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Sunday, February 23rd | David Allen
"This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you..." — Titus 1:5
"This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you..." — Titus 1:5
This week's message dives into Titus 1:1-9, emphasizing the importance of godly leadership, sound doctrine, and a life rooted in faith. Paul’s instructions to Titus remind us to pursue integrity, surround ourselves with a community of faith, and hold firmly to the truth of God’s Word. Just as elders were called to lead with humility and discipline, we are challenged to examine our own character and commitment to Christ. Join us as we explore what it means to live a transformed life, shaped by God’s truth and love.
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Creators and Guests
Host
David Allen
Executive Pastor of Connections & Care
What is Willow Ridge Sermons?
Sermon audio from Sunday services at Willow Ridge Church.
Welcome to the Willow Ridge Sermons Podcast.
We're so glad you chose to listen today.
This week's message dives into Titus 1, 1-9,
emphasizing the importance of godly leadership,
sound doctrine, and a life rooted in faith.
Paul's instructions to Titus remind us to pursue integrity,
surround ourselves with a community of faith,
and hold firmly to the truth of God's Word.
Just as elders were called to lead with humility and discipline,
we are challenged to examine our own character and commitment to Christ.
Join us as we explore what it means to live a transformed life
shaped by God's truth and love.
Thanks for listening.
Well, as we jump into Titus together, if you would, take your Bible and turn to Titus chapter 1.
In Titus chapter 1 in verse 5, verse 5 is kind of the overall theme.
It's the focal point of what this whole book is about.
And in Titus chapter 1, verse 5, we read these words.
So what's taking place here is Paul has already been to Crete.
Paul has been to Crete with Titus.
Paul has established churches all over the towns of Crete.
And now Paul is somewhere else doing other missionary journeys,
establishing other churches.
And so now he's commissioning Titus.
Titus is a young pastor at this point.
Titus is in close relationship with Paul.
And Paul is sending him this letter and asking him to be a part of what is taking place in Crete.
So that's kind of the context of what we have here this morning.
So if you would, let's read the entire first nine verses.
That's where we'll be this morning.
I know that doesn't sound very much after we've gone through Genesis together, chapter by chapter.
But trust me, when you and I see what Paul is writing to Titus,
Paul really opens up a lot of things that you and I need to think about and address.
Verse 1.
Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ,
for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth,
which accords with godliness,
in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began,
and at the proper time manifested in his word,
through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God, our Savior.
To Titus, my true child in a common faith, grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus, our Savior.
This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order
and appoint elders in every town as I directed you.
If anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife and his children are believers
and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination.
For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach.
He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain,
but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.
He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught,
so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine
and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
You and I need to be careful when you and I read this together
that we don't check ourselves out if we don't carry the title of elder.
There's things in Scripture when we see it we want to check out
because maybe the label doesn't fit us like elder or another term in Scripture
and we're like, well, that doesn't apply to me.
But anything that God has shared with you and me and His Word applies to us as a follower of Christ.
We can't say we're going to pick one part of Scripture and not listen to the other part.
All of Scripture is for you and for me.
It is basically the foundation that Paul builds all this around.
Keep this in mind when you read the letters written by Paul.
Remember Paul's epistles, he wrote several letters to the churches,
Corinthians, Ephesians, Galatians,
but he also wrote letters to Timothy and Titus who are young pastors.
And when you and I read these letters of Paul,
the things that you and I need to keep in mind is this,
that Paul writes these letters with words of encouragement,
with words of instruction.
He writes in order that they be aware of the culture of their day
and how to navigate that culture.
But he also writes about correcting ungodly behavior.
So let's keep this in mind when we read these words here in Titus.
The foundation is the Word of God.
Paul's words to Timothy now in 2 Timothy 3, 16 and 17 said this,
Paul sends this short letter, three chapters, to Titus.
And in just these nine verses that you and I are looking at together this morning,
Paul says a lot.
I mean, there is a lot of things that Paul says
and he raises questions for you and I to ask and look at.
So let's just look at verses 1 through 3 again together.
Let's just kind of break this down.
Paul is servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ
for the sake of the faith of God's elect
and their knowledge of the truth which accords with godliness
in hope of eternal life which God who never lies promised before the ages began
and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching
with which I, Paul, have been entrusted by the command of God, our Savior.
So what do we learn about Paul?
Just in these short little verses,
we learn that he calls himself a servant of God.
