WEBVTT

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 Simple, straightforward here at the end, in the conclusion of Paul's letter here to Titus and to the churches on Crete.

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 And I want to tell you that I have grown to really enjoy reading through these concluding remarks in some of these New Testament letters.

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 I actually find them to be quite helpful.

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 If you're like me and you enjoy after watching a movie or a documentary or something like that,

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 or if you're a sports fan, perhaps you like watching the behind-the-scenes features that come up different times on movies or events and things like that.

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 You kind of get to peer behind what they want you to see to see the reality of what is true behind the scenes.

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 I enjoy things like that.

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 And these conclusions in these letters help us to do that somewhat.

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 The body of each letter, including Titus, is really packed with theological significance and with practical instruction.

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 But it's often in the closing comments of an epistle that when the author is particularly concerned with personal notes and travel arrangements and things like that,

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 giving names of people that are around him,

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 it's in those moments that we really begin to glean from the example of these faithful Christians.

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 We can really be edified if we were to just slow down at this point in these letters to consider who these people are and what they were doing,

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 and we can actually experience a great amount of encouragement there.

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 There's a sense in which these letters allow us, these portions of the letters allow us to kind of peer behind the instruction.

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 It's almost as if you go to a Bible conference with your favorite preachers.

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 Perhaps you sit in the audience and you hear all of the preaching and the instruction that comes through,

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 and then perhaps you have a backstage pass to where after hearing the instruction of these men,

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 you step behind the scenes and you get to witness their interaction with the other people on their team or with other Christians in their way.

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 And you begin to see the true nature of their passion.

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 Is there a reality in their character and of their personality to what they have just demonstrated or displayed on the platform or as they have preached?

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 It would be an interesting thing to see.

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 And as we come to these letters, that's what we begin to see.

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 And that is such the case here at the end of Titus.

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 With the exception of verse 14, there's no direct instruction to the church here.

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 These are just personal notes.

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 And for the most part, what we learn from these verses comes through observing the example of the people that are involved.

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 Their gospel conviction, their love for Christ, their passion for serving the church are all revealed in how they live their lives.

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 And that's what we actually find coming to the surface here.

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 How they actually live their lives, at least in just a small taste of it.

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 Which should prompt us to a particular kind of self-evaluation.

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 We might ask ourselves, does the way that I live my life generally communicate love for Christ?

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 That is grounded in the transforming work of the gospel of grace.

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 That's what we find to be true of these men.

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 That's what we find to be true of their testimony.

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 We might ask a question like this, to whom or to what am I most devoted?

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 Because when we come to this text and we ask that same question of these men,

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 of Artemis and Tychicus and Titus and Zenos and Apollos and Paul,

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 and we could go on and on through Paul's various lists,

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 and we were to ask that question, to whom or to what are these men devoted,

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 as far as we can tell in the scriptures where they're mentioned.

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 And we would have no other conclusion than to say they are wholly devoted to God and his work,

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 to the lordship of Christ, to the spread of the gospel.

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 And then we ask ourselves the same question.

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 If we were to be included in a letter that someone was writing,

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 what would be made clear about the way that we live,

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 that shows to whom or to what it is that we are most devoted?

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 Would it actually indicate to people clearly that the thing we're devoted most to is the glory of God,

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 to the work of the gospel, to the lordship of Christ?

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 Were there other things that seem to distract us along the way?

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 Through our observation of this particular text,

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 I think we can discover at least three distinct ways that these men were devoted to God.

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 And all of them, as we get to the very last phrase, are ultimately rooted in the gospel of grace.

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 So let me give you the three devotions that they have.

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 Number one, we see devotion to the work of God.

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 Devotion to the work of God.

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 Verse 12,

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 Now the fact that this is a personal letter from Paul isn't lost on us here, is it?

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 It's very simple.

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 He's giving some just administrative notes here, his traveling plans,

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 some administrative adjustments to the positioning of some of the team members on his ministry team.

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 And what I love about this is it begins to give us a real sense of the early ministry dynamic of the early church.

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 And all the moving pieces that were at work here.

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 All of these moving pieces that are geared toward establishing new churches,

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 in taking the gospel of grace to places where it has not yet gone.

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 But then at the same time, endeavoring to strengthen the churches that have been established.

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 And what a monumental task this is.

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 Here is Paul particularly.

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 The other apostles would have certainly been involved with this as well.

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 But here we see Paul in particular with such a vast concern for the work of God

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 that he's got this team of men and he's sending some of them to Egypt,

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 it would appear like in this particular text.

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 And he's wanting Titus to come back because he needs to send him to Dalmatia,

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 we would find at the end of 2 Timothy.

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 And now he's trying to determine, do I send Tychicus or Artemis to Ephesus,

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 or do I send one of them to Crete, or what do I do?

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 And we see all these moving pieces, all with one particular goal.

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 That the work of God would succeed and that it would flourish.

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 That the gospel would go forth.

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 And that the churches that have been established wouldn't suffer in the meantime.

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 That they would continue to grow in grace.

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 Reveals an incredible commitment to gospel ministry.

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 That's really what we see here.

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 An incredible commitment to gospel ministry.

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 It's almost like a strategic plan for war.

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 As Paul no doubt alluded to in a few different occasions,

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 that this life is very much like a war.

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 It's like a spiritual war.

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 We are good soldiers, he tells Timothy,

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 that are fighting for the cause of Christ.

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 And here he is as a general and an apostle.

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 And he is putting the plan together.

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 And he's sending the people in the grace of God.

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 Paul, we find, will soon send either Artemis or Tychicus to take Titus' place.

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 And then Titus was to make it a priority to rendezvous with Paul in Nicopolis.

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 Now, if we look at some of the other letters,

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 if you care about this kind of side information,

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 as we look at the other letters,

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 we find that it would have been ultimately Artemis that goes to Crete,

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 because Tychicus ends up in Ephesus to take Timothy's place.

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 Once Titus ends up in Nicopolis to meet up with Paul,

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 Paul sends him on to Dalmatia,

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 where we find at the end of 2 Timothy as well.

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 So you can kind of see the picture of it there and how they're all moving around.

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 Now, here's something I want you to know.

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 Note, though Titus had a very specific task in Crete,

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 he was never meant to stay there indefinitely.

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 That was never the point.

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 Nor was he ever instructed by Paul

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 to see that his specific task was brought to completion

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 before relinquishing his responsibility to someone else,

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 perhaps Artemis at this case.

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 Do you see that unfolding here?

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 He's never meant to be there permanently.

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 He was on a temporary assignment with a specific task,

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 but he is not instructed in this letter at any point

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 to bring the task to completion

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 before relinquishing his responsibility to someone else,

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 which tells us a couple of things.

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 Number one, it tells us that this letter indeed was not meant,

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 though it was personal,

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 it was not meant to be a private letter.

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 The instructions here were not only for Titus.

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 The instructions here were for the church

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 and all of the structures that Paul's talking about,

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 all the theology here,

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 all of the practical things.

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 It's not just for Titus to kind of store away in his own mind.

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 This was meant for the church to continue on in

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 whether Titus was there or not.

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 That's important for us to understand.

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 The next thing that I think is so significant for us to observe here

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 is to see that these men were devoted to the work of the ministry,

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 not their particular role in it at any given moment.

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 Do you understand what I mean?

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 Clearly, what they're concerned about is the overall work of God,

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 no matter what that meant for them,

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 in whatever way that meant for them to be best used

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 or in whatever place it meant for them to be most useful to the Lord.

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 What they cared about is the big picture.

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 What they cared about was the work of the ministry,

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 not their particular role that they had become,

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 perhaps fascinated with or territorial over.

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 Their flexibility, it shows that their concern

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 was not to build their own kingdom.

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 It wasn't to gain their own following.

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 They were building the kingdom of God

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 as God gave them grace to do so.

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 And this is an attitude that is absolutely necessary

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 for each of us to possess.

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 The fact is that the work of the ministry,

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 gospel ministry and the work of the church

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 is never truly brought to completion

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 until the Lord Jesus returns.

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 This task that Titus has been given

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 is not one that ever ends.

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 The task that we have been given

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 is not one that ever ends.

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 And the ministry that's outlined here

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 would continue long after Titus was dead and gone.

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 And it will continue for Lakeside Bible Church

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 long after Jared is dead and gone.

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 And long after you are dead and gone.

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 And Lord willing, the Lord raises up other people,

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 perhaps even our children,

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 to take the same task that's outlined for us

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 in the scriptures

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 and to move forward out of a concern for God's work.

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 What a mess these churches would have been in

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 had Titus decided that he was indispensable to them.

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 Had he refused to step aside

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 and make way for Artemis or Tychicus

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 to come in and to carry on the work there.

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 Whenever our devotion is to the work itself,

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 we will happily and humbly serve

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 in whatever way is most useful

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 to the work of the church.

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 Do you see that?

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 Now I know this room well enough to know

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 that you've been around churches a long time.

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 And you know what it's like

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 to be involved with people

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 who will not serve the Lord

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 unless they do it on their terms

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 and they do it in their way.

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 They're not concerned about the work of the church

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 so much as they're concerned

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 about what they want to do

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 and how they want to be involved

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 and all the things that are most concerning to them.

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 And we find a wonderful example

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 just in the fact of how flexible

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 these men were in moving around

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 and doing the things that were best

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 for them to do at any given moment.

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 Something that we should all

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 take into account of our own lives.

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 That's not to deny gifting

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 or that there are particular ways

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 that the Lord uses us best in the church.

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 Of course, we need to understand that.

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 But the attitude here is of humble, happy service

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 no matter what that means.

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 Which brings us to the point of usefulness.

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 What does it actually mean to be useful?

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 Who is actually useful

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 and suited for the work of God?

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 Because when we come to this text,

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 we find that clearly all of these men

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 had committed their entire lives vocationally

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 to gospel ministry.

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 They had perhaps given up their own work or jobs.

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 We would imagine that they are probably

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 single men at this point

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 that were foregoing the blessings of marriage

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 and of a family in order to dedicate their lives

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 solely and entirely to the work of God.

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 We find that.

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 We don't find that very often these days.

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 But we do find that to be true

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 in the New Testament on a number of occasions.

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 But does that mean that this kind of devotion

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 that we find as an example here

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 is only applicable to people like that?

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 Like to the people that just decide,

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 you know what?

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 I want to give my whole life to vocational ministry

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 even if it means that I'm not ever going to be married

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 or anything like that.

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 I'm just going to go to the mission field

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 or I'm going to do the thing

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 or I'm going to give up all the other things

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 that I care about in order to do this.

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 Does that mean that this particular type of example

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 is only applicable to those types of people?

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 And we would have to say, of course not.

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 God may or he may not call you

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 into some kind of vocational ministry

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 or as a missionary to serve around the world

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 or as a church planter to go to another part

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 of even the United States.

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 But devotion to what he is doing in

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 and through the church

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 belongs to every person who is part of his church.

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 Do you see that?

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 The example here is not about being Titus

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 and traveling the globe

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 to have a specific type of ministry

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 to specific types of churches.

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 The goal in the example here

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 is just to be devoted to the work

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 in whatever way that means for you

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 where God has put you

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 and where he has placed you in your life.

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 Neither is it true that usefulness

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 is based on a particular set of skills

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 or personality.

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 And we find that because there's at least

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 half of the men mentioned here

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 that we don't know anything about.

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 Two of them we know well.

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 We know Apollos well.

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 We know he was a skilled speaker.

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 We know that he needed to be trained

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 by Aquila and Priscilla

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 to understand the gospel better.

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 But we also know that there was a faction

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 of people in Corinth

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 that wanted to follow him

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 instead of following Paul.

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 So that clearly he was a gifted speaker

00:15:02.879 --> 00:15:03.960
 and he had a personality

00:15:03.960 --> 00:15:05.799
 that was attractive to certain people.

00:15:06.100 --> 00:15:06.960
 We know that.

00:15:07.720 --> 00:15:09.799
 We can find Tychicus in a number of places

00:15:09.799 --> 00:15:10.679
 in the New Testament

00:15:10.679 --> 00:15:13.860
 always serving faithfully alongside the Apostle Paul.

00:15:14.259 --> 00:15:16.139
 Artemis and Zenos we know nothing about.

00:15:17.200 --> 00:15:18.759
 We have no clue who they are.

00:15:19.039 --> 00:15:20.620
 And I think if not for anything else

00:15:20.620 --> 00:15:21.899
 it's just a hint of the fact

00:15:21.899 --> 00:15:23.679
 that you don't have to be somebody

00:15:23.679 --> 00:15:26.179
 to do something and to be useful to the work.

