Ezekiel & The Valley of Dry Bones

Ezekiel & The Valley of Dry Bones

"Arise, shine, for your light has come and the glory of the Lord arises upon you.  See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord arises upon you and his glory appears over you.  Nations will come to your light and kings to the brightness of your dawn."  Isaiah 60:1-3, NIV

C.S. Lewis once wrote, "If you read history you will find that Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next.  It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this."

Ezekiel was a prophet during the exile under the Babylonians, which began under the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar.  He was born around 622 BC into a priesthood lineage.  He is son of Buzi and resident of Anathoth.  Under the direction of Nebuchadnezzar II, Babylonian armies exiled 3,000 Jews from Judah, overthrowing King Jehoiachin in 597.  At the age of 25, Ezekiel was one of those Jews.  Ezekiel and his wife lived in their own home where exiled Judaic visitors would come to seek his prophetic insights. 

At age 30 Ezekiel is called to be a prophet through a vision described in the first book of Ezekiel.  God rode upon a chariot of four wheels guided by Cherubs.  For the next five years, he incessantly prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem.  In 587 his prophesy came true when the Babylonians seized the city.  It was at this time that Ezekiel lost his wife.  It seemed that just about everything was going wrong in his life.

Ezekiel didn't have an easy time.  The people to whom he ministered were thoroughly depressed.  They'd been defeated in battle and permanently removed from their homeland.  They were mocked by their heathen conquerors.  They were riddled with guilt and they were completely overwhelmed by the incredible wealth and strength of Babylon.  Ever felt like that?

The first and third verse of Psalm 137 conveys their feeling of shame, hopelessness and humiliation: "By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion...and they moaned, 'How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land?'"  It was in this miserable situation that God spoke to Ezekiel in a vision.  He showed him  a valley with heaps of bones.

The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones.  He led me back and froth among them and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry.  He asked me, "Son of man, can these bones live?"

I said, "O Sovereign Lord, you alone know."

Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones and say to them, 'Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!  This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life.  I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin;I will put breath in you , and you will come to life.  Then you will know that I am the Lord.'"

So I prophesied as I was commanded.  And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone.  I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.

Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.'"   So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet - a vast army.

Then he said to me: "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel.  They say, 'Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.'  Therefore prophesy and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says: O my people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel.  Then ou, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them.  I will put my Spirit you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land.  Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.'"  Ezekiel 37:1-14, NIV

Notice Ezekiel's response to God's question.  God's question was direct and should have been reciprocated with a direct answer - yes or no.  Instead Ezekiel replied, "Lord, only you know."  I think Ezekiel might have been afraid to answer.  If he said no, it showed his lack of faith.  And I'm sure he didn't want to say yes at the fear of having to stand before an army of skeletons!

Perhaps we are wondering if we (as individuals, a community, a church or even a nation) can ever be revived.  If we say yes, what proposition must we face?  Like Ezekiel, we haven't the nerve to say "no."  By the same account, we don't have the faith to say, "yes."  But Ezekiel had one thing right - God knows.

Ezekiel's first duty was to persist in the ministry to which God had called him.  Renewal doesn't come through discarding the old and trusted paths where God has led His people in the past.  The prophet is called to keep on prophesying, not to try some new technique in the hope that it will prove more effective.  The young church mentioned in Acts 2:45 "devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."  It's not about flashy programs and the latest technology.

Ezekiel was instructed to prophesy a word of hope even if he wasn't exactly sure of its outcome.  God told Ezekiel to tell the bones (1) hear the word of the Lord, (2) I will make breath enter you and you will come to life, and (3) you will know that I am the Lord."  He may not have believed it at the time, but he did it anyways.  And it happened.  There was a shaking and a rattling and the bones came together before his eyes!  Not just that, but miraculously as each skeleton took shape while muscle and flesh formed around them, and then a covering of skin to complete the human form.  Can you imagine?

