Please open your Bibles to Titus chapter 3.  Today is our last Sunday looking at Godly manhood. 

Paul is writing about where mothers and fathers - grandparents - Sunday School teachers and youth leaders - need to point young boys.  Or, if you’re a woman with a man in training - this is what you need to encourage him to become.  Or, if you’re just looking for a man - this is the kind of man you need to look for.  What we’ve been looking at is what we men can help our brothers in Jesus to become - to stay focused on.

What we’ve seen is that a Godly man pursues - aspires to be - God’s man from the heart.  Being a Godly man is not about a task list of “Godly Man Characteristics” - where we check off each characteristic as we achieve it.  Godly manhood begins when we surrender our lives - our hearts - the core of who we are to God.  Being God’s man means that God has the freedom to transform us and make us into the man that He’s created us to be.

As we surrender ourselves God - in that process of transformation - we become examples to those around us - make a powerful positive impact in the lives of those around us - family - work - school - church - community - a powerful impact for God.  We actually become the men - the fathers - the husbands - the men that - deep down - we desire to be.

What we are coming to here in chapter 3 are 3 practical examples of what Godly manhood looks like in the real world.

Titus 3 - verse 1 - Paul writing to Titus:  Remind them - them meaning the men in the church aspiring to Godliness - Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.

Let’s pause there.  Example number one:   Godly manhood respects authority.  Say that with me, “Godly manhood respects authority.”

We’re in the midst of an election season.  There are three main candidates running for President.  They are who?  Hillary, Obama, and John McCain.  An interesting assortment of ideas of ideologies and personalities.  Right?

Someone once asked, “Who is the best candidate for the office and why isn’t he running?”  Have you heard that?  It feels like that sometimes.  Doesn’t it?  Not long ago someone asked, “Where are all the statesmen like we’ve had in the past?”

Sooner or later - one of these candidates is probably going to be elected as our next President.  That person is going to have a degree of authority -rule - over each one of us.  What Paul writes here is that it doesn’t matter if the name following President is Clinton or Obama or McCain - or any other name - Nero - for example - that authority needs to be respected.

The authority - that Paul is focused on - is primarily civil authority - politicians - the IRS - police - some clerk demanding we fill out some useless form or pay some stupid fee - civil authority.  The principle also applies to our teachers - our bosses - anyone who has authority over us. 

To “subject” means voluntarily choosing to place our selves under authority.  To “obey” means actually doing what is required of us.  “Remind” is like a V8 moment.  We’ve just choked downed a warm can of grass tea soda and suddenly - “I could have had a V8!”  Reminding us of something we forget - but already know to be true.

Its like:  “Oh yeah.  These are people who’s authority I’m suppose to respect.”  Sometimes we need to be reminded of that.  Because sometimes that choice of subjection - obedience - isn’t easy.

The culture where Titus was pastoring - the Cretans - these people were lazy gluttons - focused on whatever pleasures they could get in life for the least effort.  The Greek word “kretizo” comes from the word “crete” - meaning “to lie.”  Does this sound familiar?  Everything is okay.  Get ahead - grab what you want - any way you can - lie - steal - cheat - as long a you don’t get caught.  If you do get caught, blame someone else. 

The Cretans were wicked - evil.  Women and slaves were objects on the lowest level of society.  If you can imagine it - it was part of the society - and then some.  They treated each other like animals - undignified.  Crete was a dangerous - unsafe - immoral place to be.  All of which is not too much different from where our society is heading - or maybe already is. 

Imagine the leadership - the rulers - the authorities - that had risen to the top of that culture.  The best of the best of the best of the immoral.  People able to manipulate a corrupt system for their own benefit.

What Paul writes here was not an easy thing to do.  And it still isn’t.  And yet, a Godly man chooses to respect authority. 

The one exception to that is what?  Its what Peter tells the Jewish Supreme Court - in Acts 5:29:  “We must obey God rather than men.”  If there’s a conflict between the revealed will of God and what human authority asks us to do - if obeying human authority requires us to disobey God - then we must choose to obey God.  But, the vast majority of the time we’re a long ways away from that exception clause.

