Titus • Week 1

Welcome to the Willow Ridge Sermons Podcast.

We're so glad you chose to listen today.

This week's message dives into Titus 1, 1-9,

emphasizing the importance of godly leadership,

sound doctrine, and a life rooted in faith.

Paul's instructions to Titus remind us to pursue integrity,

surround ourselves with a community of faith,

and hold firmly to the truth of God's Word.

Just as elders were called to lead with humility and discipline,

we are challenged to examine our own character and commitment to Christ.

Join us as we explore what it means to live a transformed life

shaped by God's truth and love.

Thanks for listening.

Well, as we jump into Titus together, if you would, take your Bible and turn to Titus chapter 1.

Titus 1 · chapter mention

In Titus chapter 1 in verse 5, verse 5 is kind of the overall theme.

Titus 1 · chapter mention

It's the focal point of what this whole book is about.

And in Titus chapter 1, verse 5, we read these words.

Titus 1:5

So what's taking place here is Paul has already been to Crete.

Paul has been to Crete with Titus.

Paul has established churches all over the towns of Crete.

And now Paul is somewhere else doing other missionary journeys,

establishing other churches.

And so now he's commissioning Titus.

Titus is a young pastor at this point.

Titus is in close relationship with Paul.

And Paul is sending him this letter and asking him to be a part of what is taking place in Crete.

So that's kind of the context of what we have here this morning.

So if you would, let's read the entire first nine verses.

That's where we'll be this morning.

I know that doesn't sound very much after we've gone through Genesis together, chapter by chapter.

But trust me, when you and I see what Paul is writing to Titus,

Paul really opens up a lot of things that you and I need to think about and address.

Verse 1.

Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ,

for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth,

which accords with godliness,

in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began,

and at the proper time manifested in his word,

through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God, our Savior.

To Titus, my true child in a common faith, grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus, our Savior.

This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order

and appoint elders in every town as I directed you.

If anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife and his children are believers

and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination.

For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach.

He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain,

but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.

He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught,

so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine

and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

You and I need to be careful when you and I read this together

that we don't check ourselves out if we don't carry the title of elder.

There's things in Scripture when we see it we want to check out

because maybe the label doesn't fit us like elder or another term in Scripture

and we're like, well, that doesn't apply to me.

But anything that God has shared with you and me and His Word applies to us as a follower of Christ.

We can't say we're going to pick one part of Scripture and not listen to the other part.

All of Scripture is for you and for me.

It is basically the foundation that Paul builds all this around.

Keep this in mind when you read the letters written by Paul.

Remember Paul's epistles, he wrote several letters to the churches,

Corinthians, Ephesians, Galatians,

but he also wrote letters to Timothy and Titus who are young pastors.

And when you and I read these letters of Paul,

the things that you and I need to keep in mind is this,

that Paul writes these letters with words of encouragement,

with words of instruction.

He writes in order that they be aware of the culture of their day

and how to navigate that culture.

But he also writes about correcting ungodly behavior.

So let's keep this in mind when we read these words here in Titus.

The foundation is the Word of God.

Paul's words to Timothy now in 2 Timothy 3, 16 and 17 said this,

Paul sends this short letter, three chapters, to Titus.

And in just these nine verses that you and I are looking at together this morning,

Paul says a lot.

I mean, there is a lot of things that Paul says

and he raises questions for you and I to ask and look at.

So let's just look at verses 1 through 3 again together.

Let's just kind of break this down.

Paul is servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ

for the sake of the faith of God's elect

and their knowledge of the truth which accords with godliness

in hope of eternal life which God who never lies promised before the ages began

and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching

with which I, Paul, have been entrusted by the command of God, our Savior.

So what do we learn about Paul?

Just in these short little verses,

we learn that he calls himself a servant of God.

He serves God out of his love and relationship for God.

He is a servant of God.

He calls himself an apostle of Jesus Christ.

An apostle is a messenger, one who is sent.

The 12 disciples were known as apostles.

They were the only ones given this title.

We also learned that he preached the message of salvation and eternal life

and also that he understood his responsibility as a command by God.

Now why is Paul these things that he just mentioned to you and I?

It says it right there in the beginning.

For the sake of the faith of God's elect.

That includes you and me.

Not only for those that Titus was going to order,

that Titus was going to teach those believers in Crete,

but it's also for you and I.

