Maintaining Good Works - 4/15/26 - Meadows Baptist Church - Pastor Charlie Branch

Welcome to the podcast of Meadows

Baptist Church of Walnut Cove, North

Carolina. We're so glad you joined us

today. If you enjoy today's message, be

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with your friends. Now, let's join

Pastor Charlie Branch with a word from

God.

All right. Titus chapter 3 tonight. Take

Titus 3 · chapter mention

God's word, turn with us to the book of

Titus, chapter number three, New

Testament. Go to the book of Second

Timothy. And if you find Hebrews, go

back left. All right? And uh there's a

little book in between Titus and Hebrews

called Fiman. And some of these books,

there's dust in these pages, but uh but

I hope there's not. Amen. I hope you

wearing them out. Amen. And I tell you

this, it's all profitable. And even

those ia books over there in the Old

Testament. Amen. And uh those ones that

we think really ain't in there. If you

ask most people, you know, you ask them

if there's the book of Zephaniah, some

people look at you. Not sure. Amen. But

there is. I think some people get

Hezekiah and that one confused. But turn

to the book of Hezekiah and about 30

people go to flipping through their

Bible. But uh Amen. just in case you're

wondering, there is no book of Hezekiah.

Amen. But, uh, Titus chapter 3 tonight.

Titus 3 · chapter mention

I'm not trying to be foolish this

evening. Forgive me. But, uh, Titus

chapter number three. Got a thought on

my heart. Something the Lord put on me

today. Want to share it with you. And,

uh, something I think that will help us.

And, uh, I wish I could preach it on

Sunday morning. If it goes well tonight,

I may preach it Sunday morning. So,

we'll see how that goes. Amen. Preacher,

we've heard it twice. Well, y'all y'all

are about a quarter of the Sunday

morning crowd. So, we'll just take it

and run with it. Amen. But, uh, Titus

Titus 3 · chapter mention

chapter 3, I want to read three verses.

Jump with me. Uh, verse number one, and

we'll go from verse number one to verse

number eight. And then from verse number

8 to verse number 14. All right. Notice

the verse with me. Titus chapter 3 verse

Titus 3 · chapter mention

number one. U Paul says here writing to

Titus which is at Cree. He says put them

in mind to be subject to principalities

and powers to obey magistrates to be

ready to every good work. Verse number

eight. This is a faithful saying. And

these things I will that thou affirm

constantly that they which have believed

in God might be careful to maintain good

works. These things are good and

profitable unto men. Now notice verse

number 14.

The Bible says, "And let our hours also

learn to maintain good works for

necessary uses that they be not

unfruitful."

Now, Father, I ask you this evening as

we've come to uh study thy word. I pray

you'll help us tonight, God. We have

nothing without thee. And Lord, I pray

that you cleanse us of all sin. God, I

realize just how short we fall, God.

Each and every day, Lord. Many every day

we miss the mark. And God, we come up

short. But Lord, would you help us

tonight, Father, I want to hit the mark.

Um God, I want to share what you put on

my heart. And I pray that you would

speak to me and through me. Help me

remember what I've studied, God. And and

Lord, whatever else you want said. Help

me to say everything that needs to be

said and nothing that ought not be said.

Get glory to yourself. And we'll exalt

you and praise you because you alone are

worthy. And Lord, we pray for these

situations in our church tonight, God.

Many heavy hearts, please Lord, give

grace in every life, Father, and let

them know, Lord, that you are sufficient

and that you do love them and help them

during this time. We'll give you thanks

because we ask it in Jesus name. Amen.

And amen. Now, if you didn't notice

tonight what the correlation is in these

three verses, there's a phrase that I

want to zero in on tonight in these

three three verses. And I want to look

back at our text tonight just for the

sake of emphasis. Notice with me verse

number one in the last phrase of verse

number one of Titus 3. Say it with me

tonight. To be ready to every good work.

Notice verse number eight, the middle

part of the verse. That that they which

have believed in God, what's it say?

Might be careful to maintain good works.

Now notice with me verse number 14 again

read the whole verse. And let ours also

learn to maintain good works for

necessary uses that they be not

unfruitful. So tonight I want to talk to

you about good works. What they are,

what they're not. Why should we be

involved in good works? Now I think we

can answer the question tonight that the

good work is the salvation work.

