Holy Scriptures and Israel

Announcer: Shalom. 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: Come from the Hebrew word 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 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 6 to verse 9 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 these high requirement that God is given to us in this passage in Titus 1 verses 6 to 9. 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 6, 7, 8 and 9. Let me just go through them.

The first one that is mentioned here in verse 6, 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 is mentioning here is one that is above reproach, blameless as it says here in verse 6 here.

That's the first one in Hebrew. We call it Remember Noah was called a righteous man. 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. Now you can just imagine that in the days of old there was a lot of polygamy was going on and men had more than one wives and so on.

But in a sense you can say that he's a one woman man. Notice he doesn't say one man woman. Another word you can see that he's speaking about the male leadership in the local assembly, in the local church. That's why he doesn't say a wife of one husband. No, but a husband of one wife is a person that is one woman man. Now maybe some wife have passed away and he got remarried or something like that. But it is a man that is a husband of one wife. And it is kind of helpful. Why? Because it helps the people of God to have an example and to assist especially when there are so many broken homes today, so many broken family.

And you can just imagine in a in a island of Crete that there were all sort of situations. Remember that Crete Greek islands and the Greeks worship all sort of idols and the family was probably broken to pieces. And now the Messiah came, the body of Christ was was born and now the people of God are to learn from this godly example that can be given to them by the men of God. So what an interesting thing. The first one is blameless. The second requirement is a husband of one wife. Then the third thing that one wonder, notice this, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.

They have their children that are believers, that are faithful. And you can just imagine how necessary or how helpful it is for the servants of the Lord when the children and when they are under the responsibility of their parents that the parents are training them in nourishment and admonition of the Lord. And they are children that are submissive to the parents and not like it says here accuse of riot or being unruly. That word for having faithful children, the third requirement speaks of Bani in Hebrew Bani children that have turned their hearts to the Lord, to believe in the word and in the person of the Lord Jesus.

And notice in verse 7 he continue now. So he already said blameless husband of one wife having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. And then he says in verse 7 he says that the bishop for a bishop, that's the King James word for the for the word overseer in other translation, a episcopos in the Greek, hegemon in the Hebrew. For the overseer must be blameless. And notice this as the steward of God. The word steward simply mean he is handling God's things. He is handling the business that belong to God. Imagine what a privilege on a one hand, but also what an awesome responsibility because the handling of the business of God, of the affairs of God demand that he will be a faithful servant, a servant that is faithful.

There is a verse in 1 Corinthians chapter 4 that I want to read to us all. Very good verse it says in verse 2. Moreover it is required in stewards or in stewardship that a man may be found faithful. That a man may be faithful faithful in the things of the Lord. God want his servant to benefit his people by his faithfulness, the servant to be faithful because he's the steward. He is managing the things of the Lord and he want to lead God's people closer to God himself and to the person of the Lord Jesus the Messiah.

He continue now and here in verse 7 after saying that the overseer must be blameless as a steward of God, then notice the the things that he is not to be in the next verses, verse 7 5 things that a servant is not to be and not to do. Notice that verse 7 b not self-willed. Not self-willed is the first one. The the word self-willed is one that is really determined to get his own way. I'm not going to listen to any leadership. I'm not accountable to anybody. I do my thing and I'll do my way.

Well, if the servant is going to be an example to the flock this bishop or this episcopos, this overseer overseer has to be not self-willed to be submissive to the Lord, humble before the Lord that the Lord can instruct him and lead him in his own way, not to be self will. You know sometime, beloved brothers and sisters we are so self-occupied and self-willed. I'm not going to listen to anybody who going to tell me. I don't accountable to anybody. I'm the captain of my ship. I'm the pilot of my plane. I like someone saying I did it my way.

Well, it's not God's way. If you didn't do it God's way, your way will never be successful and pleasing to the Lord. My ways are not the right way. God's ways are always the best. So not to be person that is self-willed doing his own thing. Then it says not soon angry. In other words, not quickly getting angry. You know in ministry they so quickly one can get angry because there are so many things that are rising up among the people of God. The people of God are like children in in a family. And we know very well how we fail many time as parents when we were instead of being patient with our children or patient with our dealings, we have been quickly angry.

