Titus 1:10-16 (NLT) For there are many rebellious people who engage in useless talk and deceive others. This is especially true of those who insist on circumcision for salvation. They must be silenced, because they are turning whole families away from the truth by their false teaching. And they do it only for money. Even one of their own men, a prophet from Crete, has said about them, “The people of Crete are all liars, cruel animals, and lazy gluttons.” This is true. So reprimand them sternly to make them strong in the faith. They must stop listening to Jewish myths and the commands of people who have turned away from the truth. Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and consciences are corrupted. Such people claim they know God, but they deny him by the way they live. They are detestable and disobedient, worthless for doing anything good.
I. The comes through deception
Titus 1:10 (NLT) For there are many rebellious people who engage in useless talk and deceive others.
1. Deception sounds
2. Deception adds something to
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT) This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
3. Deception always something from you
II. The attack aims at your
Titus 1:11 (NLT) They must be silenced, because they are turning whole families away from the truth by their false teaching.
1. Lies one small piece at a time.
2. The lies we carried
3. The lies aim at the
III. The tries to label you
Titus 1:12-13a (NLT) Even one of their own men, a prophet from Crete, has said about them, “The people of Crete are all liars, cruel animals, and lazy gluttons.” This is true.
1. Some labels have in them
2. God builds his church out of anyway
3. A label can describe your without deciding your
IV. The is knowing the real thing
Titus 1:13b-14 (NLT) So reprimand them sternly to make them strong in the faith. They must stop listening to Jewish myths and the commands of people who have turned away from the truth.
1. Study the
2. The real thing itself under testing
1 Peter 1:7 (NLT) These trials will show that your faith is genuine.
3. Truth changes you from the
Titus 1:15 (NLT) Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and consciences are corrupted
V. The is how you live
Titus 1:16 (NLT) Such people claim they know God, but they deny him by the way they live. They are detestable and disobedient, worthless for doing anything good.
1. What we and how we must match
2. Attacks on are attacks on
Identity Declaration:
I am not the label someone placed upon me.
I am not defined by my greatest failure.
I am not defined by the pressure of culture.
I am not defined by what I accomplish.
I am in Christ. I am forgiven. I am accepted. I am a child of God. I am a new creation.
I. God is
1. The
Malachi 3:6 (NKJV) For I am the Lord, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.
2. The
Malachi 3:7 (NKJV) Yet from the days of your fathers You have gone away from My ordinances And have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you, Says the Lord of hosts. But you said,In what way shall we return?
Malachi 3:8 (NKJV) Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, In what way have we robbed You? In tithes and offerings.
II. has always been a part of
1. started before the
Genesis 28:22 (NKJV) And of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.
2. was practiced in the
Numbers 18:21 (NKJV) Behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work which they perform, the work of the tabernacle of meeting.
Malachi 3:9 (NKJV) You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me,
Even this whole nation.
Nehemiah 13:10 (NKJV) I also realized that the portions for the Levites had not been given them; for each of the Levites and the singers who did the work had gone back to his field.
1 Corinthians 9:13-14 (NKJV) Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.
Galatians 6:6 (NLT) Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them.
III. The is a gateway into
1. Grace includes participation
2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV) Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
2. Grace is
3. Grace is and
1 Corinthians 16:2 (NIV) On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.
4. Grace is
5. Grace is
IV. God with the
Malachi 3:10 (NKJV) Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this, Says the Lord of hosts, If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.
1. supplies God’s
2. supplies the
Malachi 3:11 (NKJV) And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field, Says the Lord of hosts;
3. becomes a
Malachi 3:12 (NKJV) And all nations will call you blessed, For you will be a delightful land, Says the Lord of hosts.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation…
1 Peter 2:24 (NKJV) by whose stripes you were healed
I. Assignment Flows from
Titus 1:1 (NKJV) Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ…
1. Identity is about , assignment is about
2. Assignments have three different
• The
• The
• The
3. Identity is , assignments
II. Assignment is from Jesus
1. We are sent to a
2. We are sent to a
3. We are sent with a
III. Assignment is by the Holy Spirit
Acts 1:8 (NKJV) But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me…
Acts 9:17 (NKJV) Brother Saul…the Lord Jesus…has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
1. The Spirit gives us
2. The Spirit gives us
3. The Spirit gives us
2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV) My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
Proverbs 3:5–6 (NKJV)Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
Proverbs 3:9 (NKJV) Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase.