He serves God out of his love and relationship for God.
He is a servant of God.
He calls himself an apostle of Jesus Christ.
An apostle is a messenger, one who is sent.
The 12 disciples were known as apostles.
They were the only ones given this title.
We also learned that he preached the message of salvation and eternal life
and also that he understood his responsibility as a command by God.
Now why is Paul these things that he just mentioned to you and I?
It says it right there in the beginning.
For the sake of the faith of God's elect.
That includes you and me.
Not only for those that Titus was going to order,
that Titus was going to teach those believers in Crete,
but it's also for you and I.
We can't remove ourselves from the fact that when we read God's word,
it is written for you and I.
For the sake of our faith.
Who is that you and who is that person that he's talking about?
Who is that elect?
It's very simple.
And Romans 10, 8 and 10 is for the person who receives Christ as their Savior and Lord.
Romans 10, 8 and 10 says,
But what does it say?
The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.
That is the word of faith that we proclaim.
Because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord
and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,
you will be saved.
For with the heart one believes and is justified,
and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
So the elect that Paul is talking about here
is what he's talking about there in Romans.
If we believe and if we confess,
that is the person who follows Christ as their Savior and Lord.
Paul also points out that what he's there for,
not only the sake of their faith,
but also for the knowledge of truth.
Which leads to godliness.
You see, God's word is there for you and I
for the knowledge of God's truth.
Not man's truth or an individual's truth,
but God's truth.
That's what matters in life.
We hear that word truth just strung out all over the place, don't we?
We hear people saying,
This is my truth.
Well, it may be your truth,
but is it the absolute truth?
Is it the absolute truth of God and his word?
And Paul is saying,
I am there for the sake of the elected
and their understanding of the truth of God's word.
We have God's word for the sake of our faith
and understanding who God is.
Paul also points out that he was there
to bring hope for eternal life.
But Paul also points out some things in there about who God is.
It's very interesting.
Again, in this short little few verses here,
he opens up his understanding
or some understandings of who God is.
He said he never lies.
Think about that for a moment.
Paul states to Titus in this introduction
that God never lies.
You and I need to let that sink in
to our minds, our hearts, and our spirit
because there's times even as believers,
we question what we read about God.
We question what we know about God.
We question even what we've put our faith in God.
We've got to realize that God doesn't lie.
That whatever he promises you and I in his word,
it's to build our life on.
It is truth.
It is not a lie.
And in that one little statement there,
Paul shared his doctrine and belief of God.
He promised eternal life from the very beginning.
We see that those words here that Paul opens up.
He showed the message of eternal life in his word.
God showed you and I the message of eternal life in his word.
He trusted Paul with the handling
and the preaching of his word.
And he trusts you and I with the handling
and the teaching and preaching of his word.
He points out to Titus that God is our savior.
Now put this in context.
God is also our savior in this world,
from this world.
God is our savior from ourselves.
God is our savior for eternity.
So how did this message get out?
God used a person like Paul.
If you have any biblical knowledge,
you kind of understand who Paul was.
Pastor Bo shared a little bit of that
in the message of Genesis,
how Paul was there to persecute the church.
Well then, God got a hold of him and changed that.
He used a person like Paul.
God uses a person like you.
God uses a person like me.
You and I are not exempt to be used by God.
We may tell God,
no, I'm not going to do that.
But God desires it from us.
And just like Paul said,
it was a command of God.
God commands you and I to be his representative,
to be his voice,
to be his feet.
What was the message?
Really very simple.
Again, one of those,
you know,
let's close the Bible,
let's pray,
let's walk out the door.
It's that kind of simple of a message
that Paul opens up here
in these first few verses.
It deals with faith,
which points to the truth of God's word,
which points to godliness in our lives
because of God's word,
which then leads you and I to eternal life.
That's what he says in those first few verses.
But then at all,
Paul also says there this very interesting phrase,
proper time.
What is proper time?
What is Paul getting at
when he tells Titus at the proper time,
God will reveal this?
It's God's timing.
It's God's timing.
That's the proper time.
That's hard for you and I
to kind of juggle and think about
in things that we deal with in life,
isn't it?
God's timing versus understanding
our timing of things.
A lot of times,
we want the fast food line route, right?
We don't want the 12-hour
let it smoke and marinate
in the smoker route.
We want that quick one.
But Paul says to Titus,
it's going to take time.
I mean, you and I
went through Genesis for two years
just to experience that together.