We can't remove ourselves from the fact that when we read God's word,

it is written for you and I.

For the sake of our faith.

Who is that you and who is that person that he's talking about?

Who is that elect?

It's very simple.

And Romans 10, 8 and 10 is for the person who receives Christ as their Savior and Lord.

Romans 10, 8 and 10 says,

But what does it say?

The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.

That is the word of faith that we proclaim.

Because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord

and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,

you will be saved.

For with the heart one believes and is justified,

and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

So the elect that Paul is talking about here

is what he's talking about there in Romans.

If we believe and if we confess,

that is the person who follows Christ as their Savior and Lord.

Paul also points out that what he's there for,

not only the sake of their faith,

but also for the knowledge of truth.

Which leads to godliness.

You see, God's word is there for you and I

for the knowledge of God's truth.

Not man's truth or an individual's truth,

but God's truth.

That's what matters in life.

We hear that word truth just strung out all over the place, don't we?

We hear people saying,

This is my truth.

Well, it may be your truth,

but is it the absolute truth?

Is it the absolute truth of God and his word?

And Paul is saying,

I am there for the sake of the elected

and their understanding of the truth of God's word.

We have God's word for the sake of our faith

and understanding who God is.

Paul also points out that he was there

to bring hope for eternal life.

But Paul also points out some things in there about who God is.

It's very interesting.

Again, in this short little few verses here,

he opens up his understanding

or some understandings of who God is.

He said he never lies.

Think about that for a moment.

Paul states to Titus in this introduction

that God never lies.

You and I need to let that sink in

to our minds, our hearts, and our spirit

because there's times even as believers,

we question what we read about God.

We question what we know about God.

We question even what we've put our faith in God.

We've got to realize that God doesn't lie.

That whatever he promises you and I in his word,

it's to build our life on.

It is truth.

It is not a lie.

And in that one little statement there,

Paul shared his doctrine and belief of God.

He promised eternal life from the very beginning.

We see that those words here that Paul opens up.

He showed the message of eternal life in his word.

God showed you and I the message of eternal life in his word.

He trusted Paul with the handling

and the preaching of his word.

And he trusts you and I with the handling

and the teaching and preaching of his word.

He points out to Titus that God is our savior.

Now put this in context.

God is also our savior in this world,

from this world.

God is our savior from ourselves.

God is our savior for eternity.

So how did this message get out?

God used a person like Paul.

If you have any biblical knowledge,

you kind of understand who Paul was.

Pastor Bo shared a little bit of that

in the message of Genesis,

how Paul was there to persecute the church.

Well then, God got a hold of him and changed that.

He used a person like Paul.

God uses a person like you.

God uses a person like me.

You and I are not exempt to be used by God.

We may tell God,

no, I'm not going to do that.

But God desires it from us.

And just like Paul said,

it was a command of God.

God commands you and I to be his representative,

to be his voice,

to be his feet.

What was the message?

Really very simple.

Again, one of those,

you know,

let's close the Bible,

let's pray,

let's walk out the door.

It's that kind of simple of a message

that Paul opens up here

in these first few verses.

It deals with faith,

which points to the truth of God's word,

which points to godliness in our lives

because of God's word,

which then leads you and I to eternal life.

That's what he says in those first few verses.

But then at all,

Paul also says there this very interesting phrase,

proper time.

What is proper time?

What is Paul getting at

when he tells Titus at the proper time,

God will reveal this?

It's God's timing.

It's God's timing.

That's the proper time.

That's hard for you and I

to kind of juggle and think about

in things that we deal with in life,

isn't it?

God's timing versus understanding

our timing of things.

A lot of times,

we want the fast food line route, right?

We don't want the 12-hour

let it smoke and marinate

in the smoker route.

We want that quick one.

But Paul says to Titus,

it's going to take time.

I mean, you and I

went through Genesis for two years

just to experience that together.

You and I understood

throughout the life of Genesis

of the people that we saw,

Isaac, Jacob, Joseph.

We understood it was all about God's timing.

Look at Joseph's life

as we looked at it towards the end.

It was all about God's timing.

Joseph didn't want to be in the places

that he found himself in,

but it was about God's timing.

There's a lot of times

I don't like God's timing.

But I trust.

I have faith.

