A student in S. E. Asia has asked a very interesting question. “I do not know why Luke did not mention Titus in his account – Acts?” Paul mentions Titus in Galatians 2:1, which was about 14 years after his conversion (Acts (9:1-18; 37 AD), then says "I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me". That occasion was the Jerusalem council (Acts 15 - 50 AD). Since the Galatian letter was the first letter Paul wrote, it is obvious that Paul appreciated Titus and wanted his support in the ministry. Four letters later, Paul mentions Titus and tells the Corinthians why he sent Titus to them (2 Cor. 8:16, 23; 12:18). "Titus [had] the same earnest care I have for you" (8:16). We would say that they were “like-minded.”
When Paul left Titus in Crete (Titus 1:5), it must have been around 60 to 61 AD (Acts 27:12). It is my guess that in their short stay at Phoenix, a harbor in Crete, disciples were made and a church was planted, but needed Titus to get them established in the gospel with elder leadership. Some of these questions we do not know the exact answer to, but it should make us search the Scriptures more and more to see how God worked, and then follow God's model through Paul. Even though we don’t know why Luke left out Titus from his account, we see from Paul’s letters that Titus was a valuable asset to his ministry of establishing disciples and local churches. Are you a “Titus” who, by giving yourself to strengthening disciples, makes the local church strong so they can multiply themselves through evangelizing, establishing, equipping and expanding?
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I was speaking with someone on the phone this morning who seemed very hopeless as they and the world face the Covid-19 pandemic. Their mind was going from one worst case scenario to another, and for them there was nothing to encourage. I did my best to turn their attention to the great plans and resources we have in the Lord.
After we ended to conversation, my mind went to Romans 8 where Paul asked a very thought- provoking question; “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?” (35). Think about that question. Several words in that list may describe what you are going through or feel at this moment. You may not think that any of these circumstances would actually “separate [you] from the love of Christ,” but if we are honest, we often allow them to weaken our sense of His present love for us. How does Paul answer this question? “…in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (8:37–39). Is your confidence in the strength of Christ’s love that strong? If it is, you will realize that you are secure in the Lord, and present events cannot change who you are in Him! In this blog, I want you to think about how portions of Psalm 94 combine two great tools the Lord uses, especially in times of trouble.
“Blessed is the man whom You discipline, O Lord, and whom You teach out of Your law, to give him rest from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked” (Psalm 94:12–13). The word “discipline” here actually means to “chastise or admonish”, and combined with “teach” or to be “exercise(d) in the process of learning,” we have the perfect formula for God’s rest. Let us look at the purpose of these two things coming on us at the same time: God intends that they both prepare us for difficult times so we can have “rest from days of trouble.” Most statistics show that when there is uncertainty and major disruptions in our daily routine, we become more anxious. God wants the opposite to happen in those who know Him. This requires that we have allowed Him to discipline and teach us before “days of trouble” come. Even if you have not been a person willing to receive discipline and teaching from the Lord, now is a great time to start. Stop what you are doing after you read this sentence and ask Him to start this work in you now so you can enjoy HIS REST. It is all in Christ! (Matthew 11:28-30). As I have had opportunity to speak with some in the last few weeks, I discovered there are some that are suffering from intense anxiety. I was sitting in the dentist chair on Monday morning and talking (when I could) about how the coronavirus has cause many more troubled hearts than it has infected people with the virus. Thankfully, my hygienist was likeminded with me on the solution.
None of us are immune from anxiety, but how we handle it makes a difference. When David was in distress, he said, “My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen upon me. Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me. And I say, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest” (Psalm 55:4–6). Getting away from the source of fear and anxiety is not the solution. What was David’s solution? “I sought the Lord, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4). Are you seeking the Lord and finding rest in Him? This can only be done through moments of quiet in His presence. From that place of “rest,” we can hold out “rest” for others in distress. As we talked now and then in the dentist office, we spoke of how Paul’s life was full of troubles. Yet he knew the Lord’s grace was sufficient for any situation (2 Corinthians 12:9). His solution to anxiety was prayer. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6). The all-knowing God is waiting to hear you call on Him in prayer. When we face difficulties, we tend to look for secondary causes or someone to blame. As I read my Bible each day, my appreciation for God’s sovereign will and the way He works and allows things to happen amazes me more and more. I see the whole world as a puppet on strings being moved and worked as His will dictates. You will not get this from the world’s media.