00:15:26.700 --> 00:15:27.879
 You just have to care about it.

00:15:27.879 --> 00:15:30.159
 If you love the Lord

00:15:30.159 --> 00:15:32.159
 and you desire to serve him

00:15:32.159 --> 00:15:33.840
 he will use you.

00:15:34.559 --> 00:15:37.939
 Therefore be devoted to his work.

00:15:38.519 --> 00:15:39.659
 Give yourself to it.

00:15:40.220 --> 00:15:41.559
 Give yourself to the work

00:15:41.559 --> 00:15:44.539
 of the ministry as these men did.

00:15:46.200 --> 00:15:47.559
 Well then we have to ask

00:15:47.559 --> 00:15:48.799
 what does it actually look like

00:15:48.799 --> 00:15:50.720
 to be devoted to God's work?

00:15:51.740 --> 00:15:53.980
 We see that that was the devotion here.

00:15:54.100 --> 00:15:55.419
 We see what they were willing to do.

00:15:55.539 --> 00:15:56.659
 Their care and their concern

00:15:56.659 --> 00:15:58.379
 for the work even over themselves.

00:15:58.539 --> 00:15:59.679
 We find that okay

00:15:59.679 --> 00:16:01.240
 maybe we can glean from this

00:16:01.240 --> 00:16:02.199
 that I don't have to be

00:16:02.199 --> 00:16:03.819
 anybody particularly special

00:16:03.819 --> 00:16:04.899
 to be useful

00:16:04.899 --> 00:16:07.100
 but how can I actually be useful?

00:16:07.839 --> 00:16:08.860
 In a practical sense.

00:16:09.539 --> 00:16:11.120
 And we get a little glimpse of it here

00:16:11.120 --> 00:16:12.139
 in verse 13.

00:16:12.860 --> 00:16:14.120
 Look at it with me again.

00:16:14.899 --> 00:16:16.279
 He tells Titus specifically

00:16:16.279 --> 00:16:19.419
 do your best to speed Zenos the lawyer

00:16:19.419 --> 00:16:21.419
 and Apollos on their way.

00:16:22.360 --> 00:16:23.899
 See that they lack nothing.

00:16:23.899 --> 00:16:27.319
 Zenos and Apollos probably

00:16:27.319 --> 00:16:28.799
 were the carriers of this letter.

00:16:29.720 --> 00:16:32.659
 If we trust church tradition

00:16:32.659 --> 00:16:34.120
 and ancient church tradition

00:16:34.120 --> 00:16:36.679
 Apollos ended up in Egypt

00:16:36.679 --> 00:16:38.480
 and spent quite a bit of time

00:16:38.480 --> 00:16:39.220
 ministering there.

00:16:39.579 --> 00:16:41.259
 Perhaps that's his assignment here.

00:16:41.779 --> 00:16:43.939
 That Apollos and Zenos are on their way

00:16:43.939 --> 00:16:46.019
 and they're stopping on behalf of Paul

00:16:46.019 --> 00:16:46.659
 in Crete

00:16:46.659 --> 00:16:49.100
 in order to deliver this correspondence

00:16:49.100 --> 00:16:50.139
 to Titus

00:16:50.139 --> 00:16:51.159
 so that he knows what to do

00:16:51.159 --> 00:16:52.279
 and so the ministry is flourishing.

00:16:52.539 --> 00:16:53.459
 They didn't have text messaging

00:16:53.459 --> 00:16:54.139
 and emails then.

00:16:54.240 --> 00:16:55.539
 They had to hand carry letters

00:16:55.539 --> 00:16:57.000
 at that particular point.

00:16:57.339 --> 00:16:58.659
 And so they stop in in Crete

00:16:58.659 --> 00:16:59.500
 before they head on

00:16:59.500 --> 00:17:00.240
 to their other place

00:17:00.240 --> 00:17:01.240
 and then Titus is given

00:17:01.240 --> 00:17:02.100
 this instruction.

00:17:03.559 --> 00:17:04.539
 Do your best here.

00:17:04.619 --> 00:17:05.539
 It translates the word

00:17:05.539 --> 00:17:06.299
 for diligence

00:17:06.299 --> 00:17:07.859
 meaning that Titus

00:17:07.859 --> 00:17:08.940
 was to diligently

00:17:08.940 --> 00:17:10.619
 speed the men along

00:17:10.619 --> 00:17:11.440
 on their journey.

00:17:11.659 --> 00:17:13.759
 And how was he to do that?

00:17:14.240 --> 00:17:15.599
 By seeing to it

00:17:15.599 --> 00:17:16.460
 that they had everything

00:17:16.460 --> 00:17:17.139
 that they needed.

00:17:17.140 --> 00:17:19.040
 by making sure

00:17:19.040 --> 00:17:20.480
 that they were refreshed

00:17:20.480 --> 00:17:21.220
 in the Lord.

00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:22.259
 To make sure

00:17:22.259 --> 00:17:23.340
 they had a place to stay.

00:17:23.660 --> 00:17:24.940
 That they had some meals

00:17:24.940 --> 00:17:25.800
 for a few days

00:17:25.800 --> 00:17:26.580
 to strengthen them.

00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:28.060
 That all of their resources

00:17:28.060 --> 00:17:28.920
 were replenished

00:17:28.920 --> 00:17:30.280
 to get them the rest of the way

00:17:30.280 --> 00:17:31.160
 to help them.

00:17:31.460 --> 00:17:32.640
 Titus' job here

00:17:32.640 --> 00:17:34.520
 was to coordinate the efforts

00:17:34.520 --> 00:17:36.200
 to meet these basic needs.

00:17:36.500 --> 00:17:37.560
 An early example

00:17:37.560 --> 00:17:38.320
 of what it means

00:17:38.320 --> 00:17:39.900
 to love and serve missionaries.

00:17:40.460 --> 00:17:41.280
 This is as clear

00:17:41.280 --> 00:17:42.040
 as I think it gets

00:17:42.040 --> 00:17:43.259
 in the New Testament for us.

00:17:44.500 --> 00:17:45.400
 There's such a wonderful

00:17:45.400 --> 00:17:46.240
 picture of it

00:17:46.240 --> 00:17:47.099
 as we see

00:17:47.099 --> 00:17:48.779
 and some of us

00:17:48.779 --> 00:17:49.779
 have had these conversations

00:17:49.779 --> 00:17:50.240
 before.

00:17:50.440 --> 00:17:51.920
 It's always kind of heartbreaking

00:17:51.920 --> 00:17:53.519
 when you find missionaries

00:17:53.519 --> 00:17:53.960
 who come

00:17:53.960 --> 00:17:55.420
 and they load up

00:17:55.420 --> 00:17:56.279
 the station wagon

00:17:56.279 --> 00:17:56.980
 so to speak

00:17:56.980 --> 00:17:57.819
 and they gotta travel

00:17:57.819 --> 00:17:58.299
 the globe

00:17:58.299 --> 00:18:00.400
 for three or four years

00:18:00.400 --> 00:18:01.400
 just to try to get

00:18:01.400 --> 00:18:02.279
 to where they're going.

00:18:03.299 --> 00:18:03.859
 And I think part

00:18:03.859 --> 00:18:04.819
 of the problem with that

00:18:04.819 --> 00:18:06.120
 is that we don't necessarily

00:18:06.120 --> 00:18:06.980
 have the mindset

00:18:06.980 --> 00:18:08.359
 that Paul is trying

00:18:08.359 --> 00:18:09.799
 to pass on to Titus here

00:18:09.799 --> 00:18:10.720
 where he says

00:18:10.720 --> 00:18:11.420
 when they come

00:18:11.420 --> 00:18:12.339
 refresh them

00:18:12.339 --> 00:18:13.920
 make sure they have

00:18:13.920 --> 00:18:14.279
 everything

00:18:14.279 --> 00:18:15.319
 diligently

00:18:15.319 --> 00:18:16.859
 do what you can

00:18:16.859 --> 00:18:17.480
 intentionally

00:18:17.480 --> 00:18:19.000
 go after coordinating

00:18:19.000 --> 00:18:19.799
 all the efforts

00:18:19.799 --> 00:18:20.460
 that you can

00:18:20.460 --> 00:18:21.679
 to actually help

00:18:21.679 --> 00:18:22.159
 these men

00:18:22.159 --> 00:18:23.179
 get where God

00:18:23.179 --> 00:18:24.240
 is sending them

00:18:24.240 --> 00:18:25.419
 for the good of the gospel.

00:18:25.919 --> 00:18:26.539
 They're devoted

00:18:26.539 --> 00:18:27.240
 to the work

00:18:27.240 --> 00:18:28.339
 you're devoted

00:18:28.339 --> 00:18:29.039
 to the work

00:18:29.039 --> 00:18:30.119
 let's work together

00:18:30.119 --> 00:18:31.019
 to get them there

00:18:31.019 --> 00:18:32.000
 and to get the gospel

00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:33.179
 where the gospel

00:18:33.179 --> 00:18:33.960
 needs to go.

00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:35.359
 What a wonderful picture

00:18:35.359 --> 00:18:36.119
 that is here.

00:18:37.059 --> 00:18:37.480
 Maybe

00:18:37.480 --> 00:18:39.179
 it's God's desire

00:18:39.179 --> 00:18:39.740
 just for you

00:18:39.740 --> 00:18:40.700
 to be a coordinator

00:18:40.700 --> 00:18:42.700
 a facilitator

00:18:42.700 --> 00:18:43.840
 of these types

00:18:43.840 --> 00:18:44.380
 of things

00:18:44.380 --> 00:18:45.600
 just meeting

00:18:45.600 --> 00:18:46.500
 the basic needs

00:18:46.500 --> 00:18:46.980
 of others

00:18:46.980 --> 00:18:47.580
 for the good

00:18:47.580 --> 00:18:48.319
 of the ministry.

00:18:49.920 --> 00:18:50.799
 Our devotion

00:18:50.799 --> 00:18:51.380
 to the work

00:18:51.380 --> 00:18:51.900
 of God

00:18:51.900 --> 00:18:53.200
 is directly

00:18:53.200 --> 00:18:53.799
 linked

00:18:53.799 --> 00:18:55.440
 to our diligence

00:18:55.440 --> 00:18:56.559
 in assisting

00:18:56.559 --> 00:18:57.360
 whatever work

00:18:57.360 --> 00:18:58.100
 is being done.

00:18:58.759 --> 00:18:59.220
 That's really

00:18:59.220 --> 00:18:59.660
 the point.

00:19:00.080 --> 00:19:00.880
 Just be diligent

00:19:00.880 --> 00:19:02.080
 to see what's happening

00:19:02.080 --> 00:19:03.620
 and get involved.

00:19:04.080 --> 00:19:04.880
 Get involved.

00:19:04.880 --> 00:19:07.320
 It's opening

00:19:07.320 --> 00:19:07.920
 your home

00:19:07.920 --> 00:19:08.820
 and hospitality

00:19:08.820 --> 00:19:10.440
 so that others

00:19:10.440 --> 00:19:11.100
 can grow

00:19:11.100 --> 00:19:11.680
 in the Lord

00:19:11.680 --> 00:19:12.400
 and in fellowship.

00:19:13.320 --> 00:19:14.020
 You may not be

00:19:14.020 --> 00:19:14.480
 a teacher

00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:16.060
 but you can offer

00:19:16.060 --> 00:19:16.760
 your home

00:19:16.760 --> 00:19:18.020
 to gather people

00:19:18.020 --> 00:19:18.800
 around so that

00:19:18.800 --> 00:19:19.540
 someone else

00:19:19.540 --> 00:19:20.380
 can do the teaching

00:19:20.380 --> 00:19:20.780
 work

00:19:20.780 --> 00:19:21.680
 and the discipling

00:19:21.680 --> 00:19:22.900
 work.

00:19:23.920 --> 00:19:24.400
 Devotion

00:19:24.400 --> 00:19:25.120
 is regularly

00:19:25.120 --> 00:19:25.740
 giving

00:19:25.740 --> 00:19:26.880
 so that ministry

00:19:26.880 --> 00:19:27.540
 can flourish

00:19:27.540 --> 00:19:28.620
 not only in our church

00:19:28.620 --> 00:19:29.880
 but in ministries

00:19:29.880 --> 00:19:30.700
 around the world.

