Everyone Matters

Whether you are employed outside your home or your raising kids, serving ministry. Whatever your daily routines. No matter how Monday. They are important in God's kingdom. That's our subject today on Truth for Life. Alistair Begg is titled this message.

Everyone matters and we're revisiting it as part of encore 2024. In Titus chapter 3 verses 12 through 15 well is just think of this. You are not here by chance but by God's choosing.

You did not invent yourself.

You had no part in your creation. You were intricately wrought in your mother's womb. The hand of God formed you to be the person that you are he created you the exact moment that he desired and he has placed you at this point in history so that you in Christ by grace through faith might do good deeds good deeds which he has planned for you to do that may not be the first thought of the person when they consider the impact of God's transforming grace, but it actually is virtually number one on the list of Paul and when in writing to the Ephesian Christians see reminds them of the great salvation that has been provided in Jesus that it is by grace.

They have been saved, and through faith and this not of themselves, not of works, that anyone should boast. He then immediately goes on to say. And God has done this, you have been created in Christ Jesus to do good deeds which God foreordained for you to do. In other words, in Christ all of our days and all of our deeds may be good for someone and for something and it is along these lines that we've been thinking as we have looked together primarily at the third chapter of Titus and as we been studying this. We have noticed that this is if you like the recurring emphasis the striking theme.

The melody line that runs through all of the contrapuntal motion that is represented in the surrounding information now. This emphasis on dime clear in my own mind at least, that Paul sees the need for this in some peculiar way and given the immorality of the culture in Crete and given the fact that the poets of the time the secular points of the time actually defined Crete in terms of lies and deceptiveness, and in light of the head and in light of the fact that within the framework of the church.

There were false teachers who were seeking to impress upon people all kinds of notions which actually were of no help to them whatsoever. In light of that prevailing impact both of the culture, squeezing them from without and the dangers of deception from within. Paul says it is absolutely imperative Titus that your people are marked by this God honoring Christ in doing goodness.

Paul has a fairly straightforward pattern when he writes his Lancers and we have learned to identify for one another. The transition that is represented in his Lancers, where he moves from what we refer to as the doctrinal indicative's to the moral imperatives or if you like. He moves from what is true of the believer to what is then expected of the believer. He does not suggest for the moment that as a result of the fulfilling of these expectations. These individuals might error in God's favor or tilt the balance is in favor of themselves, but rather that the imperative emerges from the indicative note given the fight that we are alert to this I had to catch myself because I almost missed one that is right here in verse 14, and that is contained for as in the verb to learn to learn our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good and since this behavior is learned behavior. We know therefore that this behavior is not the result of an emotional surge, nor is it to be an attempt to assuage feelings of guilt. While this little verse year 14 helps us to clean this up devoted to doing what is good.

This is learned behavior. We must learn to be devote in other words, it is childhood information. Time all over again. We learned in way how to brush her teeth how to go on our air are to shine our shoes as as our moms saying for as little song early in the morning.

This is the way we brush our teeth. This is the way we call our air. This is the way we polish our shoes and remember when we did it on a cold and frosty morning. Why is it not this is the way we brush our teeth on a carefree Sunday morning. I think I know the answer, I don't. I this is conjecture, but I think I know because on a cold and frosty morning. We probably tend adjusted for goal. All commitment to Judy pulled the blankets over our heads.

You know, get out of bed long enough to get a coffee and just jump right back in your bed and just stay there for as long as you possibly can at this. I don't want to brush my teeth or shine my shoes or comb my hair on a cold and frosty morning so it is learned behavior which produces dutiful response which is marked by devotion and in this case to doing what is good. Secondly, in verse 40 you will notice that it is not only learned behavior, but it is purposeful behavior in order that is a purpose clause in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive life's. In other words, what Paul is espousing not only here in Titus three, but also in all of his writings if you look at them carefully is the absolute opposite of a society of entitlement, either idling the pole would be impressed with the first decade of the 21st century at in the United States of America.

I think he would've been even more surprised than our Puritan forefathers would be surprised at the state of affairs that is emerged whereby generations grow up believing somehow or another we are simply entitled to certain things. There is no endeavor involved in our part. It will just come our way.

Because it's supposed to come our way well known officers Paul that is actually not the case and he makes the point that when he writes to Timothy in his first letter in an environment of the culture that that is quite staggering in relationship to Windows in the community of Ephesus and they had a list for widows. The focus of the ladies who had been deprived of a husband and so they were now single and they had no means of supporting themselves and income. There were strict instructions in relationship to these ladies here they are. No widow must be put on the list of widows unless she is over 60 and has been faithful to her husband and is well known for her. Guess what good deeds such as what catch this bringing up her children helping those in trouble devoting herself. Comes again to all kinds of good deeds.

Leavens this is unavoidable.