>> Right? I'm reminded of the man that came

to Jesus one day and he said this. He

said, "What must I do that I might work

the works of God?" You remember what

Jesus said to that man? He said, "This

is the work of God that you believe on

him whom he hath sent." And so,

primarily tonight, the work of God

number one is salvation in the heart and

life of a human being. If you have a

soul tonight, if you are a living,

breathing vessel, human, amen, you have

a soul and the primary work of God is

for you to be saved. Amen. And you say,

"Well, being saved is not a work." I

agree with you on that, but it is the

work of God done in you. Amen. And I

want to zero in on this thought, the

book of Titus. Now, Titus, this phrase

is used in all three chapters. And I

believe verse number eight of chapter 3

really is a summary of the entire book

of Titus. Notice what he says. This is a

faithful saying, "And these things I

will that thou affirm constantly that

they which have believed in God might be

careful to maintain good works. These

things are good and profitable unto

men." Now, what you'll find is when you

study these three short chapters that

this is the emphasis of this entire

book. This is what Paul is telling Titus

here to apply to his heart. And

literally the emphasis begins in chapter

number one when he says in verse number

five. He tells Titus, he says, "For this

cause I left the increase." Notice what

he says, "that thou shouldest set in

order." What's the Bible say? The things

that are wanting. You know what he was

talking about? He was talking about good

works.

>> What does that mean? The things that are

wanting. Well, they were lacking in the

department of good works. Let me say

this tonight. The truth is about this

church and I believe about every church,

you know, there's some churches, yeah,

we probably could say they're living

pretty close to the scriptures as far as

the operation and the function of the

church. But really, good works is not so

much what you're doing, but why you're

doing it.

>> Okay? And you can be doing everything

right tonight, but if you have the wrong

motive and what you're doing, then all

of that is null and void. So, I want to

define this term tonight for just a

minute and then I'll give you the text

this evening. I thought maybe the Lord

wanted us to go through Titus, but we're

kind of going to do that in a one sermon

time here. So, notice with me tonight

the phrase again in in Titus 3 verse one

to be ready to every good work. Verse

number eight, to maintain good works.

Verse 14, to maintain good works. Now,

I'll give you the three points tonight.

All right, the three points for these

three verses are this. number one verse

number one speaks of the preparation for

good works. The preparation for good

works. Verse number eight speaks point

number two speaks not only not of the

preparation but of the practice of good

works. Verse number eight speaks of the

practice of good works. And then thirdly

tonight we look at verse 14 and it's

going to tell us about the purpose of

good works. the purpose of good works.

Now, let me say this tonight by way of

introduction. Number one, tonight I

would say this. We are designed as

Christians, we are designed for good

works.

>> Right?

>> We are designed this way. How is that?

Well, Ephesians 2:8 says, "For by grace

Ephesians 2:8

are you saved through faith, and that

not of yourselves, it's the gift of God,

not of works, lest any man should

boast." So, salvation's not of works.

All right? But verse 10 says this, "For

we are his workmanship, created in

Christ Jesus, what's it say? Unto good

works, which God hath before ordained

that we should walk in them." Now, you

was not predestinated to be saved, but

you were predestined to after that you

were saved, predestined to good works.

It was designed by God in his mind when

he saved you that you would live for

him.

>> Amen. And those good works we are

designed the Christian if any man be in

Christ he is a new creature. That new

creature's design is for employment in

good works. Now number one we see that

we're designed for good works. Number

two we are demanded to do good works.

It's demanded. Notice James chapter

number four.

Listen to what James says here

concerning this subject of good works

this evening. James chapter 4 verse

James 4 · chapter mention

number 17.

Your Bible says this. Therefore, to him

that knoweth to do good and doeth it

not, what's your Bible say? To him it is

sin. So we are not only designed for

good works, but we are demanded to do

good works. Why? Because it is sinful

for a man to know to do good and to not

do it.

>> Amen. So we are demanded tonight and we

are commanded. It's expected. Let me say

it again. It is demanded that we do good

works. Then I'll say this number three.

We're not only designed and we're not

only demanded to, but we are we ought to

be desirous of good works.

>> Notice Titus 2 and verse 14, the chapter

just prior. Listen to what he says. Who

gave himself for us that he might redeem

us from all iniquity and purify unto

himself a peculiar people. What's your

Bible say? Zealous of good works. So

tonight, our number one desire ought to

be to do good works before God. Now,

what are good works? All right, four

things tonight about what good works is

concerning the Bible and what that means

for us this evening. All right, if you

are going to if you were going to make a

list tonight and say, "What are bad

works and what are good works?" This is

what you would find under the list of

good works. Number one, I would say

this. Good works are holy.

