Gift Baskets

Titus 3-Part 4
This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men.   Titus 3:8 NAS


LET IT GLOW


Usually we receive a gift basket at Christmastime. What a precious gift, a basket of homemade goodies- cookies, candies, sweet breads, and jellies. Now those are labors of love in my book, good works in more than one way. Don't get me wrong, fruit baskets are nice and always eaten, but they are only surface gifts, easy and quick to fix, not an indepth giving of one's time, energy, and self like those baked goods. Which kind of "good works" are the ones I do?  Am I prepared  to "give" this Christmas?

I read in my devotional book Experienceing God Day-By-Day by the Blackabys about preparing:
"Preparing for the Presence of God" is the title. He says that if we are to receive the powerful presence of God, we must prepare ourselves. (Luke 3:4,6) John the Baptist helped prepare the people to receive the Savior by telling them to repent (Matt.3:2). The religious leaders were unprepared for Jesus' arrival. Although they knew a Messiah was coming, they made no effort to join Him, preferring instead their religious ritual.
I don't want to be unprepared and miss the opportunity to experience Jesus. Do you? We must pray, asking God to examine our hearts and reveal our need to repent of our sins. (Ps. 139:23-24)

As I am making candy and baking sweet bread, preparing several gift baskets, I need to prepare my heart for the presence of God; the way is  by repenting of my sins. Then I will be ready for the Holy Spirit to speak to me.

Now, back to our lesson.
A trustworthy statement, a faithful saying-it was common expression in the early church, which was used five times in the Pastoral Epistles. It is profitable for men-for the sake of evangelism. Men is a generality, referring to those who respond by the holy witness to the gospel. Proclaiming the truth, not arguing error, is the biblical way to evangelize. (Mac Arthur)

Here in this third chapter, Paul tells us how believers should act-gentle, meek, peaceful, submitting to authority. Also, he includes how believers are not to act-foolish, disobedient, hateful. The right belief doesn't automatically lead to godly behavior.

The only evidence the unsaved world has that we belong to God is our godly lives. We should live godly lives and be "careful to maintain good works." "Good works" doesn't necessarily mean religious works or church work. It is fine to work at church, sing in the choir, and hold an office; but it is also good to serve our unsaved neighbors, to be helpful in the cumminity, and to have a reputation for assisting those in need.(Wiersbe)

What are we saved for? It is to glorify the Lord Jesus as we maintain good works.

Faith alone saves, but the faith that saves is not alone. We must never put the cart of works before the horse of grace! (Guzik)

Do I have good works, not just at Christmastime, but throughout the year?


LET IT GROW

But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. Reject a factious man after a first and second warning, knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned.  Titus 3:9-11 NAS

In verse 9, Paul tells us to avoid three deadly theological distractions:

• foolish controversies, "questions" is the word used in the KJV. It is a subject of questioning or debate, matter of controversy. (Thayer's Lexicon)
• genealogies-a record of desent or lineage. (Thayer's Lexicon) Jewish heritage resulted in an attitude of spiritual superiority for some Jews. 
• strife, which means "quarrel" or "contention," disputes is more violent nuance, most often physical combat, and even war. (Swindoll)

Paul would have undoubtedly been a heavyweight champion among his fellow Pharisees, so he knew better than most the futility of quibbling over the minutiae of the Mosaic law. (Swindoll)

The Greek term for a factious man is hairetikos, which is transliterated "heretic," which means "to choose, prefer, or take for oneself." It has the idea of choosing to believe what one wants, in spite of what God says. The Word of God must be the final authority for what we believe. (Falwell)

A heretic is one who refuses to accept true doctrine as it is revealed in the Bible, and prefers to choose for himself what he is to believe.

Warren Wiersbe wrote, "I have learned that professed Christians who like to argue about the Bible are usually covering up some sin in their lives, are very insecure, and are usually unhappy at work or at home."

NLT version of Titus 3:10-11 says: If people are causing divisions among you, give a first and second warning. After that, have nothing more to do with them. For people like that have turned away from the truth, and their own sins condemn them.




LET IT GO

Give a gift from the heart.

Let my good works honor my Savior, not me.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES, SWEET FRIENDS!!!!!!!!!!!!