Truth and Practical Life #2

Watch the commercials for any sporting event. What it drives people to do come out of that lazy rebellious lifestyle and into the productive living of a child of God. This is the truth with gone green founding pastor of truth Community Church in Cincinnati, Ohio hello again, I'm Bill Wright today as Don wraps up his series called in defense of truth taking a final look at the scourge of false teaching, as well as the need for sound doctrine in the life of every single Christian right now. Don's going to take a quick look back at first Timothy, so turn their lights join our teacher for today's study as he continues in his ministry teaching God's people.

God's word from the truthful sound doctrine should continually occupy the thoughts of men who are in leadership, that is the responsibility and and this can't just be able hundred you know you get into these things need to start to it all just starts to come out.

You know you poke a hole in it just starts to all, just all starts to leak out. This is not a passing matter. This is not something that that we do for a while is a passing interest like Pete.

Some like some ladies take up quilting for a while and then set it aside and don't go back to it. This is a hobby. This isn't a weekend retreat. This is what godly men give their lives to bringing our time even if they have so-called secular employment will Don as you bring the passion priority in their life is no truth to grow in obedience to teaching and to lead others in it as well. The things that are fitting for sound doctrine. Waterway says to Titus, and we never outgrow this right. We never move beyond it. Thanks diver spiritual leaders. This is why is this, please visit his holder.com word of God truth pulpit that has consequences. Let's all the time. We have or don't have time for a pastor and next time as domains and passengers teaching God's past a man's word preparation and teaching the priority of his life. The priority of his life.

I remember years ago back in my prior ministry and has nothing to do with anyone here, I think I've mentioned this a time or two.

There was a man in my ministry is about my age and his demand on me his desire for me was that I would be available for him whenever he wanted to call whenever he wanted to meet whenever he wanted a hamburger with me I needed to drop what I was doing and go out with him at his at his bidding, and some pastors, you know, I think some pastors maybe live that way but that's not the biblical pattern. That's not the way that it works beloved. The pastor has to make his preparation and his commitment to doctrine, commitment to biblical truth, the priority of his life. Look at go back to first Timothy again as these pastoral different pastoral epistles help us to understand what Paul was saying to us first Timothy chapter 4 in verse 14 actually go back to verse 13 first Timothy 413 through 16. Paul tells Timothy until I can't give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the Presbytery. Take pains with these things be absorbed in them so that your progress will be evident to all.

Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you. Paul takes Timothy by the cheeks and says Timothy pay attention here is your priority in life. Pay attention to your teaching you have responsibility for your own soul, and you have responsibility for the souls of those that listen to you and you need to teach them rightly about the nature of salvation for their eternal good beloved.

This is a big thick book that is not mastered on the sidelines. It's not mastered in an occasional devotional reading with your your daily devotional at the side. This takes pain mistakes.

Labor overhears and this is what Paul is saying to the men who would rise up after him. Pay attention to your teaching because there's a lot that rides on look at second Timothy chapter 2 come out and be separate be distinct in your priorities be done with lesser things is the command to those in church leadership.

Second Timothy chapter 2 verse 15. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth, but avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further on godliness and then as we referred to often in recent weeks.

Chapter 4, second Timothy, I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom preach the word be ready in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with great patience and instruction.

Why, why is it so important, why must the man of God be absorbed in these things himself. Why must he have a clear commitment to them in his life priorities and what he gives his time and his lips to it's because somehow there is a and and a subversive element that is continually at work trying to erode the foundation biblical truth of the foundation of the church. Verse three and the problems found. Frankly, in the pews. The problem is often found in the pews. Verse three for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine is the day the people that the people that are that the comfort teaching they don't want to sound doctrine, but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths you know if if I were sitting in the pew right now instead of in the pulpit. You know I often speak of the terror that I feel when something strikes me as I'm preaching. Why hope that there is a sense of fear and terror that strikes you in the pew. Recognizing that that that that the pew is often driving and providing a counter influence that is not in accordance with sound doctrine. That's not in accordance with sound teaching you wouldn't want to be a part of that would you it's undermining the work of the word of God because of the demands that you make on the pulpit that it teach what you want to hear people to tell me that here's what you need to teach on they want to dictate to the pulpit from their carnality with the church on teach they want. Teaching in accordance with their own desires. Beloved. That's not biblical that's deeply sinful and it results in people turning away from the truth so they can have moves that make them comfortable. We need men who want to be elders, whether they have the title or not men are devoted to truth, whether they have the time or not, whether they have a platform to teach or not that's what we need. That's what every church needs is men like that. Those of you that are on that path.