A vast army of bones stood before him - lifeless corpses as they were.  They posed no threat to him or anyone else in their current state.  Harmless just as a statue or monument, they were useless.  But it wasn't until God formed muscle, tendon, flesh and skin until they were truly alive!  Second Timothy, chapter 3 and verse 5 warns of Christians having a form of godliness but denying its power.  Just like those bones, we can appear like Christians, but we have a lack of faith in Jesus Christ.  If we try to live the Christian life with only our natural resources - without the means of grace, without being in touch with the Lord in prayer and absorbing the Scriptures - we are still living in the flesh.  Paul gave a powerful illustration of this when he wrote to the Christians in Rome, "For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do...For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out...What a retched man I am!  Who will rescue me from this body of death?"

Ezekiel had prophesied in the previous chapter (Ezekiel 36:26-28) for Israel to put away their idols, to discard the pollution of the heathen nations.  If they did this their God had a wonderful future in store for them.  "I will give you a near heart...And I will put my Spirit in you...you will be my peopel and I will be your God."

Ezekiel was told to "prophesy to the breath."  He called upon the Spirit of God to "breath into these slain, that they may live."  The breath of God, His Spirit, is seen in the emblem of the wind.  It is His power to blow and bend, to fill and make alive.  Strong trees bend and windmills whirl when the great winds blow in force.  Have you ever experienced the wind of God blowing your doubts away?  Or breathing new life into dead plans?  Rescuing hopeless situations or giving courage and comfort?  That's what He wants to do for each of us.  If there is no Spirit in your life, you are adrift in the sea of life.  And let's face it.  If the wind isn't blowing, you aren't going anywhere. 

The Holy Spirit came in order to reveal Christ to us, to make Christ real to us and to show us what Christ has done for us.  If we're born again, we have been through the Valley of Dry Bones.  We have passed from death to spiritual life in Christ, but only by the work of the Spirit of God.

Ezekiel's prophecy ends with, "I will put my Spirit in you and you will ife and I will settle you in your own land."  The Holy Spirit is given to Christian believers, to give us a longing and a love for Christ.  It enables us to live as Christ lived and conform to His image.

Where are we in the Valley of Dry Bones?  Are we still in the condition of the bones that were made to say, "Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone?"  Or are we in the position of the skeletons with "no breath in them?"  Or are we filled with the Spirit of God, and in the words of God to Ezekiel, "you will know that I the Lord have spoken and I have done it."

The world is looking for God.  Tragically and ironically, as the world is looking for God, God's people are asleep in their pews!  The world wants and needs to know God and how to access Him.  They want to know how to worship Him.  They don't want to know your opinions, but they do want to hear the Word of God.  The world wants models of authentic Christian living.  The world wants to see God in me and they want to see Him in you.  You can spend your entire life in church, saying the right things, doing the right things, but unless you are filled with the Spirit and it truly penetrates your heart and your life, it's meaningless!  Like the dry bones, it's worthless.  It doesn't do you any good.  It doesn't do me any good.  It doesn't do the church any good.  And it certainly doesn't do God any good.

Second Chronicles 7:14 says, "If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgiven their sin and will heal their land."  

"If my people...will humble themselves..."  The church today has a repuation of being too proud.  The church is not led by outstanding people but by kneeling people.  We need to get that through our heads.  Some are more concerned with numbers and programs, being financially profitable or keeping everything nice and neat in the walls of the church.  Christians are more concerned with trivial things than what we are called to do in the first place!  People, we need a passion for God.  We need the world to see Him in us and working through us!  We need to forget being tied to the church building.  We need to be willing to go into the world (out of our comfort zone) for His calling.

"...pray and seek my face."  Our prayer life should be dynamic.  We should have a hunger for God, a desire and longing for Him.  We all know what it's like when you are in love and you want to spend every moment with that person.  That's how our relationship with God should be.  His desires should become ours, meaning we should yearn for the lost.  We should care more about others than we do ourselves. 