When I struggle with that thought

of God's timing in my life,

whether it be decisions

that I need to make,

whether some hardships

that I'm going through,

I always go back to a verse

that my mom and dad

always pointed us to.

They've always pointed us

to Proverbs 3, 5, and 6.

But when I think about times of this,

I only go to Proverbs 3, 5,

where it says,

trust in the Lord,

not yourself,

trust in the Lord

with all your heart.

And here's the sticking point.

And lean not

on your own understanding.

I don't understand God's timing

sometimes in my life.

I don't understand

some of the situations

that I may go through

and deal with in life.

But one thing I do know,

I can trust God.

I can trust God

and His timing.

And as a follower of Christ,

I've got to keep reminding myself

over and over

and over again,

in God's moment,

in God's timing,

that's what's best.

And then Paul switches gear

from this greeting.

He now goes to Titus

in verse 4.

He says to Titus,

my true child

in a common faith,

grace and peace

from God the Father

in Christ Jesus,

our Savior.

You ever gotten a card

of encouragement?

You ever sent a card

of encouragement?

You ever get a text

with encouraging words

or maybe words

that are giving you guidance

and maybe a decision

you've shared with somebody

and they sent you a text

or an email,

some form of communication

to help you think about

what it is you're going through.

Or maybe just a simple thing

of saying,

I'm praying for you.

Or maybe they text

a verse of scripture

because they know

what you're going through

or a card,

whatever the case might be,

they sent you something

because they knew

that you needed it.

Whether it be encouragement

or instruction

or a form of words to help.

What about receiving those cards,

those texts,

that information?

What it's like to receive those

in a time of your life

when, man,

it's hard,

but that text seems to come

at the right time,

that card seems to come

at the right time.

Well, here's this young

Pastor Titus

on the island of Crete

and you'll see later

in the verses

in this same chapter later

as Pastor Bo gets into it,

this is not a fun place.

Crete is not a fun island.

Now, there's just,

it's just not.

The people are not fun,

but yet Paul had established

churches there

and now Paul needs Titus

to go about bringing order.

And can you imagine

being a young pastor

with the task

of bringing organization

and bringing order

to churches,

several churches?

That's a massive task.

And here Paul says to Titus,

grace and peace.

Grace and peace.

Titus knew exactly

what Paul was talking about.

Titus spent a lot of time

with Paul.

And so when Paul talks about

greeting him with grace

and peace,

he knows that it's

the grace of God

and it's the peace

of Jesus Christ,

his Lord and Savior.

So it brings this extra,

this extra wonder

of encouragement,

this extra joy

and excitement

to say,

man, I can do this.

I know what I'm facing

is hard,

but man,

I can do this.

So what do we learn

about Titus

just in this little bit?

But not in this passage,

but it is important.

Titus was a part

of Paul's ministry team.

Paul says a lot

about Titus

in 2 Corinthians.

In 2 Corinthians

2 Corinthians 2:13

chapter 2,

verse 13,

it says,

my spirit,

Paul is speaking here,

my spirit was not

at rest

because I did not

find my brother

Titus there.

You ever go looking

or trying to reach

or call a friend

and you can't find him?

Kind of that feeling

that it seems like

Paul is expressing

here about Titus.

2 Corinthians 7,

6,

but God who comforts

the downcast

comforted us

by the coming

of Titus.

God sent Titus

as a way of a comforter

for Paul.

And then in 2 Corinthians 8,

2 Corinthians 8:16

verses 16 and 17,

but thanks be to God

who put into the heart

of Titus

the same earnest care

I have for you.

For he not only

accepted our appeal,

but being himself

very earnest,

he is going to you

on his own accord.

Get to see a little bit

of Titus' character,

motivated himself

to bring the care

that is needed.

2 Corinthians 8, 23,

As for Titus,

he is my partner

and fellow worker

for your benefit.

So there was

a special relationship

that Paul has

with Titus,

the same type

of relationship

that Paul has

with Timothy,

these other young pastors.

To the point

where you see

a discipling

relationship here.

where Paul,

who is more mature

in his faith,

is working with

and discipling Titus

to help him

have confidence

in who he is

in Christ.

To help him

have confidence

in the task

that he has.

Two important phrases

that Paul uses

here with Titus.

He says

he is his true child.

Scholars believe

what Paul is saying

here is that

he was instrumental

in bringing Titus

to faith in God

when he says

my true child.