Then Paul writes - verse 1 - respecting authority that we are to be reminded “to be ready for every good deed.”

Being ready isn’t a knee jerk reaction to the immoral things going on in our society - or the immoral things coming out of our political and legal system.  Often it seems like the church’s agenda is being set by our reaction to what’s happening around us.

To be ready is to be proactive - preparing ourselves - financially - materially - educationally - spiritually  - proactively preparing - being ready - to seize the opportunities that God opens us to us to do good deeds - what’s morally and physically and spiritually beneficial to others.

In verse 2 Paul describes what he means by “good deeds.”

Paul writes don’t malign anyone.  Malign is the Greek word “blasphemos” which is where we get our English word?  “Blaspheme.”  It has the idea of saying something really stupid and hurtful about someone.  Instead of shredding people - speak respectfully about those in authority.

Be peaceable.  Don’t pick fights with authority.  Constantly harassing and attacking them or their positions.

Be gentle - courteous - easy to get along with - showing every consideration for all men - treating everyone with an equal measure of respect.   

Going on to verse 3 - For - here’s the reason why - for we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.

In other words - when we get it in our minds to start trashing those in authority over us we need to take a dose of reality.  We’re all floating in the same boat.

Verse 4:  But - circle that word “but.”  That word “but” means that everything that Paul has said previously - is now changed by what comes next.  We were once caught up - living like our society - “but” we’re different now.

But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

In Victor Hugo’s novel Les Mise/rables - Jean Valjean is a heartless - dangerous - bitter - angry - violent - convict - who’s spent 19 years in chains - doing hard labor - because he stole some food.  While traveling to Dijon to make parole - Jean Valjean shows up at the door of the town bishop - who invites him in - feeds him - gives him a bed to sleep in.

Jean Valjean pays his gratitude to the bishop by beating him - stealing his silver - and escaping into the night.  He’s caught and brought back to the bishop - to prove his guilt - to seal his fate as a hopeless criminal.

(VIDEO )

“You no longer belong to evil.  With this silver I’ve bought your soul.  I’ve ransomed you from fear and hatred.  Now I give you back to God.”

God’s grace breaks into our lives - the once foolish - disobedient - deceived - enslaved.  God breaks into our lives - His love for mankind appearing.  Jesus - dying on a cross - taking on Himself the penalty for our sins.  Not because we deserve it - but because God is gracious - because God is merciful.

Godly men are ready to act with good deeds towards those in authority over us because we understand that God - the highest authority - has treated us unfairly - in a way that we don’t deserve.  Treated us with grace and mercy so that we no longer belong to evil.  God ransoms us from fear and hatred.  God makes us to be heirs of life with Him - His sons and daughters.  Godly men.

Do you see what Paul is getting?  Godly men - men who’s lives are being changed by God - will understand that what’s at stake here is not who gets to be President.  What’s at stake is the eternal destiny of those who rule and those who are ruled over.  How we proactively show respect may be what God uses to open the door of opportunity to lead someone to Jesus.

A few years back Billy Graham was speaking at a dinner for United Nations diplomats - Billy Graham said this, “I salute all of you for your dedication and the work you do in the U.N.  You serve in a great humanitarian organization, but the greatest problems that face us are spiritual in nature...  In the midst of all you are doing around the world to alleviate suffering and bring about peace, I pray you will not starve your own soul.”  (1)

The focus of the church - of Godly men - is not to reform or reclaim America - or any other nation or culture.  Our focus is to preach and live the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Example number two:  Godly manhood and people who are really off track.  Say that with me:  “Godly manhood and people who re really off track.”

Verse 8:  This is a trustworthy statement - its a truth that stands the test of time - this is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds.  These things are good and profitable for men.

Notice Paul’s emphasis:  “Those who have believed God.”  Not those who “believe in God.”  But those who “believe God” - engage in good deeds.

