The Ordained Leader

Posted on March 18, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by LOGAN WEAVER | @LGNWVR on Unsplash

Titus 1:5-9 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: 6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. 7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not self willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; 8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; 9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

Our Recap

The last couple of weeks we have started studying the Pastoral Epistles of Titus and Timothy. Though we’re focusing on Titus, we took a brief journey into Timothy last week. The Apostle Paul left Timothy in Ephesus and Titus in the Greek Isle of Crete to establish local churches there. Timothy worked with the Jewish congregations, Titus with the Gentiles. Yet whether they were Jewish or Gentile congregations, the same rules applied to both.

Titus was given the responsibility of “ORDAINING ELDERS IN EVERY CITY” in Crete. We found out last week that the office of Elder (Greek presbyteros), the spiritual leader of the Church, were also called “OVERSEERS” (Acts 20:17; Acts 20:28, Greek episkopos) or “BISHOPS” (1 Timothy 3:1), or “PASTORS” (Ephesians 4:11, Greek poimēn) which means “Shepherds”. Neither Timothy nor Titus were to just ordain anyone to this very important calling of God.

Over the past 30 years I have been privileged to be on the Ordination Council for a number of men who felt God calling them to be Pastors/ Overseers/ Elders. I was privileged to be included in the examination of Jarrett Scott, a fine young man and a great Pastor. There were several others on various councils I attended who did not meet the qualifications.

Why is it important that you know the qualifications of the Pastor? Because the Pastor is to spiritually feed the Church of God. The spiritual truths you are fed, that you digest, will determine your continued walk with God.

The Elder/ Pastor Must Be BLAMELESS

Titus 1:6, 7 If any be BLAMELESS … 7 For a bishop must be BLAMELESS, as the steward of God;

The very first quality the Apostle tells Titis to look for is that the Elder/ Pastor be “BLAMELESS”. This is the Greek anegklētos, which means “to be above reproach or unaccused”. Does this mean that the Pastor should always please the people? No! It has nothing to do with pleasing the people. Paul tells us what he means by “BLAMELESS” when he writes,

as the steward of God

The Pastor does not own the Church. The spiritual needs of the Church are entrusted to the Pastor, but the Church belongs to Jesus Christ. Every believer is purchased with the Blood of Christ. The Steward, the Pastor, the Shepherd oversees the flock, and

Acts 20:28 … feeds the church of God, which JESUS HAS PURCHASED with His own blood.

To be “BLAMELESS” means that the Pastor must NECESSARILY OFFEND the people who will not do as God directs. He is to please God, not man.

The Apostle Paul was an Elder, a leader in the Church. Paul wrote:

Galatians 1:10 (NKJV) … do I seek to please men? For IF I STILL PLEASED MEN, I WOULD NOT BE A BOND SERVANT OF CHRIST.

Illustrate Paul vs Peter: The Pastor should not preach or lead so as to please the Church, but to please the Lord Jesus. No Christian should be a “manpleaser, but a servant of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart” (Ephesians 6:6). Even more so should the spiritual leader of the Church live so as to glorify God. There is a good illustration of this in the Book of Galatians. As Apostles, leaders in the Church, they were called to be “BLAMELESS”. We read:

Galatians 2:11-16 (NKJV) Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I WITHSTOOD HIM TO HIS FACE, because HE WAS TO BE BLAMED; 12 for before certain men came from James (these are Jerusalem Jewish Christians), he would eat with the Gentiles; but WHEN THEY CAME, he withdrew and separated himself, FEARING THOSE WHO WERE OF THE CIRCUMCISION. 13 And the REST OF THE JEWS ALSO PLAYED THE HYPOCRITE WITH HIM, so that even BARNABAS WAS CARRIED AWAY BY THEIR HYPOCRISY. 14 But when I saw that THEY WERE NOT STRAIGHT FORWARD ABOUT THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL I said to Peter before [them] all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews? 15 “We [who are] Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16 “knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.

When the Apostle Peter was with Paul on the mission field, as long as he dealt with only Gentiles, then he received them with open arms as Christians. But when Jewish Christians from Jerusalem came down to visit, Peter shunned the Gentiles. Why? Because he was not being a good steward of the Church. He FEARED THE JEWISH BELIEVERS. Paul stood up to Peter and called him on it. He said “I WITHSTOOD HIM TO HIS FACE, because HE WAS TO BE BLAMED”.

Illustrate Moses: When the Pastor is more concerned about pleasing others than he is about pleasing the Lord, he is a BAD STEWARD and IS TO BE BLAMED. One of the finest believers in the Bible was a man called MOSES. Moses wasn’t perfect. Moses killed a man, murdered him, and hid his body. But God called Moses at the burning bush in Midian. Moses led God’s people out of Egypt. Moses stood up to Pharaoh. Moses stood up to worst. The people he led constantly murmured against him and Aaron. Nothing Moses did was right. Before Moses came down the mountain at Sinai God tested him. We read:

Exodus 32:7-10 (ESV) And the LORD said to Moses, “Go down, for YOUR people, whom YOU brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. 8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way that I commanded them. They have made for themselves a golden calf and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it and said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!'” 9 And the LORD said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people. 10 Now therefore LET ME ALONE, that My wrath may burn hot against them and I MAY CONSUME THEM, in order that I MAY MAKE A GREAT NATION OF YOU.”

This is a test. God said, “these are YOUR people”. He doesn’t say they belong to Him, but to Moses. God says, “Let Me destroy them – and I’ll make a GREAT NATION OF YOU”. But Moses – a great Elder – prays to God. “O LORD, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand?” (vs 11). Moses told the Lord that this would not bring glory TO HIM, but allow the Egyptians to mock Him. Moses prayed and reminded God of the covenants He made with Abraham, Isaac, and Israel (vs 12-14). And God withdrew his anger.

Moses was blameless.
He remembered that Israel belonged to God.
Moses glorified the Lord in his stewardship.

Yet after 40 years of dealing with Israel, Moses led Israel to Kadesh. First his sister Miriam died (Numbers 20:1), then the people rose up against Moses and Aaron because there was no water. Moses goes to the Lord in prayer, and tells him:

Numbers 20:8 (ESV) Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and TELL THE ROCK BEFORE THEIR EYES TO YIELD ITS WATER. So you shall bring water out of the rock for them and give drink to the congregation and their cattle.

Moses let his temper take control. The Bible says:

Numbers 20:10-11 (ESV) Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, “HEAR NOW, YOU REBELS, SHALL WE BRING WATER FOR YOU OUT OF THIS ROCK?” 11 And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock.

Moses – the Elder – did not speak to the Rock. He spoke to the crowd. He did not give God the glory, but claimed that HE AND AARON were the Source of the water. God in His grace allowed the water to flow, but He told Moses and Aaron:

Numbers 20:12 (ESV) … Because YOU DID NOT BELIEVE IN ME, to UPHOLD ME AS HOLY IN THE EYES OF THE PEOPLE of Israel, therefore YOU SHALL NOT BRING THIS ASSEMBLY INTO THE LAND that I have given them.

Moses was to be blamed. Less that one year passed before Joshua led Israel into the Promised Land, but Moses lost out because he put his glory above the glory of God.

I see this quite often in the Church of America. I heard of a Pastor, an Elder whose son “came out” as a homosexual, and then this Pastor began to preach that the Scripture is in error on homosexuality. The Pastor Charles Stanley (now with the Lord) has a son named Andy Stanley, who leads North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, Georgia. Though Charles was a God fearing, conservative Pastor, his son has gone in a different direction. In 2018 Andy Stanley preached,

“We need to unhitch the Christian faith from the Old Testament”

This is foolish, because the Bible the Apostles and Jesus used WAS THE OLD TESTAMENT. Jesus repeatedly quoted the Old Testament, as did the Apostles. Stanley has also said strange things like,

“Christians need to stop saying, ‘The Bible says.’
We need to start saying, ‘Jesus says.’”

Stanley is a far cry from Billy Graham, who said:

“The Bible is the only book whose Author is always present when one reads it. … The Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible. … The Bible is God-breathed—it is God’s revelation to man”

The Pastor who begins to teach “laying aside the commandment of God for the traditions of men” (Mark 7:8-9; Colossians 2:8) is not to be praised nor followed. He is to be blamed!

Other Qualities Of The Leader/ Pastor

Titus 1:7 For a BISHOP {episkopos} must be blameless, as the steward of God; NOT SELF-WILLED {authadēs}, NOT SOON ANGRY {orgilos}, not given to wine, no STRIKER {plēktēs}, not GIVEN TO FILTHY LUCRE” {aischrokerdēs};

Word Study: In verse 5 the Pastor is called “ELDER” (presbyteros), and in verse 7 “BISHOP” (episkopos) or “OVERSEER” (Acts 20:28). The Pastor is to be “NOT SELF WILLED”, the Greek authadēs which means “arrogant, self-pleasing”. This same word is used humorously in the Septuagint, in

Proverbs 21:24 (BES) A bold and SELF-WILLED {authadēs} and insolent [man] is called a pest …

When Israel lay dying, he prophesied of his firstborn son Ruben, “hard to be endured, hard and self-willed”, that his people would be scattered. Because Ruben was “unstable as water”, his father said “you shall not excel”. Rather than be the leader of Israel, the leadership passed to Judah (Genesis 49:8-10). The Bishop or Leader is to be God oriented, not self oriented.

Word Study: The Pastor must not be prone to anger (orgilos). Again, this word is found in the Septuagint in:

Proverbs 22:24 (BES) Be not companion to a FURIOUS (orgilos) man …

Word Study: When Moses lost his temper, he lost the Promised Land. The Pastor may get angry, but it needs to be a controlled anger and a godly anger. He is not to love to drink. Nor is to be a “STRIKER”, the Greek plēktēs which means “someone always ready to punch out another, a quarrelsome or contentious person”. Nor is the Overseer to be greedy, “GIVEN TO FILTHY LUCRE” {aischrokerdēs}.

