Sweet the moments rich in blessing,
which before the Lord I spend. Looking in the book of Titus,
Titus chapter three. Put them in mind to be subject
to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready
to every good work, to speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers,
but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men. For we ourselves
also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving
divers' lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful
and hating one another. Now that's a sad commentary on
the state of man by nature, is it not? And it would be a bleak
and empty life, except that verse 4 says,
but after that, the kindness and love of God
our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness,
which we have done, but according to his mercy. He saved us by
the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which
He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ, our Savior, that
being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according
to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying, and
those things I will that thou affirm constantly. that they
which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable
unto men. But avoid foolish questions and
genealogies and contentions and strivings about the law, for
they are unprofitable and vain. A man that is an heretic after
the first and second admonition reject, knowing that he that
is such is subverted and sinneth, being condemned of himself. When
I shall send Artemis unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come
to me to Nicopolis, for I have determined there to winter. Bring
Zenos, the lawyer, and Apollos on their journey, diligently,
that nothing be wanting unto them. And let ours also learn
to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful. All that are with me, salute
thee, greet them that love us in the faith. Grace be with you
all. Amen. Now, Paul's writing to
Timothy and exhorting him, admonishing him to teach those whom the Lord
had given him charge over or given him the calling to speak the word of
God, to teach those whom the Lord had put in that position
to hear him. And he said, put them in mind
to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates,
to be ready to every good work. Now, that's something we need
to be reminded of, that we're not sent into the world to overthrow
governments. I mean, you didn't see Paul.
Paul had plenty of reason to criticize the government that
he was under as far as earthly governments were concerned. All
earthly governments are presided over by ungodly men. Nebuchadnezzar
said, as the Lord revealed to him, that the Most High setteth
over these places of rule the basest of men. Now we often think,
well, we're gonna get us a good one in there. Well, you know,
the Lord raises up men for those positions. Seldom are they good. The older I get, I can almost
be willing to tell you none of them are. Because actually, as
you look at what Scripture says, there is none good, no not one. And so it is foolish to think
that we're going to ever have a government that is going to
be godly, that's going to be following the rule of God's law,
that's not going to happen. And it's not ordained for it
to happen. The Lord Jesus Christ walked
into earth and lived his whole days under one of the most oppressive
and ungodly governments that's ever been on earth, but he never
said one word against them. So we need to learn about that.
The Lord has not called us as the children of God to be political
activists or to be those that for political reasons would harm
other people, seek to take other people's lives, threaten other
people, or do anything of the sort. We're to be subject. to the principalities and magistrates,
knowing this, that the Lord has put them there, whether we like
it or whether we don't, whether it's what we want to have or
whatever. Now, having said that, that does
not mean that the Lord, we have a kind of a unique situation
in that we do in a measure, get to participate in the government
that we have. Now, it's a very limited participation,
but it nonetheless is, and so we should participate in it,
because I believe in order to be subject to the government,
if the government is of such that it allows its people to
elect people in office to rule over them, we should participate
in that. That is to be subject to the
principalities. But then whenever that has been
made known, then that's it. I mean, we're not sent to overthrow
them or, you know, and in reality, we're not to be speaking evil
of them either. To be ready to every good work. May the Lord make us such a people.
Be ready to do good. You know, it's easy to think
of ways to do evil because that comes natural, doesn't it? But
to do good, may the Lord help us. To speak evil of no man. Well, that's a mouthful, is it
not? I mean, one of the biggest pastimes of us, whether we say
it out loud or not, in our mind, we often think evil of other
men, because they don't do what we wanted them to do, or this,
that, or the other. And it rises up to us. I mean,
just let somebody cut you off in traffic, and you'll realize
it's right there, just under the surface. You know, or somebody
do something stupid, And of course, if you live in this world, people
are gonna do something stupid and so are you. And that's just
the way that we are. And so we're to speak evil of
no man, to be no brawlers. That is, we're not looking for
a fight, not trying to stir up trouble, we're not going out
and trying to engage other people in arguments, but gentle. showing all meekness unto all
men, even as our Lord Jesus did. You know, if you want to know
how to interact with other people, just go and read how He interacted
with other people. And He spoke the truth when it
was to men quite plainly, as Brother Al wrote here a moment
ago. Sometimes, you know, the truth
is cut with a very sharp blade. And we don't need to be fearful
to do that, but we must never do that for an ulterior motive,
to promote our way of thought over someone, to try to persuade
them by our own sophistry and our own ability to be no brawlers,
but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men. Now, you know,
when you read in the scripture that the meekest man in all the
earth was a man you'd have never considered to be, but scripture
says he was, and that was Moses. Now, Moses was a bold man. Moses was a man used of the Lord.