>> Come on.

>> Pure in motive. They promote holiness.

And also the work itself is holy, but

the work promotes holiness. If what you

are doing is not holy, it will not

promote holiness. And it will not be

deemed a good work. And so good works

for you and I have to be something that

is pure. You understand God is holy. And

so his children are to operate in purity

and in complete and total holiness. So

number one, good works are holy. That's

the first qualification. If your works

are not holy, then your work is not a

good work. Out of that, not only good

works are holy, number two, good works

not only are holy, but they are helpful.

>> Amen.

>> They're beneficial.

If your work produces nothing. Amen. If

what you're doing it I if it produces

nothing number one it's probably not

holy. Okay. But if your work is holy

it's going to be beneficial.

>> Right?

>> What you Bible say? James said faith

without works is what? Dead. And when he

talks about works you remember the

example that he uses. He says if you say

to a brother he said he comes unto you

and he's unclothed and he's hungry. And

he say you you look at him you say all

right depart be warmed and filled. He

said, "Except," he said, "but you don't

give him the things needful for his

body." He said, "What does it profit?"

>> You're right.

>> You tell him he's okay, but you do

nothing to supply his need. Good works

take care of needs.

>> Right?

>> Amen. They're helpful. Let me say this.

Not only good works are holy, and good

works are helpful, but good works are

honorable.

>> Good works are commendable. If what

you're doing cannot be commended, if you

have to hide what you're doing,

>> come on. That's right.

>> If it has to be done in secret,

>> you're right.

>> Amen. You say, "Well, I I in my

humility, I want to I want to, you know,

stay to myself." Well, there's certain

things that should be done in secret.

Okay. But if it was brought out to

light, would it bring shame to the name

of Christ or would it bring honor to the

name of Christ?

>> Right?

>> Your work should be honorable in itself,

but it also should honor the name of

Christ and his church. If what you're

doing is not honorable to this church,

then it is not a good work. This is what

I like the best. You say, "Well, that's

really bad." Okay, here's where it gets

good. All right. A good work is holy. A

good work is helpful. A good work is

honorable. But let me say this. A good

work tonight is happy.

>> You're right.

>> Amen. If you are doing a good work for

God, you can be happy in spite of

whatever circumstances you're in.

>> You're right.

>> Amen. Because here's the thing about it.

You know that your work, number one, you

know the reason why you're doing it

>> cuz God told you to. You know the

purpose that you have out of it,

ultimately whether anything else happens

or not, God's going to get glory out of

it.

>> Amen.

>> You know what? If I pray for a lost

sinner to be saved for the rest of my

life, if I pray for lost sinners to be

saved for the rest of my days and I

never see one of them get saved, you

know what? I can chalk that prayer up as

a successful prayer. You're

>> right.

>> Because God gets glory out of that.

Because what happens when we pray the

will of God, God is pleased. Isn't that

right? And so good works are happy. Now

I'm reminded what Solomon said.

Ecclesiastes chapter 9 and verse number

Ecclesiastes 9 · chapter mention

10. He said, "Whatsoever thy hand

findeth to do, do it with thy might."

Now he's not literally just talking

about physical labor. Okay? It goes to

all facts of life. Whatever you put your

hand to, so to speak, you ought to give

it your best. Amen. Because he says in

the verse, you can turn there and read

it. Chapter nine and verse number 10, he

said there's no labor. There's nothing

where you're headed. Amen. He's talking

about the grave. He said there's not

going to be any of that. And Jesus said

this. He said, I must work the works of

him that sent me while it's what? Day.

Amen. For night cometh when no man

>> can work. Amen. So the truth is tonight

are good works. You say, "What does all

that mean for me? How can I employ

that?" Obviously, I've got some things

to change. Well, you're not the only one

because I do, too.

>> Amen.

>> Amen. Cuz truth is, not everything I'm

involved in fits those four

>> criteria. Now, God, just give me that.

Okay. I believe that scriptural. Amen.

It's got to be holy. It will be helpful.

Amen. It'll be honorable. And it will

make you happy. There's nothing in this

life, if you're saved, there is nothing,

listen to me, there is nothing in this

life that will satisfy you the way

serving Jesus will. Amen. Notice the

text tonight and I'll be done. I see

first of all tonight concerning this

text, I've got to give you context so

you understand what's going on here.