"...turn from our wicked ways."  We should not be lukewarm Christians.  We should be hot and on fire for Christ.  We cannot sit on the fence.  Either you are in or you're out.  And to do that, each one of us must repent, confess and be renewed.  According to scripture, only then will God heal our land (our family, our community, our church, our nation).

Ezekiel is a man of God confronted with a congregation of God's people who are discouraged, displaced and spiritually dead.  Revival is the process of bringing to life that which once was alive, but is now at the point of death.  "Can these bones live again?"  Ezekiel obeyed God, preached unto those dry bones and then God breathed His Spirit back into the bodies.  God revived for Himself a mighty army.

Today mega churches exist where people pile in by the droves.  They are about flash multimedia services, loud performances, which appeal to the people.  But they forget one thing.  They are full of people, but many are empty of God.  Too many of God's people have a self-sufficient spirit, an apathetic heart and a dead disobedient lifestyle.  More people go to church, but experience it less.  They are spiritual corpses, or dry bones.

Is there no desire for Bible study or prayer?  Does spiritual conversation embarrass you?  Or do you simply avoid it?  Do you rationalize sin?  You quote scripture and you attend church, but does it make a difference in your life?  Do you care more for money than you do serving others?  Do you care that there are those around you who are in misery and spiritually lost?  Like dry bones we are useless to God.  We have to allow Him to breathe new life into us; to breathe His Spirit into us, thus into the church.  We need to allow God to revive, for Himself, a mighty army!  I want to be like the people in Acts that literally shook the gates of hell!

Is there evidence that the Kingdom of God is set up within your life?  Will you let the Holy Spirit breathe new life into you?  Will you allow Him to change you?  Will you allow yourself to be filled with the Spirit?  Will you allow your life to be set on fire by Him?  Or are you going to turn someone away from Christ because of your life?

 

 

( Labels: Bible Study, Christian Life, Church, Ezekiel, Holy Spirit, Redemption ) Read more

Titus (Part 3)

Titus (Part 3)

Titus 3 brings Christians into the world around them.  We've moved from our homes and now we step out into the world of laws and authority.

"Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.  At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures.  We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.  But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.  He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.  This is a trustworthy saying.  And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good.  These things are excellent and profitable for everyone." Titus 3:1-8

Buts a new spin on the election, doesn't it?  We live in a corrupt world where a lot of laws are passed and taxes are increased and we just don't agree with it.  As Christians, we must not just to abide by the laws, but we are called to pray for our government and its leaders.

Reading the above passage, it certainly makes Christians seem weak, but please don't misinterpret that passage.  Being considerate, peaceable and gentle does not mean that the Christian is passive.  These are characteristics that allow a Christian to maintain a relationship without discord.  You do not have to agree with someone, but you can certainly be considerate.  In an argument, you can still be gentle and peaceable.

"But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.  Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time.  After that, have nothing to do with them.  You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned." Titus 3:9-11

Several months ago I had two friends who got into an argument over a difference of opinion in the political world.  Friend #1 said their peace and was done, but the friend #2 carried on for almost two weeks.  It became absolutely ridiculous.  After friend #1 stopped having anything to do or say to friend #2, the foolishness stopped.  With no fuel for the fire, conflict dies.

"Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives."  Titus 3:14

This is where the rubber meets the road.  I preach all the time to my neighborhood group - that it's about getting back to the sense of community.  We spend so much of our time with our heads down that we forget those around us.  It's time to take these instructions and hit the streets!  It's time to show this world who Christ really is!!!!

Like Paul said, "...Grace be with you all!" Titus 3:15

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Titus (Part 2)

Titus (Part 2)

In months before his execution by the Nazis, Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote: "I fear that Christians who stand with only one leg upon earth, also stand with only one leg in heaven."  How many people do we know like that today?  Many Christians today separate themselves from the world.  But unfortunately, we must live in this world; a world that is broken and wicked.  But God has called us to minister to the world and in everything must be measured against the Word of God.  We must live in a way in which the outside world considers to be respectable.  However, wherever the culture encourages or advocates behavior that violates the will of God, the church must make its stand for God.  God's values must never be compromised.  Only faith in Christ can produce godly living.  And that is exactly what Titus 2 is about!