And then he says

common faith

that he,

that Paul and Titus

are brothers

in the Lord.

If you're a follower

of Christ,

you are my brother

in the Lord.

If you're a follower

of Christ,

you are my sister

in the Lord.

Because we have

common faith,

we follow the same

and only true God.

And moving on

from there,

we see Paul

give Titus

his purpose

in Crete.

In verse 5,

this is why

I left you in Crete

so that you might

put what remained

in order.

Task number one,

use some

administrative skills,

use some

administrative gifting

and put the churches

in order

and appoint elders

in every town

as I directed you.

So Titus,

bring alongside you

those who are like you

who will be able

to guide

and bring direction

to the churches

that I've established.

Now,

6 through 9,

this is how I want you

to listen to this.

Okay?

Verses 6 through 9,

listen to them this way.

as a description

for you

as a Christ follower.

As a description

for you

as a Christ follower.

You see,

throughout the scripture,

we see a lot of lists

and I'm a list

kind of person.

All right?

I've got a list

in my garage

of about 10 things

that I need to do

in and around the house.

Okay?

Two of them

are checked off.

That board's been on there

for at least two years.

But anyway,

I'm a list person.

So I love making lists.

So when I see lists

in scripture,

that helps me

because that's how

I'm wired.

But we see a lot

of types of lists

from the Old Testament

all the way

through the New Testament.

Here's such a case here

in verse 6.

Paul says to Titus,

if anyone is above reproach.

Now we're going to see

that Paul uses this phrase

above reproach

twice here.

Anytime you and I

see something multiple

in scripture,

especially so close together,

you and I need to go,

okay,

I need to be aware of this.

In some translations,

they refer to the word

reproach as blameless.

If anyone is blameless.

If anyone above reproach,

the husband of one wife

and his children

are believers

and not open

to the charge

of debauchery

or insubordination.

For an overseer,

as God's steward,

must be above reproach.

He must not be arrogant

or quick-tempered

or drunkard

or violent

or greedy for gain.

But,

don't you love that word

but when you hear

something like that

and then there's the but

and then you get to say,

man,

there's got to be

something better

on the other side

of that, right?

Usually when you hear

that word stuck

in between different things,

you're looking

for the good side of it.

and hear what Paul says

in verse 8,

but hospitable,

a lover of good,

self-controlled,

upright,

holy,

and disciplined.

He must hold firm

to the trustworthy word

as taught

so that he may be able

to give instruction

and sound doctrine

and also to rebuke

those who contradict it.

You see,

an important part

of that last phrase,

and I forgot to bring

this up earlier,

the rebuke part

is there are a lot

of false teachers

in Crete.

There were a lot

of false teachers

that were starting

to show up

in the churches

in Crete.

And you know

that was kind of

commonplace

in a lot of the churches

that Paul was sending

letters to,

false teachers

coming in

and trying to teach

a false truth.

Trying to teach

things that were

not of God

or were not

out of God's word.

So what did we learn

about why Titus

was in Crete?

Paul left him

in Crete

with a purpose.

To bring order

to finish the task

that Paul

had already started.

To organize

the churches

in Crete

that we'd already

talked about

and to appoint elders

in every town.

So he had a purpose.

Paul laid it out

for him,

very plain,

very simple.

What's your purpose?

What is your purpose?

When you think

that God has created you,

that God has gifted you,

what is God's purpose

for your life?

First and foremost,

we find it in Matthew

Matthew 22:36

chapter 22

verses 36 and 38.

This is our purpose.

These were the very words

of Jesus.

Verse 36,

it says,

Teacher,

which is the great commandment

in the law?

And he,

being Jesus,

said to him,

you shall love

the Lord your God

with all your heart,

with all your soul,

and with all your mind.

This is the great

and first commandment.

You see,

the whole thing

is about you and I

having a relationship

with God.

That is our utmost purpose,

to have a relationship

with God.

And then,

in within that relationship,

it then begins

to spill out

in all areas

of our life,

what is your purpose

at home

with your family?

What is your purpose

at work,

at school?

What is your purpose

with your friend group?

What is your purpose

in your neighborhood,

with your neighbors?

What's your purpose

with a stranger

that you come across,

maybe a one-time meeting?

What does God's word

say to you

in those arenas

of your life?