But he was indeed a meek man. And what meekness and weakness
are not the same thing. But meekness is the activity
of not promoting oneself. That's what meekness is. In other
words, it doesn't force oneself upon somebody, but it is gentle,
showing meekness to all men. And then it says, for we ourselves,
now this is what always ought to be in our mind as we consider
the faults and failures of other people. This ought to be foremost
in our mind. For we ourselves also were sometimes
foolish. Disobedient, deceived, serving
divers' lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful
and hating one another. Who among us does not identify
with those things? If you don't, then brethren,
you need to take stock in what you are by nature because those
things are natural. And if we feed upon them, they'll
consume us. But then one of the greatest
buts that you'll find in the scripture occurs. It says but. Oh, but. What a glorious word,
but. All those things are true. That
describes every one of us by to a T. And whether we like to
read it or not, or whether we might think of ourselves as being
like that, nonetheless it's the truth. But, after that the kindness
and love of God our Savior toward man appeared. Now we live in a season, or we're
coming up on a season, when the world makes a big deal. out of
supposedly remembering the birth of the
Lord Jesus Christ. Now there's nothing in the world
wrong with remembering the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. That's
a good thing. I like to remember it. I like
to sing about it. Not just this time of the year,
but all the time. Anytime. But you know what? The world
will grow enamored of remembering the birth of Christ. But the
Lord never told us to do that. He didn't prevent us from doing
it. He didn't say don't do it. But
he never said to do it. But what he did tell us to do
was to remember his death until he comes again. Because you see, that is the
central work. that the Lord created the world
to revolve around was that the Lord Jesus Christ would come
into the world, but the Lord Jesus Christ would come into
the world as the Savior of sinners, undeserving sinners, unworthy
sinners, and that He would give Himself for us the kindness and
love of God our Savior toward man appeared. And that is what
the Lord told, or what the angels told those shepherds, that the
Lord was bringing peace and goodwill to men. And that is what we preach
through the gospel, that Christ is the Savior of sinners. The love of God our Savior toward
man appeared so that they could be good, so that they could earn
his favor. Is that what it says? No, it
says, not by works of righteousness, which we have done, but according
to his mercy he saved us. Now that right there is the truth which we hope to declare. That Christ is the Savior of
sinners. He doesn't come to those that
have some righteousness. See, all of us have some righteousness
by nature, do we not? I mean, every child has righteousness. of when they have told a lie
or when they have done something that is not, they shouldn't have
done, they say, no, I didn't do it. It wasn't me. Because why? Because it's the
natural desire to exonerate ourself, to think that somehow or other
we can make ourselves pleasing. But brethren, there's nothing
that anyone can do to make themselves pleasing in the sight of God.
How do we know that? Because the Lord, through Isaiah,
said that our righteousnesses are filthy rags before him. Now
he didn't say anything about our sin, did he? He said our
righteousnesses. Now if you look in the New Testament,
you'll find that the people, the only people, that the Lord
Jesus Christ ever condemned were those who were self-righteous. He never condemned the harlots,
the winebibbers, the publicans, the off-scouring of the earth.
He never condemned one of them. In fact, a woman taken in adultery,
brought to his very feet, he said to her, neither do I condemn
thee. But he said to those who thought
themselves to be something, who thought themselves to have righteousness,
who went down to the temple to pray and looked to their side
and saw a man who was a sinner. He said, Father, I thank Thee
that I'm not like him. But that one man whom the Lord
said went down to his house justified, the only one of the two that
went down to his house justified was that old sinner who said,
oh God, be merciful to me, a sinner. Because he didn't have one thing.