You and I understood
throughout the life of Genesis
of the people that we saw,
Isaac, Jacob, Joseph.
We understood it was all about God's timing.
Look at Joseph's life
as we looked at it towards the end.
It was all about God's timing.
Joseph didn't want to be in the places
that he found himself in,
but it was about God's timing.
There's a lot of times
I don't like God's timing.
But I trust.
I have faith.
When I struggle with that thought
of God's timing in my life,
whether it be decisions
that I need to make,
whether some hardships
that I'm going through,
I always go back to a verse
that my mom and dad
always pointed us to.
They've always pointed us
to Proverbs 3, 5, and 6.
But when I think about times of this,
I only go to Proverbs 3, 5,
where it says,
trust in the Lord,
not yourself,
trust in the Lord
with all your heart.
And here's the sticking point.
And lean not
on your own understanding.
I don't understand God's timing
sometimes in my life.
I don't understand
some of the situations
that I may go through
and deal with in life.
But one thing I do know,
I can trust God.
I can trust God
and His timing.
And as a follower of Christ,
I've got to keep reminding myself
over and over
and over again,
in God's moment,
in God's timing,
that's what's best.
And then Paul switches gear
from this greeting.
He now goes to Titus
in verse 4.
He says to Titus,
my true child
in a common faith,
grace and peace
from God the Father
in Christ Jesus,
our Savior.
You ever gotten a card
of encouragement?
You ever sent a card
of encouragement?
You ever get a text
with encouraging words
or maybe words
that are giving you guidance
and maybe a decision
you've shared with somebody
and they sent you a text
or an email,
some form of communication
to help you think about
what it is you're going through.
Or maybe just a simple thing
of saying,
I'm praying for you.
Or maybe they text
a verse of scripture
because they know
what you're going through
or a card,
whatever the case might be,
they sent you something
because they knew
that you needed it.
Whether it be encouragement
or instruction
or a form of words to help.
What about receiving those cards,
those texts,
that information?
What it's like to receive those
in a time of your life
when, man,
it's hard,
but that text seems to come
at the right time,
that card seems to come
at the right time.
Well, here's this young
Pastor Titus
on the island of Crete
and you'll see later
in the verses
in this same chapter later
as Pastor Bo gets into it,
this is not a fun place.
Crete is not a fun island.
Now, there's just,
it's just not.
The people are not fun,
but yet Paul had established
churches there
and now Paul needs Titus
to go about bringing order.
And can you imagine
being a young pastor
with the task
of bringing organization
and bringing order
to churches,
several churches?
That's a massive task.
And here Paul says to Titus,
grace and peace.
Grace and peace.
Titus knew exactly
what Paul was talking about.
Titus spent a lot of time
with Paul.
And so when Paul talks about
greeting him with grace
and peace,
he knows that it's
the grace of God
and it's the peace
of Jesus Christ,
his Lord and Savior.
So it brings this extra,
this extra wonder
of encouragement,
this extra joy
and excitement
to say,
man, I can do this.
I know what I'm facing
is hard,
but man,
I can do this.
So what do we learn
about Titus
just in this little bit?
But not in this passage,
but it is important.
Titus was a part
of Paul's ministry team.
Paul says a lot
about Titus
in 2 Corinthians.
In 2 Corinthians
chapter 2,
verse 13,
it says,
my spirit,
Paul is speaking here,
my spirit was not
at rest
because I did not
find my brother
Titus there.
You ever go looking
or trying to reach
or call a friend
and you can't find him?
Kind of that feeling
that it seems like
Paul is expressing
here about Titus.
2 Corinthians 7,
6,
but God who comforts
the downcast
comforted us
by the coming
of Titus.
God sent Titus
as a way of a comforter
for Paul.
And then in 2 Corinthians 8,
verses 16 and 17,
but thanks be to God
who put into the heart
of Titus
the same earnest care
I have for you.
For he not only
accepted our appeal,
but being himself
very earnest,
he is going to you
on his own accord.
Get to see a little bit
of Titus' character,
motivated himself
to bring the care
that is needed.
2 Corinthians 8, 23,
As for Titus,
he is my partner
and fellow worker
for your benefit.
So there was
a special relationship
that Paul has
with Titus,
the same type
of relationship
that Paul has
with Timothy,
these other young pastors.
