Month: June 2023

²¹ “The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness;
    according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.
²² For I have kept the ways of the Lord;
    I am not guilty of turning from my God. 2 Samuel 22

Some of the last recorded words of David are written in his Song of Praise to the Lord in 2 Samuel 22. He speaks of his own Righteousness or Right Standing before God, but later in this Song he widens the concept of how God deals with people.

²⁶ “TO THE FAITHFUL YOU SHOW YOURSELF FAITHFUL,
    TO THE BLAMELESS YOU SHOW YOURSELF BLAMELESS,
²⁷ TO THE PURE YOU SHOW YOURSELF PURE,
    BUT TO THE CROOKED YOU SHOW YOURSELF SHREWD. (God responds to us in the same way/with same measure that we act towards Him and others, eventually we reap a harvest) 2 Samuel 22

Jesus expressed the same truth when he spoke to the people at the Sermon on the Mount;

7 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. ² For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. (AS WE GIVE, WE’LL RECEIVE, AS WE SOW, WE’LL HARVEST. It’s a Law of the Kingdom)

³ “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? Matthew 7

The only ones in David’s Song who are likely to reap a bad harvest are the Crooked, put simply, MEN WILL NEVER GET THE BETTER OF GOD! It’s amazing that in the days we’re living in, that clever and privileged, wicked people believe they can outsmart God. David warns that to the crooked, God will SHOW HIMSELF SHREWD. It will become apparent to all.

It’s interesting that in the previous chapter Israel had experienced a lengthy period of drought. There was no rational explanation for this, BUT THERE WAS A SPIRITUAL CAUSE.

21 During the reign of David, there was a famine for three successive years; so David sought the face of the Lord. The Lordsaid, “It is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death.” 2 Samuel 21

David had to put to death seven of Saul’s Male relatives, to appease the Gibeonites for the murder of their people. Thank God today for Jesus’ blood to cover and cleanse from the shedding of innocent blood.

David sought the Lord to find out the cause of the trouble and God showed him. If God is trying to speak to you today about past indiscretions, don’t close your ears. He’s always working for our good and wants to bless us, when we confess and repent of our sin. Get it/them out into the light and under the blood of Jesus. David could sing praises because so far as he knew his heart was clear before God. Don’t try to be shrewd before God, be humble and transparent, then you’ll have Peace.

May God bless and keep you in His Favour today.

God may still have a Divine Appointment for us, even AFTER WE’VE WORSHIPPED HIM!

²⁶ Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.”²⁷ So he started out, Acts 8

Philip wasn’t told why he was to go south to the desert road, he was just told to go there. Many times when we hear something in our spirits from the Lord we just have to step out in Faith and obey. There may be no time frame, just go to the place told us and when we get there we’ll learn the next step.

²⁷ So he started out, and ON HIS WAY he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. THIS MAN HAD GONE TO JERUSALEM TO WORSHIP,  Acts 8

Philip had a Divine Appointment with an important official who served the Queen of a nation. Would he have been able to approach a man of this standing and have an uninterrupted conversation with him around other people, in a city? We don’t know, but God arranged the meeting AWAY FROM THE OTHER WORSHIPPERS; it was to be a unique experience for him alone.

This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, ²⁸ and ON HIS WAY HOME was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. ²⁹ The Spirit told Philip, “GO TO THAT CHARIOT AND STAY NEAR IT.” Acts 8

Philip was ON HIS WAY according to the directions he’d been given and simultaneously the eunuch was ON HIS WAY back home. At times we may be completely unaware of God’s Hand in our lives, just like this eunuch, but God was arranging something more for him. Philip got his second instruction, go to that chariot and stay near it! He still didn’t know why, but as he approached the chariot he began to understand why he was there. We may have to get right to God’s appointed place before HIS reason becomes apparent to us.

³⁰ Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.

³¹ “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

³⁵ Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

The eunuch had already been to the place of worship in Jerusalem, but he hadn’t received what God really had for him, personal salvation. God doesn’t restrict us to what others are receiving in worship gatherings, He has things for us alone and they may only happen outside the meeting place. Don’t be disillusioned if you don’t receive all you hoped for in the meeting, God is able to meet us individually and provide outside larger gatherings.

Maybe God has a Divine Appointment for some of us today to meet the longings of our hearts.

The Lord bless and keep you this day and may we receive all that He is able to give us. Hallelujah

³ No one can be established through WICKEDNESS,
    but THE RIGHTEOUS CANNOT BE UPROOTED.

¹³ This saying is true. Therefore REBUKE THEM SHARPLY, so that they will be sound in the faith ¹⁴ and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the merely human commands of those who reject the truth. Titus 1 NIV 

We saw yesterday that Paul advocated by the Spirit, that there were people who had to be, ‘Sharply Rebuked’. They couldn’t be allowed to run riot and destroy the families of Believers, or harm the wider Church Body.

