Jeff:
Acts 16:1
Now, and we're going to review something we did about 3 weeks ago and bring us up to date on a continuation of a review. Now, what subtitle do you have on that?
From the pews:
Timothy joins Paul and Silas
Jeff:
That is exactly what happened.
Acts 16:1- He came to Derbe, and then to Lystra where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was a jewess and a believer, but whose father was a Greek.That meant that you were Jewish, since the law specified that {kinship} went through the mother.
Verse 2- The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him, these are the believers there. Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area for they all knew that his father was a Greek. As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey.
Now, what elders are we talking about in Jerusalem? The believers of the Christian Jews and they are part of what is called the circumcision group. What is another name for them?
From the pews:
The judaizers.
Jeff:
OK.
Verse 5- So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.
Now this, we are going to see, is two parts: how Paul dealt with Timothy and Titus. Because at this time, what does he demand Timothy to do? Anybody know? To be circumcised. And you know the reason why? He didn't want to make waves because in the early church they commanded... did you hear what I said? In the early church, I didn't say in the Jewish temple. The early believing church commanded it.
Let me give you an example from day-to-day living. When I was 13 years old, and I graduated from Elementary school, and I started Jr. High, and my dad... it was the first day of Jr. High. At our Jr. High, two thirds of one elementary school graduated and went to one Jr. High and one third went to my Jr. High since it was closer. So there were about 10 kids at this school that I would know out of about 600.
My dad had to go on to work, so he dropped me off early. School started about 8:00 o'clock, and at 7:30 I'm dropped off. I have a room number to go to. It's all I get! I look at my watch, it's 7:30 and I walk over to the room. There is the room and no one is there. Now it is 7:31, and I have 29 minutes in a school that in which I don't know any one, well maybe 10 people but I don't find them. I feel lonely. I'm 13 years old. I'm scared. I didn't know what to do.
So I see some people and they're walking like they've got some where to go. I realize that I've got no where to go, but I want to fit in. So I just start walking. Fast, like everyone else. I walked all the way around the school, and I get back to my assigned room and look at my watch and now it is 7:32. I walked a little too fast!
(Laughter.)
I figured, I'll just wait outside the room. This is a true story. As I wait, all of these older kids ... in Jr. High some of the kids were 16, which felt like 80 to me. I think... they're looking at me as this puny 7th grader ... a scrub. They were talking about me, at least I assumed that they were in my loneliness of the moment. I felt unacceptable,so I decided to walk some more.
I walked for 25 minutes. The room finally opened and I finally got to rest. This story has to do with acceptance. It has to do with being loved. God created us to be accepted. An when we are in a situation where we don't feel accepted, we feel so uncomfortable. We were created to be loved and wanted.
The worst emptiness is feeling that you are not accepted by God. Here is this guy Paul, and he wants to be accepted by the church in Jerusalem. It the initiation of things he wants to make sure they are accepting him. God has set him free. The pillars (of the church) are there, anybody know who?
From the pews:
Peter
Jeff:
Peter, anybody else?
From the pews:
James and John
Jeff:
James and John, and he (Paul) knows that they have made a mandate that any one who wants to be in the fold and be considered a Christian has to be circumcised. But this was at the beginning (of Paul's ministry). Look what happens years later.
Years later he has another individual, Titus, let's turn there, Galatians 2:1. Years later we are going to find our what he did with Titus, not with Timothy. This is a review, and we are going to build upon it.
Gal. 2:1- 14 years later, I went up to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along, also. I went in response to a revelation and said before them the gospel that I preach before the gentiles (non-Jews). I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders.
Now look what he does this time (contrasted with 14 years before.)
... for fear that I was running, or had run my race in vain. Yet not even Titus, who was with me was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. This matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus , and to make us slaves. We did not give into them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you.
In the beginning, what did he do with Timothy? He had him circumcised. With Titus, years later, did he do that? (No) Something had changed in his heart. What had changed in his heart? He changed his heart about compromise.
Everybody goes through this. In the beginning, where ever you first saw the grace of God and understood it, either from someone teaching you or just from reading the book of Romans, it is clear to you. Then at some later point you are in a legalistic setting. God does not put upon you all at once all the areas in your life in which you are in bondage. Why can't he do that? You would melt like the wicked witch of the west. He does it one at a time, one area at a time.