00:19:32.900 --> 00:19:33.420
 Devotion

00:19:33.420 --> 00:19:34.300
 is volunteering

00:19:34.299 --> 00:19:34.720
 to help

00:19:34.720 --> 00:19:35.419
 with a fellowship

00:19:35.419 --> 00:19:36.779
 or an outreach event

00:19:36.779 --> 00:19:37.779
 or a Sunday

00:19:37.779 --> 00:19:38.980
 ministry opportunity.

00:19:39.480 --> 00:19:39.919
 Devotion

00:19:39.919 --> 00:19:40.460
 to the work

00:19:40.460 --> 00:19:40.779
 of God

00:19:40.779 --> 00:19:41.519
 is caring

00:19:41.519 --> 00:19:42.339
 enough

00:19:42.339 --> 00:19:43.500
 about the ministry

00:19:43.500 --> 00:19:44.180
 of the gospel

00:19:44.180 --> 00:19:45.259
 to actively

00:19:45.259 --> 00:19:46.319
 look for ways

00:19:46.319 --> 00:19:47.039
 to engage

00:19:47.039 --> 00:19:47.440
 with it.

00:19:48.440 --> 00:19:49.019
 And that's

00:19:49.019 --> 00:19:49.399
 the point

00:19:49.399 --> 00:19:49.740
 that I want

00:19:49.740 --> 00:19:50.379
 to get across

00:19:50.379 --> 00:19:50.579
 to you

00:19:50.579 --> 00:19:51.259
 as we apply

00:19:51.259 --> 00:19:51.859
 this to our

00:19:51.859 --> 00:19:52.379
 own church

00:19:52.379 --> 00:19:52.779
 and to our

00:19:52.779 --> 00:19:53.460
 own lives.

00:19:54.279 --> 00:19:55.200
 Do you have

00:19:55.200 --> 00:19:55.759
 a concern

00:19:55.759 --> 00:19:56.579
 for the work?

00:19:57.740 --> 00:19:58.440
 It's to have

00:19:58.440 --> 00:19:58.919
 what God

00:19:58.919 --> 00:19:59.500
 is doing

00:19:59.500 --> 00:20:00.680
 in the world

00:20:00.680 --> 00:20:01.460
 and around

00:20:01.460 --> 00:20:01.899
 the world

00:20:01.899 --> 00:20:02.740
 at the forefront

00:20:02.740 --> 00:20:03.659
 of your mind

00:20:03.660 --> 00:20:05.200
 and desiring

00:20:05.200 --> 00:20:05.980
 to be a part

00:20:05.980 --> 00:20:06.500
 of that work

00:20:06.500 --> 00:20:07.360
 in whatever way

00:20:07.360 --> 00:20:08.000
 God has made

00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:08.800
 available to you

00:20:08.800 --> 00:20:09.420
 to be a part

00:20:09.420 --> 00:20:09.800
 of it.

00:20:11.400 --> 00:20:12.259
 Do you care

00:20:12.259 --> 00:20:13.100
 about the work?

00:20:13.560 --> 00:20:14.140
 Like the big

00:20:14.140 --> 00:20:14.920
 picture work?

00:20:16.019 --> 00:20:16.740
 Like just the fact

00:20:16.740 --> 00:20:17.080
 that God

00:20:17.080 --> 00:20:17.800
 has us here

00:20:17.800 --> 00:20:18.460
 for the purpose

00:20:18.460 --> 00:20:19.360
 of his own glory

00:20:19.360 --> 00:20:20.759
 and for the

00:20:20.759 --> 00:20:21.420
 expansion

00:20:21.420 --> 00:20:22.160
 of his kingdom

00:20:22.160 --> 00:20:23.340
 and for the

00:20:23.340 --> 00:20:24.480
 sharing of his gospel.

00:20:26.060 --> 00:20:26.620
 Do you ever

00:20:26.620 --> 00:20:27.519
 think about that?

00:20:28.700 --> 00:20:29.320
 Is it ever

00:20:29.320 --> 00:20:29.880
 at the forefront

00:20:29.880 --> 00:20:30.500
 of your mind?

00:20:30.500 --> 00:20:32.740
 When you sit

00:20:32.740 --> 00:20:33.299
 down and you

00:20:33.299 --> 00:20:34.000
 make your budget

00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:34.579
 every month

00:20:34.579 --> 00:20:35.079
 and you begin

00:20:35.079 --> 00:20:35.700
 to think about

00:20:35.700 --> 00:20:36.140
 what we're going

00:20:36.140 --> 00:20:36.519
 to give

00:20:36.519 --> 00:20:37.039
 or what can

00:20:37.039 --> 00:20:37.839
 we give?

00:20:38.160 --> 00:20:38.819
 Is there ever

00:20:38.819 --> 00:20:39.359
 a thought that

00:20:39.359 --> 00:20:40.400
 begins with

00:20:40.400 --> 00:20:41.559
 there is this

00:20:41.559 --> 00:20:43.019
 dynamic of

00:20:43.019 --> 00:20:43.700
 God's work

00:20:43.700 --> 00:20:44.359
 and we need

00:20:44.359 --> 00:20:44.920
 to be committed

00:20:44.920 --> 00:20:45.319
 to that?

00:20:45.440 --> 00:20:45.759
 That's our

00:20:45.759 --> 00:20:46.740
 devotion.

00:20:47.460 --> 00:20:47.839
 We need to be

00:20:47.839 --> 00:20:48.539
 committed to that.

00:20:49.900 --> 00:20:50.680
 Or is it an

00:20:50.680 --> 00:20:51.240
 afterthought

00:20:51.240 --> 00:20:51.960
 that you get to

00:20:51.960 --> 00:20:52.599
 if you can?

00:20:53.539 --> 00:20:53.839
 What about

00:20:53.839 --> 00:20:54.279
 when it comes

00:20:54.279 --> 00:20:55.119
 time to actually

00:20:55.119 --> 00:20:55.740
 help someone

00:20:55.740 --> 00:20:56.599
 or be beneficial

00:20:56.599 --> 00:20:57.359
 in some way

00:20:57.359 --> 00:20:58.119
 to a program

00:20:58.119 --> 00:20:59.240
 or to a ministry?

00:20:59.240 --> 00:21:00.160
 Is it that

00:21:00.160 --> 00:21:00.660
 we're going

00:21:00.660 --> 00:21:01.059
 to devote

00:21:01.059 --> 00:21:01.480
 ourselves

00:21:01.480 --> 00:21:02.200
 to this thing

00:21:02.200 --> 00:21:02.779
 because we're

00:21:02.779 --> 00:21:03.099
 Christians

00:21:03.099 --> 00:21:03.480
 and that's

00:21:03.480 --> 00:21:03.960
 what we care

00:21:03.960 --> 00:21:04.380
 to do?

00:21:04.539 --> 00:21:05.200
 We care about

00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:05.640
 the work.

00:21:05.839 --> 00:21:06.240
 Or is it

00:21:06.240 --> 00:21:06.940
 if I can get

00:21:06.940 --> 00:21:07.259
 to it

00:21:07.259 --> 00:21:07.740
 I'll get

00:21:07.740 --> 00:21:08.339
 to it

00:21:08.339 --> 00:21:08.980
 and that

00:21:08.980 --> 00:21:09.279
 will be

00:21:09.279 --> 00:21:09.559
 great

00:21:09.559 --> 00:21:09.880
 and if I

00:21:09.880 --> 00:21:10.120
 can't

00:21:10.120 --> 00:21:10.480
 no big

00:21:10.480 --> 00:21:10.799
 deal.

00:21:11.779 --> 00:21:12.359
 This is

00:21:12.359 --> 00:21:12.940
 an attitude

00:21:12.940 --> 00:21:13.720
 shift here.

00:21:14.779 --> 00:21:15.299
 Don't lose

00:21:15.299 --> 00:21:15.920
 sight of the

00:21:15.920 --> 00:21:16.539
 purpose

00:21:16.539 --> 00:21:17.120
 for your

00:21:17.120 --> 00:21:17.759
 salvation.

00:21:19.640 --> 00:21:20.299
 Don't lose

00:21:20.299 --> 00:21:20.819
 sight of the

00:21:20.819 --> 00:21:21.420
 purpose

00:21:21.420 --> 00:21:22.620
 for why God

00:21:22.620 --> 00:21:23.240
 has planted

00:21:23.240 --> 00:21:23.680
 you in the

00:21:23.680 --> 00:21:24.079
 place that

00:21:24.079 --> 00:21:24.579
 he's planted

00:21:24.579 --> 00:21:24.839
 you.

00:21:25.940 --> 00:21:26.660
 For why God

00:21:26.660 --> 00:21:27.120
 has planted

00:21:27.120 --> 00:21:27.759
 this church

00:21:27.759 --> 00:21:28.259
 in the place

00:21:28.259 --> 00:21:28.640
 that he has

00:21:28.640 --> 00:21:29.220
 planted it.

00:21:29.980 --> 00:21:30.640
 For why God

00:21:30.640 --> 00:21:31.279
 has given us

00:21:31.279 --> 00:21:32.059
 whatever resources

00:21:32.059 --> 00:21:32.759
 he's given us

00:21:32.759 --> 00:21:33.240
 and he's given

00:21:33.240 --> 00:21:33.759
 us the people

00:21:33.759 --> 00:21:34.319
 that he's given

00:21:34.319 --> 00:21:34.620
 us.

00:21:34.940 --> 00:21:35.900
 To be devoted

00:21:35.900 --> 00:21:36.680
 to the work.

00:21:37.400 --> 00:21:38.000
 We find that

00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:38.640
 clearly here.

00:21:38.779 --> 00:21:39.220
 They're devoted

00:21:39.220 --> 00:21:39.660
 to the work.

00:21:39.900 --> 00:21:40.259
 Secondly,

00:21:40.460 --> 00:21:41.079
 they're devoted

00:21:41.079 --> 00:21:41.819
 to the glory

00:21:41.819 --> 00:21:42.319
 of God.

00:21:43.120 --> 00:21:43.599
 They're devoted

00:21:43.599 --> 00:21:44.140
 to the glory

00:21:44.140 --> 00:21:44.579
 of God.

00:21:45.079 --> 00:21:45.759
 Verse 14.

00:21:47.039 --> 00:21:47.579
 Let our people

00:21:47.579 --> 00:21:48.579
 learn to devote

00:21:48.579 --> 00:21:49.339
 themselves to

00:21:49.339 --> 00:21:50.059
 good works

00:21:50.059 --> 00:21:51.680
 so as to

00:21:51.680 --> 00:21:52.440
 help cases

00:21:52.440 --> 00:21:53.500
 of urgent need

00:21:53.500 --> 00:21:54.880
 and not be

00:21:54.880 --> 00:21:55.740
 unfruitful.

00:21:55.740 --> 00:21:55.880
 people.

00:21:56.880 --> 00:21:57.620
 Now this

00:21:57.620 --> 00:21:58.180
 verse contains

00:21:58.180 --> 00:21:58.559
 the most

00:21:58.559 --> 00:21:59.039
 explicit

00:21:59.039 --> 00:21:59.640
 instruction

00:21:59.640 --> 00:21:59.960
 that we

00:21:59.960 --> 00:22:00.759
 find in

00:22:00.759 --> 00:22:01.240
 this final

00:22:01.240 --> 00:22:02.160
 passage and

00:22:02.160 --> 00:22:02.620
 it's right

00:22:02.620 --> 00:22:03.180
 in line

00:22:03.180 --> 00:22:03.620
 with what

00:22:03.620 --> 00:22:04.079
 Paul has

00:22:04.079 --> 00:22:04.900
 been emphasizing

00:22:04.900 --> 00:22:05.559
 over and

00:22:05.559 --> 00:22:06.160
 over again

00:22:06.160 --> 00:22:06.480
 in this

00:22:06.480 --> 00:22:06.759
 letter.

00:22:07.880 --> 00:22:08.339
 Namely,

00:22:08.859 --> 00:22:09.640
 that Christians

00:22:09.640 --> 00:22:10.740
 are to manifest

00:22:10.740 --> 00:22:11.759
 their faith

00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:13.039
 in visible and

00:22:13.039 --> 00:22:14.039
 practical ways.

00:22:14.039 --> 00:22:16.240
 I can't remember

00:22:16.240 --> 00:22:17.000
 exactly how we

00:22:17.000 --> 00:22:18.359
 worded the theme

00:22:18.359 --> 00:22:18.740
 at the very

00:22:18.740 --> 00:22:19.079
 beginning.

