Holy Scriptures and Israel

Guest (Male): Holy Scriptures and Israel is a ministry designed to share with the Jewish people the good news of the Lord Jesus Yeshua the Messiah and to instruct Christians on the Jewish roots of their faith. And now teaching God's word from a Hebrew Messianic perspective here is Gideon Levytam.

Gideon Levytam: Shabbat Shalom everyone. We are studying the book of Titus. So this morning please turn with me to Titus chapter one. The study of the book of Titus. We have already begun with the introduction to the book of Titus. Titus chapter one, the first four verses and in this ministry meeting we'll continue with Titus chapter one. We will read verses five to verse 16 to the end of the chapter. And I like you please to follow me as I'm reading these verses. Titus one verses five to 16. 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.

If any be blameless a husband of one wife having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly for a bishop must be blameless as the steward of God, not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre, but a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate, holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers, for there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision, whose mouth must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not for filthy lucre's sake.

One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, the Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men that turn from the truth 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. They profess that they know God, but in works they deny him, being abominable and disobedient and unto every good work reprobate. And I'm stopping here with this 16 verse.

Titus chapter one verses five to 16 is the message for this ministry meeting and really if we will give a title, beloved brothers and sisters to this message is the Apostle Paul saying to Titus, Titus appoint godly elders and watch for false teachers. Titus, appoint godly elders and watch for false teachers. Now before we going to go into these verses, let me just mention few things that I think are very very important to mention. You see beloved brothers and sisters, God so graciously provided for us salvation. He had given the Messiah of Israel, the savior of this world to become a sacrifice for us who have sinned and have gone astray, Jew and Gentile alike, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

And so when the Messiah Yeshua came and he died on that Roman cross and paid for our sins, God had given us an eternal hope, eternal salvation as we read in John 3:16, for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. But time passed by since the Messiah had died. The assembly today is over 2,000 years old and you and I find ourselves today waiting for the day when the Lord Yeshua Jesus the Messiah going to come, take his people, the heavenly company home to glory, then come back at the end of the tribulation, restore our people Israel back to himself and bring a blessing to this world that is yet is going to happen in a future day.

But until that event going to happen you and I are remaining here in this world. Some of us going to live here for 50, 60, 70, 80, maybe 100 years. And then we going to go go out of this world. A believer going to go to be absent with the from the body and present with the Lord and unbeliever going to be separated from God to begin to experience eternal separation from him. In the meanwhile God left us here. And when we are here in this world, those that belong to him, those that have accepted Yeshua the Messiah, he want to bless us here and now.

He want us to enjoy fellowship with him here and now. And because he want us to enjoy our time with him here and now, he had raised in the midst of his own people some godly men and godly women who become a blessing to the people of God. The godly men are called to be teachers of the word of God. They are called to be instructors, to be a help for the people of God and also at the women in their sphere. You will see it in the second chapter of the book of Titus. Their women are also called to be godly sisters, godly women that will bring a blessing to God's people.

So now since we are left here and we are not in glory yet, we are waiting the day that the Lord will come and take us home. In the meanwhile God in his wisdom gave us this book that we call today the Bible. In Hebrew we call it Sefer HaTorah, the scriptures, the Hebrew scriptures, the Tanakh, the Brit Hadashah, the new covenant. And these this is like a book of instruction for men and women, for people to know how to live their life until the day that we are going to be at home in glory in heaven with Yeshua the Messiah.

So he gave us three letters God through the Apostle Paul. Those three letters were written to two young men. One of them is called Timothy, a Jewish believer. Another one called Titus, a Gentile believer. Both of them became believers in Yeshua the Messiah and to them the Apostle Paul gave pastoral letters. Timothy, young man, Titus, young man are going to be ministering the word of God and instructing the believers how to live and how to conduct themselves as the people of God. And it is rather sad when we don't appreciate these kind of books or letters because we lose out when we don't allow the Lord to teach us and instruct us in the things of the Lord.

And only those that will enjoy it and submit to it will benefit from that which the Apostle wanted to accomplish. Whether it is in the time in the island of Crete or whether it is in Ephesus where Timothy was or anywhere else, if we are going to submit to the authority of the word of God, we will be blessed. That's what God is promised to his people. Now I mentioned that reason that I mentioned it is simply because to realize this in our own mind that God love us. God wants the best for us. God want to instruct us and that's why he had given us people such as Timothy, Titus and other men such as Paul, Shaul, Peter, Shimon Petros and many godly men, Jew and Gentile alike, who sought to be a blessing for the people of God.