To the point
where you see
a discipling
relationship here.
where Paul,
who is more mature
in his faith,
is working with
and discipling Titus
to help him
have confidence
in who he is
in Christ.
To help him
have confidence
in the task
that he has.
Two important phrases
that Paul uses
here with Titus.
He says
he is his true child.
Scholars believe
what Paul is saying
here is that
he was instrumental
in bringing Titus
to faith in God
when he says
my true child.
And then he says
common faith
that he,
that Paul and Titus
are brothers
in the Lord.
If you're a follower
of Christ,
you are my brother
in the Lord.
If you're a follower
of Christ,
you are my sister
in the Lord.
Because we have
common faith,
we follow the same
and only true God.
And moving on
from there,
we see Paul
give Titus
his purpose
in Crete.
In verse 5,
this is why
I left you in Crete
so that you might
put what remained
in order.
Task number one,
use some
administrative skills,
use some
administrative gifting
and put the churches
in order
and appoint elders
in every town
as I directed you.
So Titus,
bring alongside you
those who are like you
who will be able
to guide
and bring direction
to the churches
that I've established.
Now,
6 through 9,
this is how I want you
to listen to this.
Okay?
Verses 6 through 9,
listen to them this way.
as a description
for you
as a Christ follower.
As a description
for you
as a Christ follower.
You see,
throughout the scripture,
we see a lot of lists
and I'm a list
kind of person.
All right?
I've got a list
in my garage
of about 10 things
that I need to do
in and around the house.
Okay?
Two of them
are checked off.
That board's been on there
for at least two years.
But anyway,
I'm a list person.
So I love making lists.
So when I see lists
in scripture,
that helps me
because that's how
I'm wired.
But we see a lot
of types of lists
from the Old Testament
all the way
through the New Testament.
Here's such a case here
in verse 6.
Paul says to Titus,
if anyone is above reproach.
Now we're going to see
that Paul uses this phrase
above reproach
twice here.
Anytime you and I
see something multiple
in scripture,
especially so close together,
you and I need to go,
okay,
I need to be aware of this.
In some translations,
they refer to the word
reproach as blameless.
If anyone is blameless.
If anyone above reproach,
the husband of one wife
and his children
are believers
and not open
to the charge
of debauchery
or insubordination.
For an overseer,
as God's steward,
must be above reproach.
He must not be arrogant
or quick-tempered
or drunkard
or violent
or greedy for gain.
But,
don't you love that word
but when you hear
something like that
and then there's the but
and then you get to say,
man,
there's got to be
something better
on the other side
of that, right?
Usually when you hear
that word stuck
in between different things,
you're looking
for the good side of it.
and hear what Paul says
in verse 8,
but hospitable,
a lover of good,
self-controlled,
upright,
holy,
and disciplined.
He must hold firm
to the trustworthy word
as taught
so that he may be able
to give instruction
and sound doctrine
and also to rebuke
those who contradict it.
You see,
an important part
of that last phrase,
and I forgot to bring
this up earlier,
the rebuke part
is there are a lot
of false teachers
in Crete.
There were a lot
of false teachers
that were starting
to show up
in the churches
in Crete.
And you know
that was kind of
commonplace
in a lot of the churches
that Paul was sending
letters to,
false teachers
coming in
and trying to teach
a false truth.
Trying to teach
things that were
not of God
or were not
out of God's word.
So what did we learn
about why Titus
was in Crete?
Paul left him
in Crete
with a purpose.
To bring order
to finish the task
that Paul
had already started.
To organize
the churches
in Crete
that we'd already
talked about
and to appoint elders
in every town.
So he had a purpose.
Paul laid it out
for him,
very plain,
very simple.
What's your purpose?
What is your purpose?
When you think
that God has created you,
that God has gifted you,
what is God's purpose
for your life?
First and foremost,
we find it in Matthew
chapter 22
verses 36 and 38.
This is our purpose.
These were the very words
of Jesus.
Verse 36,
it says,
Teacher,
which is the great commandment
in the law?
And he,
being Jesus,
said to him,
you shall love
the Lord your God
with all your heart,
with all your soul,
and with all your mind.
This is the great
and first commandment.
You see,
the whole thing
is about you and I
having a relationship
with God.
That is our utmost purpose,
to have a relationship
with God.
And then,
in within that relationship,
it then begins
to spill out
in all areas
of our life,
what is your purpose
at home
with your family?
What is your purpose
at work,
at school?
What is your purpose
with your friend group?