Believing in God is popular today.  There’s a tremendous renewal of interest in things spiritual or supernatural.  According to the people who research these things - about 70 to 80% of Americans “believe in God.”  Whatever God is.

Satan is working overtime to deceive people - to keep them ignorant of true spirituality and Godliness - to confuse them about the Gospel and who Jesus really is. 

Today, there’s a growing number of churches in America that are echoing the confusion of our society.  Satan has side-tracked them into believing that God is some sort of social engineer who’s focused on human rights - and a brand of spiritually that’s focused on us.  God is a kind of warm fuzzy feeling God.  As long as I show up and do all the stuff that I think God expects of me then God’s going to do what I expect Him to do for me.

In contrast - those who “believe God” are those who take God at His word and live in faithful obedience and surrender to Him.

Paul says - purposefully - confidently - speak to those who know God - not just those who believe that there is a god - but speak confidently to those who know God - so that they’ll engage in good deeds - what is good and profitable for men.

“To engage” is the Greek verb “proistemi.”  Think priority - giving focused attention to something without getting side tracked.  Staying on target.

Godly men are to be careful to stay focused on what is good and profitable for men.  Namely - the gospel.  Living and sharing what brings people to Jesus. 

How many of you have read “Moby Dick” - the novel by Herman Melville?  When I was in High School we had to read Moby Dick.  The English teachers loved it.  We students hated it.

The basic plot is what?  There’s this insane Captain Ahab who goes on a quest to kill the great white whale - Moby Dick - and everyone dies - except Ishmael - who lives to write the book - because somebody had to write the book.

There’s one scene - when the crew of the Pequod - Captain Ahab’s ship - when the crew is chasing down a group of whales.  The crew is in small boats - out on the open ocean.

There are these huge whales - any one of them could have wiped out these small little boats.  The crew is rowing for all they’re worth.  The freezing water is churning.  The boats are filling with water.  Its a life and death struggle.  All around them is the chaos and confusion of the chase - whales - white water - and these small boats.

In the front of one boat is Queequeg - the harpooner.  Amid all the commotion - he stands harpoon in hand - focused on the whale.  He’s the one who must get it right the first time - he must harpoon the whale - or everyone is lost.

Here we are - in our society - a spiritual life and death struggle - amid a society of confusion - deceived - moving farther from God.  As Godly men we must focus on the right thing - if we’re to get it right - and make a real difference.

Verse 9:  “But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.”

In Crete there were those in the church who gave great importance to the discussion of genealogies and Jewish religious history - who spent time engaged in arguments and disputes over what parts of the Old Testament Law a Christian needed to keep.  Ultimately they’d put together a religion blended of ideas and philosophies that ultimately was contrary to the gospel.

Paul calls these foolish controversies.  Foolish is the Greek word “moras”  which is what we get what from?  “Moron.”  Stupid.  They’re unprofitable - worthless.  They produce nothing of value.  These people are way off track.  Avoid getting sucked into arguing with them.  Focus on the target.  Hit the whale or we’re all in trouble.

Verses 10 and 11:  “Reject a factious man after a first and second warning, knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned.”

This is hard for us.  It almost sounds unchristian.  We want to include people.  To give consideration to people’s ideas and suggestions.  To share God’s love with others and win them to the Gospel.

Paul warns - “reject a factious man.”  The Greek word for factious is “airetikon.”  Which is where we get our word?  “Heretic.”  Literally someone who’s made a choice.  Could be a good choice.  Could be a bad choice.  In this case the heretic has chosen unwisely.  By his choice he’s condemned himself.

There are some people who are off track spiritually.  They have other agendas - other suggestions - other ideas.  There will be some who believe in God - but do not believe God.  They’ve never come to know Him personally.  Paul says that these people have a perverted sense of what the church is all about - what it means to know Jesus - about what it means to live as Godly man.