Paul has mentioned this thought of good

works in this chapter. The first time he

mentions the thought that I saw here in

these verses in chapter 1 and verse

number 16. And he's talking about the

unapproved for good works. Look what he

says. They profess that they know God,

but in works they deny him. Notice this.

being abominable and disobedient and

unto every good work repbate. You know

what that word repbate means? It

literally means unapproved or

unaccepted.

>> It means that the good works that they

should be involved in, they cannot do

because they do not have the Holy Ghost

on the inside. Now, we know what the

primary work out of the Holy Ghost is.

It's those fruits of the spirit. And

what's the first one? Love. Ain't that

right? And the Bible says in Romans

Romans 5 · chapter mention

chapter 5, he said, "Hope maketh not

ashamed because the love of God is shed

abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost

which is given unto us." And so the

number one work of God is love. The

greatest commandments, love your God,

love God with all your heart, soul, and

mind. And love your neighbor as

yourself. That's the work of God. But

the truth is tonight, if you are not

saved, if you don't have a have the Holy

Ghost on the inside, you cannot

accomplish that.

>> You are unapproved for good works. I

notice not only the unapproved for good

works, but I notice the uniform for good

works. Notice verse two, chapter 2 and

verse number seven. Paul is talking to

the young, he's talking to Timothy to

exhort the young men. Look what he says.

Young men likewise exhort to be sober

minded. Verse 7, in all things showing

thyself a pattern of good works. Now,

what this means is when I say uniform,

I'm talking about there's consistency

involved. When you think about good

works, good works is not a one-time

thing,

>> right?

>> But it's a pattern. It's a lifestyle.

It's something that you involve yourself

in and you don't get out of it.

>> Amen. I don't understand people, well, I

I I got to I I got to quit serving God

because I've got too busy. I've got too

much on my plate. Let me just hold up

right there for a minute. Okay? If you

serve God, you ought to serve God until

you you physically cannot serve God

anymore. Amen. Because the truth is he

went until he couldn't go anymore. And

yet he still went a little farther on.

Amen. And we ought to give it our very

best until we cannot go another mile or

another minute and and serving him

because it's it's a life meant to be

consistent. You see, we the Christian

life I understand, you know, I've even

made the statement that, you know, um if

your life's not like this, you know, um

that's the heart mander saying you're

alive. And in a sense, the trouble that

we face, yes, our life is like that.

>> But your heart should be straight,

>> right?

>> You ought to be consistent. You ought to

be steady with God. What Paul say to the

Corinthians? He said, "Be you," he said,

"Wherefore, my brother, rather, be ye

steadfast, unmovable, and always

abounding in the work of the Lord. For

as much as you know that your labor is

not in vain in the Lord." So there's

steadiness, there's uniformity involved

with the work with good works. Notice

this. Not only there's the unapproved

that he mentions of, and then there's

the uniformity speaking to these young

men, the pattern of good works. Let me

say this. Just because he said that to

young men doesn't mean that's not for

all of us. Amen. We ought to all have a

pattern of good works. And then notice

verse 14, the verse I already mentioned.

He says, "Who gave himself for us that

he might redeem us from all iniquity and

purify unto himself a peculiar people

zealous of good works." So that speaks

of urgency.

>> There's a desire. Somebody who's

zealous, they're fervent about it. It's

an urgent need. It's something that

they're burdened by.

>> Let me ask you, does does the work of

God burden you? If all if all you ever

come to church to do is get a blessing

and not be a blessing, you've missed the

point.

>> Amen. If you're lo, if you're looking to

just sit around and get in, why don't

you get involved?

>> Add that to the end of the phrase get

in. Amen. Get involved in what's going

on down at the house of God. There's

urgency that's involved with good works.

And so all of that introduces what he's

going to talk about in chapter three.

Notice what he says. Verse number one,

put them in mind to be subject to

principalities and powers, to obey

magistrates. Notice this, to be ready to

every good work. So he lists three

things in that verse. Number one, we are

to be subject to principalities and

powers. Notice that. To obey

magistrates. We ought we are subject to

the law of the land. Okay?

>> Whether you like it or not. Amen. You

can go out here and get mad and upset

about what the government's doing, but

you know what they going to do? They're

going to put you in jail.