Titus 1:8 (KJV) But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, SOBER, JUST, HOLY, TEMPERATE;

The Pastor/ Elder/ Overseer should care for people. He should like to be around people. But even around people he should model:

SOBER = sōphrōn “Of a sound mind, sane”
JUST = dikaios “Keeping the commands of God” (Micah 6:8)
HOLY = hosios “unenslaved by sin” (Galatians 5:1; Romans 6:6-7)
TEMPERATE = egkratēs “to be strong, self controlled”

Above All, The Elder/ Overseer/ Pastor
Must Cling To God’s Word

Titus 1:9-11 (KJV) HOLDING FAST THE FAITHFUL WORD as he hath been taught, that he may be able BY SOUND DOCTRINE both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. 10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.

The most important thing for the Pastor is that he “HOLD FAST THE FAITHFUL WORD”. Paul was not only giving Titus directions for the choosing of God called men to be Pastors, but he was reminding Titus that he was going into a mess.

The Godly Leader must keep His eyes on Jesus, and cling to the Bible as God’s true written Word.

There was a lot of charlatans in Crete, just as there are a lot of charlatans in America today. The Apostle said “there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision”. Titus was going into a battle ground, where the enemy was already entrenched. There were many Gentiles who hated Christianity, for it claimed that Jesus is the only Way to God (John 14:6). The Pagan religion does not care if you bring your own version of god with you, as long as you make allowances for their false gods.

There were many “ Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for FILTHY LUCRE’S sake”. These people do not care about the Kingdom of God nor its advance. They just are about “FILTHY LUCRE”, about making money. They don’t care about souls being saved. They just want to fill their pockets. As it was in Crete, so it is in America today:

Kenneth Copeland has a net worth of $300 million, and lives in a $10 million mansion. Joel Osteen has a net worth of $100 million+ and lives in a $10 million mansion. T.D. Jakes has a net worth of $60 million, and lives in a $5.5 million mansion. Joyce Meyer has a net worth of $15 million, and lives in a $2 million mansion. Creflo Dollar has a net worth of $30 million, and owns multiple homes worth millions. Steven Furtick has a net worth of $60 million. Andy Stanley a net worth of $45 million. Rick Warren a net worth of $25 million. Pat Robertson a net worth of $100 million. Is it a sin to have money? No. But Jesus told the rich young ruler:

Matthew 19:21 (ESV) Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, SELL WHAT YOU POSSESS AND GIVE IT TO THE POOR, and you will have treasure in heaven; and COME, FOLLOW ME.”

I’m not saying these people are doing anything wrong. Only God knows the heart. But how much house do you need to live in? How much money do you need to feed yourself and your family? How many cars, trucks, boats do you own? Is your treasure in Heaven, or on this earth? Each one of us will have to give an account one day to the Lord God Almighty.

Why would a Pastor need a million dollar home to live in?
Paul was a tent maker by trade.
And Peter a fisherman.

Paul tells Titus:

Titus 1:12-14 (KJV) One of themselves, [even] a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians [are] alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. 13 This witness is true. Wherefore REBUKE THEM SHARPLY, THAT THEY MAY BE SOUND IN THE FAITH; 14 Not giving heed to JEWISH FABLES, and COMMANDMENTS OF MEN, that TURN FROM THE TRUTH.

When confronted by the culture – as Titus was in Crete – the Pastor/ Overseer must not compromise with the darkness.

The only way that light can compromise with darkness is by becoming darkness itself.

The world will never agree with the Church – nor should it. Paul says of the Cretian culture, “REBUKE THEM SHARPLY”. Don’t go along with them. Tell them NO! Set an example so that the Flock of Christ can see what to do.

I was reading an article the other day by Christian author Pierce Taylor Hibbs entitled “The Bad News We Still Need”. In that article, Brother Hibbs compared sin to cancer. Listen to this:

“sin takes something good away from us and actively introduces defects and distortions. Just as cancer both destroys tissue and multiplies abnormal cell growth, sin kills holy motivations and compounds unholy ones. Unlike cancer, sin is not a substance, a thing we can examine and measure with a microscope. It is a nothingness that eats away at us until we are so weak that we cave in on ourselves. … sin is moral heart-sickness, any desire, thought, or action that turns us away from God and his revealed will for our lives. ”

Sin kills. Sin erodes. Sin spreads like cancer.

In Michigan, a man rams a truck into a Jewish Synagogue and a preschool. In Virginia, at Old Dominion University a man opens fire in a classroom, killing one and injuring others. In California, two are killed by gunfire at a bar, and several others wounded. The world looks at it and demands that guns be outlawed. Guns are not the problem. Sin is.

People want to fix sin with “JEWISH FABLES, and COMMANDMENTS OF MEN” which do absolutely NOTHING but “TURN FROM THE TRUTH”. All the while, people pretending to be Pastors preach nothings and compromise from fancy pulpits, filling their pockets with money and living luxuriously while the flock suffers.

You cannot compromise with the culture.

Titus 1:15-16 (KJV) UNTO THE PURE ALL THINGS ARE PURE: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving [is] nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. 16 They PROFESS THAT THEY KNOW GOD; but in works they deny [Him], being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Who are the “PURE”? It’s certainly not the worldly. Those who “PROFESS THAT THEY KNOW GOD” but who deny Him by their works – the things they do – they are not pure. Those who are “PURE” refer to those who are Christ followers – those who love the Lord and have received the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. Those who are “PURE” are indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God, and who seek to honor the Jesus Who saved them by their lives. The article that I cited earlier goes on to say this:

“The good news is that while sin is moral heart-sickness, God offers moral heart-healing through his Son. That’s why in Christ God gives us new hearts (Ezekiel 36:26). And that’s exactly what we need. … Grace means a new heart, and new hearts have restored and holy motivations, desires, and thoughts. Why? Because of Jesus. “The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). A new heart is guarded in Christ. Because of him, God’s grace-given goodness combats the deprivation and active corruption of sin. Through the Spirit and by Christ’s person and work, we respond with faith and repentance, trust and turning — movements in the heart enabled and executed by God himself.”

The Pastor must “REBUKE THEM SHARPLY”, not whisper sweet nothings in your ears. You need to know that – if you do not have Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior – your life will be miserable. The cancer of sin will slowly erode all the blessings of living, and replace it with misery. You need to know that – if you die in your sins – you will continue on to a hell that will never end. There is no joy, no rest beyond the grave for those without Christ. Only torment, forever torment, because you rejected the only means by which you can come into a right relationship with God.

You rejected the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Bible is clear:

John 3:16-18 (KJV) For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but He that believeth not is condemned already, because He hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

If your Pastor soft pedals sin, and preaches to make you feel good, you need to find another Pastor. The only solution for sin and its destructive force is to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. Once you have received Him, you are to follow Him daily, to do as He has said. A Christian is a member of God’s Kingdom, and Jesus is your King. Amen.

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Above All, The Shield

Posted on March 18, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

Ephesians 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

The Faith That Saves Is The Faith You Live

The Christian only becomes a Christian by the action of the Holy Spirit. We enter our salvation by FAITH in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is not our works that save us, not our ability to keep the Law or to be moral in an amoral world. The Bible is very clear:

Romans 3:28 (ESV): “For we hold that ONE IS JUSTIFIED BY FAITH APART FROM THE WORKS OF THE LAW”.

Galatians 2:16 (NIV): “…know that a person is NOT JUSTIFIED BY THE WORKS OF THE LAW, but BY FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST…”.

Romans 4:3 (ESV): “ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, and it was counted to him as righteousness”.

Salvation is of FAITH, not of WORKS. But it is FAITH in JESUS, FAITH in God, FAITH in the God of the Scripture.

But once you call upon Jesus in faith, God the Holy Spirit causes you to be BORN AGAIN (John 3:3-7; 1 Peter 1:23). You are called “a NEW CREATURE, old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). You are not part of this world anymore. You are not enslaved to sin nor to Satan. You are “a Child of God by faith” (John 1:12; Galatians 3:26). You will be hated by the world, not loved (John 15:18). The world and Satan hated Jesus. The world and Satan will hate YOU.

Christian, you were born to be a warrior. Warriors expect to be deployed, and to be attacked.

It is your destiny to be assaulted, and your calling to attack the darkness. When Jesus told you to “turn the other cheek” (Matthew 5:39), He was not telling you to ACQUIESCE to the darkness, to false narratives, to the lies of Satan. Jesus was telling us that our attack must not be flesh on flesh, for “we wrestle not against flesh and blood” (Ephesians 6:12). We cannot battle the darkness with darkness, and cannot defeat the fires of hell with more fire.

Christian, we must not accept, agree, or comply with something quietly, often without protest or enthusiasm. We must not give in or yield to demands to be “tolerant”. God is intolerant of evil, so much so that He gave His only Son to secure salvation for us.

We must not hide and quiver behind Church walls while Goliath bellows curses at us and our God. We who are saved were born to be warriors, to stand with David saying to Satan and all the damned:

1 Samuel 17:45 I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.

There are many who claim to be Christian, but who never wrestle the darkness. The Apostle Paul, afflicted and hated by even his family for following Christ, tells us:

Philippians 3:16-20 … let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. 17 Brethren, BE FOLLOWERS TOGETHER OF ME, and MARK THEM WHICH WALK SO as ye have us for an {example}. 18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that THEY ARE ENEMIES OF THE CROSS OF CHRIST: 19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who MIND EARTHLY THINGS.) 20 For our {citizenship} is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ

You may be saved, and never raise the shield of faith, never put on the armor of God. Yet you will never receive a crown, an award from the Master. You will never hear “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord” (Matthew 25:21). You may not even be saved if you will not stand up with your Lord in battle. The servant who hid his talent rather than stand on faith was “cast into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 25:30). There is that possibility, dear friend. A faith that hides, that puts it’s light under a bushel, may not be saving faith.