Those are questions

that I have to ask

and answer

on a regular basis

that you have to ask

and answer

on a regular basis.

God gives us

a purpose.

Paul gave Titus

a purpose.

God gave Paul

a purpose.

God gave Titus

a purpose.

You and I

have that purpose

to love him

with our heart,

mind,

and soul.

But Paul set

some standards

for Titus

to be on the lookout

for in these men.

The same standards

that you and I

are to have

in our own life.

A person who has

character and a reputation

that stands out

in their community.

A person who has

character and a reputation

that stands out

positively

in their community.

A person who has

their family life

in order.

If you think about

how this breaks down

that Paul talks about,

he starts talking

about the family first.

In Genesis,

we saw that God

created the family first,

Adam and Eve.

And Paul says

to Timothy,

look at the individual's

family first.

He then says,

a person who has

the ability

to give oversight.

A person who's

going to be a steward

of the things of God.

God has given

things to you and I

that he expects

you and I

to be stewards of.

Good stewards of.

Our talents

that we use,

our talents and gifts

that God gives us.

Our finances

that God has

blessed us with.

Any of the things

that God has

provided for us,

God intends

for you and I

to be good stewards

of that.

A person not having

ungodly qualities.

Would you agree

with me that these

that Paul talks about

would definitely fit

that ungodly

characteristic?

But what I notice

these things

that Paul mentions

here and these

ungodly characters,

all those are

self-centered

qualities,

aren't they?

These are things

that you want to do

because you want

to do them.

But then Paul

says to Titus,

this person needs

to have these

godly qualities.

This person needs

to have these

godly qualities.

hospitable,

willing to speak

and open up

to people.

A lover of good,

self-controlled,

upright,

holy,

disciplined.

These are all

qualities that are

other-centered.

Now doesn't that

match with what

you know of what

you've read in

God's Word that

we're to be about

others?

We're to look,

as Scripture says,

for the interests

of others?

That we're to help

them with the needs

that they have?

That's all about

being other-centered.

But lastly,

but certainly

not least,

that Paul says

here,

a person who

has a good

grasp of the

Word of God.

A person who

has a good

grasp for the

Word of God.

Paul uses some

important phrases

there.

I never realized

that my English

classes in high

school would help

me read and

understand God's

Word.

If you would have

told me about that

back then, I still

wouldn't like to

have been in

English class.

But to see how

important the

words are that we

read in the

Scriptures, that

there's not a

word there that's

out of place.

But every word

that we read,

that God used

the different

people to put

together the

Word of God.

Paul says the

word, hold

firm.

hold firm.

Don't let your

Bible be that

home decoration

that sits on a

table somewhere

that collects

dust, or that

sits on the

shelf that never

gets moved.

Paul says to

Titus, look for

those individuals

who hold firm

to the Word of

God.

He says, have the

ability to give

instruction, not just

any doctrine, but

on sound

doctrine.

God has given

you and I His

Word that is based

on sound doctrine.

But He also

said in the

context of the

culture in which

Titus was in, He

says, to be able

to rebuke

contradictions to

the Word.

So how do you

measure up to

these qualifications?

May I ask

myself that when

I read over

these?

You and I have

to ask ourselves

when we come

across God's

Word and we

read things like

this throughout

God's Word.

You and I also

both need to know

that we're not

perfect, right?

On this side of

eternity, there's

no such thing as

perfection.

That only works

when you and I

die as followers of

Christ and we

spend eternity in

the presence of

God, that's where

we're clothed with

the new body that

God's Word talks

about, that Paul

talks about in

Corinthians.

On this side, we're

imperfect people

struggling through

life, trying to

apply the Word that

we read from

God's Word.

But at the same

time, you and I

battle with sin in

our life, you and

I also need to

realize in Scripture

it's there for a

purpose, it's there

for God to

edify us, it's

there for God to

sanctify us.

So in light of

that, you and I

need to confront

this list, to

confront these

things that we

see with a heart

of evaluation.

And I know

that's hard.

You know, one of

the worst things

for me to try to

do, I get so

nervous, I know

it may not seem

like it, but I

get so nervous

up here.

My stomach

churns for a

week.

My wife and I

went up to see

our son up in

Greenville, he's

over at Clemson.

I said that

word again, and

to see him, to

see him, to see him

because we hadn't

seen him for a

while.

I say that for my

love for my Clemson

people.

