older men are also to be sound in their perseverance—not just sound in their faith and love but also in their perseverance. Perseverance means to remain steady under extreme pressure. The older man is to hold on to the faith even under the greatest trials. He is undaunted in his walk with the Lord even when he faces great adversity, suffering, and hardships. He keeps on keeping on. He remains as steadfast as a rock! He has lived long enough to have God’s perspective on life. He knows God works all things together for God to those who love him and are called according to His purpose (Rom. 8:28).
Where do we get this perseverance, this endurance? James 1:2-4 “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” Perseverance comes from facing various trials throughout your life. When you go through a trial trusting God to see you through, it builds up your perseverance. You older men have been through a great deal of trials in your lives. Therefore, you should be healthy, sound in your perseverance.
III. GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS TO PROMOTE SPIRITUAL GROWTH IN YOUNGER MEN (6-8)
Having instructed the older men, Paul now turns his attention to the younger men. He tells the younger men they are to be sensible in all things. This is the fourth time Paul has used this word in these 25 verses. I believe the emphasis of this word “sensible” when used with the younger men is on self-control--the self-control that comes from godly thinking. The word sensible is made up of two Greek words which are literally “saved + thinking.” The key to self-control is godly thinking—thinking like a Christian. The young men must curb their passions through godly thinking—Biblical thinking. There are many passions associated with youth such as wanting to make it big, wanting to be a success, as well as many physical passions. Paul is saying you young men must exercise self-control and rein these passions in by keeping a godly perspective on your life. Right thinking leads to right actions.
Paul gave this same advice to the church at Rome. He tells them “ And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect., (12:2). The key to not conforming to the world is the transformed, renewed mind. Right thinking is the key to self-control.
Having addressed the older men and the younger men, Paul now directly addresses young Titus (7). He tells Titus he is to be an example to the younger men of good deeds, purity in doctrine, dignity, and in sound speech. Although these words are directly addressed to Titus, they are also indirectly addressed to the younger men. Titus is to be an example in these matters that the young men are to follow.
There is a good word picture in this word “example.” The Greek word is tupos from which we get the English word “type.” A type is a mark or impression left by a die or stamp. Remember the typewriter. You hit the key and the letter would hit the ribbon and leave a type (impression) of the letter on the paper. Paul is telling Titus his godly life must leave its mark (impression) on these young men. One should be able to see the imprint of Titus’ life in these young men.
Titus is to be an example of good works. Paul has a great deal to say about good works in this letter. For instance, 2:14, 3:1,8, and 14. Paul stresses good works because a saving faith will produce good works. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” (Eph 2:10) As a Christian there should be good works in your life. Young men, when someone looks at your life, do they see good works?
Not only must Titus be an example of good works, but he must also be an example of purity in doctrine. Titus’ teaching must be free from error or corruption. He must teach the whole truth and nothing but the truth. In particular, he must not allow himself to be influenced by the false teachers. Young men, do you have purity in your doctrines? Men, are your beliefs solidly based on God’s Word?
Third, Titus was to set the example of a dignified life, a serious life that is fixed on God and honors whatever honors Him. As we saw earlier, in relation to older men (2) being dignified does not mean he cannot have a sense of humor, or laugh, or enjoy life. It does mean he should be able to distinguish between that which is important and that which is trivial. As their pastor, Titus must live a way that brings the respect of the men in his church. Men, are you living in a way that earns the respect of those who are both inside and outside of the church?
Finally, Paul tells Titus he must be an example in sound speech. Remember this word “sound” means “healthy, proper.” His everyday conversation must be above reproach. As he talks with these young men day by day, Titus must keep his conversations healthy and wholesome. He must not slip into unwholesome talk or lewd jokes or provocative conversations. Young men, is your conversation sound, wholesome? Is your speech above reproach?
Paul tells Titus if he will conduct himself as a godly example in these areas, the opponents of the gospel will be put to shame. His conduct will so outshine theirs they will be ashamed and silenced! The world has to take note of a godly life. They will not like it. They may even hate it. But, they will have to notice it and respect it.
CONCLUSION
Men, how are you measuring up? I have covered a great deal this morning. I want to give you a minute to process what I have said and let God speak to you. I want everyone to bow their head and enter into a time of prayer and reflection. As I go over these qualities, see if they are in your life. Ask God what you can do to see them developed more strongly in your life.
1. Older men
Temperate—no excesses
Dignified—worthy of respect
Sound in faith, love, perseverance
2. Younger men
Sensible—self-control
Involved in good works
Purity of doctrine
Dignified
Above reproach in your conversation
What would God have you do?