If you would do a work for God, you must have faith. You will be attacked. When Nehemiah led the children of Israel back to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls, he faced opposition at every turn. We are told (Nehemiah 4:18) “For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded”. Did you think when God brought you into His family that there would be no battle? The Church, like Nehemiah’s builders, had to work together, for Satan stands ready to destroy the Kingdom of God.

The faith that saved you is the faith you now use to battle the darkness. “Above all, TAKING the SHIELD OF FAITH”.

Let’s Break Down The Metaphor

Ephesians 6:16 Above all, TAKING {analambanō} the SHIELD of faith …

Word Study: As the Apostle speaks of the Armor of the Christian, we have so far discussed the Belt of Truth, the Breastplate of Righteousness, and the Boots created by the Gospel. Each of these things are something we wear. But as we come to the Shield of Faith, we are not to WEAR it, but to TAKE it. This is the Greek analambanō, which means “to take up or raise”. The shield of faith does not hold itself up. It is something that YOU must ACTIVELY LIFT UP.

You are saved by faith. You are protected in battle by LIFTING UP that same faith, and HIDING BEHIND it.

Describing The Shield: The Roman Shield, called a SCUTUM, was a very large and slightly curved rectangular shield. It was made of wood covered with leather, but at its center had a large metal plate called a boss that you grasped. While holding the shield, your hand was protected from arrows, lances and swords. The Scutum was about 3.5 feet tall, and 3 feet wide. It’s curve caused arrows to deflect rather than embed in the shield.

Roman soldiers in battle quickly learned that when the enemy began to fire arrows at them, the arrows could either hit straight on or rain down, injuring or killing them. The soldiers would close ranks and come shoulder to shoulder into what they called the TESTUDO or Tortoise Formation. Those on the outside would hold their shields forward. Those on the inside would hold their shields over the heads of themselves and their companions. This formed a group of men who were like a living tank. As they moved forward under the cover of the shields, they could cut down and trample the enemy.

The Roman warriors knew that the battle was not just an individual act, but if they were going to survive they needed to each ACTIVELY lift their shields, and move to attack the enemy. In the same way the Church must realize we EACH must LIFT OUR SHIELD, and move forward with one accord to defeat the enemy!

The Shield of faith is not just for YOU, but for your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. If you straggle, if you are lazy and will not lift your shield and work with the Kingdom, you are hurting more than just yourself! You must lift up this Shield to be effective.

The Shield is door shaped and large. It was big enough to cover a man from attack. Saving Faith is found through Jesus. Our Lord described Himself as “The DOOR of the sheep”:

John 10:7-9 (KJV) Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I AM THE DOOR OF THE SHEEP. 8 All that ever came before Me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I AM THE DOOR: by Me if any man ENTER IN, he SHALL BE SAVED, and shall go in and out, and FIND PASTURE.

A DOOR can only be opened if you come to it. Jesus is the Door. We come to Him. We focus on Him. Not only our inabilities, but His ability.

We enter into salvation through Jesus Christ our Door. But once we are saved, we continue to come to Jesus. When we follow Jesus, doing as He has commanded, He protects us. The Scripture says:

Psalm 5:11-12 (KJV) But let all those that PUT THEIR TRUST IN THEE REJOICE: let them ever shout for joy, because THOU DEFENDEST THEM: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. 12 For thou, LORD, WILT BLESS THE RIGHTEOUS; with favor wilt thou COMPASS HIM AS WITH A SHIELD.

Our faith must be in Jesus, not in ourselves. We must continually lift HIM up. We must continually HOLD HIM above us, relying upon HIS WORK. Faith in Christ, like the Scutum, will protect the whole person. You will inevitably misstep, and Satan will fire his darts at you. How can you protect yourself? By your works? No, but by CHRIST’S WORKS.

1 John 1:6-10 (NKJV) If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and WALK IN DARKNESS, WE LIE and do not practice the truth. 7 But if WALK IN THE LIGHT AS HE IS IN THE LIGHT, we have FELLOWSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER, and the BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST HIS SON CLEANSES US FROM ALL SIN. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we CONFESS OUR SINS, HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE US OUR SINS and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us.

Pelagianism: There was a false doctrine that crept into the Church through a monk called Pelagius. Pelagius taught that people were born good, and had the power of the free will to achieve moral perfection. Pelagianism taught that people are born innocent, and over time became sinners. He taught that salvation is earned by our own merit and moral choice. Pelagianism puts faith in a human agent rather than in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a man made shield that will not hold up under battle. And this type of thing is still in the Church today.

We are not saved by our own hand, but by God’s hand. Those who are genuinely saved will rely over and over again on the finished work of Christ. Those genuinely saved will rely on the teachings of the Bible. Those genuinely saved will pray, seeking God’s face.

Faith Has It’s Confidence In God, Not In Myself

Faith is not just something that you had the day you were saved. Faith is a persistent trust and confidence in God. The Just do not just get SAVED BY FAITH. The Bible tells us:

Romans 1:17 (NKJV) For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH” (in Jesus, in God’s Promises)

Preach This: We are “JUSTIFIED by faith”, that is, we are made right with God by faith in Christ (Romans 5:1-2). But once saved, “BY FAITH YOU STAND” (2 Corinthians 1:24). As we go through this life, “WE WALK BY FAITH, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). The Bible teaches that “our HEARTS ARE PURIFIED BY FAITH” (Acts 15:9).

It is the quality of the shield that protects us when Satan fires his darts at us. If the shield is man made, it will burn rather than protect. But if it is God made, it will hold.

When Joseph was tempted by Potiphar’s evil wife, what was his response?

Genesis 39:9 How then can I do this great wickedness, and SIN AGAINST GOD?

When unjustly accused of sin, Job looked toward God:

Job 27:3-5 (NKJV) As long as my breath [is] in me, And the breath of God in my nostrils, 4 MY LIPS WILL NOT SPEAK WICKEDNESS, NOR MY TONGUE UTTER DECEIT. … Till I die I WILL NOT PUT AWAY MY INTEGRITY FROM ME.

C.H. Spurgeon wrote:

“You will say, how then are we to know whether our faith is a right faith and our shield a strong one? One test of it is, it must be all of one piece. A shield that is made of three or four pieces in this case will be of no use. So your faith must be all of one piece. It must be faith in the finished work of Christ, you must have no confidence in yourself or in any man, but rest wholly and entirely upon Christ, else your shield will be of no use. Then your faith must be of heaven’s forging or your shield will certainly fail you. You must have the faith of God’s elect which is of the operation of the Holy Spirit who works it in the soul of man. Then you must see to it that your faith is that which rests only upon the truth, for if there be any error or false notion in the fashioning of it, that shall be a joint in it which the spear can pierce. You must take care that your faith is agreeable to God’s Word, that you depend upon true and real promises, upon the sure word of testimony and not upon the fictions and fancies and dreams of men. And above all, you must mind that your faith is fixed in the person of Christ, for nothing but a faith in Christ’s divine person as “God over all, blessed for ever,””

Jesus tells us about the Kingdom of God, and that relatively few will enter this Kingdom. Our Lord Jesus – incarnate of Mary – “came unto His own, but His own would not receive Him” (John 1:11). He professed by His lips and His works that He was the Messiah. Yet religion examined Him, the Elders of Judaism ignored every sign that He showed through His miracles. Jesus came “to the Jew first” (Romans 1:16; 2:10). A few came. His Apostles were Jewish. But in the end of the day, relatively few knew Jesus. The Jewish crowd told Pilate, “His blood be on us, and on our children” (Matthew 27:25). Oh, that His Blood would be on us and on our children by faith in Him. But their cry was faithless, and “without faith, it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6).

Jesus wept over Jerusalem (Luke 13:34-35). He knew that her destruction was near because of unbelief. I believe that God weeps over every person that holds on to their broken lives in pride rather than surrender to Jesus. We read in:

Luke 19:41-44 (NKJV) as Jesus drew near, HE SAW THE CITY AND WEPT OVER IT, 42 saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things [that make] for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 “For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, 44 “and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because YOU DID NOT KNOW THE TIMES OF YOUR VISITATION.”

God came to Israel, and Israel largely rejected God. God became incarnate, became flesh, and Israel rejected knowing Him. Someone asked Jesus a question:

Luke 13:23 (LSB) “Lord, are there JUST A FEW
who are BEING SAVED?”

That is really a GOOD QUESTION! Jesus was asked many stupid questions, but this is a God inspired question. “Lord, are there just a FEW who are BEING SAVED?” Let’s focus first on that phrase:

Being Saved (Present Passive Participle sōzō)

The day you met Jesus and received Him as Lord and Savior, you were SAVED. But salvation is not a one and done thing. Once you are SAVED, you become “the workmanship of God” (Ephesians 2:10). Salvation is an ONGOING COVENANT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. You’re not just SAVED and done. The day you are saved starts a journey. A journey between yourself and God, between yourself and the Lord Jesus Christ. What the person said in Luke 13:23 is repeated throughout the New Testament:

In reference to the growth of the early Church: Acts 2:47 (NASB20) {Believers were} praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were BEING SAVED.

In reference to the Preaching of the Cross: 1 Corinthians 1:18 (NASB20) For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are BEING SAVED it is the power of God.

In comparison between those who are saved, and to those who have rejected the Lord Jesus: 2 Corinthians 2:15-16 (NASB20) For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are BEING SAVED and among those who are perishing: to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life.

Let’s go back to this person who asked Jesus, (Luke 13:23 LSB) “Lord, are there JUST A FEW who are BEING SAVED?”. Listen to Jesus’ reply:

Luke 13:24-29 (NKJV) Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for MANY, I say to you, WILL SEEK TO ENTER AND WILL NOT BE ABLE. 25 “When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I DO NOT KNOW YOU, WHERE YOU ARE FROM,’ 26 “then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ 27 “But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all YOU WORKERS OF INIQUITY.’ 28 “There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out. 29 “They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God.