I. Trust God
1. Trust includes area of your life
2. Self-trust is
Proverbs 28:26 (NLT) Those who trust their own insight are foolish, but anyone who walks in wisdom is safe.
3. Other are limited
Psalm 118:8 (NKJV) It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.
4. The needs to be limited
Psalm 118:9 (NLV) It is better to trust in the Lord than to trust in rulers.
5. Money is
Proverbs 23:5 (MSG) Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich; restrain yourself! Riches disappear in the blink of an eye; wealth sprouts wings and flies off into the wild blue yonder.
II. Acknowledge God
Proverbs 3:6 (NKJV) In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths
1. the God who gives direction
2. what the Bible says about money
Proverbs 10:4 (NIV) Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.
Proverbs 21:20 (TLB) The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends whatever he gets.
Proverbs 22:7 (NKJV) The borrower is servant to the lender.
3. Bring every financial under God’s
III. Honor God
Proverbs 3:9 (NKJV) Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase.
1. Glorify Him through
2 Corinthians 9:7 (NLT) You must each decide in your heart how much to give.
2. Imitate Him through
Mark 12:43 (NKJV) So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury
3. Prioritize Him with the and
Proverbs 3:10 (NKJV) So your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
John 13:3-5 (ESV) — Jesus knew who He was and picked up the towel
Titus 1:5-9 (ESV)
I. I’m Secure in , so I don’t have to people
Titus 1:7 (ESV)
1. A steward cares for what to someone else
i. The church and its people belong to God; leaders answer to Him
2. My authority has because I am under authority
i. Safety Patrol: the sash did not overrule the principal
3. People between me and what I want matter to God
i. Neighbor / boat ramp: “Why do you care so much about other people?”
ii. “I may have my hands on the wheel, but Jesus still has the right to tell me how to drive.”
4. Submission becomes when people become
i. My tone, temper, and treatment of people remain under His authority
II. I’m Secure in , so I can receive
Titus 1:7-8 (ESV)
Romans 8:14-17 (ESV)
1. Growing in character requires receiving
i. Insecurity confuses a challenge to my behavior with a threat to my worth
2. I belong to the Father; I do not have to my worth
i. “Correction is not an eviction notice from the family of God.”
Hebrews 12:6-11(ESV)
3. My calling does not cancel my need for
i. Corrie ten Boom: a friend challenged the letters she kept against those who hurt her; she received correction and burned them
ii. I can own what I did without forgetting whose I am
4. Give a next step
i. Act on correction, make the apology, ask for help, stop defending the behavior
ii. “God’s Word gets the final say—even when my pride has more to say.”
III. I’m Secure in , so I can stand firm on
Titus 1:9 (ESV)
1. The Word must before I use it to instruct others
i. A confident opinion or “The Lord told me” still needs examination
2. I can remain without everyone’s approval
i. Matthew 3:16-17; 4:1-11 — the Father declared Jesus’ identity; Jesus answered temptation with “It is written”
ii. “Your approval is not my authority. Jesus is Lord.”
3. Understand in context, not merely as support for my opinion
i. The devil quoted Scripture too; God’s Word must challenge my preferences
4. His carries more weight than my
i. Matthew 8:5-13 — the centurion trusted the authority of Jesus’ word
5. Care for people through faithful and
i. Parent / street crossing: love warns when silence leaves someone in danger
Ephesians 4:15 (ESV)
2 Timothy 2:24-25 (ESV)
ii. “I don’t get to defend biblical teaching with an unbiblical attitude.”
IV. Closing
1. Secure enough to , humble enough to be , faithful enough to
2. : entrusted with responsibility; : called to serve; : under His authority
3. Carry without needing
i. Serve without applause, receive correction, obey when it costs
ii. “The badge says, ‘I’ve been entrusted.’ The towel says, ‘I’m here to serve.’ And my obedience says, ‘Jesus is Lord.’”
1 Chronicles 29:11-12 (NLT) Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom…. Wealth and honor come from you alone.
1 Chronicles 29:14 (NLT) Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us!
I. Resolve the Question
1. Our claim of ownership is
• I it
Deuteronomy 8:17-18 (NIV) You may say to yourself, ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.’ But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth.
• I it
Proverbs 23:5 (NLT) In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle.
1 Corinthians 4:7 (NLT) “What do you have that God hasn’t given you?”
2. God’s claim of ownership is
• The claim
Psalm 89:11 (NLT) The heavens are yours, and the earth is yours; everything in the world is yours—you created it all.