>> Amen. And so, we ought to be subject to

that. Put them in mind. That's

respectful.

>> Amen. I And and the truth is tonight,

the powers that be, the Bible says

they're ordained of God.

>> Right?

>> That's what the Bible says. All right?

Notice not only the subjection, but

notice the submission in the verse. To

be ready to every good work. And then he

speaks of silence in verse two. Now,

what's interesting about that that all

of that is together is because the

people that get no work done are the

ones that are all the time talking and

all the time fussing about leadership.

>> Did anybody just hear what I said?

>> I'm talking about Paul laid it out

perfectly. He showed the leadership. He

said, "Put them in mind to be subject to

leadership and then to be silent." But

he said to be ready for every good work.

The reason why men don't get anything

done, the reason why they run off to

math all the time is cuz they've never

submitted to good works.

>> Amen.

>> Amen. There's more people in the church

that talk about what we're going to do

instead of getting involved in what

we're going to do. Amen.

>> Get involved. DO THE GOOD WORKS. DON'T

JUST TALK ABOUT THEM. WELL, I just don't

know about that. Get involved and you'll

find out about it. Amen.

>> It's a lot better on this side. Let me

tell you that. It's a lot better to

serve than it is to see it. Amen. Right?

>> He says in the verse and I'm talking

about this is the preparation. Notice

what he says to be ready. There is a

preparation for good works. And I I

think many way in many ways we've

failed. And I and I can speak in and and

from a perspective as from the workforce

point of view. I I mean if anything I'll

be honest, my parents prepared me to

serve God, but I'll say they prepared me

and and this is not to their shame, but

they probably prepared me more to work

than they even did that. Yeah.

>> I mean that they instilled that in me

from the time I was just a little boy.

And we failed our children this day and

time because we have not prepared them

unto good works.

>> Come on, preacher.

>> Now look, okay, I'm not I'm not against,

you know, sports and all things of that

nature. But if we spent the time, come

on,

>> that we spent with our children at the

ball field or at some hobby or something

like that, if we invested in them how to

work and how to do the things of God,

cuz you see those things go in h hand in

hand. Okay? If you'll teach them to

labor, they'll love God,

>> right?

>> Amen. That's the truth tonight. And I

think we failed in preparing our

children for these good works. Remember,

if they're saved, they're designed for

that,

>> right? It's who they are on the inside.

And you are selling them short. You are

selling them, you're selling them cheap

when you try to get them to do something

they are not designed to do.

>> Amen.

>> You know the percentage, it's like a

quarter of a percent of people that make

it into the major leagues. And let's

just be honest, how many it's less than

that that make it out make them that

that make out of it. You think about

this. I mean, most people that come out

of that, their life's ruined. I mean,

they they got all the kinds of money,

but they've been involved in drugs.

They've been involved in everything

known to man and it did more to hurt

than harm their life than it did to help

them.

>> Right?

>> Why do we waste our time?

>> We need to invest eternally in their

life. We need to prepare them. They're

designed for it. They're demanded to do

it. We should teach them to be desirous

of it. So I see the preparation tonight

for good works. Verse one. I'm moving

quickly. We'll be done just a minute.

Notice verse eight. He has just told

them in the text verses 3 through 7, he

reminds them of salvation. Some of the

most powerful verses in all of

scripture. Verse 5, not by works of

righteousness which we have done, but

according to his mercy saved us by the

washing of regeneration and renewing of

the Holy Ghost. What a powerful truth.

The fact he says, look, this is who

we're to be in light of what he has done

for us.

>> Right?

>> Good works is our life because he has

given us life. Amen. Notice this verse

number eight. This is a faithful saying.

What does that mean? It's true.

Faithful. It's true. All right. Notice

the verse again. And these things I will

that thou affirm constantly. Constantly.

Paul tells Titus, "Son, what I'm telling

you is right.

>> But you need to say it over and over and

over again. You need to tell it." I

think that's where we missed it. We

believe it. We don't tell it.

>> Come on.

>> Amen. We know what good works are. But

how often are we instructing people in

those good works? Notice the text.

There's the truth. There is the telling

of the truth. And notice verse eight.

There's the testimony of the truth. Look

what your Bible says. That they which

have believed, you know what that is?

That's a testimony,

>> right?

>> They which have believed in God. There's

a testimony. Hey, is anybody saved in

the building tonight?