He knew himself to be a sinner. He wasn't coming down to tell
the Lord what a good fellow he was or what he had done. But
he came there confessing what he was and knowing that he had
no hope unless the Lord showed mercy to him. Now, dear brethren,
that's a glorious place for a man to be brought. I can't think
of a better blessing that could ever be visited upon a man than
to be brought to the place where he knows that he has not one
shred of righteousness within himself, that his hope is in Jesus Christ,
the blood which was shed for sinners. Not by works of righteousness,
which we have done, but according to his mercy, he saved us. What is mercy? And you know,
sometimes you'll hear people talk about, well, he didn't deserve
mercy. Well, that's kind of a misuse of terms because it's impossible
to deserve mercy. Because you see, mercy is not
necessary if somebody deserves something. You know, in other
words, if a man deserves something, then you couldn't possibly show
him mercy because he's owed that. In other words, when an employer
hires somebody to go to his field and work, and at the end of the
day, he pays him what he came to do, then he can't turn around
and say, well, I've showed you mercy, I paid you. No, there's
no mercy involved. It's payment of a debt. You see, the Lord doesn't owe
anybody anything. A lot of people think, well now,
Lord, you know I've done this and I've done that, that ought
to count for something. I mean, isn't that what the rich
young ruler said? He said, Lord, I've done all
that. I've done that. But the Lord showed him that
he hadn't done anything because he said, well, if you'd be perfect,
then go and do this. And he went away sorrowful because
in a moment, I believe, the Lord showed him that he had no righteousness. that he was not righteous. He
thought he was, but he wasn't. And what a great blessing was
brought to his house that day. Think about Zacchaeus when he
climbed that sycamore tree that day. He wasn't thinking when
he climbed that sycamore tree what a great sinner he was. He
was just thinking he wanted to see this one that was coming
by. But you see before the Lord left that day left his house
that day. Salvation came to his house because
the salvation was in Christ. And how do we know that he came
to know himself to be a sinner? Because he said, Lord, he says,
I'm going to give back this money that I've taken in a new old
fashion. You see, he was stripped of his
righteousness. And the Pharisees said, well,
you know, look at this man. He's going down there and meet
with a sinner. that's what they said about the lord every day
of his life was not what he he's just kept coming in with the
with the the centers of the world cordless marcy he said it had
to he didn't know it to us i've i've heard men preach i've actually
heard men stand in there pulpit break that god gives everybody
a chance to be safe you ever heard that Sure you have. God gives everybody a chance
to be saved, as if he had to. Well, it just wouldn't be right
if God didn't give everybody a chance to be saved, brother.
I mean, he's got to give you a chance to be saved. Well, brother,
salvation's not by chance. Chance never enters into it.
It's mercy. See, it's designed to mercy.
It's what we call sovereign grace. It's that which belongs to the
Lord. He said to Moses, when Moses wanted to see his glory,
he said, well, here's my glory. He says, I will show mercy to
whom I will show mercy. Oh, what a glorious thing, dear
brother. Now, some people get worried about that. Well, wait
a minute. He might not show mercy to me
if it belongs to him. That's right. You would do well
to worry about that. But I'm here to declare to you
something that's true. He'll show mercy to every sinner
that calls upon his name. Because you see, he's the one
that moves them to call. Before they ever know anything
about what they are by nature, his mercy is already at work
because he's bringing them. He's drawing them according to
the good pleasure of his will. When the Apostle Paul was holding
the coats of those men that stoned Stephen to death, and he was
complicit in Stephen's death, and he was glad to see Stephen
stoned to death. Even in such time as that, the
mercy of God surrounded The Apostle Paul, he didn't know it, he didn't
taste it, he didn't feel it. He didn't know anything about
it because he thought himself to be righteous. But God, who's
rich in mercy, with a great love wherewith he loved the Apostle
Paul before he ever drew breath, before he ever went to the temple
and became a Pharisee and learned the ways of the law and went
about in his self-righteous ways, the Lord in his mercy knew exactly where he was. And
in such times it pleased him. on the road to Damascus while
he was yet breathing out threatenings and slaughters against the people
of God, the mercy of Almighty God came down and surrounded
him on that day and struck him down and he fell upon his face
and he says, Who art thou, Lord? Oh, what a glorious thing when
the Lord's pleased to manifest His mercy to men. Oh, He's the
Savior of sinners and none else. According to His mercy, He saved
us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost.
That's what He said to Nicodemus, was it not? Because Nicodemus
was a Pharisee. Nicodemus was a religious man. And I'm sure that he sought the
Lord out, says he came to Him by night because, see, he didn't
want anybody to know that he was going to see the Lord. He wanted to keep his reputation
up. But he had some questions in his mind. Now why did he have
those questions in his mind? Because the Lord put them there.
He didn't know what the answer was and he thought that he was
going to come down there to that meeting there with the Lord Jesus
and they were going to sit down and he was going to bring out
some theological thought and they were going to sit and discuss
things and the Lord was going to tell him the answer and then
they'd come to a conclusion, you know, and they'd be good
religious buddies and then they'd ride off into the sunset together. But the Lord told Nicodemus,
before he ever got to ask a question, he never got to ask a question,
go look. He never came to the point he
came there for. The Lord said one thing to him.