What is your purpose
in your neighborhood,
with your neighbors?
What's your purpose
with a stranger
that you come across,
maybe a one-time meeting?
What does God's word
say to you
in those arenas
of your life?
Those are questions
that I have to ask
and answer
on a regular basis
that you have to ask
and answer
on a regular basis.
God gives us
a purpose.
Paul gave Titus
a purpose.
God gave Paul
a purpose.
God gave Titus
a purpose.
You and I
have that purpose
to love him
with our heart,
mind,
and soul.
But Paul set
some standards
for Titus
to be on the lookout
for in these men.
The same standards
that you and I
are to have
in our own life.
A person who has
character and a reputation
that stands out
in their community.
A person who has
character and a reputation
that stands out
positively
in their community.
A person who has
their family life
in order.
If you think about
how this breaks down
that Paul talks about,
he starts talking
about the family first.
In Genesis,
we saw that God
created the family first,
Adam and Eve.
And Paul says
to Timothy,
look at the individual's
family first.
He then says,
a person who has
the ability
to give oversight.
A person who's
going to be a steward
of the things of God.
God has given
things to you and I
that he expects
you and I
to be stewards of.
Good stewards of.
Our talents
that we use,
our talents and gifts
that God gives us.
Our finances
that God has
blessed us with.
Any of the things
that God has
provided for us,
God intends
for you and I
to be good stewards
of that.
A person not having
ungodly qualities.
Would you agree
with me that these
that Paul talks about
would definitely fit
that ungodly
characteristic?
But what I notice
these things
that Paul mentions
here and these
ungodly characters,
all those are
self-centered
qualities,
aren't they?
These are things
that you want to do
because you want
to do them.
But then Paul
says to Titus,
this person needs
to have these
godly qualities.
This person needs
to have these
godly qualities.
hospitable,
willing to speak
and open up
to people.
A lover of good,
self-controlled,
upright,
holy,
disciplined.
These are all
qualities that are
other-centered.
Now doesn't that
match with what
you know of what
you've read in
God's Word that
we're to be about
others?
We're to look,
as Scripture says,
for the interests
of others?
That we're to help
them with the needs
that they have?
That's all about
being other-centered.
But lastly,
but certainly
not least,
that Paul says
here,
a person who
has a good
grasp of the
Word of God.
A person who
has a good
grasp for the
Word of God.
Paul uses some
important phrases
there.
I never realized
that my English
classes in high
school would help
me read and
understand God's
Word.
If you would have
told me about that
back then, I still
wouldn't like to
have been in
English class.
But to see how
important the
words are that we
read in the
Scriptures, that
there's not a
word there that's
out of place.
But every word
that we read,
that God used
the different
people to put
together the
Word of God.
Paul says the
word, hold
firm.
hold firm.
Don't let your
Bible be that
home decoration
that sits on a
table somewhere
that collects
dust, or that
sits on the
shelf that never
gets moved.
Paul says to
Titus, look for
those individuals
who hold firm
to the Word of
God.
He says, have the
ability to give
instruction, not just
any doctrine, but
on sound
doctrine.
God has given
you and I His
Word that is based
on sound doctrine.
But He also
said in the
context of the
culture in which
Titus was in, He
says, to be able
to rebuke
contradictions to
the Word.
So how do you
measure up to
these qualifications?
May I ask
myself that when
I read over
these?
You and I have
to ask ourselves
when we come
across God's
Word and we
read things like
this throughout
God's Word.
You and I also
both need to know
that we're not
perfect, right?
On this side of
eternity, there's
no such thing as
perfection.
That only works
when you and I
die as followers of
Christ and we
spend eternity in
the presence of
God, that's where
we're clothed with
the new body that
God's Word talks
about, that Paul
talks about in
Corinthians.
On this side, we're
imperfect people
struggling through
life, trying to
apply the Word that
we read from
God's Word.
But at the same
time, you and I
battle with sin in
our life, you and
I also need to
realize in Scripture
it's there for a
purpose, it's there
for God to
edify us, it's
there for God to
sanctify us.
So in light of
that, you and I
need to confront
this list, to
confront these
things that we
see with a heart
of evaluation.
And I know
that's hard.
You know, one of
the worst things
for me to try to
do, I get so
nervous, I know
it may not seem
like it, but I
get so nervous
up here.
My stomach
churns for a
week.
My wife and I
went up to see
our son up in
Greenville, he's
over at Clemson.