Paul then (14 years before) "I'm going to try at get along with these people." It didn't work. You can't have a compromised ministry. He didn't want to give in.
Verse 5- We did not give into them for one moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain in you.
It's a picture, like a lighthouse. All around a lighthouse is glass. Is anything obstructing the glass? (No) What happens if someone says "I just don't like all that glass in the lighthouse. Too much glass. Let's put a nice piece of wood over part of the glass. Right in front of the light. It will look better like that." So nothing can obstruct the glass since it defeats the purpose of a lighthouse. It's purpose is to give light. That is what Jesus came to do. That is what the gospel is for. To give us light. What did he come to give us? Freedom
Freedom that sets us free in Him. Did Jesus talk anywhere about being a light? I looked it up for you. He talks about the light. I'm jumping ahead, but the light is freedom, and what is darkness? {Life under} the law. The law is a veil that blinds us. Blinds us from what? The light of freedom in Christ. The light of truth.
Matthew 4:12- When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, he returned through Capernum in the area of Naphteli...
Remember that this is in the north where there a lot of Samarians, or a mixture.
The people living in darkness have seen a great light. On those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned. From that time on, Jesus began to preach "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
Now this word repent doesn't mean "stop sinning". It means "turn and look a different way." Not the way of the law, but the way of the grace of God.
Another verse is John 1. John has an insight. If you remember, in the history of the early church, Paul went to Jerusalem. He went there to tell them what God had shown him about the truth about the gentiles. What did God show Paul about the gentiles? They were not to have the law. In fact, none of us have the law. Christ redeemed us from the law, so we serve in the new way of the spirit. So when John went to see them, he did not come to them and say "You guys are all wrong. God has shown me a special revelation that he hasn't shown you. I am really special, and you're not, because you are still demanding the Jewish believers to do certain things: keep kosher, circumcision, keeping the Sabbath, water baptism, the mitkvah, tithing, sacrificing animals. He (Paul) didn't go down there and say "You guys are in the old covenant, I'm in the new one."
He came down to them in love and the first thing they wanted him to do was to shave his head, go to the temple, and make a sacrifice. The early James and Peter demanded that Paul do that. When the early believers figured out that Paul was teaching to get away from the law of Moses, do you remember what they starting doing to him?
They started stoning him to death, and somebody on the side saw all that: the apostle John. It is at that point that he (John) left Jerusalem, went to the gentile world and never returned. We can fill in the lines. Why did he leave? He didn't like the way they were treating Paul.
With that (experience), you have an individual who writes an incredible insight that God gave him in the gospel.
John 1:1- In the beginning, was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. Through him, all things were made. Nothing was made that has been made.
How far back does Jesus go? Where does Jesus live, if you're in Christ? In you. This is a hard idea, but eternal God lives in us.
Verse 4- In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it...
Some say that "Light" is holiness, and people in "Darkness" are in sin. No. Light is the truth of the gospel: freedom in Christ, the finished work on the cross. Darkness is rejecting Christ's work and living in self-righteousness.
Verse 6- There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John (the Baptist). He came as a witness to testify concerning that light so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light. He came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives life to every man was coming into the world.
When you see this picture like a lighthouse, and when the light of God's grace shines on you, you are forever changed. You are illuminated forever. It beacons in your heart, it gives meaning and purpose. When the darkness of the law shines on you it gives condemnation.
John 8:12- When Jesus spoke again in front of the people he said "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." The pharisees challenged him "Here you are, appearing as your own witness. Your testimony is not valid.
Why did they say that? Because they didn't believe anything he said. He came representing God. When does the light that God gives stop glimmering? When did that light begin? It never stopped shining and it never will stop. It always has been on. I know that this is very heavy to understand. I take them on faith. This is the light that has come to live in us, and it will never stop shining. So, God's forgiveness will never cease.