¹⁴ and to stop them from listening to Jewish folk tales and the demands of men who have turned their backs on the truth. Titus 1 TLB

These people were drawn to listen to wrong information, coming from the wrong people. Paul goes on to make an interesting comment about such people and why they behave as they do.

¹⁵ A PERSON WHO IS PURE OF HEART SEES GOODNESS AND PURITY IN EVERYTHING; but a person whose own heart is evil and untrusting finds evil in everything, FOR HIS DIRTY MIND AND REBELLIOUS HEART COLOUR ALL HE SEES AND HEARS. ¹⁶ Such persons claim they know God, but from seeing the way they act, one knows they don’t. They are rotten and disobedient, worthless so far as doing anything good is concerned. Titus 1 TLB

We live in an age when people’s minds have been filled with the things and values of this world through the mass media. The damage caused has been incalculable and it continues to this day. Paul says once people’s minds have been infiltrated to this degree they see everything from that perspective, or through that lens. The New Birth is a powerful beginning for believers and initially people have a new sensitivity to the things of God and to their fellow man. But the Bible also instructs us not to continue in the old ways;

² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, BUT BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12

Our Belief Systems, what we’ve based our whole lives upon, have to be radically changed or the enemy and this world which he dominates, will continue to hold sway in our lives! It’s the time we spend out of the world and with the Lord that will have the greatest impact on our lives now and for eternity.

Paul warned Titus against people who had not been renewed in their minds, who wanted to follow a different agenda, completely contrary to the Gospel. They had to be stopped pedalling their destructive heresy among the Believers and Paul told Titus to Rebuke them sharply. The same follows for the homes of Believers, stop the strife at source, don’t tolerate it. Nothing must be allowed an entrance which will contaminate the atmosphere. Jesus described Himself as the Gate to the sheepfold JOHN 10:7, we must stop the thief gaining entry to what the Lord has given us.

²⁴ “‘“The Lord bless you
    and keep you;
²⁵ the Lord make his face shine on you
    and be gracious to you;
²⁶ the Lord turn his face toward you
    and give you peace.”’

²⁷ “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” Numbers 6

 

¹⁰ For there are MANY REBELLIOUS PEOPLE, FULL OF MEANINGLESS TALK AND DECEPTION, especially those of the circumcision group.¹¹ THEY MUST BE SILENCED, Titus 1

Paul uses some of his strongest language in this letter to Titus. Both Paul and the Holy Spirit speaking through him are really annoyed and upset by what is happening in the Church in Crete AND IT ALL STEMS FROM SOME PEOPLE’S TALK. Paul says to his disciple that it must BE STOPPED. Don’t argue or debate with those causing the trouble, STOP THEM!

¹¹ They must be silenced, because they are RUINING WHOLE HOUSEHOLDS … and that for the sake of dishonest gain. (Taking our  money usually figures somewhere in the enemy’s scheme)

This is an attack on the Church but it’s destroying believer’s families! Satan always attacks the family, in this instance through lies and false doctrines. God always wants to protect the sanctity of the family and here the answer is to PUT A STOP TO THE LIES AND ACCUSATIONS OF THE ENEMY.

If your family is under attack today and there’s STRIFE IN YOUR HOME, YOU HAVE AUTHORITY FROM GOD TO STOP IT! Playing Praise and Worship and Bible Reading, even at a low volume will create a different atmosphere. Anointing doors and windows in the name of the Lord and DECLARING NO ADMITTANCE to the enemy will definitely help. Keep declaring and praying (In tongues is good) that the Angel Hosts of heaven are welcome in your home. Don’t allow the enemy access anywhere in your life, e.g. at work and personal relationships. His agenda is still to steal, kill and destroy, DON’T GIVE HIM ACCESS. NO TRESPASSING AND NO ADMISSION!

¹² One Even one of their own prophets has said: “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.” ¹³ This saying is true. Therefore REBUKE THEM SHARPLY, (Rebuke means scold, reprimand, sharp disapproval, tear a strip off and many more) so that they will be sound in the faith

There was no point in discussion with these people, a waste of time, they didn’t want to change in the least — Rebuke them and the spirits operating through them.

¹⁵ To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, BOTH THEIR MINDS AND CONSCIENCES ARE CORRUPTED.

¹⁶ They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are DETESTABLE, DISOBEDIENT AND UNFIT FOR DOING ANYTHING GOOD. Titus 1

Even the Lord Himself declared, ‘Let the blind follow the blind’. Matthew 15:14 All people have free will, but we shouldn’t allow them to impose their will upon us or are families. It’s our responsibility to guard our homes and put them ‘Off limits to the agents and lies of the enemy’. Create a ‘Jesus Atmosphere’ in your house and the enemy won’t want to be there.