I said that
word again, and
to see him, to
see him, to see him
because we hadn't
seen him for a
while.
I say that for my
love for my Clemson
people.
We hadn't seen him
for a while, and it
was just a good
trip to kind of ease
my mind.
And then I woke up
about 2.30 this
morning, couldn't go
back to sleep.
It's just one of
those ways in which
it's hard to evaluate
where I was
getting at.
Sorry, I just
lost track.
Where I was really
getting at is the
worst thing for me to
do is come in on a
Monday morning, and
after Joel has
uploaded the YouTube
channel, to sit and
listen to myself talk.
Have you ever done
that?
Oh, man, it's awful.
It is awful.
And I'll be honest
with you, I've never,
as long as I've been
in ministry, I have
never, ever been able
to listen to myself,
so I apologize to
you the entirety of
my time speaking.
But self-evaluation
is important.
But we have to be
motivated out of our
love for God when we
evaluate ourselves and
we read what we've
just read together.
And a desire to
please God, to see
the need in your life
and in my life for
godly change, not
just change that
benefits change, but
change that reflects
who we are as a
follower of Christ.
Here's some steps to
change.
Be honest and
truthful with
yourself.
I've sat down many
times with folks, and
that's usually the
first thing I say.
If you really want to
get anything out of
this conversation that
you and I are going
to have, you need to
be truthful and
honest with
yourself.
Because if you're
not, you're not
leaving the point in
which you're
standing on.
You've got to be
truthful and honest
with yourself.
Then you've got to
confess to God and
repent for whatever
it is that God has
opened up your eyes
to seeing.
And then you've got to
seek guidance from
God's word.
That's where it is.
Everything that you
and I need to know is
right here.
Everything.
Everything.
I know sometimes it's
hard for you and I to
wrap our minds that
everything that you and
I need to know about
life is right here, but
it is true.
It's right here.
We just got to find
it.
We just got to read
it.
Seek God's guidance
from his word.
And in some cases,
seek guidance from a
biblical counselor.
Allow a biblical
counselor to pour in
you the words of God
that you need to hear
for your situation that
you're going through.
C.S.
Lewis, there's a app on
Instagram that I love
following because it
seems like it has a lot
of quotes from C.S.
Lewis, a lot of quotes
from A.W.
Tozer, and one of them
that I came across said
this from C.S.
Lewis.
The Christian life is
simply a process of
having your natural
self changed into a
Christ self.
And that this process
goes on very far
inside.
Remember that scripture
that talks about that
God's word is there to
divide between joint and
marrow where it's like a
surgeon's scalpel?
You remember that
scripture?
That's what I see here
when I hear these words
of C.S.
Lewis.
And that this process
goes on very far
inside.
One's most private
wishes, one's point
of view, and the
things that have to be
changed.
That's the kind of
change that God does
in and through his
word.
Most importantly, how
are you doing at
holding firm to the
trustworthy word of
God?
How are you doing
holding firm?
Are you reading the
word?
Are you studying the
word?
Are you meditating on
the word?
Are you being taught
the word?
You know, we come
here on Sunday
mornings, we have the
opportunity to listen
to Pastor Bo teach
us what God has
laid on his heart
through his word.
But we have so many
other opportunities
throughout the life of
Willow Ridge Church to
be connected in a small
group, to sit down with
other people and share
maybe like, I don't
really understand what
this scripture means.
Will you share what
you know of this
scripture?
Placing ourselves in
situations where we're
being taught the word of
God.
Are you seeking
counsel and guidance
from the word of God?
So I was thinking about
these nine verses.
Here's the things that
seem to come to my
mind as we wrap up our
time together this
morning.
One, know who you are
in God.
Paul knew who he was.
Do you know who you are
in God?
Know who you are in God.
He created you in his
image.
You are of great value to
him and he loves you.
He loves you.
No matter what
anybody, anybody has
ever said to you, God
loves you more than
any one significant in
your life.
God loves you.
Know what you believe
about God.
Paul expressed that in
short little phrases here
in the beginning of his
opening.
But you and I need to
know what we believe
about God.
It's a great one.
God never lies.
That's a good one for
you and I to know.
Because when we come
to that time in our
life, we need to know
that.
When we read God's
truth, it's not a lie,
it's truth.
We've got to know that
God keeps his promises
and that our eternity
as a Christ follower is
sealed because of God.
Surround yourself with
people.