00:22:19.220 --> 00:22:19.759
 You can go back

00:22:19.759 --> 00:22:20.299
 and listen to

00:22:20.299 --> 00:22:21.159
 those if you

00:22:21.159 --> 00:22:21.819
 care to know

00:22:21.819 --> 00:22:22.659
 it specifically.

00:22:23.059 --> 00:22:23.559
 But generally

00:22:23.559 --> 00:22:24.259
 it is this,

00:22:24.480 --> 00:22:25.299
 that our faith

00:22:25.299 --> 00:22:25.920
 moves our

00:22:25.920 --> 00:22:26.559
 behavior and

00:22:26.559 --> 00:22:27.019
 it produces

00:22:27.019 --> 00:22:27.899
 certain conduct

00:22:27.899 --> 00:22:28.980
 and a huge

00:22:28.980 --> 00:22:29.460
 part of that

00:22:29.460 --> 00:22:30.319
 conduct is this

00:22:30.319 --> 00:22:31.000
 dynamic of

00:22:31.000 --> 00:22:31.559
 good works.

00:22:31.940 --> 00:22:32.700
 That Paul is

00:22:32.700 --> 00:22:33.539
 concerned that

00:22:33.539 --> 00:22:34.639
 Christians,

00:22:35.079 --> 00:22:35.659
 Jesus is

00:22:35.659 --> 00:22:36.279
 concerned that

00:22:36.279 --> 00:22:37.599
 Christians manifest

00:22:37.599 --> 00:22:38.399
 their faith in

00:22:38.399 --> 00:22:39.059
 visible ways.

00:22:39.359 --> 00:22:40.099
 Our character

00:22:40.099 --> 00:22:41.319
 is to reflect

00:22:41.319 --> 00:22:42.740
 godliness and

00:22:42.740 --> 00:22:43.200
 we are to

00:22:43.200 --> 00:22:43.839
 intentionally

00:22:43.839 --> 00:22:45.240
 concern ourselves

00:22:45.240 --> 00:22:46.179
 with doing

00:22:46.179 --> 00:22:47.500
 good for

00:22:47.500 --> 00:22:47.919
 others.

00:22:48.299 --> 00:22:49.240
 Over and over

00:22:49.240 --> 00:22:49.899
 this is mentioned

00:22:49.899 --> 00:22:50.500
 in the letter.

00:22:51.559 --> 00:22:52.000
 But we have to

00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:52.599
 ask ourselves,

00:22:52.959 --> 00:22:53.459
 what is the

00:22:53.459 --> 00:22:54.359
 ultimate goal

00:22:54.359 --> 00:22:54.939
 of these good

00:22:54.939 --> 00:22:55.279
 works?

00:22:55.720 --> 00:22:56.379
 Why are we

00:22:56.379 --> 00:22:56.919
 doing them?

00:22:57.980 --> 00:22:58.819
 Are they an

00:22:58.819 --> 00:22:59.319
 end in

00:22:59.319 --> 00:23:00.259
 themselves or

00:23:00.259 --> 00:23:00.799
 are they a

00:23:00.799 --> 00:23:01.319
 means to a

00:23:01.319 --> 00:23:01.959
 greater end?

00:23:02.179 --> 00:23:02.899
 And the answer

00:23:02.899 --> 00:23:03.740
 is undoubtedly

00:23:03.740 --> 00:23:04.859
 the latter.

00:23:05.879 --> 00:23:06.519
 They are a

00:23:06.519 --> 00:23:08.000
 means to a

00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:08.699
 greater end.

00:23:09.639 --> 00:23:10.639
 The purpose

00:23:10.639 --> 00:23:11.119
 of our

00:23:11.119 --> 00:23:12.000
 godliness and

00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:12.759
 good works

00:23:12.759 --> 00:23:13.440
 God's

00:23:13.440 --> 00:23:13.839
 is the

00:23:13.839 --> 00:23:14.339
 glory of

00:23:14.339 --> 00:23:14.740
 God.

00:23:15.940 --> 00:23:16.599
 It's the

00:23:16.599 --> 00:23:17.079
 glory of

00:23:17.079 --> 00:23:17.299
 God.

00:23:17.420 --> 00:23:17.980
 It is to

00:23:17.980 --> 00:23:18.660
 make him

00:23:18.660 --> 00:23:19.079
 and his

00:23:19.079 --> 00:23:20.119
 gospel known

00:23:20.119 --> 00:23:21.059
 in the

00:23:21.059 --> 00:23:21.420
 world.

00:23:22.599 --> 00:23:23.220
 This is what

00:23:23.220 --> 00:23:23.579
 we talked

00:23:23.579 --> 00:23:24.160
 about briefly

00:23:24.160 --> 00:23:24.700
 in our

00:23:24.700 --> 00:23:25.879
 member meeting

00:23:25.879 --> 00:23:26.440
 last Sunday

00:23:26.440 --> 00:23:26.799
 night.

00:23:27.220 --> 00:23:27.640
 Remember we

00:23:27.640 --> 00:23:28.160
 looked at

00:23:28.160 --> 00:23:29.559
 Adam in

00:23:29.559 --> 00:23:30.079
 creation.

00:23:30.339 --> 00:23:30.779
 God puts

00:23:30.779 --> 00:23:31.259
 Adam and

00:23:31.259 --> 00:23:31.640
 he makes

00:23:31.640 --> 00:23:32.119
 Adam in

00:23:32.119 --> 00:23:32.579
 his own

00:23:32.579 --> 00:23:33.379
 image in

00:23:33.379 --> 00:23:33.879
 order that

00:23:33.879 --> 00:23:34.480
 Adam would

00:23:34.480 --> 00:23:35.259
 be God's

00:23:35.259 --> 00:23:35.960
 representative

00:23:35.960 --> 00:23:37.339
 on earth.

00:23:38.279 --> 00:23:38.619
 And that

00:23:38.619 --> 00:23:39.099
 image is

00:23:39.099 --> 00:23:39.740
 marred because

00:23:39.740 --> 00:23:40.579
 of sin but

00:23:40.579 --> 00:23:41.180
 God doesn't

00:23:41.180 --> 00:23:41.980
 do away with

00:23:41.980 --> 00:23:42.339
 the human

00:23:42.339 --> 00:23:42.980
 race altogether.

00:23:43.200 --> 00:23:43.539
 What do we

00:23:43.539 --> 00:23:44.120
 find him doing

00:23:44.120 --> 00:23:44.539
 next?

00:23:44.859 --> 00:23:45.740
 He chooses

00:23:45.740 --> 00:23:46.480
 Abraham and

00:23:46.480 --> 00:23:47.079
 then he builds

00:23:47.079 --> 00:23:47.779
 up a people,

00:23:48.120 --> 00:23:49.380
 a nation in

00:23:49.380 --> 00:23:49.880
 the seat of

00:23:49.880 --> 00:23:50.440
 Abraham and

00:23:50.440 --> 00:23:51.019
 he calls them

00:23:51.019 --> 00:23:51.460
 and delivers

00:23:51.460 --> 00:23:51.980
 them out of

00:23:51.980 --> 00:23:52.539
 bondage in

00:23:52.539 --> 00:23:52.960
 Egypt.

00:23:53.339 --> 00:23:53.620
 Why?

00:23:53.819 --> 00:23:54.579
 So that he

00:23:54.579 --> 00:23:55.120
 might have

00:23:55.120 --> 00:23:56.700
 his glory made

00:23:56.700 --> 00:23:57.200
 known on

00:23:57.200 --> 00:23:58.039
 earth through

00:23:58.039 --> 00:23:58.660
 the people of

00:23:58.660 --> 00:23:59.019
 Israel.

00:23:59.960 --> 00:24:00.380
 And then what

00:24:00.380 --> 00:24:00.880
 do we see him

00:24:00.880 --> 00:24:01.319
 doing in the

00:24:01.319 --> 00:24:01.839
 New Testament?

00:24:02.279 --> 00:24:03.200
 Same thing.

00:24:03.480 --> 00:24:03.900
 Ekklesia,

00:24:04.259 --> 00:24:04.620
 church,

00:24:05.000 --> 00:24:05.640
 called out

00:24:05.640 --> 00:24:06.039
 ones.

00:24:06.339 --> 00:24:07.039
 He calls them

00:24:07.039 --> 00:24:07.759
 out from the

00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:08.500
 world in

00:24:08.500 --> 00:24:09.460
 order that he

00:24:09.460 --> 00:24:10.319
 may be known

00:24:10.319 --> 00:24:11.640
 in and to

00:24:11.640 --> 00:24:12.180
 the world.

00:24:12.619 --> 00:24:13.359
 That's the

00:24:13.359 --> 00:24:13.980
 purpose of the

00:24:13.980 --> 00:24:14.379
 church.

00:24:14.980 --> 00:24:15.680
 That's the

00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:16.480
 purpose of why

00:24:16.480 --> 00:24:17.220
 God has saved

00:24:17.220 --> 00:24:17.960
 us and why

00:24:17.960 --> 00:24:18.660
 he has put us

00:24:18.660 --> 00:24:18.879
 here.

00:24:19.039 --> 00:24:20.019
 It is for his

00:24:20.019 --> 00:24:21.359
 glory, that is

00:24:21.359 --> 00:24:22.420
 to make him

00:24:22.420 --> 00:24:23.440
 known.

00:24:25.059 --> 00:24:25.779
 And Paul tells

00:24:25.779 --> 00:24:26.579
 us clearly in

00:24:26.579 --> 00:24:27.099
 this letter,

00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:28.379
 part of how we

00:24:28.379 --> 00:24:30.039
 glorify God and

00:24:30.039 --> 00:24:31.180
 make him known

00:24:31.180 --> 00:24:32.359
 is through our

00:24:32.359 --> 00:24:33.279
 godly character

00:24:33.279 --> 00:24:34.640
 and our efforts

00:24:34.640 --> 00:24:35.700
 in goodness

00:24:35.700 --> 00:24:37.339
 at good works.

00:24:37.759 --> 00:24:39.980
 according to

00:24:39.980 --> 00:24:40.559
 chapter 2,

00:24:40.680 --> 00:24:41.180
 this is the

00:24:41.180 --> 00:24:42.240
 visible effect

00:24:42.240 --> 00:24:43.019
 of the gospel.

00:24:43.619 --> 00:24:44.119
 Just look at

00:24:44.119 --> 00:24:44.720
 chapter 2 and

00:24:44.720 --> 00:24:45.680
 verse 14 again.

00:24:46.379 --> 00:24:47.220
 Jesus gave

00:24:47.220 --> 00:24:48.559
 himself for us

00:24:48.559 --> 00:24:50.039
 to redeem us

00:24:50.039 --> 00:24:50.480
 from all

00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:51.019
 lawlessness,

00:24:51.559 --> 00:24:52.859
 to purify for

00:24:52.859 --> 00:24:53.559
 himself a

00:24:53.559 --> 00:24:54.680
 people for

00:24:54.680 --> 00:24:55.140
 his own

00:24:55.140 --> 00:24:55.599
 possession,

00:24:55.819 --> 00:24:56.299
 called out

00:24:56.299 --> 00:24:56.759
 ones we

00:24:56.759 --> 00:24:57.279
 belong to

00:24:57.279 --> 00:24:57.539
 him.

00:24:57.819 --> 00:24:58.119
 Why?

00:24:58.519 --> 00:24:59.079
 That we

00:24:59.079 --> 00:24:59.740
 might be

00:24:59.740 --> 00:25:00.519
 zealous

00:25:00.519 --> 00:25:01.759
 for good

00:25:01.759 --> 00:25:02.279
 works.

00:25:02.839 --> 00:25:03.599
 That's the

00:25:03.599 --> 00:25:04.119
 purpose.

00:25:05.619 --> 00:25:06.079
 Are you

00:25:06.079 --> 00:25:06.579
 fulfilling?

00:25:06.579 --> 00:25:07.720
 fulfilling your

00:25:07.720 --> 00:25:08.359
 purpose.

00:25:09.980 --> 00:25:10.759
 Last Sunday

00:25:10.759 --> 00:25:11.299
 night we

00:25:11.299 --> 00:25:11.899
 looked at

00:25:11.899 --> 00:25:12.460
 1 Peter

00:25:12.460 --> 00:25:13.159
 chapter 2.

00:25:13.939 --> 00:25:14.419
 You are a

00:25:14.419 --> 00:25:15.779
 chosen people,

00:25:16.319 --> 00:25:17.159
 a chosen race,

00:25:17.240 --> 00:25:18.139
 a royal priesthood,

00:25:18.179 --> 00:25:18.919
 a holy nation,

00:25:19.179 --> 00:25:19.859
 a people for

00:25:19.859 --> 00:25:20.359
 God's own

00:25:20.359 --> 00:25:20.819
 possession.