²⁴ “‘“The Lord bless you
    and keep you;
²⁵ the Lord make his face shine on you
    and be gracious to you;
²⁶ the Lord turn his face toward you
    and give you peace.”’

²⁷ “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” Numbers 6

 

⁵ The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. Titus 1

Paul’s first instruction to Titus was the appointment of of elders in every town, it was a universal principle of the Church. The Lord is the Head of the Body and He invites every believer to be connected to and have their own personal relationship with Him, but He also works through SUBMITTED LEADERSHIP.

Paul continues to define those who would be suited to serve as leaders in the Body and the qualifications are all based on CHARACTER!

⁶ An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. (I have known honourable men step down from the position of elder, because of matters within the family)

⁶ The men you choose must be well thought of for their good lives (How other people view them); they must have only one wife and their children must love the Lord and not have a reputation for being wild or disobedient to their parents. Titus 1 TLB

⁷ Since an overseer (or bishop) is entrusted with God’s work, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. ⁸ Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined.

Both the elder and the overseer must be blameless, have a good reputation before other people.  The overseer has additional character requirements, such as hospitality and to be of Godly character. In the early Celtic Church some bishops such Aidan and Cuthbert (On the island of Lindisfarne, North East England) spent much time in solitude seeking God on behalf of the saints. They strengthened their hidden life with God.

⁹ He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. Titus 1

Paul and the Spirit of God highlighted the necessity of purity of character and purity of doctrine. In 1 Timothy 3:2 the overseer had to be ‘able to teach’ and therefore maintain the spiritual life of the Church. In the early Church at Antioch, the Gentile Church outside of Jerusalem (but still submitted to the mother Church), there were ‘prophets and teachers’ and it was a thriving Church. Acts 13:1 The sending out of Barnabas and Paul was a later development and confirmed it as a missionary Church.

Character is often unseen and under valued, but it’s important to God, ‘Man looks at the outward appearance, God sees the heart’.

May God bless and keep our character unblemished in these days.

 

⁴ To Titus, my true son in our common faith:

GRACE AND PEACE from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour. Titus 1

Paul’s first words to Titus are to acknowledge their relationship in their common faith and then to bless him in the name of the Father and Christ Jesus. We could say that it’s the usual form of letter writing of the time, but Paul does Bless Titus, the one whom he’s depending on in Crete. 

I listened recently to someone recounting a lesson of the Holy Spirit to Praying Hyde in India. Praying Hyde was about to go into prayer for an evangelist in India whom he thought cold and ineffective. He’d already spoken the words, ‘Lord you know how…’ and his next words would have been as his thoughts above, but the Holy Spirit stopped him. The Spirit told him not to ever come before the Father criticising His servants. I believe Hyde was told to give thanks for the evangelist and praise God for him. By and by as those prayers went up to God, the man’s ministry became anointed and many souls were saved. God and the devil want to use the tongues of men to help build their kingdoms and we will use them one way or the other! (The Lord also blessed Praying Hyde with an incredible ministry in India, because of his sensitivity and faithfulness to God).

⁵ The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. Titus 1

Paul reminds Titus the reasons why he’d left him in Crete, to complete outstanding work in the Church and specifically to appoint elders in every town. A body of believers only becomes a church when elders have been appointed and Titus had authority before God for this task.

Finishing the work is important to God and for ourselves. A trail of unfinished tasks is a poor testimony for everyone, including believers. This may be for someone reading this blog now!

² By the seventh day God had FINISHED THE WORK HE HAD BEEEN DOING; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Genesis 2:2

“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to FINISH HIS WORK. John 4:34

I HAVE BROUGHT YOU GLORY ON EARTH BY FINISHING THE WORK you gave me to do. John 17:4

When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “IT IS FINISHED.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:30

I have fought the good fight, I have FINISHED THE RACE, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7

There’s a Satisfaction in Finishing a task and knowing it’s been done well. The Bible commends Finishing the work entrusted to us and the promise of recognition and reward when it’s done.

²⁴ “‘“The Lord bless you
    and keep you;
²⁵ the Lord make his face shine on you
    and be gracious to you;
²⁶ the Lord turn his face toward you
    and give you peace.”’

²⁷ “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” Numbers 6

^3-5 You’re going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food—catchy opinions that tickle their fancy. They’ll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages. But you—keep your eye on what you’re doing; accept the hard times along with the good; KEEP THE MESSAGE ALIVE; do a thorough job as God’s servant. 2 Timothy 4 Message Bible (MSG)

I said in a blog last week (23 May) that I liked the phrase, ‘KEEP THE MESSAGE ALIVE’, ironically from the Message Bible. Paul instructed Timothy that was essential for him within the Church where he served.