This is absolutely inescapable, which makes the absence of engagement in this realm by traditional evangelical churches. One of the most significant lapses in concentration at Bass and a serious denial of the instruction of God's word.

At worst, but to give you one other illustration of it because it is equally striking.

First Thessalonians chapter 4 you want to have an ambition is as well. Let me tell you what your ambition should be here is Paul on ambition right into the Thessalonian believers. First Thessalonians chapter 4 verse 11.

Here is is making your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you to do is quite amazing want to be ambitiously says to the believers in Thessalonica, then here's an ambition for you.

Quiet life.

Mind your own business. Quit poking your nose into everybody else's affairs and work with your hands nice here again is the absolute opposite of entitlement. Thirdly, the behavior is learned behavior. The behavior is purposeful behavior and the behavior is beneficial behavior and the benefit is not only that which accrues to the individual, but it is a benefit which accrues to others. In other words, a Christian works and remember that that God gave to his work in the garden. He gave her the garden. He said here's a garden I want you to cultivate work was marred by sin, but work was part of God's creative handiwork and design.

We wonder supposed to sit around and do nothing. And that's why within the human psyche.

There is a desire to produce that is why people paint. That is why people investigate. That is why scientists think that is why workers work in that gardeners garden and end. People look at this and say what in the world.

All these people doing and why are they doing this.

The Bible is the explanation we were made in the image of God, and we were made in order to do these things and when we fail to do them and we live as layabout. We deny the fact of God's creative handiwork and our activities are endeavors are earning capacity is not simply for selfish ends.

But it is an order that the that the overflow of that may be the benefit of others around is not least of all widows and orphans and so on. And when you think about the statement that is made there concerning the good deeds of the widow, and you see how intensely practical it is and that's why I changed hospitality to pancakes and bacon.

I guess I'm really hungry here in the second service, but I just sort of subliminal message to my wife was in the congregation but it it I changed in order to make the point so that the routine activities of life might be seen to be divine providence is to edit it, and that they might be seem to be the very things that bring glory to God and a set forward his purposes as the earlier generations referred to as the menial round and the common task they have furnished all we ought to ask. We don't really need to go anywhere else or do anything else if we will do these things that have been entrusted to ours and if we will do them, to the glory of God so we can say I am only one, but I am one. I can do everything I can do something. What I can do.

I ought to do and what I ought to do with God's help, I will do you not to worry about the person next to you and you don't have to worry about it was very significant.

Or apparently insignificant. We are not the ones keeping the score on this and God, who is please with these acts of kindness and goodness is the one who will give the rewards on the day we stand before now spend the majority of the time there in verse 14 and I've done it purposefully so that we might finally get this for our our minds as well as we walk away, but I need just to say something about the surrounding verses and I will do so quickly.

First of all I comment on verse 12. You will notice that he says in verse 12. Do your best to come to me to come to me and the word that he uses here for. Do your best in verse 12, to come to me split dad. So which is a nice Greek verb split dad.

So in other words, move everything around in order to get here as fast as you can do whatever it takes.

Don't come until I send Artemis or to check us to you, Artemis, about whom we know nothing and to chickens about whom we know quite a bit in Colossians 4 and elsewhere. Make sure that you don't just leave your people high and dry titers.

Make sure that there are people in place will be able to care in your absence.

And then as soon as one of these two characters arrived here as fast as you can. You notice when he's coming I want you to come down and see me in the accomplice, because I have decided to winter there. Don't miss the absolute straightforwardness of that statement. I have decided to winter there. I think some of us have the idea of the apostles moving around is it where you know, sort of in a kind of it. If the real existence 2 feet above the ground. You know where my supposed to go now. Should I F service. Should I go to closet now is not like that. It's all even when it says that they were prevented by the Holy Spirit are presumably was practical things and Paul says, and in these practicalities God the Holy Spirit was ordering my steps.

Evidentially, and so now he's got plans for the winter smart fellow. He's going to hundred miles north of Athens on the Greek coast somewhere in the Aegean Sea for the winter.

Anybody interested in joining him here only got a little snap in the air and you're starting to think this sound like a splendid idea, and it is a splendid idea. Remember what we're reading you this doesn't relate legend doesn't. This doesn't read like mythology. If he were trying tell your Bibles a bunch of hocus-pocus.

Somebody put it together and invented all these legends doesn't relate legends as read like somebody is actually saying to his friend got the nonsense do good. Tell your folks and why we get here once the followers of their downs and accomplish you and me will have a great time when ASAP where accomplice why I like you I like you I like spending time with you, so not for me. Paul has personal feelings conveys practical requirements and pursues purposeful relationships.

That's verse 12. Do your best to come to me. Verse 13. Do everything you can do everything you can to help who Zina's what we know about Zina's apart from the fact that he was a gnomic office, a lawyer, we know absolutely nothing. Well help Zina's lawyer about whom we know nothing of the policy, about whom we know quite a bit upon us was from Alexandria university town.