00:25:21.399 --> 00:25:21.720
 Why?

00:25:22.419 --> 00:25:23.019
 That you

00:25:23.019 --> 00:25:23.819
 may proclaim

00:25:23.819 --> 00:25:25.179
 the excellencies

00:25:25.179 --> 00:25:26.699
 of him who

00:25:26.699 --> 00:25:27.359
 called you out

00:25:27.359 --> 00:25:27.799
 of darkness

00:25:27.799 --> 00:25:28.859
 into his

00:25:28.859 --> 00:25:29.899
 marvelous light.

00:25:30.079 --> 00:25:30.559
 What does that

00:25:30.559 --> 00:25:30.879
 mean?

00:25:31.099 --> 00:25:31.579
 It means to

00:25:31.579 --> 00:25:32.439
 glorify him,

00:25:32.879 --> 00:25:33.919
 to make him

00:25:33.919 --> 00:25:34.359
 known,

00:25:34.359 --> 00:25:35.659
 to be his

00:25:35.659 --> 00:25:36.419
 representatives

00:25:36.419 --> 00:25:38.099
 on earth.

00:25:40.059 --> 00:25:40.599
 And the

00:25:40.599 --> 00:25:41.159
 point of this

00:25:41.159 --> 00:25:41.639
 verse is

00:25:41.639 --> 00:25:42.399
 abundantly clear

00:25:42.399 --> 00:25:42.659
 when you

00:25:42.659 --> 00:25:43.079
 begin to

00:25:43.079 --> 00:25:43.439
 break it

00:25:43.439 --> 00:25:43.899
 down into

00:25:43.899 --> 00:25:44.459
 parts.

00:25:45.019 --> 00:25:45.579
 That we

00:25:45.579 --> 00:25:46.719
 glorify God

00:25:46.719 --> 00:25:47.240
 ultimately

00:25:47.240 --> 00:25:48.359
 through our

00:25:48.359 --> 00:25:48.799
 works,

00:25:49.240 --> 00:25:49.719
 our goodness,

00:25:49.859 --> 00:25:50.399
 our righteousness.

00:25:51.639 --> 00:25:52.339
 Let me break

00:25:52.339 --> 00:25:52.779
 it down just

00:25:52.779 --> 00:25:53.399
 in three quick

00:25:53.399 --> 00:25:54.079
 things for you

00:25:54.079 --> 00:25:54.519
 not to get

00:25:54.519 --> 00:25:54.979
 too nerdy

00:25:54.979 --> 00:25:55.419
 about it,

00:25:55.479 --> 00:25:56.539
 but I think

00:25:56.539 --> 00:25:56.939
 it may be

00:25:56.939 --> 00:25:57.279
 helpful.

00:25:58.279 --> 00:25:58.759
 There is an

00:25:58.759 --> 00:26:00.439
 action that

00:26:00.439 --> 00:26:00.919
 is followed

00:26:00.919 --> 00:26:01.939
 by a manner

00:26:01.940 --> 00:26:03.080
 in which

00:26:03.080 --> 00:26:03.680
 that action

00:26:03.680 --> 00:26:04.140
 is to be

00:26:04.140 --> 00:26:04.799
 carried out,

00:26:05.080 --> 00:26:06.140
 and then

00:26:06.140 --> 00:26:06.480
 there is a

00:26:06.480 --> 00:26:07.200
 purpose statement

00:26:07.200 --> 00:26:07.759
 for the

00:26:07.759 --> 00:26:08.140
 action.

00:26:08.779 --> 00:26:09.240
 So for those

00:26:09.240 --> 00:26:09.600
 of you that

00:26:09.600 --> 00:26:10.100
 have heard me

00:26:10.100 --> 00:26:10.559
 talk about

00:26:10.559 --> 00:26:10.900
 arcing,

00:26:11.019 --> 00:26:11.380
 some of us

00:26:11.380 --> 00:26:11.759
 were talking

00:26:11.759 --> 00:26:12.100
 about it

00:26:12.100 --> 00:26:12.580
 this morning,

00:26:12.779 --> 00:26:13.320
 if you want

00:26:13.320 --> 00:26:13.720
 to go home

00:26:13.720 --> 00:26:14.039
 and you want

00:26:14.039 --> 00:26:14.360
 to arc

00:26:14.360 --> 00:26:14.940
 this text,

00:26:15.059 --> 00:26:15.519
 those are

00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:15.900
 your three

00:26:15.900 --> 00:26:16.600
 propositions.

00:26:16.759 --> 00:26:16.920
 There is

00:26:16.920 --> 00:26:17.400
 an action,

00:26:17.539 --> 00:26:17.680
 there is

00:26:17.680 --> 00:26:18.100
 a manner,

00:26:18.340 --> 00:26:18.779
 and then

00:26:18.779 --> 00:26:19.279
 there is

00:26:19.279 --> 00:26:20.299
 a purpose,

00:26:20.500 --> 00:26:21.120
 an action,

00:26:21.559 --> 00:26:22.360
 and a purpose

00:26:22.360 --> 00:26:22.799
 here.

00:26:23.140 --> 00:26:23.840
 The action

00:26:23.840 --> 00:26:25.019
 is that we

00:26:25.019 --> 00:26:26.279
 are to devote

00:26:26.279 --> 00:26:26.940
 ourselves to

00:26:26.940 --> 00:26:27.519
 good works.

00:26:27.960 --> 00:26:28.380
 Look at it

00:26:28.380 --> 00:26:28.779
 in the verse,

00:26:28.860 --> 00:26:29.460
 verse 14.

00:26:29.460 --> 00:26:31.380
 Let our

00:26:31.380 --> 00:26:32.360
 people learn

00:26:32.360 --> 00:26:33.620
 to devote

00:26:33.620 --> 00:26:34.720
 themselves to

00:26:34.720 --> 00:26:35.319
 good works.

00:26:35.600 --> 00:26:36.200
 It's very clear,

00:26:36.279 --> 00:26:36.539
 isn't it?

00:26:36.600 --> 00:26:37.360
 That's the action

00:26:37.360 --> 00:26:37.940
 that we are to

00:26:37.940 --> 00:26:38.180
 take.

00:26:38.340 --> 00:26:38.740
 We are to

00:26:38.740 --> 00:26:39.019
 learn.

00:26:39.140 --> 00:26:39.519
 That means

00:26:39.519 --> 00:26:39.960
 we are to

00:26:39.960 --> 00:26:41.380
 grow by

00:26:41.380 --> 00:26:42.120
 doing these

00:26:42.120 --> 00:26:42.460
 things.

00:26:42.559 --> 00:26:42.900
 There is an

00:26:42.900 --> 00:26:43.360
 action.

00:26:43.740 --> 00:26:44.079
 Learn to

00:26:44.079 --> 00:26:44.579
 devote ourselves

00:26:44.579 --> 00:26:45.059
 to good works.

00:26:45.380 --> 00:26:45.980
 The manner

00:26:45.980 --> 00:26:46.660
 in which we

00:26:46.660 --> 00:26:47.160
 are to carry

00:26:47.160 --> 00:26:47.819
 out that

00:26:47.819 --> 00:26:48.880
 action is

00:26:48.880 --> 00:26:49.299
 in the next

00:26:49.299 --> 00:26:49.799
 phrase,

00:26:50.420 --> 00:26:51.279
 by helping

00:26:51.279 --> 00:26:52.039
 cases of

00:26:52.039 --> 00:26:53.220
 urgent need.

00:26:53.720 --> 00:26:54.059
 So pause

00:26:54.059 --> 00:26:54.660
 a specific

00:26:54.660 --> 00:26:55.440
 vision here

00:26:55.440 --> 00:26:56.000
 for this,

00:26:56.819 --> 00:26:57.400
 that we do

00:26:57.400 --> 00:26:57.819
 these good

00:26:57.819 --> 00:26:58.920
 works by

00:26:58.920 --> 00:27:00.120
 helping cases

00:27:00.120 --> 00:27:00.620
 of urgent

00:27:00.620 --> 00:27:00.920
 need.

00:27:01.080 --> 00:27:01.460
 And then the

00:27:01.460 --> 00:27:02.060
 third statement

00:27:02.060 --> 00:27:02.420
 is the

00:27:02.420 --> 00:27:02.720
 purpose

00:27:02.720 --> 00:27:03.240
 statement.

00:27:04.279 --> 00:27:05.060
 So that

00:27:05.060 --> 00:27:05.519
 we would

00:27:05.519 --> 00:27:05.940
 not be

00:27:05.940 --> 00:27:06.700
 unfruitful.

00:27:07.360 --> 00:27:08.039
 So that

00:27:08.039 --> 00:27:08.640
 we might

00:27:08.640 --> 00:27:10.640
 be fruitful,

00:27:11.240 --> 00:27:12.019
 not useless

00:27:12.019 --> 00:27:12.620
 in making

00:27:12.620 --> 00:27:13.120
 God known,

00:27:13.259 --> 00:27:14.140
 but useful.

00:27:14.600 --> 00:27:15.019
 In other

00:27:15.019 --> 00:27:15.200
 words,

00:27:15.500 --> 00:27:16.220
 the path

00:27:16.220 --> 00:27:17.380
 to glorifying

00:27:17.380 --> 00:27:17.860
 God in

00:27:17.860 --> 00:27:18.580
 this verse

00:27:18.580 --> 00:27:19.279
 is to

00:27:19.279 --> 00:27:20.120
 intentionally

00:27:20.120 --> 00:27:20.900
 concern

00:27:20.900 --> 00:27:21.580
 yourself

00:27:21.580 --> 00:27:22.360
 with the

00:27:22.360 --> 00:27:22.720
 good of

00:27:22.720 --> 00:27:23.080
 others.

00:27:24.160 --> 00:27:24.980
 The path

00:27:24.980 --> 00:27:25.580
 to making

00:27:25.580 --> 00:27:26.420
 God known

00:27:26.420 --> 00:27:26.860
 in your

00:27:26.860 --> 00:27:27.960
 life is to

00:27:27.960 --> 00:27:28.600
 intentionally

00:27:28.600 --> 00:27:29.279
 devote

00:27:29.279 --> 00:27:29.900
 yourself

00:27:29.900 --> 00:27:31.000
 to meeting

00:27:31.000 --> 00:27:32.140
 people's

00:27:32.140 --> 00:27:33.079
 needs.

00:27:33.539 --> 00:27:34.240
 And Titus

00:27:34.240 --> 00:27:34.779
 was to be

00:27:34.779 --> 00:27:35.420
 the example

00:27:35.420 --> 00:27:35.759
 here.

00:27:36.200 --> 00:27:36.900
 What he

00:27:36.900 --> 00:27:37.279
 was going

00:27:37.279 --> 00:27:37.600
 to do

00:27:37.600 --> 00:27:38.240
 in coordinating

00:27:38.240 --> 00:27:39.059
 these efforts

00:27:39.059 --> 00:27:39.640
 for Zenos

00:27:39.640 --> 00:27:40.480
 and Apollos

00:27:40.480 --> 00:27:41.279
 was to be

00:27:41.279 --> 00:27:41.940
 an example

00:27:41.940 --> 00:27:42.400
 to the

00:27:42.400 --> 00:27:42.860
 people.

00:27:43.539 --> 00:27:43.940
 That as

00:27:43.940 --> 00:27:44.480
 they watched

00:27:44.480 --> 00:27:44.940
 him,

00:27:45.079 --> 00:27:45.579
 who was

00:27:45.579 --> 00:27:46.380
 already there

00:27:46.380 --> 00:27:47.000
 temporarily,

00:27:47.700 --> 00:27:48.299
 who was

00:27:48.299 --> 00:27:49.319
 already there

00:27:49.319 --> 00:27:50.079
 having to

00:27:50.079 --> 00:27:50.680
 mooch off

00:27:50.680 --> 00:27:51.120
 of others,

00:27:51.180 --> 00:27:51.840
 so to speak,

00:27:52.299 --> 00:27:52.559
 right?

00:27:52.799 --> 00:27:53.240
 He's not

00:27:53.240 --> 00:27:53.740
 meant to be

00:27:53.740 --> 00:27:53.900
 there.