I thank God for you.

Just keep doing what you're doing and let the Lord work out the timing of when opportunities are for you settle it in your heart that you're going to set your heart in this direction. Members five. You see the call on spiritual leadership, but you Inc. there is the contrast again. The world is like this. Carnal people in the pew or like this but you Timothy.

Here's what you do you be sober in all things. You endure hardship, you do the work of an evangelist you fulfill your ministry. Why Paul for Paul. I'm already being poured out.

I'm about to go the end of my life is calm Timothy and now the responsibility devolves upon you to take up this responsibility and be faithful to it. For the purposes of Christ for the purposes of of the word and for the good of the people of God that he redeemed to be a possession for his own good name high and lofty things that were seeing here from the word of God. Listen, beloved that kind of teaching ministry doesn't just happen. This is not something that that a man can put together a couple of hours on a Saturday evening and then common staff and deliver the word of God clearly and with authority and with accuracy. It doesn't work like that it requires the man to give his time and focused attention to it.

Over the course of life. Listen, listen. A biblical pastor gladly serves his people gladly enters into their sorrows, their joys, biblical elders are not just limiting it to the office of the teaching pastor here. He gladly does that, but do you see that a biblical pastor, a biblical elder cannot lead his social calendar as good as it might be in and of itself. He cannot let a social calendar compromise his primary duty to study and teach. He can't do that he can't do that he has to give his attention to these things be absorbed in the so that progress would be evident to all. A local congregation.

A church congregation that affirms that priority for the pastor I'm speaking beyond truth community church here took it in this moment congregation that affirms that priority for its teaching pastor and respects his study time is a church that receives the long-term benefit of it. In return, let's go to the second point here today and realize the emphasis on good deeds on good deeds. You have a good distinction. Titus is ministry is to emphasize good deeds. One of the things that you see about the culture in which Titus was ministering is that it was very much like our culture today. He was ministering in a culture that was deceitful, lazy and rebellious.

Look at chapter 1 verse 10 he says there are many rebellious men. Titus chapter 1 verse 10. There are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers verse 11 who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain.

One of themselves is going to quote a secular poet of the time. One of themselves, a prophet of their own. One of their own people, says this about them says Cretans are always liars, evil beasts and lazy gluttons that's our culture watch watch the commercials for any sporting event. What it drives people to do what he calls people to do well. The church in the first century was born into that culture and the people needed to grow in that they needed to grow in lifestyle come out of that lazy rebellious lifestyle and into the productive living of a child of God. And so Paul tells Timothy what it is that he is to speak. He assigns to them. The content of his teaching verse one you speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine. See beloved, and a lot of people don't have the patience for this, but they pay a long-term price for their rejection of it. God uses sound doctrine to cause believers to grow in grace will see this more in a moment. Paul explains what he means by the things which are fitting.

This is really important for what's going to come in future weeks here from our pulpit really really important to understand. Paul says you speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine, and then he goes and he tells them you speak to these various categories of people within the church. The men, the women and the children and you to give them these specific instructions that what follows are the things that are fitting for sound doctrine and its it's amazing, and that lazy evil culture how much Paul emphasizes that there are to be good deeds brought forth by men and women in the church.

Look at the emphasis on good deeds quickly in verse seven, chapter 2 verse seven in all things, show yourself to be an example of good deeds. Verse 14 Christ gave himself to purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good deeds. Chapter 3 verse one. Remind them to be subject to rulers to authorities to be obedient to be ready for every good deed verse eight. This is a trustworthy statement. I want you to speak confidently about it, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds.

Verse 14. At the end of the letter are people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs so that they will not be unfruitful will look at this more in detail in coming weeks. But what I want you to see is that there is a very practical element to what Paul is saying there are deeds that are good qualitatively righteous. There's everything else is that which is lazy and rebellious and a waste of time. Titus you common you teach them how they are to live and you speak and exhort with all authority.

Let no one disregard you. This is an optional teaching beloved. This is not optional in the eyes of God, and it is so important that it is emphasized repeatedly in the context as I like to say it's not complicated. Good deeds are not complicated in the body of Christ. It's as simple as this, see a need, meet that need.

See you need me to need beloved, you do not need a spiritual gifts test to be useful to people in those kinds of tests. Not only are a waste of time, they are counterproductive.

