Letters from home
All Scriptures listed NKJV: The New King James Version. 1996, c1982. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
One of the dangers of email is the endangered species of written letters.
Letters give us a sense of personal history that you can’t find in history books.
I enjoy writing letters, and I enjoy reading letters. During my research of my personal family history, I found letters online written by Great Grandparents and other family members.
Several years ago, Ronald Reagan’s family published a collection of his of letters. There is collection in print of C.S Lewis letters.
Written letters give a personal record of history, relationships, and emotions.
Most letters are written because one of the parties is far away and the other party has a specific message to bring.
Such is the case with The Book of Titus. Titus is found on page 1058 and 1059 of the red Bibles under your pews.
Titus was a letter to a friend, with a specific message, but includes a personal historical account of the relationship between two men.
When I write a letter, the most important messages are found in the first paragraph and the last paragraph.
This is where I usually write “I love you” to my wife, or” Thank you” for a gift, or “Let’s go fishing” to my Dad.
The last four verses of Paul’s letter to Titus, carries the same impact. This is the very personal message that Paul wants to convey to Titus.
Titus was a friend of Paul’s. He had a similar relationship to Paul as Timothy did. He was a friend and apprentice in missionary work. The relationship with Paul is so similar that I Timothy and Titus are very much alike.
Titus was Paul’s special representation on the island of Crete. So what Paul says to Titus at the very end of the letter is important to Titus and gives us an example of what Paul thinks is personally important as he closes his letter.
As we close this series on being halfway home, there is a message for us as well. The message is personal and is imperative for us to follow. We have instructions for how we are to finish strong over the next six months.
First, we see that we must interact with others.
The last three verses are found at the bottom of page 1059, Titus; beginning with verse 12.
Titus 3:12-13
12 When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, be diligent to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. 13 Send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey with haste, that they may lack nothing.
Paul says several things here. He says that he is sending people, he wants Titus to come to him, and Titus should send others.
We see a society of movement. People are moving in and out of their lives constantly. They are being sent, summoned, and sent away. Paul definitely is working as a team effort.
He knows that he can’t do it all on his own. Everywhere we see Paul, constantly building the team. When a person was added, he mentored them and guided them in the faith.
Paul describes the church as a body in I Corinthian 12. He uses the analogy of the human body to describe how to respond to others in the church.
I Corinthians 12:27-28
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.
And Paul continues 29-31
29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
Chapter 13:1
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. (1 Co. 12:27-13:1, NKJV)
We all have a part to play. In order to tap into these areas, we must interact with people.
This is probably one of my weakest areas. I enjoy getting in the books, getting focused on what I’m doing, and getting in my own little world. But there is so much that would be accomplished, if I spent more time with people. And I’m learning that I have to force myself out. My wife encourages me in that area.
It is imperative that we all learn to work with others.
I was watching the C-Huts being built once the last several weeks, and was thinking about this sermon. I saw a principle of significance; nothing is built by one person. If it is a C-Hut, if takes on entire work crew; electricians, contractors, roofers, brick layers, and builders.
Microsoft was not built by Bill Gates alone, he had help. He chose the right people and followed the right principles, but he didn’t do it alone.
If we are going to make a difference on this FOB, we are going to have to interact with others, encouraging others to be apart to use their gifts to strengthen the body.
There is no regulation that says the chaplain is the only one allowed to lead Bible studies or prayer groups. We must find what part of the body in which we function and do it.
What are you doing for the kingdom which you are here? Are you interacting with others to get a job done? Many times our desires and plans fail because we try to do it ourselves.
Then, we are to do good to others.
Titus 3:14
14 And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.
Paul tells Titus that “Our people… learn to maintain good walks”.
The New Living Translation reads: “They must learn to do good.”
We are still learning to do good. So many times, we get so focused on our own thoughts and struggles that we don’t recognize the needs of those around us.