00:27:54.100 --> 00:27:54.480
 That means

00:27:54.480 --> 00:27:55.319
 he's having

00:27:55.319 --> 00:27:55.819
 to be there

00:27:55.819 --> 00:27:56.500
 at the benefit

00:27:56.500 --> 00:27:57.019
 of someone

00:27:57.019 --> 00:27:57.420
 else's

00:27:57.420 --> 00:27:58.039
 hospitality.

00:27:58.539 --> 00:27:58.759
 And yet,

00:27:58.839 --> 00:27:59.799
 despite that,

00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:00.559
 he still

00:28:00.559 --> 00:28:00.980
 is the one

00:28:00.980 --> 00:28:01.220
 who is

00:28:01.220 --> 00:28:01.759
 responsible

00:28:01.759 --> 00:28:02.720
 for coordinating

00:28:02.720 --> 00:28:03.460
 all the

00:28:03.460 --> 00:28:04.200
 things so

00:28:04.200 --> 00:28:04.759
 that Zenos

00:28:04.759 --> 00:28:05.599
 and Apollos

00:28:05.599 --> 00:28:06.200
 can get

00:28:06.200 --> 00:28:06.539
 on on

00:28:06.539 --> 00:28:07.039
 their way

00:28:07.039 --> 00:28:07.579
 and can

00:28:07.579 --> 00:28:08.079
 be fruitful

00:28:08.079 --> 00:28:08.480
 in their

00:28:08.480 --> 00:28:08.900
 work as

00:28:08.900 --> 00:28:09.140
 well.

00:28:09.400 --> 00:28:09.740
 And that

00:28:09.740 --> 00:28:10.000
 was to

00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:10.240
 be an

00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:10.599
 example

00:28:10.599 --> 00:28:10.940
 to the

00:28:10.940 --> 00:28:11.279
 people.

00:28:11.460 --> 00:28:11.900
 So that

00:28:11.900 --> 00:28:12.220
 as they

00:28:12.220 --> 00:28:12.720
 looked at

00:28:12.720 --> 00:28:13.160
 Titus,

00:28:13.220 --> 00:28:13.539
 they would

00:28:13.539 --> 00:28:13.720
 see,

00:28:13.839 --> 00:28:14.059
 no matter

00:28:14.059 --> 00:28:14.440
 what's

00:28:14.440 --> 00:28:14.859
 going on

00:28:14.859 --> 00:28:15.140
 in my

00:28:15.140 --> 00:28:15.480
 life,

00:28:15.680 --> 00:28:15.980
 no matter

00:28:15.980 --> 00:28:16.500
 what,

00:28:17.480 --> 00:28:17.779
 I need

00:28:17.779 --> 00:28:17.980
 to be

00:28:17.980 --> 00:28:18.799
 looking for

00:28:18.799 --> 00:28:19.339
 intentional

00:28:19.339 --> 00:28:20.500
 ways that I

00:28:20.500 --> 00:28:21.019
 can meet

00:28:21.019 --> 00:28:21.420
 the needs

00:28:21.420 --> 00:28:21.759
 of other

00:28:21.759 --> 00:28:22.140
 people,

00:28:22.279 --> 00:28:22.859
 because it

00:28:22.859 --> 00:28:23.440
 is by

00:28:23.440 --> 00:28:24.019
 meeting the

00:28:24.019 --> 00:28:24.359
 needs of

00:28:24.359 --> 00:28:24.559
 other

00:28:24.559 --> 00:28:24.939
 people,

00:28:25.079 --> 00:28:25.519
 that I

00:28:25.519 --> 00:28:26.059
 make God

00:28:26.059 --> 00:28:26.599
 known to

00:28:26.599 --> 00:28:26.859
 them,

00:28:26.979 --> 00:28:27.839
 because that's

00:28:27.839 --> 00:28:28.339
 what God

00:28:28.339 --> 00:28:28.939
 does.

00:28:29.939 --> 00:28:30.479
 He is a

00:28:30.479 --> 00:28:31.159
 good God,

00:28:31.299 --> 00:28:31.959
 and he's a

00:28:31.959 --> 00:28:32.740
 loving God,

00:28:32.879 --> 00:28:33.500
 and he's a

00:28:33.500 --> 00:28:34.419
 gracious God,

00:28:34.559 --> 00:28:35.519
 and he gives,

00:28:35.779 --> 00:28:36.579
 and he gives,

00:28:36.779 --> 00:28:37.579
 and he gives,

00:28:37.819 --> 00:28:38.619
 and he gives,

00:28:38.740 --> 00:28:39.379
 and there is

00:28:39.379 --> 00:28:40.379
 perhaps no

00:28:40.379 --> 00:28:41.159
 greater way

00:28:41.159 --> 00:28:41.599
 that we

00:28:41.599 --> 00:28:42.459
 display the

00:28:42.459 --> 00:28:43.019
 character of

00:28:43.019 --> 00:28:43.519
 God in our

00:28:43.519 --> 00:28:44.279
 lives than

00:28:44.279 --> 00:28:45.019
 when we take

00:28:45.019 --> 00:28:45.539
 on this

00:28:45.539 --> 00:28:46.419
 perspective of

00:28:46.419 --> 00:28:47.019
 his goodness

00:28:47.019 --> 00:28:47.859
 and of his

00:28:47.859 --> 00:28:48.799
 graciousness to

00:28:48.799 --> 00:28:49.199
 others.

00:28:49.919 --> 00:28:51.399
 We glorify him

00:28:51.399 --> 00:28:51.879
 in this.

00:28:52.219 --> 00:28:52.899
 We make him

00:28:52.899 --> 00:28:53.959
 known in this.

00:28:54.359 --> 00:28:56.799
 The lookout

00:28:56.799 --> 00:28:57.339
 for number

00:28:57.339 --> 00:28:58.240
 one mentality

00:28:58.240 --> 00:28:58.579
 of our

00:28:58.579 --> 00:28:58.879
 world,

00:28:59.000 --> 00:28:59.259
 sadly,

00:28:59.379 --> 00:28:59.919
 has invaded

00:28:59.919 --> 00:29:00.419
 the church

00:29:00.419 --> 00:29:00.799
 in many

00:29:00.799 --> 00:29:01.319
 cases,

00:29:01.979 --> 00:29:02.539
 and it

00:29:02.539 --> 00:29:03.019
 does seem

00:29:03.019 --> 00:29:03.500
 that fewer

00:29:03.500 --> 00:29:03.919
 and fewer

00:29:03.919 --> 00:29:04.519
 people are

00:29:04.519 --> 00:29:05.759
 concerned for

00:29:05.759 --> 00:29:06.559
 this kind

00:29:06.559 --> 00:29:06.939
 of good

00:29:06.939 --> 00:29:07.379
 work.

00:29:09.379 --> 00:29:10.139
 The problem

00:29:10.139 --> 00:29:10.819
 is we're so

00:29:10.819 --> 00:29:12.659
 often more

00:29:12.659 --> 00:29:13.319
 concerned with

00:29:13.319 --> 00:29:13.819
 meeting our

00:29:13.819 --> 00:29:14.439
 own needs

00:29:14.439 --> 00:29:14.859
 than we are

00:29:14.859 --> 00:29:15.299
 at helping

00:29:15.299 --> 00:29:16.240
 someone else,

00:29:16.839 --> 00:29:18.579
 and perhaps

00:29:18.579 --> 00:29:19.139
 the problem

00:29:19.139 --> 00:29:20.599
 is that we've

00:29:20.599 --> 00:29:21.500
 lost sight of

00:29:21.500 --> 00:29:22.319
 Christ's purpose

00:29:22.319 --> 00:29:22.959
 in redemption.

00:29:24.359 --> 00:29:25.259
 That is to

00:29:25.259 --> 00:29:26.219
 make us a

00:29:26.219 --> 00:29:26.839
 people who

00:29:26.839 --> 00:29:27.500
 are zealous

00:29:27.500 --> 00:29:28.079
 for good

00:29:28.079 --> 00:29:28.659
 works.

00:29:31.299 --> 00:29:31.819
 We're

00:29:31.819 --> 00:29:32.439
 zealous about

00:29:32.439 --> 00:29:32.859
 a lot of

00:29:32.859 --> 00:29:33.119
 things,

00:29:33.159 --> 00:29:33.500
 there's no

00:29:33.500 --> 00:29:33.979
 doubt about

00:29:33.979 --> 00:29:34.219
 it.

00:29:35.379 --> 00:29:36.039
 I'm not

00:29:36.039 --> 00:29:36.500
 always sure

00:29:36.500 --> 00:29:37.279
 that fruitfulness

00:29:37.279 --> 00:29:37.859
 in meeting

00:29:37.859 --> 00:29:38.599
 needs is one

00:29:38.599 --> 00:29:38.959
 of them,

00:29:39.519 --> 00:29:41.139
 but if we

00:29:41.139 --> 00:29:42.139
 devote ourselves

00:29:42.139 --> 00:29:42.839
 to the glory

00:29:42.839 --> 00:29:43.479
 of God,

00:29:44.079 --> 00:29:44.839
 making him

00:29:44.839 --> 00:29:45.339
 known in the

00:29:45.339 --> 00:29:45.679
 world,

00:29:46.479 --> 00:29:47.019
 works of

00:29:47.019 --> 00:29:47.779
 mercy will

00:29:47.779 --> 00:29:48.219
 be the

00:29:48.219 --> 00:29:48.579
 inevitable

00:29:48.579 --> 00:29:49.139
 result.

00:29:49.140 --> 00:29:50.980
 it must

00:29:50.980 --> 00:29:51.259
 be,

00:29:51.860 --> 00:29:52.980
 because this

00:29:52.980 --> 00:29:53.259
 is the

00:29:53.259 --> 00:29:53.660
 work that

00:29:53.660 --> 00:29:54.140
 God does

00:29:54.140 --> 00:29:54.640
 in us,

00:29:55.160 --> 00:29:55.800
 and when

00:29:55.800 --> 00:29:56.400
 we concern

00:29:56.400 --> 00:29:57.000
 ourselves to

00:29:57.000 --> 00:29:57.560
 this end,

00:29:58.080 --> 00:29:58.700
 this is what

00:29:58.700 --> 00:29:59.259
 would happen.

00:30:00.220 --> 00:30:00.640
 And so we

00:30:00.640 --> 00:30:01.460
 ask ourselves,

00:30:02.100 --> 00:30:03.820
 first, are we

00:30:03.820 --> 00:30:04.620
 devoted to the

00:30:04.620 --> 00:30:05.180
 work in a

00:30:05.180 --> 00:30:05.740
 general sense,

00:30:05.759 --> 00:30:06.080
 in a big

00:30:06.080 --> 00:30:06.480
 sense, are we

00:30:06.480 --> 00:30:06.880
 looking for

00:30:06.880 --> 00:30:07.360
 ways to

00:30:07.360 --> 00:30:07.720
 concern

00:30:07.720 --> 00:30:08.600
 ourselves with

00:30:08.600 --> 00:30:09.660
 gospel ministry?

00:30:10.520 --> 00:30:10.860
 And then

00:30:10.860 --> 00:30:11.640
 more specifically,

00:30:12.200 --> 00:30:13.440
 are we actually

00:30:13.440 --> 00:30:14.180
 devoted to

00:30:14.180 --> 00:30:14.820
 God's glory?

00:30:15.400 --> 00:30:16.080
 How much do

00:30:16.080 --> 00:30:16.820
 we think about

00:30:16.820 --> 00:30:17.620
 making God

00:30:17.619 --> 00:30:18.579
 known in

00:30:18.579 --> 00:30:19.219
 our character

00:30:19.219 --> 00:30:20.339
 and in

00:30:20.339 --> 00:30:21.039
 our works?

00:30:24.659 --> 00:30:25.719
 We talk a

00:30:25.719 --> 00:30:26.339
 lot about it.

00:30:26.699 --> 00:30:27.379
 We do.

00:30:27.699 --> 00:30:28.339
 That's good.

00:30:29.379 --> 00:30:30.299
 But as you

00:30:30.299 --> 00:30:31.939
 know, talk

00:30:31.939 --> 00:30:32.459
 is cheap.

00:30:35.019 --> 00:30:35.979
 Let's prove

00:30:35.979 --> 00:30:36.199
 it.

00:30:37.779 --> 00:30:38.559
 Let's do

00:30:38.559 --> 00:30:39.139
 the works.

00:30:39.399 --> 00:30:40.299
 Not to gain

00:30:40.299 --> 00:30:40.799
 something for

00:30:40.799 --> 00:30:42.739
 ourselves, but

00:30:42.739 --> 00:30:43.259
 because we've

00:30:43.259 --> 00:30:44.000
 been given so

00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:44.659
 much in the

00:30:44.659 --> 00:30:45.359
 grace of God,

00:30:46.139 --> 00:30:46.959
 concern ourselves

00:30:46.959 --> 00:30:47.279
 with his

00:30:47.279 --> 00:30:47.599
 glory.