>> Amen.

>> Saved. I hope you're all saved. Amen.

>> You know what that is? That's that's

you.

Notice what he said again. I will that

thou affirm constantly that they which

have believed have you believed? Amen.

Look what he says. In they which have

believed in God might be careful to

maintain good works. Now see this with

me. All right. He says this is the

truth. I command you to tell the truth.

This is the testimony of those who have

known the truth. But there's something

you need to be thinking about. Notice

the word. What's that word in the middle

of the verse? That God might be careful.

That doesn't mean that you're to be, you

know, you know, be careful, don't fall.

That's not what that means. It means

you're to be constantly thinking about

it. That's

>> right.

>> You're to be careful. That's why the

Bible says be careful for nothing.

>> Be b not don't don't be anxious. Be

careful for nothing. But in everything

by by prayer and supplication, let your

requests be made known unto God. You

know what he says? Philippians 3, that's

where the verse is. Let your moderation

be known to all men. Be careful. Be

anxious about nothing. What he's saying

here in the text is this is something

you need to be anxious about.

>> Look what he says. Notice it again. That

they which have believed in God might be

careful to what? To maintain good works.

Now, this I've preached all night to get

to this point. Okay. What does it mean

to maintain good works? Well, I think

really you can't give it one definition.

Most writers say it means to keep them.

Well, I would agree with that. But

there's something you got to have it

before you can keep it,

>> right?

>> I thought about these four things. Okay,

I know I've thrown out a lot tonight,

but stay with me. Okay, number one, I

think if you're going to maintain good

works, number one, that means you have

to be available.

>> Yeah,

>> you have to be available. Now, here's

what I'm finding this day and time.

Nobody's available.

I mean, you call the doctor, six months

out. Call the dentist, you're a year

out. You know, I mean, just everything,

you know, everything's backed up. Nobody

is available. And if it's true anywhere,

it's true in the church.

>> You're right.

>> Good works. We're not in short supply of

works to do,

>> right?

>> We're in short supply of people to do

the works.

>> Right.

>> Amen. And the thing is tonight, if I

could tell you anything, number one, you

need to be available. Make yourself

available. All right? Then God will take

these other points here and help you

with this. All right? Number one, you

need to be available if you're going to

maintain good works. Number two, you

need to be aware.

What do I mean by that? Well, you need

to know what the good works are.

>> Amen. You need to know where they are.

You need to know what they are. And you

need to know what your part in that is.

>> Right?

>> Okay. You say, "Well, preacher, how do I

know if somebody doesn't tell me?" Well,

the thing is, you got a Bible,

>> right,

>> that tells you what to be involved in?

And the trouble is, we've got too many

people that's been led around by the

hand their entire life. Get involved,

>> right?

>> Figure it out.

I mean, I never thought I'd say that

from a pull pit, but figure it out. I

mean, really, I can preach to you three

times a week, but the truth is, if you

never take it and read it yourself,

you're never going to know.

>> You're right. everything I have ever

learned there. Don't get me wrong,

there's been sermons that have helped

me. I talked to the man of God

yesterday. Men of God's helped me more

than anybody else. And his sermons have

probably helped my ministry as much if

not more than anybody else. But you

realize every truth that's ingrained in

my heart. I learned for myself.

>> Amen.

>> I got it in the Bible down on my own

knees and my own prayer time, my own

study time, I got it. I got aware of it

when GOD SHOWED IT TO ME. GOD DIDN'T

SHOW IT to the preacher. HE SHOWED IT TO

me through his word.

>> And if you're going to be available,

you're going to have to be aware.

>> I think, you know, there's a lot of

people, they just get saved and here's

what happens. They're available, man.

We'll do whatever you want to do,

preacher, but you know what? They just

don't know. That's

>> right.

>> They're not aware. You got to be taught.

Teach yourself. You got to be taught,

but also learn yourself,

>> right?

>> I hope this is resonating tonight.

>> You need to be available. need to be

aware. Number three, not only you need

to be available and aware, but you need

to be attendant. All right? When you

find out what you're supposed to do, if

you're going to maintain good works, you

need to stay with it,

>> right?

>> Attendant. You know, you think about,

you know, the only place in the world

that still does this is Betty's. Amen.

Where they have somebody that pumps your

gas. Amen. And for some, that's a

blessing. Amen. And I I mean, I

appreciate it. Amen. I guess I'm just

that lazy, I guess. But but you know

what they do? They're always waiting for

somebody to come by.