"You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine."  Titus 2:1 (NIV)

 Paul wanted to restore social stability and protect the church's witness.  Christian ethics and its message are the same.  We have many cultures and adversaries who have rejected Christianity and have tried to distort its message.  The Christian message is the source of the real Christian life.  Without salvation through Jesus Christ there can be no ethics.  Furthermore it's through a godly lifestyle that outsiders gain insight.  It adorns the gospel and when others witness Christ actively in you, it makes them long for the same.  Titus 2 calls for our lifestyle to be subjected to the test of biblical principles.

"Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance."  Titus 2:2 (NIV)

Someone stated once that "Small boys become big men through the influence of big men who care about small boys." When I think of godly older men, I think of someone who is calm and gentle (i.e. temperate), respectable; soft spoken yet deliberate; truly a dignified individual.  His endurance is his commitment to this life.  He has put away foolish things, who has become an honorable man.  He's the grandfather fishing with his grandchildren.  He's the father taking his son to church every Sunday.  He's the teenager who takes the time to befriend his little brother.

"Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.  Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God." Titus 2:3-5 (NIV)

 Older women have the same callings as older men.  They should exhibit respectable behavior.  They should avoid being gossips, drunks and should teach what is good.  Teach what is good reminds older women that they are responsible to model the acceptable and respectable life for younger women.  We have a mindset today that often excludes the older people.  We often push them aside because we feel they have nothing to offer us.  But that's not true.  Older people have experienced much more than us young folks.  What I wouldn't give to learn of my grandmother's secrets of godly living and how that spilled over to her relationship with grandpa; my mom and uncle; her friends and neighbors; even the people that she went to church with.  I just can't help but think that her wisdom could have saved me from a lot of unnecessary grief.

I have to laugh at the mention of my grandmother and the wine in this passage of scripture; and she'd probably be mortified for me even saying this!  She suffered from diabetes and heart disease.  Her doctor had advised her to get some wine and drink a cup every night.  My grandmother didn't drink and as far as I knew, never had.  She was so embarrassed going to the liquor store to get wine.  I can remember her making my mom drive clear across town because she was afraid someone from the church might see us.  I guess that's one example I take to heart.  I don't drink.  I don't like the taste of it.

Busy at home.  Both my mom and my grandmother have exemplified that.  Mom would always plan vacation around "projects" and somehow they always fell on a holiday and, lucky for me, I was drafted into helping!  Seriously, both women worked spring through the fall in the garden (along with my dad and grandpa).  They'd spend days upon days preparing vegetables to either can or freeze.  They processed deer meat, canned soup and jam.  And aside from keeping the house clean and laundry done, my mom sewed all our clothes.   These are all the things that fascinate me and I'm learning these skills.

"Similaryly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled.  In everything set them an example by doing what is good.  In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us." Titus 2:6-8 (NIV)

 I can't help but think of the group of teenage boys in our neighborhood who have wrecked havoc on our neighborhood for the past 2 years or more.  The ringleader of the group does not have a godly leader teaching him the right things.  Instead they are manipulated with drugs and alcohol, which as carried over into the other boys who choose to hang out with him.  Every other word out of his mouth is vulgar.  He is full of hate and disrespect.  Unfortunately his story is far too often the norm.  How different would society be if we had strong, faithful men to be examples to these young men?  Someone who could show them how to be self-controlled, honorable and respectful.  What if we raised up our young men to show compassion; to reach out to fellow man; to show genuine faith; to be the direct opposite of the teenagers we see today?  Teenagers that were significant, honorable, respectable, humble and obedient.  Young men who signifies Christ.

"Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive."  Titus 2:9-10  (NIV)

Granted today we do not have "slaves," but I would like to think of this as an employee/employer relationship.  Employees are to be obedient and respectful toward their supervisors at all times.  We have a responsibility to be model employees and give complete recognition of the "master's" authority.  We must seek to please our employers.  We must strive to do our best.  We must be compliant.  We shouldn't talk about or argue with our employer.  We should be honest and trustworthy.  I'm not going to start sharing workplace experience, because Lord knows I've got them!  Instead I'm going to reflect on an incident that happened when I was 15 or 16.  It was closing ceremonies for our softball league.  The team in which I played for were in first place, so we knew we'd be called forward to accept trophies.  All year our coaches hounded us about looking "respectable" and keeping our shirts tucked into our pants.  We were champions and we'd look the part.  Well, several of the girls got together and talked the others that when we accepted our trophies that we would un-tuck our shirts as an "in your face" to the coaches.  I don't know if I was the only one, but I refused to do it.  I would not disrespect my coaches (who I considered my "supervisor") but doing that.  Where everyone around me was disrespectful or apathetic to those who were in authority, Christ within me demanded a respectful attitude.  That day my actions demonstrated my indifference to the world's norm.  It was a testament to my God and was an opportunity to witness.  With that being said, I'll finish up the rest of the book:

"For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.  It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope - the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.  These, then, are the things you should teach.  Encourage and rebuke with all authority.  Do not let anyone despise you." Titus 2:11-15 (NIV)

God's name is slandered when His people behave ungodly.  Respectable behavior bears witness to the power and truth of God and enhances the church's witness.



Click here for Titus (Part 3)

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Titus (Part 1)

Titus (Part 1)

Since as far back as I can remember, I've always dreamed of my future home - perfectly decorated, clean, organized with everything in its place; the inviting front porch where fresh flowers greeted visitors to the wide back porch where palm trees swayed.  A home so warm that friends were always welcome.  (Not to mention the pool in the backyard!)  Home brings a sense of warmth and comfort.  The house is one concept, but when I think of a home, I can't help but think of my grandmother, who past away way too early.  If cleanliness was next to Godliness, she was His right-hand-woman.  Daily chores of laundry, sweeping, dishes, gardening and a home cooked meal every night.  She was a Proverbs 31 woman if there ever was one.  I wished my grandmother was around so that I could learn from her.  She passed away when I was 14.  However, I can remember following her around with a notebook, taking notes on how she did things - mainly cook.

The Book of Titus has been on my mind here lately.  And then last week my pastor made a statement during his sermon about how older people should be a role model for younger people.  (Technically he was saying that older people should know better and be able to show younger people how to behave, but I digress!)  After hearing that statement, it made me want to look at Titus even more so.

Titus should be implanted on every believer's heart.  Titus shows us that building our character isn't optional; its vital to the health of our relationship.  The Book of Titus is actually a letter written to Titus, a Christian pastor who was left in charge of churches on the Mediterranean island of Crete.  Paul asked Titus to reach the people via the homes of the believers instead of powerful messages delivered in the town.  Paul advised Titus to focus on character development - marital fidelity, gentleness, self control and respect of authority.

"The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.  An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disabedient.  Since an overseer manages God's household, he must be blameless - not overbearing, no quick-tempered, not given to drunkeness, not violent, not pursing dishonest gain.  Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined.  He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourages others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it."  Titus 1:5-9 (NIV)

First things first.  The church needed elders.  The churches that were planted in Crete were young churches.  They were not like the churches that you see in Ephesus.  However, whatever the circumstances of the church, its leadership must be the highest moral standard in all aspects of life.  Let's face it.  The reputation of the pastor (or any church leader) can make or break the church.  To require anything less than a blameless leader places the church's reputation and ministry in jeopardy.  Paul is asking Titus to make sure, first, the leader's home is in order.  His instructions are clear: the leader of the church must be a model of faithfulness in marriage.