He said, Nicodemus, except a man be born again, cannot see the
kingdom of God. Except a man be born again. You
see the Lord, has to perform a work in a man. And there's
not a thing in the world that a man can do to cause that to
take place. And I know we live in a day and
age when men say that you can be born again by believing, but
I'm telling you, that's putting the cart ahead of the horse.
Because you won't believe unless you've been born again. And when
the Spirit of God moves upon a man and awakens him by the
washing of regeneration, by the quickening work of the Spirit
of God to bring him from darkness to light, and he becomes as the
Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus. And it might not occur in that
dramatic a fashion. It might be a thing that is almost
imperceptible, but it is perceptible. Because you see, there's a point
in time when a man comes from darkness to the light. That's what happened to the apostle
Paul. Think about the woman at the well. That woman went down
to that well. She'd probably been down there
every day of her adult life to draw water out of that well.
That was a job she had. She went down there. Last thing
on her mind probably was her sinful way. But she went down there. And
somebody was already there when she got there. He told his disciples, he says,
y'all go on, I've got to go through Samaria. Y'all go on. There's a woman that I have loved
before she ever drew her first breath. She's coming down to
this well today. Because I've ordered her steps,
and she will be there. And I'll be there when she gets
there. And the Lord awakened that woman
that day. She went back to the town. She said, come see a man that
told me all that ever I did. See, that's the mercy of God.
When he shows a man what he is. You can hide from me. You can
hide a lot of things from me. See, you can't hide anything
from him. And it's his mercy that brings a man to see what he is by nature. He already
knows, but you know the glorious thing, and this is the part of
mercy that's amazing. The scripture says that He remembers our sin no
more. Now don't expect me to explain
to you how it is that the Lord can know we're sinners and yet
has forgotten our sin. Oh, what a glorious God He is.
Well, see, that's mercy. And the Lord is pleased to meet
with sinners by the washing of regeneration and renewing of
the Holy Ghost. Because you see, there is a new
birth that takes place when a man's brought from being dead in trespasses
and sins to being alive. Who can explain that? I can't.
I can't tell you how it is. I can't tell you all the things
about it. But I'm telling you this, the
Lord said, and I believe it, you must be born again. He's
in that business. He shows men what they are by
nature. You know, a man might say, well,
how do I know if I've been born again? Well, when the Lord teaches you that
you have no righteousness of your own, and you have one desire,
and that is to be found in Christ, I can say that you've been born
again, because no man We'll desire either of those things apart
from that. See, I don't like to be told
my sin on the one hand, but I'm glad every day when I read the
word of God and it reminds me what a great sinner I am. Because
it is by that knowledge that I'm also caused to be reminded
what a great savior he is. See, the Lord doesn't teach you
you're a sinner just to cause you to squirm. But He teaches
you that you're a sinner that you might look to Christ. Jesus
Christ and Him crucified. What a glorious message we have
to preach to the world. Every sinner, every man that
has been awakened by the Spirit of God, to know himself to be
a sinner, and been stripped of all excuses. See, a lot of people,
they're religious, and they know, well, we know we're not good
and all that, but we're gonna reform ourself, and we're gonna
change this, and we're gonna give ourself to the Lord, and
we're gonna do all these things. We're gonna join the church.
We're gonna do this, that, and the other. And they go on about
their life. But you see, Paul exhibited the
traits of a man who's been born again. He says, oh, that I might
know him and the power of his resurrection. See, that's what
the people of God want. That's those that hunger and
thirst after righteousness. That's what they want. They want
the one righteousness. See, if somebody could come along
and somehow or other I could just be live the rest of my life
without ever committing a sin at all. I wouldn't want it. Now don't
get me wrong, I don't want to commit sin. I have no desire
to do so. But if somehow or other I could
get into a position like that in my personal life, what I would
then do is I'd trust in it. And I'd say, well, you know,
I'm doing good. But Christ, the righteousness
of Christ, that's the thing we learn about, is we learn about
the fact that it centers around this but, after the kindness
and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of
righteousness, which we have done, but according to his mercy. He saved us by the washing of
regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which he shed
on us abundantly through Jesus Christ, our Savior, that being
justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the
hope of eternal life. Grace, what a glorious word. Grace is mercy shown to undeserving
sinners. See, grace is not something that
you can earn, it's something that's given to you. For that
the Lord might teach us that, might give us a heart and mind
to call upon Him. The Lord said, come unto me,
all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly
in heart.