The acceptance that I so wanted a 13 year old will never stop. God's promises for me will never end. Because it has to do with His light. He is the one shining the light on me. I'm not the one earning the light. He is the one giving. I am the one just resting in it, well, most of the time. Whether I believe it or not, I (as a believer) am always in His light. I may think that I am in the shade, but I am always in His light.
Someone can come along and say: "You're in darkness since you sinned." But, what is darkness according to the Bible? Never having the light (at all). Never having Christ live in you. And once He comes to live in you, can He ever leave? (No) In scripture (John 8:12 above) it says: "Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life forever."
John and Paul get this revelation that this light of life is eternal, and Paul has a problem, because the early church doesn't see it. Paul has to make a decision: "Do I stay and battle in Jerusalem or do I go on to the gentile world?" He tried the battle and he almost died. So he went on to the gentile world and years later, he had two individuals that were pastors , Timothy and Titus. And Paul has to write to them because they are having problems in their local body (church).
What do you think their problems were about? When they had the church breakfast, someone was burning the toast! (No) They were being infiltrated by some people, the circumcision group. They (the judaizers) never give up. He (Paul) didn't just write about this or that. Let's look first at Titus.
When I was going to church as a younger person they never talked about conflict in the church and it is the number one problem. You can see it all over the place.
Titus 1:1- Paul, a servant of God, and apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of God's elect and the knowledge of the truth which leads to Godliness. A faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time and at his appointed season he brought us his word of light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our savior. To Titus, my true son in our common faith, grace and peace from God our Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
We could talk for seven years on this little greeting. First, what leads to God? Godliness is knowledge. Knowledge about what? That Christ finished the work. Does God have promises for you? What if you doubt? It doesn't matter if you doubt, since God does not lie.
God's promises are not dependent upon how you think about them, or if you are "strong in faith" that day, or if you "really believe they're true", or if you're resting in them. God's promises are true because he does not lie, and he finished the work.
Verse 10- For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially of the circumcision group.They are the talkers and deceivers. They (the circumcision group) must be silenced, because they are running whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach, and that for the sake of dishonest gain.
"You give me money, and God will give you forgiveness." Remember the old church indulgences? "Whole households!" You know how much that is? Whole households!
Verse 12- Even one of their own prophets has said "Cretan are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons. This testimony is true, therefore rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of those who reject the truth.
What is the truth? Christ has redeemed us from Judaism, and released us from the law. He uses a strong word "rebuke". That means believers coming into a group and spouting off about the law. It is really the only thing that Paul tells Titus to do: rebuke legalists. Remember what Paul said to Peter in front of everyone: "You are wrong." That was done in front of the others for their sake, as well as Peter's.
Every hint of legalism has an effect on me. For the sake of the gospel, I don't want anything to do with it. Rituals effect rest. When I watch something that is error, I never get fruit, ever. It just makes me real angry. I want to kill somebody, "in the Lord."
(Laughter)
Verse 15- To the pure, all things are pure, but to those that are corrupted (by the law) and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their mind and consciouses are corrupted. They claim to know God, but by their action they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.
Are they saved? Yes. But when you have the slant of legalism, it effects everything. You live in fear. I've lived in fear. And I know what it is when I live in fear: I don't believe God loves me. When I know God has my life, there is something that happens to me. Let's go to chapter 2, verse 9. He [Paul] is going to get very practical, and this is going to shake some people up.
Titus ch. 2 Verse 9- Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, to not to talk back to them, and to not steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching of God, our savior, attractive.
This is almost hilarious, where he is against legalists, but is not against slavery. Is Paul for slavery? Absolutely not. He knows it's not of God, but he doesn't come along and try and make a political statement. Politics and government are hither and thither: they are going to come and go. The only thing that will remain is the gospel.
What he is battling is not the political. [As some have said], "you need to protest against slavery. We need to go to the government heads, and say 'IT'S WRONG TO HAVE SLAVES!' We've got to change things.' That is not Paul's message here. This fact doesn't mean that if someone is called to do that, it is wrong. That's ok, for that called person. But Paul wasn't called to do that. He wasn't called to do that. Somebody else? OK! Amen! But Paul was called to do just one thing. What was he to proclaim? The freedom in Christ. What he stood against was when somebody was trying to rob you of the freedom in Christ.