00:30:48.059 --> 00:30:48.579
 Thirdly and

00:30:48.579 --> 00:30:49.479
 finally, we

00:30:49.479 --> 00:30:50.019
 see they were

00:30:50.019 --> 00:30:50.719
 devoted to the

00:30:50.719 --> 00:30:51.419
 people of God.

00:30:51.879 --> 00:30:52.299
 They're devoted

00:30:52.299 --> 00:30:52.919
 to the work of

00:30:52.919 --> 00:30:53.839
 God, the glory

00:30:53.839 --> 00:30:55.000
 of God, the

00:30:55.000 --> 00:30:55.619
 people of God.

00:30:55.879 --> 00:30:56.439
 It's a simple

00:30:56.439 --> 00:30:57.219
 observation in

00:30:57.219 --> 00:30:57.819
 verse 15.

00:30:58.259 --> 00:30:58.659
 All who are

00:30:58.659 --> 00:30:59.219
 with me send

00:30:59.219 --> 00:31:00.139
 greetings to you.

00:31:01.119 --> 00:31:01.619
 Greet those

00:31:01.619 --> 00:31:02.959
 who love us in

00:31:02.959 --> 00:31:03.359
 the faith.

00:31:04.799 --> 00:31:05.179
 It's simple,

00:31:05.259 --> 00:31:05.619
 isn't it?

00:31:05.939 --> 00:31:06.639
 But I don't

00:31:06.639 --> 00:31:07.379
 want to make

00:31:07.379 --> 00:31:07.979
 too much of

00:31:07.979 --> 00:31:08.359
 it, but I

00:31:08.359 --> 00:31:08.799
 also don't

00:31:08.799 --> 00:31:09.659
 want to finish

00:31:09.659 --> 00:31:10.159
 without at

00:31:10.159 --> 00:31:10.919
 least acknowledging

00:31:10.919 --> 00:31:12.379
 the fact that

00:31:12.379 --> 00:31:12.879
 there is a

00:31:12.879 --> 00:31:14.159
 mutual love that

00:31:14.159 --> 00:31:14.899
 is regularly

00:31:14.899 --> 00:31:16.739
 displayed in

00:31:16.740 --> 00:31:17.359
 these letters.

00:31:18.599 --> 00:31:20.519
 This is more

00:31:20.519 --> 00:31:21.480
 than an exchange

00:31:21.480 --> 00:31:22.380
 of pleasantries.

00:31:24.160 --> 00:31:25.319
 It's the love

00:31:25.319 --> 00:31:26.000
 that is rooted

00:31:26.000 --> 00:31:26.759
 in our common

00:31:26.759 --> 00:31:27.680
 faith in

00:31:27.680 --> 00:31:28.140
 Christ.

00:31:30.339 --> 00:31:31.120
 Throughout the

00:31:31.120 --> 00:31:31.519
 New Testament,

00:31:31.660 --> 00:31:32.220
 we repeatedly

00:31:32.220 --> 00:31:33.839
 see this imagery

00:31:33.839 --> 00:31:34.819
 that God uses

00:31:34.819 --> 00:31:36.019
 to speak of the

00:31:36.019 --> 00:31:36.599
 church as a

00:31:36.599 --> 00:31:37.380
 people called

00:31:37.380 --> 00:31:38.019
 by God,

00:31:38.599 --> 00:31:39.400
 brought together

00:31:39.400 --> 00:31:39.839
 by God,

00:31:39.960 --> 00:31:41.000
 adopted into the

00:31:41.000 --> 00:31:41.819
 family of God.

00:31:41.819 --> 00:31:43.480
 and it is

00:31:43.480 --> 00:31:44.079
 from this

00:31:44.079 --> 00:31:46.159
 salvation that

00:31:46.159 --> 00:31:47.539
 we share with

00:31:47.539 --> 00:31:48.059
 one another

00:31:48.059 --> 00:31:50.220
 that comes a

00:31:50.220 --> 00:31:51.339
 unique love

00:31:51.339 --> 00:31:52.579
 and devotion

00:31:52.579 --> 00:31:54.119
 that transcends

00:31:54.119 --> 00:31:55.779
 time and it

00:31:55.779 --> 00:31:56.480
 transcends

00:31:56.480 --> 00:31:58.359
 culture and it

00:31:58.359 --> 00:31:58.819
 transcends

00:31:58.819 --> 00:31:59.679
 personality.

00:32:01.099 --> 00:32:01.839
 The church

00:32:01.839 --> 00:32:02.240
 really is a

00:32:02.240 --> 00:32:02.980
 unique thing,

00:32:03.059 --> 00:32:03.399
 isn't it?

00:32:03.400 --> 00:32:06.500
 it's the

00:32:06.500 --> 00:32:07.600
 spiritual binding

00:32:07.600 --> 00:32:08.480
 of our hearts

00:32:08.480 --> 00:32:10.000
 by the work

00:32:10.000 --> 00:32:10.519
 of God's

00:32:10.519 --> 00:32:11.100
 spirit that

00:32:11.100 --> 00:32:11.900
 should produce

00:32:11.900 --> 00:32:12.519
 in us a

00:32:12.519 --> 00:32:13.280
 devotion to

00:32:13.280 --> 00:32:14.480
 one another.

00:32:15.480 --> 00:32:16.160
 Let me see

00:32:16.160 --> 00:32:16.540
 that here.

00:32:17.240 --> 00:32:17.980
 I could go

00:32:17.980 --> 00:32:18.340
 through many

00:32:18.340 --> 00:32:19.019
 verses that

00:32:19.019 --> 00:32:19.580
 command this

00:32:19.580 --> 00:32:20.200
 kind of love.

00:32:20.300 --> 00:32:20.780
 I know that

00:32:20.780 --> 00:32:21.540
 you know them

00:32:21.540 --> 00:32:22.320
 and I won't

00:32:22.320 --> 00:32:22.660
 go through

00:32:22.660 --> 00:32:23.460
 them all now.

00:32:24.500 --> 00:32:25.160
 But I would

00:32:25.160 --> 00:32:25.820
 just say that

00:32:25.820 --> 00:32:26.640
 Christians do

00:32:26.640 --> 00:32:27.860
 need to have

00:32:27.860 --> 00:32:28.580
 a peculiar

00:32:28.580 --> 00:32:30.040
 devotion to

00:32:30.040 --> 00:32:30.519
 each other.

00:32:30.519 --> 00:32:32.279
 we display

00:32:32.279 --> 00:32:32.839
 this in

00:32:32.839 --> 00:32:33.160
 genuine

00:32:33.160 --> 00:32:33.779
 friendship,

00:32:34.559 --> 00:32:35.039
 concern,

00:32:35.220 --> 00:32:35.559
 care.

00:32:36.059 --> 00:32:36.980
 We display

00:32:36.980 --> 00:32:37.460
 this in

00:32:37.460 --> 00:32:38.000
 encouragement,

00:32:38.539 --> 00:32:39.220
 looking for

00:32:39.220 --> 00:32:39.759
 people to

00:32:39.759 --> 00:32:40.279
 build up.

00:32:41.099 --> 00:32:41.900
 We display

00:32:41.900 --> 00:32:42.680
 this love

00:32:42.680 --> 00:32:44.379
 in overlooking

00:32:44.379 --> 00:32:45.119
 faults.

00:32:46.539 --> 00:32:46.920
 Isn't that

00:32:46.920 --> 00:32:47.879
 what Peter

00:32:47.879 --> 00:32:48.319
 said?

00:32:48.460 --> 00:32:48.700
 Was it

00:32:48.700 --> 00:32:49.079
 Peter?

00:32:49.680 --> 00:32:50.759
 That keep

00:32:50.759 --> 00:32:51.200
 on loving

00:32:51.200 --> 00:32:51.720
 each other

00:32:51.720 --> 00:32:52.460
 because love

00:32:52.460 --> 00:32:52.980
 covers a

00:32:52.980 --> 00:32:53.599
 multitude of

00:32:53.599 --> 00:32:53.900
 sins.

00:32:54.059 --> 00:32:54.279
 Do you know

00:32:54.279 --> 00:32:54.740
 what he means

00:32:54.740 --> 00:32:55.200
 by that?

00:32:55.700 --> 00:32:56.400
 He means

00:32:56.400 --> 00:32:57.059
 that when we

00:32:57.059 --> 00:32:57.779
 love people

00:32:57.779 --> 00:32:58.339
 we have a

00:32:58.339 --> 00:32:59.779
 tendency to

00:32:59.779 --> 00:33:01.879
 ignore the

00:33:01.879 --> 00:33:02.279
 ways that

00:33:02.279 --> 00:33:02.680
 they sin

00:33:02.680 --> 00:33:03.500
 against us.

00:33:04.819 --> 00:33:05.420
 There's a

00:33:05.420 --> 00:33:06.180
 uniqueness to

00:33:06.180 --> 00:33:06.519
 this.

00:33:07.339 --> 00:33:08.500
 That doesn't

00:33:08.500 --> 00:33:08.960
 come natural

00:33:08.960 --> 00:33:09.359
 to us,

00:33:09.399 --> 00:33:09.639
 does it,

00:33:09.720 --> 00:33:09.819
 Marty?

00:33:09.899 --> 00:33:10.259
 Marty gets

00:33:10.259 --> 00:33:10.619
 mad at me

00:33:10.619 --> 00:33:11.019
 about stuff

00:33:11.019 --> 00:33:11.299
 all the

00:33:11.299 --> 00:33:11.539
 time.

00:33:13.139 --> 00:33:13.960
 But there

00:33:13.960 --> 00:33:14.279
 is a

00:33:14.279 --> 00:33:15.220
 uniqueness to

00:33:15.220 --> 00:33:15.619
 this.

00:33:17.039 --> 00:33:17.700
 Instead of

00:33:17.700 --> 00:33:18.119
 nitpicking

00:33:18.119 --> 00:33:18.740
 everybody and

00:33:18.740 --> 00:33:19.480
 constantly being

00:33:19.480 --> 00:33:19.839
 offended,

00:33:20.000 --> 00:33:20.440
 there is a

00:33:20.440 --> 00:33:21.200
 dynamic to

00:33:21.200 --> 00:33:22.139
 love that

00:33:22.139 --> 00:33:22.799
 is not

00:33:22.799 --> 00:33:23.539
 offended

00:33:23.539 --> 00:33:24.359
 constantly at

00:33:24.359 --> 00:33:24.879
 every little

00:33:24.879 --> 00:33:25.259
 thing that

00:33:25.259 --> 00:33:25.819
 people say

00:33:25.819 --> 00:33:26.480
 and every

00:33:26.480 --> 00:33:26.680
 little

00:33:26.680 --> 00:33:27.139
 disagreement

00:33:27.139 --> 00:33:27.559
 that we

00:33:27.559 --> 00:33:28.019
 have.

00:33:28.359 --> 00:33:28.700
 There's a

00:33:28.700 --> 00:33:29.279
 uniqueness to

00:33:29.279 --> 00:33:29.660
 this.

00:33:30.339 --> 00:33:30.899
 It's part of

00:33:30.899 --> 00:33:31.460
 our devotion

00:33:31.460 --> 00:33:31.879
 to one

00:33:31.879 --> 00:33:32.259
 another.

00:33:32.740 --> 00:33:33.039
 It reveals

00:33:33.039 --> 00:33:33.579
 itself in

00:33:33.579 --> 00:33:34.819
 forgiveness when

00:33:34.819 --> 00:33:35.500
 we do need to

00:33:35.500 --> 00:33:36.119
 confront those

00:33:36.119 --> 00:33:36.619
 hurts and

00:33:36.619 --> 00:33:37.779
 those offenses.

00:33:38.500 --> 00:33:39.139
 It reveals

00:33:39.139 --> 00:33:39.720
 itself in

00:33:39.720 --> 00:33:40.359
 hospitality,

00:33:41.000 --> 00:33:41.559
 opening our

00:33:41.559 --> 00:33:41.980
 homes.

