New Hope Missionary
Baptist
Church
Bringing hope to a hopeless world
| Title: Loving Leader |
Text: Titus 1:8-9 8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; 9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. Introduction: a. Paul writing to Titus, is reminding him of the purpose for which he was left in Crete. We assume that Paul informed Titus why he was left behind, so why the letter, was Titus wanting to leave the field before the job was done? Titus 1:5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: b. Paul reminds Titus of the pitfalls. (Titus 1:10-16) Titus 1:10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Titus 1:14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. 1. The Character of Ungodly Leaders a. Paul starts in verses 6 and 7 with a list of negative traits that should not be found in leaders. These are the “thou shalt not’s” of pastoring. Titus 1:6-7 6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children 1not accused of riot or unruly. 7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; 2not selfwilled, 3not soon angry, 4not given to wine, 5no striker, 6not given to filthy lucre; b. There are six not’s in verses 6 and 7 - the number of carnal man. Titus 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. 2. The Character of Godly Leaders a. Paul then in verses 8 and 9 lists positive traits that should be found in leaders. These are the “thou shalt do’s” of pastoring. Titus 1:8-9 8 But a 1lover of hospitality, a 2lover of good men, 3sober, 4just, 5holy, 6temperate; 9 7Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. b. There are seven do’s in verses 8 and 9 the number of completeness, perfection, obedience, and rest. Titus 1:15a Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. 3. The Character of a Godly Leader is First Described as a Lover a. Our ministry should be defined by love Titus 1:8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; b. Our ministry, a labor of love Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. c. Without love our ministry is empty 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. (I would only be making noise. TLB) 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. (a useless nobody. AMP) 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. (none of these things will help me. GWT) d. If God can love us, then Shrilly we can Love other 1 John 4:10-11 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 4. The Two Types of Love to be demonstrated by Loving Leaders a. The FIRST TYPE - Unfeigned love (phileo) of the brethren 1 Peter 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned 5360love of the brethren, see that ye 25love one another with a pure heart fervently: NT:5360
filadelfi/a
philadelphia
(fil-ad-el-fee'-ah);
from NT:5361;
fraternal affection: NT:5361
fila/delfo$
philadelphos
(fil-ad'-el-fos);
from NT:5384
and
NT:80;
fond of
brethren, i.e. fraternal: NT:5384
fi/lo$
philos
(fee'-los);
properly, dear, i.e. a friend; actively, fond, i.e. friendly (still as
a noun,
an associate, neighbor, etc.): b. “Phileo” love is that kind of love that we have because of kindred feelings. We meet a brother and immediately “phileo” him. We like the same things; we talk the same language; we “phileo” the same people; we believe the same things; We truly have “phileo” for the brethren. c. The SECOND TYPE - Love fervently 1 Peter 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned 5360love of the brethren, see that ye 25love one another with a pure heart fervently: NT:25 a)gapa/w agapao (ag-ap-ah'-o); perhaps from agan (much) [or compare KJV - (be-) love (-ed). Compare NT:5368. NT:26
a)ga/ph
agape
(ag-ah'-pay);
from NT:25;
love, i.e. affection or benevolence; specially (plural) a
love-feast: d. But then it happens; we find some point of disagreement. It could be any number of things, none of which are set down in black and white in God’s Word. It may be a lot of things; things that are more sectional that scriptural; more personal than doctrinal. But they come and with their coming the “phileo” of the brethren is no longer “unfeigned”. e. Right here is where God speaks through his Word and screams if you can’t “phileo” the brethren, then “agapao” one another with pure heart fervently. God commands us to look beyond our disagreements and demonstrate the divine love that comes from being born of God. f. YES, WE CAN! 1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. g. Agape in KJV often translated charity 1 Corinthians 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. 1 Timothy 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: 1 Peter 4:8 8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. h. Three elements of (agape) unconditional love Hosea 3:1-3 1 Then said the Lord unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, 1according to the love of the Lord toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine. 2 2So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley: 3 3And I said unto her, Thou shalt abide for me many days; thou shalt not play the harlot, and thou shalt not be for another man: so will I also be for thee. 5. Applying God’s Love a. Mary loves much, Simon loves little Luke 7:47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. b. The wicked servant Matthew 18:24, 27 24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. 27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. Matthew 18:28 28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. Matthew 18:32-33 32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: 33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? Matthew 18:34 34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. |
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