In our previous ministry we have covered the first four verses of Titus chapter one and we saw this wonderful introduction. Paul called himself the servant of God in verse one. The Greek was is Dolos or Dulos. In Hebrew it's Eved. He made himself a bond slave of God. He committed himself to be a slave for the sake of God's work here in this world. Then he was an Apostle of Yeshua the Messiah. He was a messenger who was sent by the Lord Yeshua the Messiah to minister to the people of God. And you notice as we also mentioned last a ministry meeting, it is according to the faith of God's elect.

We have been chosen in the Messiah already before the foundation of the world. But now in time we came to believe on the Lord Yeshua the Messiah and we are blessed to receive this information from the Apostle Paul according to the faith of God's elect. Imagine we are undeserving people, yet God have elected us, have chosen us in Christ in the Messiah even before the foundation of the world. And what did he give us? As we have mentioned last week eternal life. Beloved brothers and sisters, in Hebrew eternal life every believer in Yeshua the Messiah has eternal life.

Not only quantity of life, but quality of life. This is eternal life, Yeshua said in John 17, that they might know you, the only true God and Jesus the Messiah whom thou had sent. We have a relationship with a living God. Yesterday in our Bible class we talked about those that have followed idols. They had no hope in them, but the believers in the Lord Yeshua the Messiah have eternal life. So he's writing to Titus. He's giving so much information even by the introduction in these first four verses. So now he continue. This is what the Apostle Paul does and in verse five Shaul Paul emphasizes the twofold reason why he have left Titus in Crete.

Just look for a moment at the map of the island of Crete. The island of Crete, look it was rather a a large island, 260 kilometer in its length. It had many cities, more than one city and this man by the name of Titus was left on this island for a reason. This island is one of the Greek islands and Titus was left there because the Apostle Paul could not remain there for too long. He had some other ministry to do and he left Titus on the island of Crete for a reason. And he's telling to Titus in chapter one in verse five the two reasons why he left him in this island of Crete.

Notice that verse five for this cause left I thee in Crete that thou should number one set in order the things that are wanting. Number two ordain elders in every city as I had appointed thee. Shaul Paul saying to Titus twofold reason. Number one to set in order the things that are wanting. Number two to ordain elders in every city. See in this island there was much more than just merely one city. There were many many cities on this island and those cities had those that have already accepted the Lord Yeshua the Messiah as their Lord and savior.

So now can you imagine their new believers? To remind you that when the Apostle Paul wrote to Titus at about 62, 63, 64 AD the whole church the assembly was born at about 30 AD after Yeshua the Messiah died. So there's about 32 35 years of the church that have began from the beginning of the time with the holy spirit of God came and formed the body of Messiah. People are young, you might say in the faith. Some of them perhaps were one year, two years, three years, four years, five years, maybe some of them came back from Yerushalayim on the feast of Pentecost because there were people who came Jewish people who came from the from the island of Crete to the city of Yerushalayim.

In Acts chapter two we read of them. And they became believers in Yeshua the Messiah. They were baptized by the holy spirit of God and they went back to their home country in this island called Crete. And they began to spread the gospel. Later on Shaul Paul came with Titus. He saw that there were already some believers there on that island. He himself somehow served with Titus in this island, but he had to go and he left Titus in the island of Crete for twofold reason. Number one, set in order the things that are wanting or the things that are lacking.

And number two, ordain elders in every city as I had appointed thee. Twofold reason why Titus remain in the island of Crete. The first thing is very interesting to set in order the things that are lacking or wanting. See brothers and sisters God is a God of order. God is a God that like to see things in order among the people of God. If there is no order if there is no submissiveness to the word of God if there is chaos it only bring, you might say judgment and disturbance among the people of God. To remind you what happened in Corinth in first Corinthians chapter 14 we read for God is not the author of confusion, but of Shalom, of peace as in all the assemblies of the saints.

There was disorder in the city of Corinth and the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians and say listen what's going on in your midst? How come everyone does his own thing and there are so many conflicting situation in the midst of the Corinthians? God is not the author of confusion, but of peace as it is in all the assemblies, the churches of the saints. There should be always order. He continuing in verse 40 of first Corinthians 14 we read let all things be done decently and in order. Now you can just imagine beloved brothers and sisters, if you go to any assembly, any local congregation, local church and there is disorder, there is friction among the brothers and sisters.

