A Firm Foundation

You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine.

Titus 2:1

You’ve probably heard of a certain famous leaning tower located in Pisa, Italy. What you may not know is that it’s actually a freestanding bell tower built for a church, the Pisa Cathedral. But when they started building it over 850 years ago they chose a poor foundation. The soft ground underneath the structure consisted of “ a dense mixture of clay, sand and shells” and couldn’t support the structure’s immense weight. (https://www.history.com/news/why-does-the-leaning-tower-of-pisa-lean) Over time the ground began to settle; and the tower began to lean. Today it leans nearly four degrees toward the south. It’s low side reaches a height of 183 feet 3 inches, while its high side is over 2.5 feet taller at 185 feet 11 inches. People come from all over the world to see the famous leaning tower.

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaning_Tower_of_Pisa)

It seems to me that many Christians today are like that tower. They have not built their lives on the bedrock of sound doctrine, but on a mixture of concrete truth and the sand of error. So, they lean... in whatever direction the world pushes them. 

This is why Titus is instructed to be sure that he is teaching sound doctrine. It is so very important for our ministers to pour a solid theological footing for our people to build their lives on. It is so very important for individual believers to take time to review the basics of gospel truth and shore up their spiritual foundations, lest they should become a leaning spectacle for the watching world to see.‌‌ 

It can be tempting for preachers to try to come up with some new teaching instead of preaching the old truths. It can be tempting to go the way of the world and try to ensure that everyone leaves church feeling better about themselves as though the purpose of a sermon were to give everyone a self-esteem boost. But that isn’t what Titus is supposed to do. He is supposed to lay down the firm, unshakeable foundation of God’s old truth. And, he is to rebuke and encourage people as needed to keep them in that truth. And he is not to let himself be despised or silenced or ignored.

This is good advice for all of us as we share the gospel with the world around us. Don’t even think about adjusting the gospel to try to reach your friends and family for Jesus! You can't lay any more firm foundation for them than the old truths contained in God’s Word. They may ignore you. Tell them the truth anyway. Give them sound doctrine. They will choose whether they build on it or not. Your job is simply to lay it down before them.

They Marched Out Singing

A coalition of nations has come up to attack Judah with a vast army. Things look bleak for the people of God. They cannot save themselves by their own might. King Jehoshaphat of Judah knows this, and he "resolves to inquire of the Lord" (verse 3). Jehoshaphat declared a fast for all the people and gathered them to pray and seek help from the Lord. Men from every town in Judah came to this nationwide prayer meeting. Then Jehoshaphat stood up and prayed. He told the Lord about their situtation. He reminded God of His promises, and He asked for help. Jehoshaphat finished his prayer this way. "We have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you." (2 Chronicles 20:12) 

As you can imagine, God heard and answered Jehoshaphat's prayer. (He always answers the humble prayers of his faithful people.) God sent word through a prophet saying, "You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you."  (2 Chronicles 20:17)

And that brings us to our focal verses for today. Look at what King Jehoshaphat did! Look what God did! "After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: “Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.” As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. (2 Chronicles 20:21-22)

The Lord fought for His people while they were singing! I love that image of God's people marching out to battle against a vast enemy, far too powerful for them, and singing God's praises as they go because they firmly believe they are about to see a miracle.

Do you have the faith it takes to do that? Do you have the faith to sing God's praises as you march out to fight the impossible battles in your life? Remember, the Lord fought for His people while they were singing! Sing, people of God, sing!   

You'll Know Them by Their Deeds

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. They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.

Titus 1:15–16

The early Christian church on the island of Crete had a problem. It was overrun with false teachers. And these verses from the end of Titus 1 give us a hint that these false teachers probably followed some special commands about what food they ate. And no doubt their adherence to these strict rules probably made them seem real holy, but they weren’t. Paul says “they claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.”

So, they claimed to know God but Paul casts doubt on their salvation. Why? Because their actions don’t line up with their profession. Remember what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount. 

Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. (Matthew 7:15-20)

Jesus said that the way to spot a false teacher is by their deeds. You will know them by their fruit. But you have to test them!

The application for us is apparent. Be a fruit Inspector! Before you date someone? Before you join someone’s Bible Study. Before you join someone’s church. You need to inspect their fruit. You should be looking at their life to see if their actions line up with their words, to see if they behave like a Christ-follower should. You need to put them to the test and see if they are the real deal or not. Don’t give someone influence over your life, don’t let someone become your pastor or your teacher, don’t allow someone to shape your beliefs or your character until you have inspected the fruit of their life and beliefs. Fruit doesn’t lie. If someone is living an unholy, detestable, disobedient life, then don't give them influence over yours. Learn to inspect the fruit in someone's life before you let them speak into yours.