And then we didn't benefit. In other words, quick-tempered. Soon angry simply mean that we have temper very harsh and we are very quickly getting angry to one another. Then notice that he continue and he says in this the third thing he says not given to wine. Not given over to wine. Wine is a mocker. Strong drink is raging and whosoever is enticed by it is a fool, King Solomon have said. Because to be given over to wine is to be drunk that you are not able to be sober and able to handle the various responsibility that one has.

So not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine. And he continue with the next way says not a striker, a violent man. A man in Hebrew is very interesting. The word here in verse 7 is very strong. Another word is a striker, someone who will punch you. If you will not get he if he will not get his way, he will punch you physically if needed. You know if that thing going to happen among the people of God, can you imagine how sad that will be to see the people of God fighting and even physically striking one another.

The spiritual leaders of the people of God, the overseers need to have such an attitude not self-willed, not soon angry, not given over to wine, being drunken and not striker. And fifthly, very interesting, not given to filthy lucre, another word not pursuing gain, another word doing their ministry for money. In other words, God's people need to be supported by the people of God, but it's not the reason why they do their ministry for money. In other words, if you will not pay me I will not preach the word or seek to instruct. In other words, this is terrible when it become the only ground upon which this overseer going to do his work.

Not as it says here, not pursuing this gain in order to do his ministry. The ministry is the person is called by the Lord to serve the people of God, but he is not to do it for as it says here given to filthy lucre in verse 7. So five negative not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, not striker and not given to filthy lucre. The apostle Paul saying to Titus. So Titus needed to look around in among the local congregation or local churches in these in these interesting island by the name of Crete.

As he he was traveling around, he was looking for believers that can be helpful to all those people who have accepted Yeshua the Messiah on the island of Crete. So he will ordain elders in every city. Now the apostle Paul doesn't stop here because you notice in the next verses verse 8 and then verse 9 he continue and he give us some positive things or these men, these elders. It says in verse 8 lover of hospitality. You know hospitality, think of father Abraham. When the angels and the Lord himself came to him in the middle of the day and Abraham ran and invited them to come to his own home.

Hospitality is such a wonderful thing in a in ministry among the people of God. One of the things that is part and parcel with the service for the Lord is to have guests coming and being hospitable, enjoying to have some time with the believers. The apostle elsewhere wrote about the to the Hebrews when he said in Hebrews chapter 13 let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers for thereby some have entertain angels unaware. This is Hebrews chapter 13 verses 1 and verse 2. So hospitable, it's so wonderful to have these individuals that are hosting others, inviting them to their own home, spending time with them, being hospitable.

So lover of hospitality in verse 8. And then in verse 8 b a lover of good or lover of good men or good people or good that which is good. You know there is so much evil and bad in this world. And so important for the servant of the Lord, the overseer who going to take care of the people of God to seek their welfare, their good to seek to be a blessing to them. So he's a lover of good, not evil. Set evil aside, but a lover of that which is good, that which is beneficial for the people of God or it says in the Hebrew text a man that is hospitable, a man that love that which is good for the benefit of God's beloved people.

And so the apostle continue by giving this instruction to Titus. He continue and he says listen to this in verse 8 and continue says you know sober, the thought of being a sober is being really self-controlled. You know when a person is not sober if he drunk something or if he is not thinking through he's not wise in his conduct, he cannot give instructions to others. So sobriety is very important. That mean that he's controlling himself, self-control being sober in verse 8. This is number 7 of the expectation that our apostle Paul said. Notice in the next statement in verse 8 it also a just man, a man that he's upright.

A man that he's upright verse 8 sober, but also just seeking to be fair in dealing with God's people. You need to have this seeking to be just, fair in your dealing among the people of God. He continue says holy. Holy means not that he have a halo over his head. Holy means set apart, devoted for the things of God, devoted for his ministry. You know we have benefited over the years, all of us in our own spheres. People that have been devoted to the things of the Lord have kept us in a straight and narrow path.

