Dear Brethren,

MEDITATION

¹⁴ Not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth. ¹⁵ To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. ¹⁶ They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.

Titus 1:14-16

 

OBSERVATION AND INTERPRETATION

1. Opposition in ministry

a) One of the sad realities was that the early church had problems with unbelieving Jews

b) There were some who were particularly opposed to the Apostle Paul

c) The following were some of the ways they attacked:

i) Persecution

ii) Violence

iii) Stirred people up

iv) Wicked deeds

d) Other ways

i) They used false teachings

ii) They sought to undermine the faith of the believers

iii) They turned people away from the truth

2. Paul’s encouragement to Titus

a) To comprehend Truth deeply

b) Purity comes from knowing the Truth

3. Insights about these wicked people

a) They did not know the truth

b) They were impure

c) They were defiled

Though they proclaim that they know God!

e) But in reality

i) Their minds were defiled

ii) Their conscience was defiled

iii) By their works, they actually deny God

f) An honest appraisal

i) They were abominable

ii) They were disobedient

iii) They were disqualified from doing anything that was good

 

APPLICATION TO LIFE AND MINISTRY

1. Our problems are not from a Jewish quarter
2. But the problems Paul and Titus faced are similar to what we face today:

a) There are people who profess faith in God

b) But their lives and their deeds are sinful and abominable

c) Their conscience and minds are defiled too

3. Our challenge

a) To be wise and discerning

b) To be strong and courageous in the Lord

 

Prayerfully,

Pastor Charles Tan