They teach people to say this is my gift. I don't do the other stuff that's wrong if you see a mead which is in your capacity to meet.

You don't need to ask: my gift for that are not you have the ability to meet at me, except it is a providential opportunity from the Lord will say this other thing, as well. This needs to be emphasized to you don't need a spiritual gifts test to be useful to people you don't just be sensitive and available in a servant that will take you a very long way what you do need to do, you do need to set aside with concern over the perceived wrongs that someone else is done to you. You need to set that aside and not be preoccupied with an unforgiving, bitter spirit that so-and-so did this to me and just start to separate and draw back and there's an exit behind me. I went to turn out go it's not biblical. Living is not biblical thinking is not being engaged in good deeds.

The word for that is selfish and bitter and resentful. See biblical ministry transforms you and makes you productive is a little test you can give yourself you want to know how you can know if you're responding to a biblical ministry, not whether your under one weather responding to one you'll know that you're responding to a biblical ministry. When you find yourself saying my life is changing know something's happening to me.

My life is there's a different power that's at work in my heart and my affections and my desires are changing and the things I used to love. I no longer care about in the things I used to ignore those are the things I find pleasure and joy in that's when you know your under a biblical responding to a biblical ministry say my life is changing because you find yourself you find yourself developing a course of pursuing the good deeds that God performed an input into your life, what you must understand beloved is that kind of biblical change in your life doesn't just happen in a vacuum biblical change. Good deeds come from a different source. They come from another source.

What you live is a reflection of what you believe that what you say you believe neither affirmation of our confession of faith, what you really believe is shown in the way that you really live on a day-to-day basis. We live what we truly believe, not what we say we believe that leads us into our third and final point about good doctrine, good doctrine seen a good distinction, good deeds, and now are going to see good doctrine, let me introduce this point with a brief quote from John MacArthur's book the freedom and power of forgiveness. He says this on page 8 says I have often defended the notion that doctrine is inherently practical.

What we believe determines how we think how we behave and how we respond to life's trials abstract beliefs never remain abstract, they inevitably manifest themselves in behavior, a right belief system. Therefore, lies at the foundation of all truly righteous conduct and quote good deeds flow from good doctrine, not the other way around.

Look at verse one with me again.

Chapter 2 verse one Paul says, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit you could equally say God says. As for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine that word sound has the idea of being healthy Titus must teach things that promote healthy spiritual life and it is easy beloved, especially in the foolish rebellion against God's order for men and women in the church that is so prevalent in other circles and just focus on the roles for men and women that are outlined in chapter 2 there. There, but it's easy to miss what they stand upon.

It's easy to miss how central doctrine is to this entire chapter to want to show you this, just very briefly. Chapter 2 verse two older men are to be sound in faith. Verse three older women are to be into the verse teaching what is good.

Verse five. The young women are to live this way so that the word of God will not be dishonored. Verse seven in all things, show yourself to be an example of good deeds with purity and doctrine. Verse 10 slays employees are to live this way into the verse so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect. Verse 11. The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and on it goes six times in those brief 11 verses you see an emphasis on doctrine on teaching on instruction. The word of God is central to these biblical roles were going to be considering that's why it's so important to be taught properly and accurately, that the man of God give himself to get it right to cut it straight so that it lines up with the way it is to be and so it is important for you to read scripture on your own is important for you to be at your church consistently so that you can participate in this biblical priority of emphasizing good doctrine, the Paul calls upon all of the church to devote itself to sound doctrine builds healthy lives to bring glory to God to continue to teach sound doctrine and ask God to bless it to our souls, to the glory of Christ.

That's Dylan green bringing our time to a close today here on the truth pulpit will done as you bring this series to a close.

It so vitally important for our listeners to know that bad doctrine and false teaching are nothing to be trifled with, and that in fact were told in Scripture to get as far away from false teachers as possible is not right you know Bill in my mind the challenges this. The danger is real but it is also subtle. Jude in his short epistle near the end of the Bible speaks about how false teachers creep in on noticed you don't even recognize there there until the damage has started to manifest itself will my friend. Our desire at the truth pulpit is to help you discern what is real from Scripture and to follow Christ.

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Thank you for your prayers and will see you again next time on this broadcast that seeks to honor the word of God as we teach God's people. God's will. Thanks Don and Fred if you'd like to find out more about this ministry. Please visit the truth.

Pulpit.com that's the truth. Pulpit.com that's all the time we have for today. I'm Bill Wright. Join us again next time you're on the truth