Could a slave be "free", in Christ? Sometimes more than "free" people. Sometimes more than the slave owners. It's insight, because this is all going to change anyway. Then he goes on with these incredible words:
for the grace of God that brings salvation as appeared to all men. It teaches us to say no to unrighteousness, to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age while we wait for the blessed hope: the glorious appearing of our great God and savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
Let me tell you, if someone is asking your identity, [consider this]. Since He redeemed us from all iniquity and to purify, you answer is "I'm pure. 100% pure." He purified us when he redeemed us. The question is "Have you been redeemed?", because most people are battling with being pure and being holy, and being righteous and being worthy when they look at themselves. Where should they look to be pure? "My actions?" No.
Where do you look to know that you are pure? If you are redeemed, you are pure. What makes you redeemed? At the cross, Christ died and forgave us. If Jesus died on the cross and shed blood, and that purchases our redemption, then you're pure.
Where should a person look to be pure? At the cross, not at your own actions. If you look at your actions, you're always impure. Our purity is not based on what we put into our lives, it is based on what Christ put in us.
He put in a Light. This Light never had a beginning, you just came along for the ride. Christ always knew about you. You are in that Light and the only way that Light could stop is for God to stop existing. The only way we could become unrighteous is if God stopped existing. God would have to stop being God. If someone questions you "I don't know how righteous you are, really." What they are questioning is whether God is who He says He is.
Titus and Timothy are battling legalism with this face: "What God did was not enough." Every cult, every pseudo-Christian group teaches the same thing: Christ + you. When you say Christ + you, you say Christ's light + something else. The teachers of falsehood believe that Christ's light is not enough. According to this (above), it is enough.
Verse 15- These then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.
Titus ch. 3 verse 9- But avoid foolish controversies.
Controversies about what?
and genealogies,and arguments ...
Arguments about what?
The law.
because these are unprofitable and useless. Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time, and after that have nothing to do with him.
divisive about what? The law. Separate yourself from people pushing the law.
God gives rest from our own work now. That is what he taught Titus. Did Timothy have the same people against him?
From the Pews:
Yes.
Jeff:
How do you know that? Because you know it in the bottom of your heart. Let's talk a little more about Timothy. Wasn't Lassie's owner Timmy?
{Laughter} That dog was smarter than anyone in that family!
{Laughter}
Timothy 1 verse 12- I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has given me strength that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service, even though I was once a blasphemer, and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy since I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
Verse 15- Here is a trustworthy saying that deserved full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy, so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His unlimited patience as an example for those of you would believe on him and receive eternal life.
Do you think you are undeserving of God's love? Of course you are. Paul killed Christians, but was made righteous by Christ apart from anything that he had done.
Verse 17- Now to Him, the King immortal invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever, amen.
The last verse, and we are going to end here:
Titus ch. 6 verse 3- If anyone teaches false doctrines, and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceded and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels and words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
Do churches that teach legalism ever have problems? They have more problems, more church votes, more people kicked out, and more people getting fired.
verse 6- but godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it, but if we have food and clothing we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation, and a trap, and into many harmful and foolish desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction for the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people eager for money have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
What is the ultimate thing in which you think that money will give you happiness? I didn't say that God doesn't use money to meet needs, but if you think that it is going to bring happiness, it says at the very end something will happen to you. [The word] starts with a "G": "you'll have many griefs." It can be money or anything. Skiing could be the other thing. Anything that you think will give you joy and happiness, [won't]. Happiness has nothing to do with the Light.
Does God want us to have grief? He wants just the opposite. He wants us to have rest. He will bring money into your life to show you how much he loves you. He does that. He works out situations with financial gain, and sometimes in the lack of financial gain he shows you to be content in it. He will use it to show His love, in both directions. Seasons change and that is ok, but if you think it brings happiness and joy, you'll have emptiness. He only wants us to look at who? Him. In the midst of his love, your cup will 'runneth over'. Those things will happen in your life, but if they don't, you're still content.
I'm thankful for contentedness in Him alone, because everything else is just icing on the meat and potatoes, on the cake.
{Laughter}
Let's thank Him for it.
Prayer.