I love this phrase that
Paul used.
Surround yourself with
people of common
faith.
Faith in God.
Why?
Why is that so
important?
He's not saying don't
have relationships with
people that don't know
God.
That contradicts the
fact that that whole
wall out there on the
board talks about you
and I going to the
nations where you and
I got to share the
love of Christ with
others.
But you and I, if we
surround ourselves
completely with people
who don't know and
love the Lord, we will
be influenced by the
way they live.
and not influenced by
the way God wants us
to live.
You and I need to
surround ourselves with
people of common
faith.
They're there to
encourage you when
you're struggling in
your relationship with
the Lord.
They're there to
encourage you when
you're struggling in
your relationships on
earth.
They're there to
encourage you when
you're just struggling
because of life
sometimes is a
struggle.
just like it says in
God's word, they're
there to sharpen your
relationship with the
Lord.
And some of the
things sometimes we
don't think that much
of and we really
sure should is they're
there to pray for you.
One of the greatest
blessings, one of the
greatest things that you
and I have that God has
given us is the ability
to talk to him like I'm
talking to you and
the ability to go
before God on behalf
of those in our life
or those that we don't
even know and bring
them up to the Lord
for whatever the
purpose, whatever the
reason is.
But when you surround
yourself with people of
common faith, you have
people who journey
with you in prayer, who
come alongside you with
prayer.
Desire and pursue the
character that aligns
with godliness that we
just read.
You got to desire it.
Jesus said to those
listening to, if any man
wishes to come after me,
let him deny himself,
take up his cross and
follow me.
That's about desire of
wanting to follow God
with all of who you are.
And then hold firm to
the truth of God's word.
Make the Bible the
number one book that you
spend the most time
reading.
And there are some great
books out there.
And my shelf is filled
with great books.
People ask me all the
time, you read all of
them?
Nope.
I've read parts of
them.
But spend more time
reading God's word than
you do reading anything
else.
And then lastly, then
lastly, as the band
comes up, as we get
ready to close out our
service together, never,
never, never, never,
never, never let go of
the word of God no matter
how tough life gets.
Through his word, God
will bring you through.
Hold firm to the word of
God.
It is what you and I
need throughout our
entirety as we walk with
Christ, our Lord and
Savior.
We're about to sing as we
close out our service
together.
And we have prayer
encouragers that, as we
start to sing together,
they're going to be
standing on these walls on
the side.
You're here because God
has you here.
You know, you could have
been anywhere, but maybe
you woke up this morning
like, man, I just need to
go to church.
But whatever reason you're
here, they're here, our
prayer encouragers, they're
here to pray with you.
If you've got a burden, let
them pray with you.
Man, if you need to come to
a saving relationship with
Jesus Christ, they're here
to walk you through what
that means.
You know, it might be that
you've got a friend on the
other side of the room that,
man, your relationship is
tight.
Man, you have one of
those common faith
relationships, and you've
never said it to them or
whatever, and you need to
go encourage them, or you
need to go ask them, hey, in
this moment right now, will
you pray for me?
Maybe you can do that.
God desires for you and I
just to let folks into our
lives.
Would you join me in prayer
as we prepare ourselves to
continue to worship the Lord
and song?
Father, I thank you just, I
know sometimes I say this and
pray this a lot, but I do
thank you for your word, Lord.
There is so much power in your
word.
Power that we've not probably
even touched in our lives, but
it's there.
And Lord, just like you just
showed us what Paul points out
to Titus, you point it out to
our life as well, Lord.
Lord, help us to be the men and
the women that you have called
us to be in this life.
Lord, help us to put off the
things that are not of
representative of who you are,
but Lord, to strive to be the men
and women of God that you call
us to be.
Lord, if there's anybody in this
room that's struggling with
anything in life, and man, they
just need somebody to speak to,
Lord, give them the courage to
step out and to approach
somebody just to ask for
guidance, to ask for help, to
ask for prayer.
Father, thank you for loving us,
loving us for right where we are,
for who we are, but loving us
and desire to pull us closer and
closer to you in a relationship
that just far exceeds what we
can even imagine or think.
Lord, we love you and we thank
you and we ask this prayer in
your name.
Amen.
That's it for this week's
message.
Be sure to check back next week
for another episode.
In the meantime, you can stay up
to date with everything happening
at Willow Ridge by visiting us on
Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and
online at willowridgechurch.org.
Thanks again for listening.