You cannot lift up the shield of faith, if you never had
Biblical faith in the first place!

What is the “NARROW GATE” that Jesus speaks of? It is a relationship with Him. Who are those who are shut out of the Kingdom of God? It is recorded in

Matthew 7:13-14 (NKJV) Enter by the narrow gate; for wide [is] the gate and broad [is] the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 “Because narrow [is] the gate and difficult [is] the way which leads to life, and THERE ARE FEW WHO FIND IT.

People chase after religion. They attend Church. They may tithe, or give to the poor. But do they walk with Jesus? If you walk with Jesus day by day, when the fiery darts of Satan come your way, you LIFT UP JESUS. You go to Him in prayer. You seek His face in the scripture. I am not talking about a works salvation. I am talking about a COVENANT RELATIONSHIP where you give your life to Jesus. Not just to go to Heaven. But to go through each day on this earth.

When Satan shoots his fiery darts, where do you run? What do you raised up? A doctor? A professional man? Do you worry, and fret, and let what you are going through ruin your day? Or do you pray? Do you invite the Jesus Who loved you and gave Himself for you into the matter. Do you turn to the Word of God, finding comfort in its pages? Or do you try and handle it yourself?

Only through Jesus Christ can you “be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked”. Every trial that comes your way gives you an opportunity to draw closer to Him Who loves you so. Christ is sufficient. When the wicked fire at you, do as David did, trusting that:

Psalm 18:2 (ESV) The LORD is my Rock and my Fortress and my Deliverer, my God, my Rock, in whom I take refuge, MY SHIELD, and the horn of my salvation, my Stronghold.

Amen!

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Better To Walk With God

Posted on March 13, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by Jad Limcaco on Unsplash

Proverbs 28:6 Better is the poor that walketh in His uprightness, than he that is PERVERSE {ʿiqqēš, crooked, twisted, distorted} in his ways, though he be rich.

Beware The Call Of Riches

This proverb is not telling us that riches are necessarily evil. There were well off people – like Joanna the wife of Chufa, the household manager of King Herod of Galilee. We are told in Luke 8:1-3 that she helped Jesus and his ministry financially. Joseph of Arimathea was a rich member of the Sanhedrin. Matthew 27:57-60 tells us that he gave his tomb to Jesus (temporarily anyway). Nicodemus, also a high ranking member of the Sanhedrin, helped prepare Jesus for burial by donating 75 pounds of expensive spices (John 19:39-40). When the Bible talks about those who are chosen to salvation, the Scripture says:

1 Corinthians 1:26 (KJV) For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, NOT MANY NOBLE, [are called]:

We are told “NOT MANY Noble”. It doesn’t say “NOT ANY”. God does call noble or well off people. It’s not a sin to have riches. However, it is a sin to love your riches MORE than you love Jesus. Those who prioritize their riches over their walk with God will find themselves wallowing in perversity. I am certain that Jeffrey Epstein didn’t start out trafficking underaged girls to Little Saint James Island. But as he amassed power and fortune, the darkness grew, and he enticed others into his web of evil.

When you focus on riches apart from Jesus, it is not long before you are absorbed by the darkness!

My Bridges Commentary notes, “A man may walk in his uprightness, and yet be poor. He may be perverse in his ways, and be rich. And yet the poor man, with all his external disadvantages, is better; more honorable, more happy, more useful than the rich, with all his earthly splendor”. It is significant that when Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness in an attempt to derail His ministry before it ever started, that we read:

Matthew 4:8-9 (NKJV) Again, the devil took Him {Jesus} up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their GLORY {doxa}. 9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”

Word Study: What was Satan offering Jesus? He was offering Jesus “GLORY”, the Greek doxa, which refers to the glory of God (John 11:40). The devil wanted Jesus to worship him rather than God, to worship the riches of this earth above God. Many who profess Christ as Savior do the same. They are like the rich young ruler who came to Jesus wanting to inherit eternal life (Luke 18:18). Jesus told the young rich man:

Luke 18:22-27 (NKJV) {Jesus} said to him, “You still lack one thing. SELL ALL THAT YOU HAVE and DISTRIBUTE TO THE POOR, and you will have treasure in heaven; and COME, FOLLOW ME.” 23 But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for HE WAS VERY RICH. 24 And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! 25 “For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 And those who heard it said, “Who then can be saved?” 27 But He said, “THE THINGS WHICH ARE IMPOSSIBLE WITH MEN ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD.”

It is better to be POOR and walk in HIS UPRIGHTNESS, in the way of Christ, than to be rich and twisted! Do you lack something that someone else has? You can obsess over getting what that person has. You can ignore the Tenth Commandment, which was given for our blessing:

Exodus 20:17 (LSB) You SHALL NOT COVET your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife or his male slave or his female slave or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

The Apostle tells us in 1 Timothy 6:6-8 (LSB), “godliness actually is a means of GREAT GAIN, when accompanied by CONTENTMENT. 7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. 8 And if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.”

Be content with the companionship of God Himself. Walk with Jesus, daily, and be at peace.

Believers DO God’s Law

Proverbs 28:7 Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of RIOTOUS {zālal} men shameth his Father.

Our Lord Jesus often quoted the Law of God. Though the Christian is not tied to the ceremonial, sacrificial, or sanitary laws that God gave to Israel (Matthew 5:17), FOR JESUS FULFILLED THEM, we are nonetheless still tied to the two great laws:

Matthew 22:37-40 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 ON THESE TWO COMMANDMENTS HANG ALL THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS.”

A Christian is not to be immoral. We are not to worship idols. We are not to dishonor our parents. We are not to lie, steal, or violate the marital laws. Nine of the Ten Commandments given at Sinai are repeated or reinforced by the Apostles in the New Testament:

1st Command: No other gods — 1 Corinthians 8:6
2nd Command: No idols — 1 John 5:21
3rd Command: Do not take God’s name in vain — James 5:12
5th Command Honor your father and mother — Ephesians 6:1–2
6th Command: Do not murder — Romans 13:9
7th Command: Do not commit adultery — Romans 13:9
8th Command: Do not steal — Romans 13:9
9th Command: Do not bear false witness — Colossians 3:9
10th Command: Do not covet — Romans 13:9

An aside note: The command to keep the Sabbath is not carried forward, as Jesus is our Sabbath rest (Matthew 11:28-29; Mark 2:27-28; Hebrews 4:9-10). We meet on not the Sabbath, but on the first day of the week because this is the day that Jesus resurrected from the dead (John 20:19; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2; Revelation 1:10). An early Pastor named Ignatius of Antioche (110 AD) wrote in a letter to the Magnesians (modern day Turkey):

“Christians are those “who have come to the possession of a new hope, no longer observing the Sabbath, but living according to the Lord’s Day, on which also our life sprang up through Him.”

Another Pastor Justin Martyr (150 AD) wrote:

“On the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place… the memoirs of the apostles and the writings of the prophets are read. … Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly… because Jesus Christ our Savior rose from the dead on the same day.”

Word Study: The wise Child of God will keep the Commands of God. The Christian is called to love God with our all, and to love our neighbor as we would love ourselves. We are called to encourage and remind one another that we are under the Law of Love. And we are to avoid those who are “RIOTOUS”, the Hebrew zālal means “those who are vile, worthless, the ones who make light of God’s Law or consider it insignificant”. We come together as a Church to encourage one another to walk in the Way of Peace (Acts 9:2). We are to avoid walking with those who reject the Christian way of life. The Bible tells us:

1 Corinthians 15:33 (NKJV) Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”

As we have read before:

Proverbs 13:20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

Lift Up, Do Not Tear Down Your Brothers In Christ

Proverbs 28:8-9 He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will PITY THE POOR. 9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even HIS PRAYER SHALL BE AN ABOMINATION.

Verse 8 is telling us that the rich man who got rich by robbing the poor is GATHERING RICHES for the one who pities the poor. The evil labor for riches, but their riches ultimately fall into better hands because of God’s Providence. The Psalmist wrote:

Psalm 140:12 I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and THE RIGHT OF THE POOR.

God specified in His Law:

Exodus 22:24 If you lend money to any of my people WHO ARE POOR among you, you shall NOT BE TO HIM AS A CREDITOR, neither shall you lay upon him USURY

You could loan money to the poor – but were forbidden to charge interest on what you loaned. You could not profit by lending to those who were destitute (see Leviticus 25:36; Deuteronomy 23:19-20; Ezekiel 18:13). To those who did so, ignoring the Law of God, “HIS PRAYER SHALL BE AN ABOMINATION”. God will not hear the prayer.

If you will not hear what God commands by His Voice, God will not hear YOUR VOICE!

God said through the Prophet Zechariah (7:11-13):

Zechariah 7:11-13 (LSB) But they refused to give heed and turned a stubborn shoulder and dulled their ears from hearing. 12 And they made their hearts diamond-hard so that they could not hear the law and the words which Yahweh of hosts had sent by His Spirit by the hand of the former prophets; therefore great wrath came from Yahweh of hosts. 13 And it happened that JUST AS HE CALLED AND THEY WOULD NOT LISTEN, so THEY CALLED AND I WOULD NOT LISTEN,” says Yahweh of hosts

When Nehemiah led the exiled back to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls, he discovered that the well off returning exiles were charging the poor in Jerusalem high rates of interest on loans (Nehemiah 5:1-13). Nehemiah chastised them:

Nehemiah 5:6-10 (LSB) Then I was very angry when I had heard their outcry and these words. 7 I consulted within my own heart and CONTENDED WITH THE NOBLES AND OFFICIALS and said to them, “YOU ARE EXACTING USURY, each from his brother!” Therefore, I held A GREAT ASSEMBLY AGAINST THEM. 8 I said to them, “We, according to our ability, have bought [back] our Jewish brothers who were sold to the nations; and now would you also sell your brothers that they may be sold to us?” Then they were silent and could not find a word [to say]. 9 And I said, “The thing which you are doing is not good; should you not walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies? 10 “And likewise I, my brothers, and my young men are lending them money and grain. Please, LET US FORSAKE THIS USURY.