Obviously a bright chap. He had a pretty solid understanding of the gospel and then he bumped in and ask 18 to Priscilla and acrylic Priscilla and Aquila gave him a little bit more instruction and encouragement and introduced into the fullness of God's Holy Spirit and as a result of that apology became a quite phenomenal preacher reminder again of the links in the chain is you never know we are having home for dinner. You never know what young person you're taking home. You never know which university student.

You never know who it is that you have in your home, and they apparently inconsequential hospitality that you provided or blew the book and you said is it it is a wonderful book I like to give this to you.

It II got up from the bookstore. You could have the you you you don't know we don't know when you've got a policy in your house when you have the next apartments. See that's why all of our days and all of our deeds in Christ are good for something good for some NDC in the economy of God is interesting to that in both of these descriptions you have somebody that's well known and any of somebody who is completely unknown. Both times, Artemis don't know Jessica's knowing Zina's don't know Paul is not God knows them all and that's really all that matters. I think there's every chance that a policy in Zina's were actually the mailman on this journey there going on their way now and they need to make sure they have everything that they need it on my have to be going to giant Eagle. Don't send them out to get their own groceries don't have them stimulated, they can be working for two or three days. He says they vented there there there on the king's business help them out. You got a nice house. Give a lot of your bedroom. You've got plenty of groceries and for the weekend. Give them something to eat and get them some sandwiches to take when they go and if you can give them a tank of gas. Give them a tank of gas as well because that'll be a help to them and it will get them at least a few hundred miles down the road. Are you know in whatever is an anachronism. I understand gas out there don't give everyone is safe for the fact of the matter is help them okay 12. Do your best to come. 13. Do everything you can and 15 hey from all of us to all of you.

Love love love. It is not everyone with me send you greetings greetings is is nice when people say I was stronger so-and-so and so-and-so said the sums on some so they were all there were asking for you. Titers must to be gratified by that, and he's given an instruction. I want you titers in turn to greet those who love us in the faith's otitis then has this letter and he reads it out and he says, and as you can hear here from Paul in the letter he he what he sends his love to all of you he loves you they send greetings to me says a greetings to you and he's in these decided to finish with his with his favorite work. Anita every single one of Paul's letters finishes with the same word. Don't be pedantic now doesn't mean don't look it up and say no I finish with the word van or something know his final word is the word grace and it is grace, which is the doctrinal indicative which provides the foundation for the goodness which is the moral imperative without the grace a call to goodness is pure externalism and you may be here today and you actually think what I'm saying. I'm not saying, namely that this is a kind of standard sermon, no matter where you read in the Bible you're supposed to be good and benevolent God will reward good people provided are trying to do their best.

So let's just be good for goodness sake. No, no, that's not how it works on our best day we are unprofitable servants. All of our very best endeavors against the standard of God's perfection are like filthy rags will then were absolutely blessed. Yes, that's where grace comes in so that he comes in Christ obeys the law and its perfection lives of perfectly holy life dies in the place of those of us who are lawbreaker deals with all of God's raw secures our reconciliation and then says in the strength of my grace go out and be good be good listening to Truth for Life. The message from Alistair Begg titled everyone matters what your closing prayer from Alastair in just a minute, so please keep listening.

While today's message was a wonderful reminder that no matter our calling or vocation. We can play an important role in advancing God's kingdom. That idea is one of the central themes of the book for featuring this month, a biography of the famous Scottish athlete Eric little the book is titled running the race. Eric Lytle was a kingdom minded man, whether he was training as an Olympic athlete, or later in life as he worked as a missionary in China. You will be encouraged and touched by his story would love for you to have a copy of this book it comes to you with our thanks when you donate to support this ministry and it's easy to give online the Truth for Life.org/donate or you can get by calling 888-588-7884. Once again, that's 888-588-7884 and don't forget to request your copy of the biography running the race on behalf of your fellow listers. Thanks for supporting the Bible teaching you hear on this program. Your donations help cover the cost of producing and distributing these messages so they can be made widely available without cost. Being a barrier. We are so grateful.

Now here's Alastair to close with prayer father, thank you that your word is clear and we pray that you will show us that we have no goodness of our own that we could ever appeal to as a means of acceptance with you.

Help us then to trust in you, the living God. And then for our behavior to be the evidence of our belief.

Forgive us Lord for the times when we have just stared this in the face and chosen to walk another way and help us to rely entirely upon your grace so that we might live to the praise of your glory, for Jesus sake, we ask Amen Bob Lapine are series called encore 2020 continues tomorrow with a message on God's Providence pain filled world sure to join us again this daily program features the Bible teaching of Alistair Begg it's furnished by Truth for Life where the Learning is for Living