• The claim
Colossians 1:17 (NLT) He holds all creation together.
• The claim
1 Peter 1:18–19 (TLB) God paid a ransom to save you…. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious lifeblood of Christ.
II. Regard with the Proper
1. mindsets regarding money
Proverbs 13:4 (NLT) Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper
2 Thessalonians 3:10 (NKJV) For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.
Galatians 6:4 (NLT) Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.
Philippians 4:6 (NLT) Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
Ephesians 5:5 (NLT) For a greedy person is an idolator
1 Timothy 6:10 (NLT) For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.
2. mindsets regarding money
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT) Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:11 (NLT) I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.
Philippians 4:19 (NKJV) And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
2 Corinthians 9:7 (NLT) You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.
III. Recognize Your Calling
1. We were created to be
Gen 2:15 (HCSB) The Lord God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to work it and watch over it.
2. Jesus the stewardship calling
Matthew 25:14 (NKJV) For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.
3. Stewards focus on not
Matt 25:15 (NKJV) And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.
4. Stewards focus on not
Matt 25:16, 17 (NKJV) Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also.
5. The owner holds the stewards
Matt 25:27, 28 (NKJV) So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
I. The
1. The proposition is extended to
2. The proposition requires a
1 Corinthians 15:22 (NKJV) For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.
3. The proposition involves a
II. The
1. We are transformed
2. We are transformed
3. We are transformed
4. We are transformed
III. The
1. I am a
2. I am a
Titus 1:1 (NKJV) Paul a bondservant of God
3. I am a
4. I am a or
Romans 8:15 (NKJV) For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption
5. I am a
6. I am a
7. I am a
Mark 4:35-37 (NKJV) On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.
I. The of life can catch us
1. Storms can arise
2. Storms can arise while we are
3. Storms often arrive when you are
4. The storm was not the
II. Storms confront us with the of our
1. Our strength can
2. Our emotions can us
Mark 4:38 (NKJV) . . . “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”
Mark 4:40 (NKJV) But He said to them, Why are you so fearful?
3. Control is often an
III. The storm is never the of Jesus
1. Jesus was present before they His power
Mark 4:38 (NKJV) But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him,
2. Jesus has over everything that us
Mark 4:39 (NKJV) Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.
3. Jesus the fear within us
Mark 4:40-41 (NKJV) But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”
1 Corinthians 12:12-14 (NLT)
I. EVERYONE HAS A
1 Corinthians 12:14 (NLT) “The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one who body.”
1. Your gift is on purpose.
II. EVERY PART
1 Corinthians 12:21–22 (NLT) “The eye can never say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you.’ The head can’t say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you.’ In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary.”
1. There are no parts in the body of Christ.
2. Your part helps do their part.
III. EVERY PART
Mark 10:45 (NLT) “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Matthew 23:11 (NLT) “The greatest among you must be a servant.”
1. We because Jesus .
IV. EVERY PART
1 Corinthians 12:27 (NLT) “All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.”
1. Different . One . One .
2. Find your . Do your . Build His .
Titus 1:1 (NKJV) Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ…
I. Our is influenced by many
1.
2.
Rom 12:2 (Phillips) Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within,
Daniel 1:4 (NKJV) young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand
Philippians 3:4 (NKJV) If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh. I more so
Daniel 1:6, 7 (NKJV) Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego.
3.
4.
Acts 9:1-2 (NKJV) Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
II Corinthians 4:4 (NKJV) whose minds the god of this age has blinded
II. Our identity begins with an with Jesus Christ
Acts 9:3-6 (NKJV) As he journeyed he came near Damascus; and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
1. Jesus you
Jer 1:5 (MSG) “Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you.
2. Jesus you
Acts 9:4 (NKJV) why are you persecuting me
3. Jesus you
4. Jesus you
III. Our identity is revealed in God’s and through God’s
Acts 9:10-11 (NKJV) Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying.
1. Ananias spoke God’s
Acts 9:17 (NKJV) “Brother Saul…”
2. fell from Paul’s eyes
Acts 9:18 (NKJV) Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales
3. Paul his new identity
Acts 9:18 (NKJV) . . . He arose and was baptized.
Acts 9:20 (NKJV) Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.
IV. Our new identity must be embraced
Titus 1:1 Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ…
1. Your past does not you
2. You now to God
3. You have an important