We hadn't seen him

for a while, and it

was just a good

trip to kind of ease

my mind.

And then I woke up

about 2.30 this

morning, couldn't go

back to sleep.

It's just one of

those ways in which

it's hard to evaluate

where I was

getting at.

Sorry, I just

lost track.

Where I was really

getting at is the

worst thing for me to

do is come in on a

Monday morning, and

after Joel has

uploaded the YouTube

channel, to sit and

listen to myself talk.

Have you ever done

that?

Oh, man, it's awful.

It is awful.

And I'll be honest

with you, I've never,

as long as I've been

in ministry, I have

never, ever been able

to listen to myself,

so I apologize to

you the entirety of

my time speaking.

But self-evaluation

is important.

But we have to be

motivated out of our

love for God when we

evaluate ourselves and

we read what we've

just read together.

And a desire to

please God, to see

the need in your life

and in my life for

godly change, not

just change that

benefits change, but

change that reflects

who we are as a

follower of Christ.

Here's some steps to

change.

Be honest and

truthful with

yourself.

I've sat down many

times with folks, and

that's usually the

first thing I say.

If you really want to

get anything out of

this conversation that

you and I are going

to have, you need to

be truthful and

honest with

yourself.

Because if you're

not, you're not

leaving the point in

which you're

standing on.

You've got to be

truthful and honest

with yourself.

Then you've got to

confess to God and

repent for whatever

it is that God has

opened up your eyes

to seeing.

And then you've got to

seek guidance from

God's word.

That's where it is.

Everything that you

and I need to know is

right here.

Everything.

Everything.

I know sometimes it's

hard for you and I to

wrap our minds that

everything that you and

I need to know about

life is right here, but

it is true.

It's right here.

We just got to find

it.

We just got to read

it.

Seek God's guidance

from his word.

And in some cases,

seek guidance from a

biblical counselor.

Allow a biblical

counselor to pour in

you the words of God

that you need to hear

for your situation that

you're going through.

C.S.

Lewis, there's a app on

Instagram that I love

following because it

seems like it has a lot

of quotes from C.S.

Lewis, a lot of quotes

from A.W.

Tozer, and one of them

that I came across said

this from C.S.

Lewis.

The Christian life is

simply a process of

having your natural

self changed into a

Christ self.

And that this process

goes on very far

inside.

Remember that scripture

that talks about that

God's word is there to

divide between joint and

marrow where it's like a

surgeon's scalpel?

You remember that

scripture?

That's what I see here

when I hear these words

of C.S.

Lewis.

And that this process

goes on very far

inside.

One's most private

wishes, one's point

of view, and the

things that have to be

changed.

That's the kind of

change that God does

in and through his

word.

Most importantly, how

are you doing at

holding firm to the

trustworthy word of

God?

How are you doing

holding firm?

Are you reading the

word?

Are you studying the

word?

Are you meditating on

the word?

Are you being taught

the word?

You know, we come

here on Sunday

mornings, we have the

opportunity to listen

to Pastor Bo teach

us what God has

laid on his heart

through his word.

But we have so many

other opportunities

throughout the life of

Willow Ridge Church to

be connected in a small

group, to sit down with

other people and share

maybe like, I don't

really understand what

this scripture means.

Will you share what

you know of this

scripture?

Placing ourselves in

situations where we're

being taught the word of

God.

Are you seeking

counsel and guidance

from the word of God?

So I was thinking about

these nine verses.

Here's the things that

seem to come to my

mind as we wrap up our

time together this

morning.

One, know who you are

in God.

Paul knew who he was.

Do you know who you are

in God?

Know who you are in God.

He created you in his

image.

You are of great value to

him and he loves you.

He loves you.

No matter what

anybody, anybody has

ever said to you, God

loves you more than

any one significant in

your life.

God loves you.

Know what you believe

about God.

Paul expressed that in

short little phrases here

in the beginning of his

opening.

But you and I need to

know what we believe

about God.

It's a great one.

God never lies.

That's a good one for

you and I to know.

Because when we come

to that time in our

life, we need to know

that.

When we read God's

truth, it's not a lie,

it's truth.

We've got to know that

God keeps his promises

and that our eternity

as a Christ follower is

sealed because of God.

Surround yourself with

people.

I love this phrase that

Paul used.

Surround yourself with

people of common

faith.