They grumble.  They complain.  They accuse.  They reject correction.  They may even talk Christian and promote Christian ideas.  But, ultimately they stir up trouble and create division among the members of the church.  Paul says that these people are living in sin - they’re focused on themselves - and not on God.

Warn them - appeal to them - lovingly try to reach them - twice.  But, if they don’t repent - reject them - avoid them - have nothing to do with them.  Don’t get off track with these people. 

Do you see what Paul is getting at here?  The purpose of the church - our crucial role in sharing the gospel - even the very truth of what the gospel is - it isn’t up for debate.  While we can spend hours grinding away at useless debate - and as a man that may have a certain attraction for us - while we’re debating there’s a world out there that’s going to hell.  A Godly man is going to engage himself in what is good - what’s profitable - what keeps the church focused on proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Third example:   Godly manhood and discipleship.  Say that with me, “Godly manhood and discipleship.”

When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, make every effort to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.

Through Paul’s teaching Titus had come to trust in Jesus as his Savior.  Then Titus became a disciple of Paul.  Where Paul went - Titus went.  Titus learned about ministry from Paul.  Titus worked with Paul at Ephesus during Paul’s third missionary journey.  Then after Ephesus - after this mentoring - Paul sent Titus to Corinth to help that church - a solo ministry opportunity - under Paul’s guidance.

In time, they came to  Crete where Paul left Titus in charge.  Now Paul has reached to this place - Nicopolis - where he’s going to spend the winter.

Paul writes, that he’s sending Artemas - otherwise known as Tychicus - a man that had traveled with Paul - a co-worker that had been in ministry with Paul - Paul is sending Tychicus down to Crete to replace Titus.  So that Titus can join Paul in Nicopolis.

Verse 12:  Diligently - zealously - with everything you’ve got - diligently  help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way so that nothing is lacking for them - so that they have no need of anything.  Our people must learn to engage in good deeds - what is profitable - practical - what really helps - to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful.

Check this.  This is an educational toy.  Helps children increase their knowledge by hands on experience.  The Atomic Energy Lab for ages 10 and up.  Make yourself glow in the dark.  Create a reactor in two days.  Mutate your own pet.  Real Nuclear elements for wacky experiments. 

The Greek word here in verse 14 - to learn - means to increase our knowledge by experience.  Grab that.  Learning by experience. 

Tychicus has been training with Paul.  Now its Tychicus’ opportunity to serve on Crete - to gain some solo ministry experience there.  Titus needs to rejoin Paul - debriefing - evaluation - training.  Zenas was probably a Gentile who had converted to Judaism - and then became a follower of Jesus.  He probably was young in the faith.  Apollos was a long time co-worker of Paul.  Trained by Paul.  Apollos is traveling with Zenas - training Zenas as they travel and serve together.

Paul instructs Titus - before you leave - the church on Crete needs to meet the needs of Zenas and Apollos.  Learning to do good deeds.  Learn how to be fruitful in ministry by experience. 

Verse 15:  All who are with me greet you.  Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all.

Let’s be careful not to blow by verse 15 as some kind of platitude tucked in here at the end.  Notice that Paul ties together those who are with him and those who are with Titus.  Between them there is love and the grace of God.

Do you see the way these guys are living?  Whether in Nicopolis or Crete or some other place in the Roman Empire - they’re serving together.  Learning together.  Partners together.  They’re on the same team.  They have the same Lord and Savior - the same calling to share the gospel - regardless of the authority over them - or the opposition from within.

Paul - a Godly man - is concerned with training other Godly men to serve God and to train others to serve God.  Making sure that each co-worker is taught - equipped - trained - given hands on experience - discipled - to be God’s man wherever God may call him to serve.

A Godly man pursues God from the heart.  Life is about God.  That pursuit is not a solo journey.  We serve together - doing what is profitable - what brings others to become followers of Jesus Christ and to serve with us.

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1. Highlands Newsletter volume 2 #2 - From Current Baptist Press News, December 20, 1999