>> You're right.

>> To do the same job that they do all day

long. You know, you say, "Well, that my

gosh, that's monotonous." You know what?

When you see the fruit of it, it's a

blessing,

>> right?

>> And I'm not talking about that. I'm

talking about spiritual things. When I

come to you and preach every week, you

know, as people say, "Well, man, that

must be that must be tough to get up in

front of a bunch of people and preach

every week." But when it's what you're

called to do,

>> when you've been made available and

you've been made aware of what's needed,

>> you want to be attended to it.

>> Right?

>> You want to stick with it. You want to

stay by it because you want it to

produce what it's supposed to,

>> right?

>> Notice this. Not only you need to be

available, wear, and attend it, but you

need to abide.

Look what he says. Be careful to

maintain good works. You need to make it

your life, not just stay with it, you

know, just during church time. And I'm

thankful for those of you that do that

serve in this church. You would do

anything that I asked you to do in this

church. But it's more than just here,

>> right?

>> It's more than just inside the walls of

this building, but it's out there. It's

at your home. It's at your job. It's an

abiding life. Good works is not just at

the house of God.

>> You're right.

>> But it's how you live outside the doors.

It's you're to abide in those. If you're

going to maintain good works, it's going

to have to be more than just a look

every now and again, but it's going to

have to be your life,

>> right?

>> It's going to have to be your life. Be

careful to maintain good works. Notice

lastly, we consider the preparation. We

consider the practice maintaining,

keeping these good works. You got to be

available. You got to be aware. You got

to be attendant. You got to abide

in these good works. And there's

scripture for all this, but I really,

you know, the scripture tonight. I want

you to get the point. Okay, notice the

text. Verse 14. And the Bible says, "And

let ours also learn to maintain good

works for necessary uses that they be

not unfruitful." Now, we've noticed the

preparation, the practice. Now, notice

the purpose. Okay? Now, I got to give

you some more context. All right? Notice

the verse just before that in verse

number 13 or verse, let's look at verse

12. Paul says, "When when I shall see an

Artimus unto thee, or Titicus, be

diligent, or however you say that, be

diligent to come unto me to Nicopoulos,

for I determined there to winner. Bring

Zenus the lawyer and Apollos on their

journey diligently." Notice this last

phrase, that nothing be wanting unto

them.

So what that means is Paul was saying

you know when when you come you or

actually he's not saying when you come

Titus but there's people there with you

that you're going to send. That word

bring in verse number 13 it literally

means to send verse 13 bring Zenus it

means to send and to supply. So here's

what he's saying. He says when he says

bring Zenus and Apollos on their journey

diligently that nothing be wanting unto

them. He's saying that there is a need.

Notice verse 14. Let ours also learn to

maintain good works. What's that next

phrase? For necessary uses. All right.

What he's talking about is he says they

need to be involved working. This is

talking about physical labor providing

for the needs of the church because

there is a there is a need for supply,

>> right?

>> There's men that need to be cared for.

What he was talking about is he's

saying, Titus, those men of God that's

serving God and traveling, you make sure

they have everything that they need when

they leave to come unto me.

>> Right?

>> You say, "Preacher, that's a that's a

heavy burden." No, it's just the primary

purpose of the child of God,

>> right?

>> We're to we're to supply the needs. And

and look, I'm not talking about myself.

I mean, what I'm trying to tell you here

is is what he's expressing in verse 14

for necessary uses. Your tithe is so the

church can function,

>> right?

>> But let me give you this truth. All

right. It's more important. Notice the

verse. It's more important the support

that's needed. Let me say this. All

right. It's more important that you be

successful than you be supportive.

Notice the verse. Let ours also learn to

maintain good works for necessary uses.

Notice the last phrase, that they be not

unfruitful. You know, here's the truth

about the Christian life. Don't miss

what I'm going to tell you right now.

God does not need your money.

>> Right.

>> He don't need it.

>> This place will go on. God will keep the

lights on. Man, if there was no money

coming in, God could he can keep the

lights on. I I'm not that's not what I'm

talking about. The reason God says here

in the text that you're to do good

works, maintain good works for necessary

uses. What he is saying is there is

support needed. He said, "But greater

than the need for support because God

don't need us,

>> right? But what he's saying is is you

need to be successful

and that's a necessity. And the only way

that you'll be successful is if you

maintain good works. Let me say this. If

you don't work a regular job, all right,

listen to me now. Mama's in here, ladies

in here that you stay at home, that is

your job. That's

>> right.