Those who were offending God “gave back the usury and required nothing from the poor” (Nehemiah 5:12). Believers are not to be greedy – especially against other believers.

Leaders Should Lead Us To God

Proverbs 28:10 Whoso CAUSETH THE RIGHTEOUS {yāšār} TO GO ASTRAY IN AN EVIL WAY, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the UPRIGHT {tāmîm} shall have good things in possession.

The leader who leads the RIGHTEOUS {yāšār}, those who follow the Way of Christ, off the pathway of God, will not profit. We are promised that “he shall fall himself into his own pit”. The Bible uses the word “RIGHTEOUS {yāšār}” for those who seek to walk with God, and honor His Word. The first rule for the leader is that they be “BLAMELESS”. Those who are blameless follow God’s Command to the best of their ability. Perhaps not perfectly, but as sincerely and honestly as possible. The command given believers is:

Philippians 2:14-16 (NKJV) Do all things {the things God says} without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become BLAMELESS {amemptos} and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.

Word Study: Those who are “BLAMELESS {amemptos}” do not deserve to be censured. The Prophet Job was called “BLAMELESS {amemptos} and upright” (Job 1:1; 1:8) in the Septuagint. Those who follow God to the best of their ability are promised blessings and honor. But those who lead others away from the path of righteousness, they will fall into their own pit. My commentary notes:

“The Bible is filled with examples of unrighteous people dragging society away from God and into sin. Potiphar’s wicked wife tried unsuccessfully to seduce Joseph (Genesis 39:7–10). Queen Jezebel introduced Baal worship into Israel and successfully lured her husband and his nation away from the worship of Jehovah (1 Kings 16:30–33; 21:25). Wicked kings such as Manasseh (2 Kings 21:9–12) did the same. Absalom, David’s son, triggered a bloody civil war against his father (2 Samuel 15:12–14). … a person is “blameless” when they cannot be credibly accused by others: they are not perfectly sinless, but they are clearly obedient to God. Proverbs 1:10 is clear: “My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.”

Who Is Wiser?

Proverbs 28:11 The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth Him {God} out.

The Apostle told the rich believer:

1 Timothy 6:17-19 (LSB) Command those WHO ARE RICH in this present age not to be haughty or to set their hope on the uncertainty of riches, BUT ON GOD, who RICHLY SUPPLIES US WITH ALL THINGS TO ENJOY. 18 [Command them] to DO GOOD, to BE RICH IN GOOD WORKS, to be generous and ready to share, 19 storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.

Riches can deceive. They give a false sense of security. The rich man that Jesus spoke of in Luke 16:19-31 thought little of Lazarus until he died. Once he died and “lifted up his eyes in hell”, suddenly Lazarus became important to him. “Send Lazarus to me with a drop of water to cool my thirst”. The rich man would have given every business and every penny he owed just to get a drop of water in hell!

The poor man understands that our only security in this life or the life to come is to know the Lord Jesus, and to seek Him out daily. To watch for Him in the storms of life, to follow Him onto the water.

Proverbs 28:12 When righteous men do rejoice, there is great glory: but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden.

Vote For The Righteous Person

When righteous people are celebrated, the nation is blessed. When unrighteous people rise to power, people go into hiding. We saw a similar statement in …

Proverbs 11:10-11 (LSB) When it goes WELL WITH THE RIGHTEOUS, the CITY EXULTS, And when the WICKED PERISH, there is JOYFUL SHOUTING. 11 By THE BLESSING OF THE UPRIGHT A CITY IS RAISED UP, But BY THE MOUTH OF THE WICKED IT IS TORN DOWN.

Los Angeles and New York City once were beautiful cities. Yet today, the streets are like open landfills. Rats roam through the streets and throughout the places where people live. Drug abusers are given free needles, and once used, these disease coated daggers are tossed into the street for children to find. People need to understand that the genuine spiritual state of the leader they vote for will be reflected in the policies he espouses once he enters office.

Fools Will Not Forsake Sin

Proverbs 28:13-14 He that COVERETH HIS SINS SHALL NOT PROSPER: but whoso CONFESSETH and FORSAKETH them shall have mercy. 14 Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.

Our God will cover sin, but he is the only One Who can effectively cover sin. This is GRACE. The Psalmist wrote:

Psalm 82:5 Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, THOU HAST COVERED ALL THEIR SIN. SELAH.

The word “SELAH” means “to REST”. You can rest when God covers your sins. But God will not cover your sins unless you REPENT. To REPENT means to CONFESS that sin unto God while FORSAKING the sin, ceasing to do it. The sinner who is not forgiven is the one who attempts to cover his own sin. Like Adam using fig leaves, when we attempt to cover our sin, it is very ineffective. The prideful sinner will redefine sin, or else deflect blame onto another. It will do not God. As God has said,

Numbers 32:23 … ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure YOUR SIN WILL FIND YOU OUT

The Bible promises that “whatever sin you sow, you will reap its consequences” (Galatians 6:7). Why? Because “God watches – and all things are unhidden to God” (Hebrews 4:13). As Jesus told us,

Luke 8:17 For nothing is secret, that SHALL NOT BE MADE MANIFEST; neither any thing hid, that SHALL NOT BE KNOWN and COME ABROAD.

The smart person, the wise believer, fears sin always and confesses it as soon as it is perceived. When Moses went to Pharaoh and demanded that he let God’s people go, the Bible tells us:

Exodus 8:15, 32 when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, HE HARDENED HIS HEART, and he hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said. 32 Pharaoh HARDENED HIS HEART at this time also, and he would not let the people go.

It was only after several attempts that we read:

Exodus 9:12 the LORD HARDENED THE HEART OF PHARAOH, and he hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had spoken unto Moses. (see also 10:1, 20, 27).

We need to keep short accounts with God. When convicted of sin, confess it and put it under the Blood of Christ. Only by loving obedience will God bless us. Blessed be the Name of the Lord!

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Ephesians 6:15 The Gospel of Peace

Posted on March 10, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by Tim Wildsmith on Unsplash

Ephesians 6:15 And your feet shod with THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE;

Introduction

When the Roman soldier went into battle, he went with the Belt, the Breastplate, and the Boots. The Belt was a wide swath of leather tightly bound around your lower stomach, and though not a part of the armor, it was what all the armor attached to. The Breastplate was a bronze or iron piece that covered your upper torso, protecting your heart, lungs, and bowels from damage by sword, spear, or arrow. The Boots that the soldier wore were called CALIGAE. The sole of the Caliga (single boot) had multiple layers of leather, built up to ¾ to 1 inch thick. Iron studs were driven through the outsole, so that the boot was cleatedfor stability. The inner sole was from a single piece of leather that protected the foot from the studs, and it extended upward into long straps that made a lattice that surrounded the calf of the leg. The Caliga, when laced up, fit snug to the leg and foot, preventing the soldier from forming blisters on long marches. The open lattice of the Caliga meant that water and sand easily drained away from the feet, and gave good ventilation.

One of the earliest defensive weapons employed against soldiers was sharpened sticks, hidden in the grass or in sand. The sticks were poisoned, and if a soldier stepped on them it would drive into the foot, crippling and maybe killing. The Caligae were so thick they could not be penetrated, making the Roman Army nearly invincible.

As the Apostle compares the weaponry that we as Christians are to employ against our enemy the devil, he ties the:

Roman BELT = The Biblical TRUTH
Roman BREASTPLATE = Imputed RIGHTEOUSNESS from Christ
Roman BOOT = PREPARATION of the GOSPEL

The Boot Is The PREPARATION Of The Gospel

Word Study: What does that mean, “THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE”. Let’s break this down. The word translated “PREPARATION” is the Greek hetoimasia (pro. het-oy-mas-ee’-ah) which means “to be prepared or ready for a thing”. The word is only used here in the New Testament, but it is also used in the Septuagint (the early Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible) in:

Psalm 10:17 (BES) The Lord has heard the desire of the poor: THINE EAR HAS INCLINED TO THE PREPARATION {hetoimasia} OF THEIR HEART;

When a poor person, a person in need humbles themselves and cries out to God, then God hears their cry and PREPARES or READIES their heart.

This is how the Gospel is heard. The boots or Caligae that the Christian soldier wears is NOT the Gospel. It is the HEART that has been EFFECTED BY THE GOSPEL. A lot of people HEAR the Gospel, but do not humble their hearts to it. Our Lord Jesus said:

Luke 4:18-19 (KJV) The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon me, because he hath anointed me to PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR {ptōchos, those reduced to begging, the lowly, afflicted}; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

When Jesus spoke of the POOR, He was not talking about those who had no money. He was talking about broken people. Who will hear the Gospel? Those who have all they need, the beautiful people, the well off, the healthy, the mentally stable, they will not hear the Gospel. Though God would rain down the Gospel as “manna from heaven” (John 6:31), they would rather have meat than manna. They would complain over manna, disparage it, mock God for offering it. But to those who are POOR …. and Jesus defined the POOR in Luke 4:

the POOR are BROKENHEARTED
the POOR are IMPRISONED
The POOR are BLIND
The POOR are ENSLAVED to an abusive master

The POOR are at the end of their rope. They have tried all things, but nothing helps. Now the POOR stand before God broken, desperate. Like the song Jamie MacDonald sings:

“Oh God I’m desperate,
Down on my knees,
Send help from Heaven
Cause that’s what I need,
Redeem this wreckage,
Restore my Peace
I’m not asking, I’m begging,
Lord come through for me!
Lord I’m desperate!

These are not Gospel boots. These are the RESULT of the Gospel of Peace, the FRUIT of salvation. Only the REAL Gospel will make the REAL Caligae.