Faith in God.

Why?

Why is that so

important?

He's not saying don't

have relationships with

people that don't know

God.

That contradicts the

fact that that whole

wall out there on the

board talks about you

and I going to the

nations where you and

I got to share the

love of Christ with

others.

But you and I, if we

surround ourselves

completely with people

who don't know and

love the Lord, we will

be influenced by the

way they live.

and not influenced by

the way God wants us

to live.

You and I need to

surround ourselves with

people of common

faith.

They're there to

encourage you when

you're struggling in

your relationship with

the Lord.

They're there to

encourage you when

you're struggling in

your relationships on

earth.

They're there to

encourage you when

you're just struggling

because of life

sometimes is a

struggle.

just like it says in

God's word, they're

there to sharpen your

relationship with the

Lord.

And some of the

things sometimes we

don't think that much

of and we really

sure should is they're

there to pray for you.

One of the greatest

blessings, one of the

greatest things that you

and I have that God has

given us is the ability

to talk to him like I'm

talking to you and

the ability to go

before God on behalf

of those in our life

or those that we don't

even know and bring

them up to the Lord

for whatever the

purpose, whatever the

reason is.

But when you surround

yourself with people of

common faith, you have

people who journey

with you in prayer, who

come alongside you with

prayer.

Desire and pursue the

character that aligns

with godliness that we

just read.

You got to desire it.

Jesus said to those

listening to, if any man

wishes to come after me,

let him deny himself,

take up his cross and

follow me.

That's about desire of

wanting to follow God

with all of who you are.

And then hold firm to

the truth of God's word.

Make the Bible the

number one book that you

spend the most time

reading.

And there are some great

books out there.

And my shelf is filled

with great books.

People ask me all the

time, you read all of

them?

Nope.

I've read parts of

them.

But spend more time

reading God's word than

you do reading anything

else.

And then lastly, then

lastly, as the band

comes up, as we get

ready to close out our

service together, never,

never, never, never,

never, never let go of

the word of God no matter

how tough life gets.

Through his word, God

will bring you through.

Hold firm to the word of

God.

It is what you and I

need throughout our

entirety as we walk with

Christ, our Lord and

Savior.

We're about to sing as we

close out our service

together.

And we have prayer

encouragers that, as we

start to sing together,

they're going to be

standing on these walls on

the side.

You're here because God

has you here.

You know, you could have

been anywhere, but maybe

you woke up this morning

like, man, I just need to

go to church.

But whatever reason you're

here, they're here, our

prayer encouragers, they're

here to pray with you.

If you've got a burden, let

them pray with you.

Man, if you need to come to

a saving relationship with

Jesus Christ, they're here

to walk you through what

that means.

You know, it might be that

you've got a friend on the

other side of the room that,

man, your relationship is

tight.

Man, you have one of

those common faith

relationships, and you've

never said it to them or

whatever, and you need to

go encourage them, or you

need to go ask them, hey, in

this moment right now, will

you pray for me?

Maybe you can do that.

God desires for you and I

just to let folks into our

lives.

Would you join me in prayer

as we prepare ourselves to

continue to worship the Lord

and song?

Father, I thank you just, I

know sometimes I say this and

pray this a lot, but I do

thank you for your word, Lord.

There is so much power in your

word.

Power that we've not probably

even touched in our lives, but

it's there.

And Lord, just like you just

showed us what Paul points out

to Titus, you point it out to

our life as well, Lord.

Lord, help us to be the men and

the women that you have called

us to be in this life.

Lord, help us to put off the

things that are not of

representative of who you are,

but Lord, to strive to be the men

and women of God that you call

us to be.

Lord, if there's anybody in this

room that's struggling with

anything in life, and man, they

just need somebody to speak to,

Lord, give them the courage to

step out and to approach

somebody just to ask for

guidance, to ask for help, to

ask for prayer.

Father, thank you for loving us,

loving us for right where we are,

for who we are, but loving us

and desire to pull us closer and

closer to you in a relationship

that just far exceeds what we

can even imagine or think.

Lord, we love you and we thank

you and we ask this prayer in

your name.

Amen.

That's it for this week's

message.

Be sure to check back next week

for another episode.

In the meantime, you can stay up

to date with everything happening

at Willow Ridge by visiting us on

Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and

online at willowridgechurch.org.

Thanks again for listening.