Not only was the leader to love his wife (mutual respect, Eph 5:22-33), but children should be faithful and obedient.  They should be children who honored their parents; who were trustworthy.  They should not be the kind of kids who would bring shame to the parents.  They shouldn't be rebellious.  This alone should narrow it down, huh?

Paul compares the household to the church.  The steward of the household is responsible for managing the household and its affairs.  Therefore the church leader is likewise responsible for the church.  Paul prohibits four kinds of behavior.  Typically being overbearing and angry does not bode well when working with a group.  (How many of you have had those kind of bosses?  Yikes!)  They don't listen, have their own ideas and force their views on others.  This kind of behavior causes discord with the group.  This was very much the qualities of the false teachers that Paul speaks about in Titus 3:9.  The leader must lead as Christ, which would imply gentleness and amicability.  Heavy drinking is also disallowed as well as violence.  These types of people are not in control of themselves, their emotions or their behavior.  If they can't control themselves, how are they to properly lead others?  Finally he must be honest with financial matters, not tempted for financial gain.

Next is my favorite part.  Leaders were to be hospitable.  It was a widely praised virtue and became a common gesture in Christian behavior.  Today we think of being hospitable as entertaining friends and it truly doesn't go beyond the social aspect of the idea.  However, in biblical times, it meant much more.  Often early Christians were forced from their homes and sometimes even lost their jobs.  They turned to fellow Christians who shared what little they had.  Also to harbor a refugee such as these early Christians, could mean trouble for the hosting family.  It was a true testament of sacrificial love.

The leader must love what is good.  Self-control was fundamental.  It meant respect to the outside world.  Then comes upright, holy and disciplined.  Upright refers to behavior in relation to people that are holy in the presence of God.  Discipline means to be in full control of oneself - temper, moods, behavior, etc.  These characteristics are truly a mark of the Spirit's work in the individual.

Lastly the leader must hold fast to the Christian doctrine and not sway or toy with any new doctors.  Staying faithful to a sound doctor enables the leader to properly minister and produce healthy believers.  Being knowledgeable in this area also helps to rebut those who opposed you.

"For there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision group.  They must be silenced, because they are disrupting whole households by teaching things they out not to teach - and that for the sake of dishonest gain.  One of the Crete's own prophets has said it: "Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons."  This saying is true.  Therefore rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the merely human commands of those who reject the truth.  To be pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure.  In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted.  They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him.  They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.  Titus 1:10-16 (NIV)

Sounds a lot like today, doesn't it?  Did you ever know someone who liked to talk the talk, but didn't walk the walk?  False teachers are willful and defiant.  Their talk is meaningless and their works are idle.  However, as deceivers they are gifted in leading people astray.  Although Paul doesn't come out and name the group with whom is referring to, one can only speculate that he is referring to Jewish Converts.  This group was preaching the need to go the ceremonies of the law in order to obtain righteousness.  False teachers have a way of disrupting the unity of any church and endangers its reputation with those outside who value the highly traditional social structure.  False teachers could also be made known by their false motives.  These teachers in Crete were seeking to make a profit from their ministry.  Such financial motives expose the false teacher's selfish desire to benefit more than the hearers from the "ministry."

Certainly leading a church takes more than management skills!  As I read these passages, I want to so badly to have those characteristics: faithful, gentle, kind, pure, honest, hospitable, upright, holy and disciplined.  I want to claim to know God and by my actions acknowledge Him.  I'm want to be delightful, obedient and adept for doing anything good.




PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that my life is a shining example of You and Your Love.  Please mold me to exhibit the characteristics that were mentioned in our passages today.  Lord, I pray that when others see me, they know I am Yours.  I pray that they will know You by my words and by my actions.  Please create in me a clean heart that will love and worship you continuously.  In Jesus name, Amen.



Click here for Titus Part 2

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