And when they were not there we wondered because we thought okay, there's nobody to challenge me and kind of speak to my conscience and my heart. And so these men had to be set apart. The word holy simply mean set apart himself for the things of the Lord that he will benefit the people of God. I know how many of brothers that have been for me such an influence. It's not the holy that they had a halo over their head, but they were godly men that that encourage me to continue on. Carry on. The Lord have never changed.

His love for you is not different today than yesterday. Carry on, move along, set yourself apart for the things of the Lord. That's what we need in our lives because there are problems on the on the left and on the right, the problem at work, the problem at school, there are problems at home. Set yourself apart for the Lord. That's what this man is doing by being an example to God's people. And notice the last word here in verse 8 is as it says here temperate. Temperate, interesting word here in verse 8 being one that is temperate.

He is really the kind of a man that is, you might say disciplined. Disciplined. He knows he disciplined. He knows when to say certain things. He know when not, when to keep his mouth shut. He knows how to handle things. In the midst of God's people he's temperate. He's disciplined. He's the kind of a person that is, in Hebrew we call it In Hebrew it means that he's simply temperate. He know how to manage himself spiritually speaking. What an amazing standard, beloved brothers and sisters. And he doesn't stop here the apostle Paul by saying what he's saying to Titus because in verse 9 he gives us additional two important things in order to be a spiritual leader and elder among the people of God.

It says in verse 9 holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught to hold fast the faithful word. In other words, he's the kind of a man that he's firmly standing upon the word of God. Not one day he believes it and another word he don't not, not allowing doctrine of another man or another group of people to sway him from that which is fundamental mention in the word of God. Paul said in Ephesians chapter 4 when he was writing about the leaders and the gifts that were given in the city of Ephesus, he said, just listen to these.

He said and God gave us apostles and some prophets and some evangelist and some pastor teachers. And then he gave the reason in verse 12 of Ephesians chapter 4 for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Messiah until or till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. That we hence forth be no more children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the slight of men and cunning craftiness whereby they lay in weight to deceive.

In other words, you can see the people of God are like like going to and fro with every wind of doctrine. And so the spiritual elders, the godly men that God want to raise among God's people, they are to hold on or to hold fast fast to the faithful word as he have been taught. You cannot change your views on doctrine. You cannot change the a b c of the word of God. You got to stand firm from that. Let's again last night in our Bible a class when we were talking about salvation. And we wanted to emphasize the fact that when a person is truly saved he or she they are saved once and for all.

They don't get saved and then get lost and then get saved and then get lost. What does the Bible teach us about salvation? And we have learned very quickly from the Gospel of John alone that everyone that have accepted the Messiah, he or she are once and for all saved. Oh yes, they fail the Lord a time. Sin easily rise up from among the people of God, but our salvation does not depend upon our performance, but our salvation depend upon the finish work of our Lord Jesus, our Lord Yeshua the Messiah who shed his own blood for us.

So you see this man who is going to be the overseer, he's an elder in the midst of the people of God. He is to hold, notice this, he is to hold fast to the faithful word as he had been taught. Standing on the truth of the word of God and I and now the apostle Paul is telling the last expectation. Why is he supposed to be standing firm upon the word of God, upon the faithful word? Notice what it says at the end of verse 9. Why? So he will be able by sound doctrine to exhort and to convince others.

Look at this. I'm reading verse 9 at the end. It said that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. Those gainsayers, those who oppose the word of God. In other words he got to be able to exhort from the Scripture and to stand firm upon the word of God. So there are those that constantly come and opposing that which is found in Scripture. He must be able to have sound doctrine being taught to the people of God. I know that we live in a days when people say you know what do you need doctrine?

Who need sound doctrine? We need love, love, love, love like the Beatles say all we need is love. But it's not true, beloved brothers and sisters. We need teaching. We need sound doctrine.

Announcer: 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 a.m. and 7 p.m. and Saturdays at 1 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.