The False Boots Of The False Gospel

As I discuss this, I will look to the Book of Galatians. Turn there, if you will.

The devil has been trying to sell the Church and the world a false gospel since the beginning of time. The false gospel crept into the early Church, and creeps into the Church even today. When Paul wrote to the Church at Galatia, he described the Gospel in three verses:

Galatians 1:3-5 (NKJV) Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord JESUS CHRIST WHO GAVE HIMSELF FOR OUR SINS, that He might DELIVER US FROM THIS PRESENT EVIL AGE, ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF OUR GOD and Father, 5 TO WHOM BE GLORY forever and ever. Amen.

The Gospel is given by GRACE. “By GRACE you have been saved THROUGH FAITH – and that NOT OF YOURSELVES; it is the GIFT OF GOD, NOT OF WORKS” (Ephesians 2:8-9). The Gospel is a gift that God gives to the broken. It is “JESUS CHRIST WHO GAVE HIMSELF FOR OUR SINS”. The work is entirely of God. We neither earn it, nor deserve it. We receive it when we SURRENDER our BROKEN LIVES to God, and turn ourselves over to the “LORD Jesus Christ”. Paul tells us “If BY GRACE, then it is NO LONGER WORKS, otherwise GRACE IS NO LONGER GRACE” (Romans 11:6). You do not WORK to be saved. You SURRENDER to be saved. You REPENT of being your own god or goddess, and commit your way unto your Creator, Your Savior and Lord.

Jesus GAVE HIMSELF FOR OUR SINS so that we could be at peace with God. Jesus “GAVE HIMSELF” that He might “DELIVER US FROM THIS PRESENT EVIL AGE”. Once saved, we are NOT part of the darkness. Jesus “SAVES HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS” (Matthew 1:21).

Those who are saved do not WORK to be saved. But once saved, we WORK for God, not for evil. We are to WALK in GOOD WORKS (Ephesians 2:10). Attached to Jesus our Vine, we bear fruit that honors Him. (John 15:5)

Those who are saved by the Gospel live our lives after salvation “ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF OUR GOD and Father”. We “WALK HUMBLY with our GOD” (Micah 6:8). We walk where He sends us, trusting in Him. We do not walk according to our desires, but do as God says:

Romans 8:1, 4-5 (NKJV) [There is] therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who DO NOT WALK ACCORDING TO THE FLESH, but ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT. … 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who DO NOT WALK ACCORDING TO THE FLESH BUT ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those [who live] according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

The modern Church has taught a false Gospel, an ineffective Gospel, a Gospel that does not call for REPENTANCE and surrender. The modern Church – much like ancient Gnosticism – has taught that salvation is no more than a punched ticket to Heaven. Or, in the case of those Churches that follow the way of Galatia, they make salvation to be what Christ did PLUS a sacrament that I must fulfill. This is what had afflicted the Church at Galatia. They were told by the Pharisees among them,

“Salvation is belief in Jesus PLUS circumcision”

What did the Apostle say about these teachings? He said,

Galatians 1:6-9 (NKJV) I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, TO A DIFFERENT GOSPEL 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to PERVERT THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, LET HIM BE ACCURSED. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, LET HIM BE ACCURSED.

Word Study: The word rendered “ACCURSED” is the Greek anathema, which means “to be bound under a strong curse”. Those who hear and receive the false gospel are bound under a strong curse. They believe that THEY are good enough to get themselves to Heaven, and that JESUS NEEDS THEIR HELP.

When you receive a false gospel, a feel good or prosperity gospel, a gospel that does not recognize REPENTANCE and REGENERATION (new birth), then you have a gospel that makes poor and defective Caligae.

Several times in our context of Ephesians 6, the Apostle mentions STANDING:

Ephesians 6:11 (KJV) Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to STAND against the wiles of the devil.

Ephesians 6:13 (KJV) Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to STAND.

Ephesians 6:14 (KJV) STAND therefore …

The false gospel tells you that it is Jesus + YOU that saves you. So, what happens when you stumble? Then you begin to think, “Well, I’ve lost my salvation! I’m no good. I failed God!” Suddenly you have no shoes. The fake shoes you had on could not protect you. Beloved, you cannot do battle with the devil and his forces while you are worrying about your salvation.

The True Gospel Is A God Gospel

The true Gospel will PREPARE the heart. The Apostle Paul used to persecute Christians. But under the Gospel, Saul changed to Paul, and he now PROMOTES the Gospel. He says:

Galatians 1:11-16 (NKJV) But I make known to you, brethren, that THE GOSPEL WHICH WAS PREACHED BY ME IS NOT ACCORDING TO MAN 12 For I NEITHER RECEIVED IT FROM MAN, NOR WAS I TAUGHT IT, but [it came] through the revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and [tried to] destroy it. … 15 But when it pleased God, WHO SEPARATED ME FROM MY MOTHER’S WOMB, AND CALLED ME THROUGH HIS GRACE 16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood,

When he was known as “Saul”, the Apostle persecuted the Church. If he did not kill Christians, he was instrumental in leading them to death an imprisonment. Paul was absolutely unworthy to be an Apostle. But God chose him. Jesus called him. Saul believed the Gospel, repented, and became Paul through the Grace of God.

The true Gospel changes a person. Before he was saved, Saul thought that he was doing good when he persecuted Christians. But what he thought was right, was wrong. He was at war with God, and didn’t even realize it. He was sincere, but sincerely deluded. The Bible says:

Romans 5:1 (KJV) Therefore being justified by faith, we have PEACE WITH GOD THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

Ephesians 2:13–19 (ESV) But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been BROUGHT NEAR BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST. 14 For HE HIMSELF IS OUR PEACE, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might RECONCILE IS BOTH TO GOD IN ONE BODY THROUGH THE CROSS, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And HE CAME AND PREACHED PEACE to you who were far off and PEACE TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are NO LONGER STRANGERS AND ALIENS, but you are FELLOW CITIZENS with the saints and members of the household of God,

The true Gospel is a God Gospel. It is initiated by God, offered to an unbelieving and worthless person. It is freely given – but it demands your life. The true Gospel is a SURE Gospel, because it changes the recipient. We read:

1 John 5:13 (ESV) I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that YOU MAY KNOW YOU HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.

John 1:12 (ESV) But to all who did RECEIVE HIM, who BELIEVED IN HIS NAME, He gave THE RIGHT TO BECOME THE CHILDREN OF GOD

The boots that the Gospel makes cling to you. They make you sure footed. They are not based on man made precepts, but on what God – Who cannot lie – has promised. The enemy knows that the quickest way to defeat us is to strike at the feet. To get us to wear fake boots, boots that look nice but do not protect the feet. Silly Christian! You cannot save yourself, and you cannot keep yourself saved. Who gets the glory? God. God the Father. God the Son. God the Holy Spirit. God, not us.

Galatians 3:13-14 (NKJV) Christ HAS REDEEMED US FROM THE CURSE OF THE LAW, having BECOME A CURSE FOR US (for it is written, “Cursed [is] everyone who hangs on a tree”), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that WE MIGHT RECEIVE THE PROMISE OF THE SPIRIT THROUGH FAITH.

Once we receive the Grace of God by faith, God sends His Holy Spirit to us. The Holy Spirit changes us from the inside out. He indwells us permanently. He guides us into all truth. He manifests the Presence of God in our lives. Pastor C.H. Spurgeon wrote:

“When we know that, as the Lord looks on us, His glance is full of infinite, undivided affection, that He sees us in Jesus Christ as cleansed from every speck of sin, and as “accepted in the beloved,” that by virtue of a complete atonement we are forever reconciled to God, then do we march through life without fear, booted and buskined for all the exigencies of the way, yea, ready to plunge through fire and water, thorn and thistle, bush and briar, without fear. A man at peace with God dreads neither the ills of life nor the terrors of death. Poverty, sickness, persecution, and pain have lost their sting when sin is pardoned. What is there that a man needs to fear when he knows that in no affliction will there be any trace of the judicial anger of God, but all will come from a Father’s hand and work his lasting good.”

People desperately need the Gospel! Not the man made Gospel, but the Gospel of Christ.

Do You Know The Gospel?

Ephesians 6:15 And your FEET shod with THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE;

Pastor Sandy Willson wrote in the book “Christ Has Set Us Free” about guilt. I wanted to read this to you, because I thought it was so good.

“I was preaching about a hundred miles from my home, and after my message a young lady, ‘Betsy’, came to me and said, ‘My aunt lives in your town. Her name is Mary Jones. Do you know her?’ She wanted the Pastor to call her when he got home, and tell her that Betsy was thinking about her. So when the got home he called Mary.

‘Mary, this is Sandy Willson’. ‘Sandy Willson? You’re calling about the pine cones aren’t you?’ ‘Pine cones?’ he asked. ‘Oh, you’re not calling about the pine cones – now I’m really embarrassed. You see, Reverend Willson, just last week I was rushing home to a luncheon I was hosting, and I desperately needed some pine cones for my centerpiece. As I drove in front of your Church, I noticed good pine cones in your front yard. I feel terrible about it, and I was afraid you saw me through your windows as I sneaked into your church yard to take them. I’m so embarrassed!’ I interupted her to say, ‘Mary, your niece Betsy wanted me to call and say hello. And you can take pine cones from our church yard any time you want’”.

People desperately need Jesus. Guilt drives us, gives us anxiety, and causes mental break downs. Psychiatrist Dr. Karl Menninger (1893-1990) stated:

“If I could convince the patients in psychiatric hospitals that their sins were forgiven, 75% of them could walk out the next day.”

The Gospel that God gives us is the Gospel of PEACE. Not of worry, but of PEACE. When you give your life to Jesus Christ, and He saves you, the boots or Caligae you put on is the assurance that God is your Father, and that He is watching over you. As you walk from place to place, while snug in these Caligae, you naturally have peace with God and peace with others and peace with yourself. When someone believes that they “must do penance”, this is a rock in the shoe. Penance does nothing. What you need to do is REPENTANCE. Turn your sins, turn your failures over to Jesus.