² in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time,³ and which now at his appointed season HE HAS BROUGHT TO LIGHT through the preaching entrusted to me … Titus 1

Yesterday I was impacted by the phrase, ‘BROUGHT TO LIGHT’ and wrote the words below;

‘Every time we speak the Word of God or use His Name to people we are being LIGHT BEARERS. (Who we really are) We live in a world in darkness and we alone as believers can bring the light;’

By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan,
In Galilee of the GENTILES. (Most of Jesus Ministry was here)
² THE PEOPLE WHO WALKED IN DARKNESS
HAVE SEEN A GREAT LIGHT (Jesus brought Light, He still does if we’ll introduce Him to those around us);
THOSE WHO DWELT IN THE LAND OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH, (Many people today are unaware where they’re living)
UPON THEM A LIGHT HAS SHINED. Isaiah 9, Matthew 4:16

While I was writing yesterday’s blog, a friend called at our house and in the course of our conversation I shared about an incident in a shopping mall car park. Neville Johnson, now in Glory, was staying with friends in N.England and walked out of the mall straight to their car. The husband said that it was impressive with so many vehicles in the car park. Neville said it was easy because there were three angels sitting on the host’s car. The words fell easily into the conversation and gave our visitor something to think about in spiritual matters.

I recently listened to a mature servant of God saying in EARLIER TIMES ‘HE DECIDED’ to witness for the Lord every day, but then God spoke to him and told him to stop it. The Lord began to bring individuals to him now and again and he began to see souls saved. Much better to ask the Lord, PRAY, if there are people He wants us to talk to and what we should say to them.

There’s a book by a brain surgeon, Henry Marsh, called, ‘Do no harm’. That’s one of the first rules of making a surgical intervention and it should also be for us as believers. We may be a link in the chain for someone coming to Faith in Christ and we should be careful not to leave them, annoyed or bitter towards the Lord. There is however, great joy and satisfaction in speaking a word for the Lord in season.

^22-23 God spoke to Moses: “Tell Aaron and his sons, This is how you are to bless the People of Israel. Say to them,

²⁷ In so doing, they will place my name on the People of Israel—

1 Paul, a servant of God (NO APPEAL TO THE EGO) and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness— Titus 1

Paul speaks firstly of his position as a servant of God and then his office of apostle, though he was appointed by the Lord Himself. Unfortunately, today, there are many who seek the office first.

² a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, Titus 1

Paul is obviously speaking by the Spirit when he tells us that God, WHO DOES NOT LIE (God is not a man that He should lie, Numbers 23:19) promised eternal life ‘before the beginning of time’. Before anything existed God gave this promise; He knew everything that was to come and still does! Rest assured, nothing that the enemy or wicked people do, will ever take God by surprise.

³ and which now at his appointed season he has BROUGHT TO LIGHT THROUGH THE PREACHING ENTRUSTED TO ME by the command of God our Saviour.

Every time we speak the Word of God or use His Name to people we are being LIGHT BEARERS. (Who we really are) We live in a world in darkness and we alone as believers can bring the light;

By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan,
In Galilee of the GENTILES. (Most of Jesus Ministry was here)
² THE PEOPLE WHO WALKED IN DARKNESS
HAVE SEEN A GREAT LIGHT (Jesus brought Light, He still does if we’ll introduce Him to those around us);
THOSE WHO DWELT IN THE LAND OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH, (Many people today are unaware where they’re living)
UPON THEM A LIGHT HAS SHINED. Isaiah 9, Matthew 4:16

Paul now introduces us to Titus, the recipient of this letter, but it’s also for the wider Church Body.

⁴ To Titus, MY TRUE SON IN OUR COMMON FAITH:

Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour. Titus 1

Paul had formed deep bonds with many who served with him. He acknowledged that both he and Titus shared a common faith and blessed him in the Names of God the Father and the Son.

⁵ The reason I left you in Crete …

They shared a common faith and had worked together, but Paul decided he had to leave Titus on the island of Crete and move on.    The work they’d shared on Crete was incomplete and needed attention, so Titus was given the task of building up the Church there. Paul told him the things he needed to put in order to strengthen the Lord’s Body, but it was now his responsibility.

² Now it is required that those who have been given a trust MUST PROVE FAITHFUL. 1 Corinthians 4

Titus, another spiritual son of Paul, was chosen to take forward the Lord’s work on Crete. His time had come and he had to step up. God help us to be faithful in all that’s been entrusted to us.

God bless and keep you today.