Paul understood this so clearly. As he sat in prison under conditions that most of us can’t even imagine, he was not complaining or thinking about himself, he was praying and thinking about the saints (believers) and churches that had been planted in Asia Minor. He was rejoicing in their salvation and their lives that could be lived for the glory of God. He looked ahead to their eternal inheritance which was sealed for them by the Holy Spirit in them. Read his words to Ephesus. “In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,” (Ephesians 1:11). Notice how Paul looks at the whole of life, no matter whether it is bright and full of blessing, or testing and full of pain and suffering. He “works all things according to the counsel of his will!” How can we gain that attitude in this present coronavirus pandemic crisis? Will we give in to self-pity, or will we look for God’s counsel being worked out to proclaim the riches of His grace in Christ through the gospel. I challenge you to look at that verse again and measure your attitude by HIS glorious will. “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ” (Colossians 1:28). As I sat at my desk in prayer for the Church around the world, especially under the circumstances that prevail today, I asked the Lord to give me a verse that will encourage and lift our eyes to Him. This is the reference that came to mind.
“For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. On Him we have set our hope that He will deliver us again” (2 Corinthians 1:8–10). It may seem to some that the present “affliction” is beyond your strength and death must be imminent for you or someone else. Paul is very determined on redirecting our attention away from the “affliction” to the “God who raises the dead.” Since He is the God of resurrection power, we must rely on Him and intentionally place our hope in Him, know that whatever trial we go through, “He will deliver us again.” I desire that every person who reads this post will turn their attention away from the crisis you face, to Christ and “know the power of His resurrection” (Philippians 3:10). Share this with others! When there are times of trouble around us and persecution is rising, I love to turn in Scripture to places where God’s people, and particularly the Church, was in severe trial. It is in these times that God shows His servants that what He is doing cannot be stopped. We are familiar with the sequence of events in Acts, but let me remind us of a few.
There are more examples that we can look at later, but these should remind us that difficult times are often God’s way of pushing His work into new territory. After recounting all that he suffered for the gospel, Paul reminded the Corinthians that “we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth” (2 Corinthians 13:8). Let me put this another way; the Word and work of God is never hindered by world events. It is unstoppable! Let us be looking for what God IS doing, not what the enemy may try to do. There are nearly 200 verses in the Bible where it says, “Do not Fear.” Some of these references were directed to leaders like Moses, Joshua, David as well as a poor widow woman. This indicates that God stands in reassurance for both the leader and the common person who may be facing insurmountable difficulties and circumstances that seem beyond our ability to handle.
Psalm 118:6 says, “The Lord is on my side, I will not fear.” Assuming that David wrote this Psalm, we know he was a man who faced life and death challenges. In all of them, he was conscious the Lord was by his side and therefore, fear was not an option. Many around us in the world are in a state of panic and the Coronavirus escalates in many places. What is our responsibility as a follower of Jesus? Knowing God and having the Holy Spirit in us, we must rest in knowing that God knows far more about our situation than we do, plus He has a purpose in allowing us to go through these challenging times — our witness to others. For yourself and those around you, DO NOT GIVE IN TO FEAR OR PANIC! The Lord is at you side! David also said, “In the day of my trouble I call upon You, for You answer me” (86:7). As you call on the Lord and receive His strength, you will be able to comfort, sustain and draw others into a relationship with the Lord. When I read the statement at first, I was shocked, not because I disagreed with the statement but because I knew it was true and had not said it to others. Here is the statement:
“Here is a fascinating fact: nowhere in the Bible is the Church commanded to plant churches” (J. D. Payne, Apostolic Church Planting, page 17). What are we told to do? “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19) which includes baptizing and teaching the disciples that are made. In this work of making disciples, there is a divine work going on at the same time by the Holy Spirit.
It is most important that we do not confuse the responsibilities we are given by Christ and what the Holy Spirit does. We are charged with proclaiming the gospel so that disciples are made. The Spirit works to form those disciples into the church anywhere they are made. I understand and give full credit to those who make disciples with the intent of forming a local church. What becomes clear through Scripture is the glory that belongs to the Spirit for His part in this process. We want to give God glory anyway for this glorious unity called the “Bride of Christ.” Disciple-making is ultimately for Him. Helen Roseveare, a missionary to Zaire was interviewed by Christianity Today about what she learned on the mission field.
CT: “How have your views of missions changed?” HR: “Sixteen years ago, I talked about the desperate needs in other parts of the world. Now I tell Christians, wherever they are, that they must “re-fall” in love with Jesus. Christianity in the West today says we must have a bigger church and a bigger car and a better suit. Once Christians fall out of love with that and in love with Jesus, I won’t need to talk missions; they will become missionaries because they love Him.” CT: “What is your assessment of the health and direction of current missions?” HR: “We are being sucked in by the teaching that success is measured as achievements, numbers, something to show, something to write home about. I want to see the word passion come back…I want people to be passionately in love with Jesus, so that nothing else counts. I’m a fanatic, if you like, but only because I believe so strongly that nothing counts except knowing your sins have been forgiven by the blood of Jesus. We’ve only got this short life to get others to know the same truth.” Take this seriously to heart! |
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