>> Okay, listen to me. And I understand

ladies that do different things. You

work a job, but you got to be doing

something,

>> right?

You ever wonder, you ever looked at

people that they're constantly

underneath the surface? Like they never

have any money. They're always broke.

They always got their hand out. And

they're telling you, you know, we're

doing the best we can. We're trying to

do all we can. Some cases that's true.

Let me say this. Most time it's not.

>> Right.

>> Most time it's not. Here's the thing

about it. If you're not tithing, all

right, Bible says, "Will a man rob God?"

You know, "Where have you robbed me?"

you know, tithes and offerings. We know

the verse. Okay, here's the truth. If

you're not tiing, what you're doing is

it's not the failure is not that you're

not supporting the church. It's that

you're not being successful before God.

>> You're right.

>> It's a command.

It's not got so much to do with taking

care of the church. God takes care of

the church.

>> You are commanded to do it to bear fruit

in your Christian life.

>> You're right.

>> Amen. It's why Jesus said Matthew

chapter number six, he talked about your

offerings. Amen. He said you need to he

said you know you don't do that in front

of everybody else just making you know

what I'm saying. He says you don't do

that to be seen. You don't go out in

front of everybody and

>> you know what I'm saying. He says Paul

says there is a need Titus but you need

to tell them greater than the need for

support. Their need for success in the

Christian life is greater than that.

Here's what I know. When Jesus looked at

that widow that had two mites. Remember

what he said? He said he saw those rich

men casting in of their abundance. And

he said this widow of her penury

>> or poorness. She cast in more than they

all because she gave all that she had.

>> Right?

>> He's not concerned about the amount.

He's just concerned about you doing what

you what he told you to do.

>> Right?

>> If you are going to maintain good works

tonight, and I'll say this, it goes

across the board. This is the Wednesday

night crowd. This some of the people in

here, y'all the hardest working people

I've ever been around. And this is a

commenation to you. All right. God will

bless you for that.

>> Amen. Not because what you do for the

church, but because when you give to the

church, you are giving it to him. That's

>> right.

>> Brother Gray said this the other day,

and I thought this was so good. He was

talking about tithes. Now, don't don't

get scared with me. He can say this

because it's been 28 years, okay? Him

pastor, but don't don't be afraid what

I'm fixing to tell you, okay? He said

this. He said, "If every bit of the

money," because this happens a lot in

this society. If every bit of the money

that was brought into this church, for

some reason by fraudulent activity by

leadership, it got wasted and every bit

of it got lost. He said, "Do you think

all the people that tithe would lose

their blessing?

>> God don't want the money."

>> That's right.

>> It ain't about how much is in the bank

account,

>> right?

>> It's the action

>> of faith.

>> You're right.

>> Talking about maintaining good works.

Amen. You ought to give your tithe not

because it supports the church. You

ought to give your tithe because it's s

it's what success is in the eyes of God.

>> Amen.

>> Amen. Father, thank you for this time. I

pray that this has been a help tonight.

I know for myself, Lord, I want to

maintain good works and I realize I've

got a long ways to go, Lord, to get to

where I should be. And Lord, I pray

you'd help me tonight. Lord, you've even

convicted my heart in this message.

Lord, would you help us, God? Would you

help us Lord to maintain

God to to be available

Lord but to be aware God? I'm afraid

there's a lot of people that's aware of

good works that need to be done but they

have chose to make themselves

unavailable. Lord would you help us all

to be available to be aware and to be

attendant to the needs Lord of the good

works and to abide there. Lord would you

help us take this message apply it into

our hearts and lives. We give you thanks

for it because we ask it in Jesus' name.

And God's people said,

>> "Amen."

>> Amen.

>> Thank you for joining our service today.

We'd love it if you'd join us in person

the next time you are able at Meadows

Baptist Church. Our physical address is

2988 Stewart Road in Walnut Cove, North

Carolina. Our service times are Sunday

school at 10:00 a.m., Sunday morning

worship at 11:00 a.m., Sunday evening

worship at 6:00 p.m., and Wednesday

evening Bible study at 700 p.m. For more

information, visit us at

meadowsbaptisturch.com.

Thanks again for tuning in.