The Caligae are laced tight to the legs. The lace on the Gospel Caligae is the Blood of Christ. Not your works, but His.

God is righteous, perfect, without flaw. “Righteousness and judgment are the foundation of His Throne” (Psalm 97:2). God commands that we be righteous (Deuteronomy 6:24-25) – but “There is no one righteous. No one. By my works following the Law, I cannot be righteous. The Law teaches me that I am unable – I need the Savior” (Romans 3:10, 20). So how shall I be righteous?

I must come to Jesus Christ surrendered.
I must ask Him to impute righteousness to me.

Romans 3:21-26 (LSB) But now apart from the Law [the] righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even [the] RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith, for a demonstration of His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; 26 for the demonstration of His righteousness at the present time, so that HE WOULD BE THE JUST AND THE JUSTIFIER OF THE ONE WHO HAS FAITH IN JESUS.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (LSB) He made Him who knew no sin [to be] sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Other religions teach that you get close to their god by doing this work or that work. Christianity states that when you give yourself to God through Jesus, that God Himself takes you on as a son, as a heir, and as an ongoing project.

My hope is built on nothing less,
than Jesus’ Blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus Name!

Once saved by the Grace of God, we walk with God in the Caligae He gave us. If our boots become unlaced, we confess our sin, and return to Him to tighten the laces through His loving forgiveness. Praise Him for the peace of God that passes all understanding!

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Titus 1:5-6 To Set In Order

Posted on March 8, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by Ivan Sabayuki on Unsplash

Titus 1:5-6For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest SET IN ORDER THE THINGS THAT ARE WANTING, and ORDAIN ELDERS IN EVERY CITY, as I had appointed thee: 6 If any be blameless, THE HUSBAND OF ONE WIFE, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.

Set In Order That Which Is Wanting

Word Study: The two Pastoral Epistles – Timothy and Titus – were given by God through the Apostle Paul. The purpose of the epistles are to “SET IN ORDER THE THINGS THAT ARE WANTING”. That phrase is the Greek epidiorthoō ho leipō, which means “to straighten up that which is lacking”.

When the Apostle Paul went to Crete with Timothy, the largest Island in Greece, he preached the Gospel of salvation and many were “saved through faith in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:8-9). We don’t know how many were saved, but we do know that the Apostle did not have time to set up Churches in Crete. God was calling Paul to Nicopolis, a Roman city in Northwestern Greece. So God the Holy Spirit – through Paul – gave an instruction book to Titus to help finish the work. What was the first thing Titus was supposed to do?

ORDAIN ELDERS IN EVERY CITY

Titus was to ordain elders “IN EVERY CITY”. The Roman Historian Pliny the Elder said that Crete had about 100 cities. There were a lot of Christians in Crete because of the abundant Grace of God. But there was something lacking.

Elders {presbyteros = “Those who are of age, Elders”}

Word Study: Elders are the Spiritual Leaders in the Church. The word “Elders {presbyteros}” is imported into Christianity from Judaism (Matthew 16:21; 21:23; Luke 7:3; Acts 4:8). The Elders among the Jews sat on the Sanhedrin, the Ruling Council of Israel, and also acted as the Spiritual Leaders in the Synagogues. We are told in …

1 Timothy 5:17 (KJV) Let the ELDERS {presbyteros} that RULE WELL well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who LABOR IN THE WORD AND DOCTRINE.

Word Study: The function of the Elder is to “LABOR IN THE WORD AND DOCTRINE”. To prayerfully study the Scripture, the Word of God, and to extract DOCTRINES {didaskalia, teaching and instruction} to share within the Church.

The ELDERS are called to RULE WELL, which means that this is an authoritative position. The Elders are to focus on the spiritual health of the local Church.

Illustrate Elders: There are several of you in this Church that have different names. I found out that Brother Witherspoon is called “Spoonie”, Loyd, Harvel, and his wife Frances is called “Catherine”. The office of Elder has more than one name. We read in:

Acts 20:17-18, 28-31 (KJV) And from Miletus {the Apostle Paul} sent to Ephesus, and CALLED THE ELDERS {presbyteros} OF THE CHURCH. 18 And when they were come to him, he said unto them.. 28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and TO ALL THE FLOCK, over the which THE HOLY SPIRIT HATH MADE YOU OVERSEERS {episkopos} to FEED THE CHURCH OF GOD, which He hath purchased with His own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall GRIEVOUS WOLVES ENTER IN AMONG YOU, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of YOUR OWN SELVES SHALL MEN ARISE, speaking PERVERSE THINGS, to DRAW AWAY DISCIPLES AFTER THEM. 31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

Word Study: Before Paul left Ephesus he called the ELDERS {presbyteros} together to warn them. Paul called the ELDERS “OVERSEERS {episkopos}”. This word is translated in the King James as both Overseer and Bishop. The Elder’s job is to be the OVERSEER. The Elder is charged with authoritatively seeing that things in the Church are done Scripturally, and in a Christ honoring manner. In the other Pastoral Epistle the Apostle says:

1 Timothy 3:2 (KJV) A BISHOP {episkopos, Overseer} then must be blameless, THE HUSBAND OF ONE WIFE …

Paul warned the Elders, also called the Overseers (or Bishops in the KJV) that the Church is purchased by the Blood of Christ. The Church belongs to Jesus, not to us. And there would be false elders, false overseers who would rise up to “DRAW AWAY DISCIPLES AFTER THEMselves”. The Elders were to stay focused on feeding “ ALL THE FLOCK, over the which THE HOLY SPIRIT HATH MADE YOU OVERSEERS {episkopos}.

Word Study: That brings us to another name given to the Elder, besides Overseer or Bishop. The Church is the FLOCK OF CHRIST. Jesus said, “I am THE GOOD SHEPHERD, and know MY SHEEP, and am known of mine” (John 10:14-16). The Overseer (Bishop) or the Elder is to watch over ALL THE FLOCK that God has entrusted to us. The other title for the Spiritual Leader of Christ’s Flock is “PASTOR” {poimēn, Shepherds}. As we saw earlier, the Elder (Overseer/ Bishop/ Pastor) is given the office by the Holy Spirit of God. Paul tells us in:

Ephesians 4:11-12 (KJV) And He {the Holy Spirit} gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, PASTORS {poimēn, Shepherds} and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

The Apostles and Prophets wrote the Scripture as God gave them direction. The Evangelists focus on spreading the Gospel among the lost, with the intent of leading others into the flock, the Church. ThePASTORS {poimēn, Shepherds} work within the flock to advance the spiritual growth of the believer (the saints) so that they might do the work of the ministry, building up the Body of Christ.

The office of PASTOR/ OVERSEER/ ELDER is an authoritative preaching and teaching position in the Church. As a SHEPHERD the Pastor insures the flock stays true to the Word of God. As an OVERSEER the Pastor is entrusted with the truths of Scripture, and with authority teaches these truths to the Church.

A Christian cannot long stand outside of the Church. I have heard people say, “I can be a Christian, and yet not go to Church, and not have a Pastor”. You won’t last if you do. Satan loves lone sheep. The Bible says that Satan “your adversary the devil, AS A ROARING LION, walketh about, SEEKING WHOM HE MAY DEVOUR” (1 Peter 5:8). If you’ve ever watched a nature show on television (and I love to watch them), which animal does the lion attack and eat alive? The creature in the safety of the herd or flock has a much better chance of survival. If you are a Christian, you need a Pastor/ Elder/ Overseer that loves the Bible, and will, without flinching, tell you exactly what God has said. So many say “Well, I sit at home and watch Charles Stanley or Adrian Rogers or _whoever____”. Charles Stanley said before going to be with Jesus April 18, 2023:

“The church is not a building. It is the body of Christ made up of believers who gather to worship, learn, and serve. … we strengthen one another and remind each other of God’s truth.”

As we read before, Paul told Titus to “SET IN ORDER THE THINGS THAT ARE WANTING, and ORDAIN ELDERS IN EVERY CITY”. The Christian should have a Pastor/ Elder/ Overseer. The Christian should be in a Church regularly. The Christian should want to minister, to act as a believer/ Priest, not just in the Church, but outside of the Church.

Let’s Go Back To The Beginning …

Titus 1:6 If any be blameless, the HUSBAND OF ONE WIFE

As God the Holy Spirit through Paul tells Titus – a Gentile and not a Jew – that as Pastors/ Elders/ Overseers are set apart for each congregation, that they must be the HUSBAND OF ONE WIFE. This is a requirement of the office of the Pastor. Some have risen up and stated – even in our own denomination – that women can be as good Pastor as a man can be. Feminism has crept into Churches, and has begun to push this narrative.

But what does the Bible say?

First of all, both women and men are equally important in the Church. We see this on the Day of Pentecost. Before our Lord Jesus ascended into Heaven, He told His disciples:

Acts 1:4-5, 8 Do not depart from Jerusalem, but WAIT FOR THE PROMISE OF THE FATHER that I told you about. You will be BAPTIZED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT in a few days. You WILL RECEIVE POWER when THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES ON YOU, and YOU WILL BE WITNESSES UNTO ME in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth”.

After Jesus ascended to glory, 120 gathered in prayer. Who were in the Upper Room? We read …

Acts 1:14 (KJV) These ALL CONTINUED WITH ONE ACCORD in prayer and supplication, WITH THE WOMEN, AND MARY THE MOTHER OF JESUS, and with his brethren.

Women were in that Upper Room praying, waiting for the promise of the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit came and anointed those believers, we read:

Acts 2:1-4 (KJV) … when the day of Pentecost was fully come, THEY WERE ALL WITH ONE ACCORD IN ONE PLACE. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there APPEARED UNTO THEM cloven tongues like as of fire, and IT SAT UPON EACH OF THEM. 4 And THEY WERE ALL FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

It was not just the men, but ALL were touched by God. ALL were filled with the Holy Spirit. ALL were given the ability to speak not gibberish, but earthly languages so they could share the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ to the crowd.