00:33:42.379 --> 00:33:42.940
 It reveals

00:33:42.940 --> 00:33:43.720
 itself in

00:33:43.720 --> 00:33:44.220
 assistance,

00:33:44.940 --> 00:33:45.720
 in taking

00:33:45.720 --> 00:33:46.599
 resources that

00:33:46.599 --> 00:33:47.240
 God has blessed

00:33:47.240 --> 00:33:47.839
 us with in

00:33:47.839 --> 00:33:48.480
 order to be a

00:33:48.480 --> 00:33:49.500
 blessing to

00:33:49.500 --> 00:33:50.220
 someone else.

00:33:51.039 --> 00:33:51.859
 And underlying

00:33:51.859 --> 00:33:53.359
 it is the

00:33:53.359 --> 00:33:54.859
 realization that

00:33:54.859 --> 00:33:55.599
 we belong to

00:33:55.599 --> 00:33:56.200
 one another

00:33:56.200 --> 00:33:57.480
 because we

00:33:57.480 --> 00:33:57.960
 belong to

00:33:57.960 --> 00:33:58.279
 God.

00:33:58.599 --> 00:33:59.019
 That's the

00:33:59.019 --> 00:33:59.279
 point.

00:33:59.779 --> 00:34:01.639
 we belong

00:34:01.639 --> 00:34:01.980
 to one

00:34:01.980 --> 00:34:02.579
 another because

00:34:02.579 --> 00:34:03.180
 we belong

00:34:03.180 --> 00:34:03.700
 to God.

00:34:04.119 --> 00:34:04.899
 By God's

00:34:04.899 --> 00:34:05.539
 grace we

00:34:05.539 --> 00:34:05.940
 have one

00:34:05.940 --> 00:34:06.259
 another.

00:34:07.059 --> 00:34:07.680
 And we

00:34:07.680 --> 00:34:08.079
 need to do

00:34:08.079 --> 00:34:08.619
 everything we

00:34:08.619 --> 00:34:09.500
 can to show

00:34:09.500 --> 00:34:10.380
 the same

00:34:10.380 --> 00:34:10.800
 kind of

00:34:10.800 --> 00:34:11.679
 devotion that

00:34:11.679 --> 00:34:12.300
 was modeled

00:34:12.300 --> 00:34:13.000
 and commanded

00:34:13.000 --> 00:34:14.079
 by the

00:34:14.079 --> 00:34:14.679
 Lord Jesus.

00:34:15.960 --> 00:34:16.759
 Let's conclude

00:34:16.759 --> 00:34:17.320
 with the last

00:34:17.320 --> 00:34:17.800
 phrase in

00:34:17.800 --> 00:34:18.360
 verse 15.

00:34:20.579 --> 00:34:21.599
 Paul finishes

00:34:21.599 --> 00:34:22.599
 the same way

00:34:22.599 --> 00:34:23.300
 that he began

00:34:23.300 --> 00:34:24.759
 with grace.

00:34:24.760 --> 00:34:26.620
 grace be with

00:34:26.620 --> 00:34:27.060
 you all.

00:34:27.760 --> 00:34:28.440
 Grace be with

00:34:28.440 --> 00:34:28.780
 you all.

00:34:29.700 --> 00:34:30.700
 Now if you

00:34:30.700 --> 00:34:31.180
 were to go

00:34:31.180 --> 00:34:31.620
 through and

00:34:31.620 --> 00:34:32.120
 you cared to

00:34:32.120 --> 00:34:32.540
 do this,

00:34:32.600 --> 00:34:33.040
 not that any

00:34:33.040 --> 00:34:33.540
 of you would,

00:34:33.640 --> 00:34:34.000
 but if you

00:34:34.000 --> 00:34:34.520
 cared to do

00:34:34.520 --> 00:34:35.400
 this and you

00:34:35.400 --> 00:34:35.980
 wanted to just

00:34:35.980 --> 00:34:36.820
 examine all of

00:34:36.820 --> 00:34:37.720
 Paul's benedictions

00:34:37.720 --> 00:34:38.460
 in his letters,

00:34:38.960 --> 00:34:39.880
 you'll find that he

00:34:39.880 --> 00:34:40.600
 always speaks of

00:34:40.600 --> 00:34:42.120
 grace and that in

00:34:42.120 --> 00:34:42.920
 Greek, if you care

00:34:42.920 --> 00:34:43.640
 to know this,

00:34:44.020 --> 00:34:44.640
 the grace is

00:34:44.640 --> 00:34:44.980
 always

00:34:44.980 --> 00:34:45.700
 articular,

00:34:46.300 --> 00:34:47.100
 meaning that

00:34:47.100 --> 00:34:48.120
 though in Greek

00:34:48.120 --> 00:34:48.660
 there's not a

00:34:48.660 --> 00:34:49.360
 definite article,

00:34:49.820 --> 00:34:50.960
 in English it

00:34:50.960 --> 00:34:51.720
 would make most

00:34:51.720 --> 00:34:52.520
 sense to put a

00:34:52.520 --> 00:34:53.260
 definite article

00:34:53.260 --> 00:34:53.700
 with it.

00:34:53.900 --> 00:34:54.440
 So we wouldn't

00:34:54.440 --> 00:34:54.900
 just say

00:34:54.900 --> 00:34:56.120
 necessarily grace

00:34:56.120 --> 00:34:56.700
 in an abstract

00:34:56.700 --> 00:34:57.440
 sense be with

00:34:57.440 --> 00:34:58.000
 you, but we're

00:34:58.000 --> 00:34:59.100
 saying the grace,

00:34:59.340 --> 00:35:00.600
 a specific kind

00:35:00.600 --> 00:35:02.020
 of grace be with

00:35:02.020 --> 00:35:02.200
 you.

00:35:02.520 --> 00:35:03.440
 And most often

00:35:03.440 --> 00:35:03.920
 in Paul's

00:35:03.920 --> 00:35:04.680
 benedictions he

00:35:04.680 --> 00:35:05.600
 attaches a second

00:35:05.600 --> 00:35:06.320
 phrase to it,

00:35:06.760 --> 00:35:08.320
 the grace of

00:35:08.320 --> 00:35:09.180
 our Lord Jesus

00:35:09.180 --> 00:35:10.560
 be with you all.

00:35:10.620 --> 00:35:11.020
 It's typically,

00:35:11.120 --> 00:35:11.800
 that's the sense

00:35:11.800 --> 00:35:12.900
 of what he means

00:35:12.900 --> 00:35:13.180
 here.

00:35:13.300 --> 00:35:13.820
 And the point

00:35:13.820 --> 00:35:14.780
 is that what

00:35:14.780 --> 00:35:15.580
 he's wishing

00:35:15.580 --> 00:35:17.560
 upon and praying

00:35:17.560 --> 00:35:18.860
 for, for these

00:35:18.860 --> 00:35:19.680
 people in Crete

00:35:19.680 --> 00:35:21.060
 is not grace in

00:35:21.060 --> 00:35:22.460
 an abstract sense,

00:35:22.460 --> 00:35:23.139
 but he's

00:35:23.139 --> 00:35:23.900
 specifically

00:35:23.900 --> 00:35:24.940
 referring to

00:35:24.940 --> 00:35:26.019
 the grace of

00:35:26.019 --> 00:35:26.659
 God that is

00:35:26.659 --> 00:35:27.740
 revealed in the

00:35:27.740 --> 00:35:28.519
 person and work

00:35:28.519 --> 00:35:29.380
 of Jesus Christ,

00:35:29.480 --> 00:35:30.079
 which he's

00:35:30.079 --> 00:35:30.900
 covered so many

00:35:30.900 --> 00:35:31.519
 times in this

00:35:31.519 --> 00:35:31.780
 letter.

00:35:32.059 --> 00:35:32.500
 What does he

00:35:32.500 --> 00:35:33.179
 mean by grace

00:35:33.179 --> 00:35:33.720
 be with you?

00:35:33.900 --> 00:35:34.820
 He means grace

00:35:34.820 --> 00:35:35.380
 be with you.

00:35:35.639 --> 00:35:36.240
 I hope that

00:35:36.240 --> 00:35:37.000
 God's grace will

00:35:37.000 --> 00:35:37.880
 be so real to

00:35:37.880 --> 00:35:38.340
 you that you'll

00:35:38.340 --> 00:35:39.119
 become a believer,

00:35:40.039 --> 00:35:40.539
 that you will

00:35:40.539 --> 00:35:41.280
 turn from your

00:35:41.280 --> 00:35:41.860
 sin and you'll

00:35:41.860 --> 00:35:42.519
 follow after

00:35:42.519 --> 00:35:43.559
 Christ, and

00:35:43.559 --> 00:35:44.320
 that in following

00:35:44.320 --> 00:35:45.240
 after Christ you

00:35:45.240 --> 00:35:46.300
 will experience the

00:35:46.300 --> 00:35:47.099
 not only

00:35:47.099 --> 00:35:48.079
 regenerative but

00:35:48.079 --> 00:35:48.900
 the renewing

00:35:48.900 --> 00:35:49.619
 effect of the

00:35:49.619 --> 00:35:50.619
 Holy Spirit that

00:35:50.619 --> 00:35:51.619
 transforms your

00:35:51.619 --> 00:35:52.440
 life, that you

00:35:52.440 --> 00:35:53.240
 will receive the

00:35:53.240 --> 00:35:55.079
 blessing of God

00:35:55.079 --> 00:35:56.200
 that comes through

00:35:56.200 --> 00:35:57.559
 knowing and

00:35:57.559 --> 00:35:59.019
 following our

00:35:59.019 --> 00:35:59.840
 Lord and Savior

00:35:59.840 --> 00:36:01.300
 Jesus Christ.

00:36:02.099 --> 00:36:03.059
 Everything in

00:36:03.059 --> 00:36:03.599
 this letter,

00:36:04.000 --> 00:36:04.679
 including its

00:36:04.679 --> 00:36:06.440
 conclusion, is

00:36:06.440 --> 00:36:07.119
 rooted in the

00:36:07.119 --> 00:36:08.039
 gospel of grace.

00:36:08.820 --> 00:36:10.559
 We are saved by

00:36:10.559 --> 00:36:12.059
 God's grace in

00:36:12.059 --> 00:36:12.420
 Christ.

00:36:12.880 --> 00:36:13.940
 We are transformed

00:36:13.940 --> 00:36:15.159
 by God's grace.

00:36:15.420 --> 00:36:16.240
 We are blessed

00:36:16.240 --> 00:36:17.159
 by God's grace.

00:36:17.480 --> 00:36:18.159
 We are enabled

00:36:18.159 --> 00:36:19.320
 to do these works

00:36:19.320 --> 00:36:20.019
 that we're talking

00:36:20.019 --> 00:36:21.400
 about in the

00:36:21.400 --> 00:36:22.800
 grace of God.

00:36:22.880 --> 00:36:24.019
 We are devoted

00:36:24.019 --> 00:36:26.659
 by grace.

00:36:28.659 --> 00:36:29.820
 And the overflow

00:36:29.820 --> 00:36:30.960
 of this grace of

00:36:30.960 --> 00:36:31.940
 God in our lives

00:36:31.940 --> 00:36:34.139
 will produce a

00:36:34.139 --> 00:36:34.980
 devotion to his

00:36:34.980 --> 00:36:36.980
 work, a

00:36:36.980 --> 00:36:37.820
 devotion to his

00:36:37.820 --> 00:36:39.380
 glory, and a

00:36:39.380 --> 00:36:40.360
 devotion to his

00:36:40.360 --> 00:36:40.820
 people.

00:36:40.820 --> 00:36:43.139
 It will lead us

00:36:43.139 --> 00:36:44.259
 to gospel fidelity.

00:36:44.260 --> 00:36:46.100
 it will lead us

00:36:46.100 --> 00:36:47.140
 to godly behavior.

00:36:47.940 --> 00:36:48.760
 And it will

00:36:48.760 --> 00:36:49.540
 cause us to

00:36:49.540 --> 00:36:51.180
 desire church

00:36:51.180 --> 00:36:52.120
 structures and

00:36:52.120 --> 00:36:53.200
 practices that will

00:36:53.200 --> 00:36:54.220
 support both of

00:36:54.220 --> 00:36:54.980
 those things.

00:36:55.940 --> 00:36:57.420
 That's the power of

00:36:57.420 --> 00:36:58.200
 God's grace.

00:36:58.940 --> 00:37:00.020
 And that's the

00:37:00.020 --> 00:37:00.720
 purpose of the

00:37:00.720 --> 00:37:02.140
 letter to Titus.

00:37:02.139 --> 00:37:04.139
NINGNING

00:37:04.139 --> 00:37:04.139


00:37:13.659 --> 00:37:13.659


00:37:13.659 --> 00:37:13.659