January 26, 2014

Sunday School

Titus 1:1-16

Leadership in the Church

Paul has instructed Titus, his "true son in common faith" on how to aid and supervise the churches in Crete. Titus was to appoint elders in each town as Paul instructed and was to look
out for faults teaching.
Elders and their families had obligations (standards) that had to be met in order to become and remain elders.

•       Lovers of all things good things.
•       Steadfast and strong belief in the trustworthy message of the Word.
•       Blameless  in life.
•       Must not be arrogant or quick tempered; nor violent or heavy drinker.
•       Faithful to his wife and his children must be believers who are not wild or rebellious.

Note:  Paul wrote letters to several churches to help them understand that Gentiles who believed in Christ, did not have to become Jews first in order to be Christians. God accepts anyone who comes to Him in faith. (Romans 1:17 - This Good News tells us how God makes us right in His sight.  This is accomplished from start to finish by faith.  As the Scriptures say, "It is through faith that a righteous person has life.")

Sermon

Psalm 27:14 - Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

Subject: Waiting Brings Help from God!

Isaiah 40:31 - But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faith.

Matthew 24:6 - You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.

Ephesians 6:12 - For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

We, as Christians have many weapons; songs such as "We Are Soldiers In The Army," "Onward Christian Soldiers," "I Am On The Battlefield For My Lord," "Only What We Do For Christ Will Last," just to name a few.

• Christians undergo "Basic Training"
• It's intense and challenging
• Learn the fundamentals of our tools
• How to address our superiors
• Self discipline
• Strict daily routines
• Prayer and exercising our faith

We have the Body Armor of God

 

Ephesians 6:10-17 - Be strong in the Lord and in His might power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.  For our struggles is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything to stand.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled round your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and a sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

The Hebrew meaning for waiting is to bind together like a twisted rope; look patiently; and hope, expect, look eagerly toward. (qavah).

Waiting requires strength and patience.....not rushing into a situation.
All to Jesus I surrender
God wants us to be a blessing to Him and to others.
God wants to use our time here for treasure.
Serenity from God through waiting - "Be still and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world."  (Psalm 46:10)
Stability from God through waiting - study His Word; be established in the faith.
Submission to God through waiting - For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. (Romans 12:3)