This is a particular danger halfway through a deployment to do this. It is cold outside. We’ve been away from home for six months. We see the same dirt everyday – if you’re watch – the TV series “24”, you’re about done with season 3 or 4 and there is nothing else until season 5. It would be easy for us to just slip into auto-pilot and let the world pass us by.
Titus 3:14
14 And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.
We need to be fruitful. You and I need to learn to maintain good works.
I like that word – maintain. You don’t just fix an aircraft and its good; you must maintain it.
I read yesterday that the Navy is retiring the F14 Tomcat. Primarily, because it took 50 hours of maintenance per hour flown.
Maintenance is an intentional and specific task that is consistently executed.
Maintenance is not a “sometimes” job, it is continuous and consistent. The Bible says that we are to learn to maintain good works.
We are to be intentionally and consistently doing good works.
There is a boy in Western, Florida who sent a rose to every girl in his junior class. He spent $900 to do this.
The boy, Paul Kim, said:
“To me, valentines day is a special day. I realized that not many girls would get anything and it would be on ordinary day. I figure I’d take the initiative and put a smile on their face.” (SS, FEB 17, 2006)
Doing good means to see a need and acting on it. This boy simply saw a need. He had been saving his money since December and took the initiative.
Are there needs around you? Are you looking for those around you that may be hurting? Maybe, like Paul Kim found, maybe we don’t even recognize the need that they had.
Be on the look out for ways that you can take care of those around us.
We sang earlier; “If we are the body, why aren’t His arms reaching? Why aren’t His hands healing? Why aren’t His words teaching? Why aren’t His feet going? Why is His love not showing them there is a way?”
There are so many ways we can reach out to those around us. We need to be figuring out what works and what doesn’t.
We need to be people that look for opportunities to serve. Those around us will need to know we care, before they will listen to our message of salvation.
Finally, we so that need to bless others.
Titus 3:15
15 All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith.
Grace be with you all. Amen.
Paul says to Titus “grace be with you.” It is a common ending to Paul’s letters. I end many of my letters to Monica with “I love you” – the most important message that I have for her.
We live in a world of cursing.
When I was in grade school, we frequently had an opportunity to order books. We had this little newspaper and had books and descriptions. We would bring the form back to school with money and about a month later, we would have the books distributed.
One of the books listed I think has become a classic. When Monica was still teaching school, I saw that the book was still on the list. It was called. “Snappy Put downs and Practical Jokes.”
It amazing me that we would need an instruction guide to hurting someone feelings.
We live in a world of curses. You and I need to be different. We need to be people of blessing.
Randy Sprinkle writes:
To bless in this way is to give a gift by speaking the intent of God… Blessing is verbal engagement in God – agreement regarding His desires for people. Our words of blessing watch God’s will for blessing. And He honors our faithful speaking by doing that which we speak. (Follow Me, P47)
In this world of cursing and curses, you and I need to be agents of blessings. When you entire a building, do you bless it? When you walk by a group of people do you bless them?
We need to live our lives in prayerful way that bring honor to God and blessing to those around us.
Tonight, we have taken a letter from Paul to see how we live our lives for the next six months. We have heard his personal encouragement to interact with others, to do good to others, and to bless others.
As you walked in tonight, you were given a litter from students at Ben Lippen Christian School in Columbia, South Carolina.
These kids want you to know that you are supported they represent what Paul is talking about.
They took the time to involve themselves with you. They took the time to do good. And through these letters, they have blessed us.
One common theme through many of the letters is their concern that you and I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Jesus came because God loved us so much. But, we are separated from Him because of our sin. Sin is anything you think, say or do that makes God unhappy. The Bible says that the payment for sin is death—which is eternal separation from God.
Jesus died in our place so that we can have eternal life and be with God for eternity. He became our substitution.
The only requirement is that we accept this as a free gift. You can accept Christ as your substitution—your savior, tonight.
I will be down at the front at the end of the service. Take time to come and talk to me about accepting his free gift tonight.