There is pride and arrogance. Some says I am of Paul, I am of Apollos, I am of Peter, I am of Cephas and so on. And there is disorder in the assembly. Can you imagine? That's why the Corinthians had so many problem in their midst because they did not submit to the authority of the word of God and there was that ego and there was that pride and there was conflict and there was immorality in their midst. They were taking each other to the court. They were doing all sort of things in the assembly at Corinth and God is not a God or an author of confusion.

He is a God of order. So Titus was, you might say, a delegate of the Apostle Paul and he left him in Crete in order that he will set things in order. In the Hebrew the word says in other word complete that which is lacking, that which is still missing there. And apparently this is the reason why Shaul Paul left Titus there. That was the first reason that we read here in verse five. But there was a second reason, beloved brothers and sisters, and the second reason was to ordain elders in every city. Now here is something that we often don't quite understand.

Unfortunately many local assembly, local churches in the time in which we live in they are trying to point an elder so they have a vote and the the majority seem to rule. But you notice the Apostle Paul doesn't say to to Titus, Titus you go and you have the survey. The majority of the people whoever they want to set before them as an elder, the majority will choose whoever become an elder or an overseer. No, the Bible never taught such a thing. There's no such a thing as majority rule and we're going to have a vote and everybody have a decision and majority rule.

Notice that he says you Titus, you appoint elders in every city. In other word you sent by me, namely Shaul Paul the Apostle, you will be discerning on a basis of God's word to set things in order and to appoint elders to care for the flock of God, for the people of God. It's not majority rule, it's not a decision that anyone can make except the godly order that have been given to us in scripture, recognizing the spiritual leadership, recognize spiritual godly brothers that they can commend them to lead the flock of God. It is interesting because that expectation is given to us and you could see how God is the one that is really desiring to have the care for the people of God.

You know many a church group or many congregation have been divided because what happened they were they did not have godly care in their midst and because when you don't have spiritual men to care for spiritual things everything fall apart because the church is not a business, the church is not an organization, the church is an organism that is led by the spirit of God with a godly brothers who lead the people of God in that order. And so here is interesting to see because he said the very same thing to Timothy in the third chapter of first Timothy chapter three.

He says to them and he this is the truth saying if a man desire the ministry of an overseer, he desire a good work and then he gives an instruction as to the requirement for spiritual leadership among God's people. So I think it's good for us to see this as we study the book of Titus. Now I want you to notice that from then on after he gave this instruction by the way the word elders in verse five come from the Hebrew word or is people that considered to be mature, responsible people. The Greek word is which simply mean overseers, those that will take care of the people of God, the elders, the mature godly brothers who will take the spiritual a leadership among the people of God.

And how do we need these kind of brothers who are growing spiritually? Titus was a younger man. He was not as old as the Apostle Paul, but he was a godly man. He was a man that wanted to please the Lord that he served the Lord Yeshua the Messiah under the leadership of the Apostle Paul. Now from verse six to verse nine the list it is an amazing list and it makes you wonder who is ever qualified who is ever able to you might say to rise up to this high requirement that God is given to us in this passage in Titus one verses six to nine.

And just look at me at that list for a moment. I would like to just mention here there are 12 positive requirements and there are five negative requirements that are mentioned here in these verses, verses six, seven, eight and nine. Let me just go through them. The first one that is mentioned here in verse six, if any be blameless. When you read that word blameless it simply means above reproach. Blameless does not mean sinless because all have sinned including Paul, including Titus, all came short. All are imperfect. But blameless means that is a one is above reproach.

Yeah he failed, but you cannot you might say blame him and accuse him for many many things that may come up time goes on. So the first thing that he's mentioning here is one that is above reproach, blameless as it says here in verse six here. That's the first one. In Hebrew we call it Remember Noah was called a righteous man. And he was blameless, but Noah failed. We read of him how he got drunk and so on and things happened to him, but he still called in scripture he was a a man of God.

He failed, but he was a man that was, you might say, in general above reproach. Secondly you notice in that list it says here a husband of one wife.

Guest (Male): You have been listening to the Holy Scriptures and Israel with Gideon Levytam. Gideon teaches God's word from a Hebrew Messianic perspective. For more information about this ministry write to Holy Scriptures and Israel, box 1411 Niagara on the Lake, Ontario L0S 1J0 or visit our website at holyscripturesandisrael.com. You are also invited to Gideon's weekly Bible teaching on Fridays at 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. and Saturdays at 1:00 p.m. at Willowdale Christian Assembly Hall, 28 Martin Ross Avenue in Toronto. Holy Scriptures and Israel is made possible by your prayers and financial support. If you would like to support the program, visit holyscripturesandisrael.com.

God bless you. Shalom Shalom.