Acts 2:6-8 (KJV) EVERY MAN HEARD THEM SPEAK IN HIS OWN LANGUAGE … they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? 8 And HOW HEAR WE EVERY MAN {hēmōn, every PERSON, men and women} IN OUR OWN TONGUE, WHEREIN WE WERE BORN?

The crowd was being evangelized. Both men and women were sharing their faith, the faith of the Lord jesus Christ. The crowd was saying “We do hear them speak in our tongues THE WONDERFUL WORKS OF GOD.” (Acts 2:11).

The Apostle Peter stood up {as an ELDER would do} and said that this was a fulfillment of the prophesy found in Joel 2:28-32

Acts 2:16-18 (KJV) But this is that which was spoken by the Prophet Joel; 17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT UPON ALL FLESH: and YOUR SONS and YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18 And on my servants and ON MY HANDMAIDENS I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and THEY SHALL PROPHESY:

What does it mean “to PROPHECY”? Someone who prophesies hears the Word of God, and shares that Word of God to others without adjustment. You say what God has said. Period.

Mary Did This: When Jesus Christ rose from the grave, who was the first to see Him in His glory? It was Mary Magdalene. And Jesus told Mary:

John 20:17-18 (KJV) Jesus saith unto {Mary}, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but GO TO MY BRETHREN, and SAY UNTO THEM, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and [to] my God, and your God. 18 MARY MAGDALENE CAME AND TOLD THE DISCIPLES that she had seen the Lord, and [that] HE HAD SPOKEN THESE THINGS UNTO HER.

Men should share the Word of God. Women should share the Word of God. This is PROPHECY. It is not limited to male or female. And it’s not mysterious. The one who prophesies does not add to God’s Word. Mary Magdalene acted as a Prophet when she carried Jesus’ message to the Apostles. But Mary was not an Apostle, nor was she a Pastor/ Elder/ Overseer.

In the New Testament we see that Philip, one of the first Deacons (Acts 6:5), was also an Evangelist (Acts 8:5-6). Because of Philip the Gospel was introduced to Ethiopia (Acts 8:30-39). The Bible says:

Acts 21:9 (KJV) And the same man had FOUR DAUGHTERS, virgins, WHICH DID PROPHECY.

And yet, these daughters were not Elders/ Overseers/ Pastors. They are not even called “Prophets”. They prophesied. They shared the Word of God with others. The Apostle Paul talks about women prophesying in:

1 Corinthians 11:5-6 (KJV) But EVERY WOMAN THAT PRAYETH OR PROPHESIETH with [her] head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. 6 For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.

The Apostle specifies how the woman is to be who prays or prophesies – but he does not say they cannot pray or prophesy.

But the same Paul who wrote this under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, also wrote this in Timothy:

1 Timothy 2:11-14 (KJV) Let THE WOMAN learn in silence with all subjection. 12 But I SUFFER NOT {do not allow} a WOMAN TO TEACH, NOR TO USURP AUTHORITY OVER THE MAN, but to be in silence. 13 For ADAM WAS FIRST FORMED, then Eve. 14 And ADAM WAS NOT DECEIVED, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

We Went Back To The Beginning At Pentecost.
Let’s Go Back To The VERY Beginning.

When you read your Bibles, you need to remember that the original text had no chapter nor verses in it. The Pastoral Epistle we call 1 Timothy is a single letter with no divisions originally in it. Just as God started out with Titus, telling him to

Titus 1:5 SET IN ORDER THE THINGS THAT ARE WANTING, and ORDAIN ELDERS (Overseers/ Pastors) IN EVERY CITY

Paul does the same thing with Timothy. Now, Titus was a Gentile from a Gentile culture, and God gave Titus direction based on the culture he was in. Timothy is a Jew establishing Churches in Ephesus (1 Timothy 1:3). What was in Ephesus? A major pagan Temple dedicated to the worship of the goddess Artemis (Acts 19:23-41).

The Temple of Artemis (a.k.a. Diana) was one of the largest and wealthiest religious institutions in Ephesus. It was headed by a High Priestess, the Chief Religious figure.

This is why God tells Paul to tell Timothy:

1 Timothy 2:11-12 (KJV) Let THE WOMAN learn in silence with all subjection. 12 But I SUFFER NOT {do not allow} a WOMAN TO TEACH, NOR TO USURP AUTHORITY OVER THE MAN, but to be in silence.

He’s not talking about women sharing the Gospel. God is saying, “Unlike the pagans, the worshipers of Artemis, the Church is to be spiritually led by a MAN, not a woman”. Well, Paul, why is that? Isn’t that a type of misogyny? Paul doesn’t hate women. Jesus didn’t hate women. God doesn’t hate women. Paul explains himself:

1 Timothy 2:13-14 (KJV) For ADAM WAS FIRST FORMED, then Eve. 14 And ADAM WAS NOT DECEIVED, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

God takes it back to the order of Creation itself. When God created Man, He made the MALE FIRST from the dust of the ground (Genesis 2:7). Once God made the MALE, He called Adam to OVERSEE THE GARDEN OF EDEN:

Genesis 2:15-17 (NKJV) Then the LORD God TOOK THE MAN and PUT HIM IN THE GARDEN of Eden to TEND IT AND TO KEEP IT. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 “but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

It was only after God commissioned Adam – the MAN – as OVERSEER of the Garden, that God made Eve from one of Adam’s ribs (Genesis 2:21-22). Adam was the OVERSEE not just the Garden, BUT THE MARRIAGE. Because Adam failed to do his job, the Bible tells us:

Romans 5:12, 14 (KJV) Wherefore, as BY ONE MAN sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: … 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

Sin entered the world because one MAN sinned. God promised redemption through another MAN, but that MAN would come through the woman (Genesis 3:15). As you look through your Bibles, every Bible Covenant was given by God TO MEN, not WOMEN.

Whether it was Adam, Abraham, Moses, David or Jesus, every Covenant went through men. Why? Because of God’s design in the Garden. When Jesus chose Apostles, who did He choose? Twelve MEN (Matthew 10:2). When Jesus chose an Apostle to replace Judas Iscariot, who did He choose? A man named Paul (1 Corinthians 9:1). Every Book of the Bible was written by MEN as God gave them utterance.

God made men first, and calls men to lead and protect the covenant of marriage. I’ve referred to this text before …

Ephesians 5:22-23 (NKJV) WIVES, SUBMIT TO YOUR OWN HUSBANDS, AS TO THE LORD. 23 For THE HUSBAND IS HEAD OF THE WIFE, AS also CHRIST IS HEAD OF THE CHURCH; and He is the Savior of the body.

There is a creation order at play in the marriage, and in the Church. As you read further in 1 Timothy, right after Paul references the creation order he states:

1 Timothy 3:1-2 (KJV) This [is] a true saying, If a MAN desire the OFFICE OF A BISHOP (episkopē, episkopos = OVERSEER) , he desireth a good work. 2 A BISHOP then must be blameless, THE HUSBAND OF ONE WIFE …

There is a creation order difference between men and women. God made men to lead in the marriage, and in the Church. That does not mean that women cannot serve. Women served at the empty tomb. Women served on the Day of Pentecost. Women served in the early Church. Praise God for women who prophesy, who share the Word of the Gospel with others. We are told in:

Acts 18:24-26 (KJV) And a certain Jew named APOLLOS, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, [and] MIGHTY IN THE SCRIPTURES, CAME TO EPHESUS. 25 This MAN WAS INSTRUCTED IN THE WAY OF THE LORD; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, KNOWING ONLY THE BAPTISM OF JOHN. 26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when AQUILA AND PRISCILLA had heard, they took him unto [them], and EXPOUNDED UNTO HIM THE WAY OF GOD MORE PERFECTLY.

Apollos knew about the coming Messiah, but did not know that Jesus had come. He knew “ONLY THE BAPTISM OF JOHN”. When they heard him preaching one day, a married couple named “AQUILA AND PRISCILLA” (tent makers by trade who were students of the Apostle Paul– Acts 18:2-3) took Apollos to the side and “EXPOUNDED UNTO HIM THE WAY OF GOD MORE PERFECTLY”. Both husband and wife shared the truth that Christ had come and risen from the grave.

Why Does It Matter If The Overseer Is A Man?

Yes, a woman can teach – but not in the Office of Overseer/ Pastor/ Elder. Yes, a woman can prophesy – but not in the Office of Overseer/ Pastor/ Elder. Not according to the Scripture, which is God’s Word. Why does it matter? I go back to what Paul told the Overseers/ Pastors/ Elders in

Acts 20:29-30 (KJV) For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also OF YOUR OWN SELVES SHALL MEN ARISE, SPEAKING PERVERSE THINGS, to draw away disciples after them.

Every mainline denomination that ordained women as Pastors has followed the same trajectory. The Episcopal Church ordained women in 1976. By 2003 they ordained an openly gay Bishop. By 2015, they normalized same sex marriages. Now they support transgenderism, while their Bishops deny the resurrection of Christ our Lord. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Presbyterian Church USA, the United Methodists are all following the same pattern. You cannot name a mainline denomination that ordained a woman as Pastor who maintains Biblical integrity. The message they usually promote is “Well, that was THEN, but this is NOW”. Over and over again Satan has infiltrated local Churches, following this pattern:

Call “Biblical Leadership” OPPRESSION of women
Ordain women as “Pastors” to show you’re “enlightened”
Then the Church abandons Biblical sexuality in one generation
Which leads to the Church abandoning Biblical Christianity

Does it matter? Yes, it does. Either the Bible is ALL of God’s Word, or the Bible is NONE of God’s Word. We cannot cherry pick Scripture. As I close, I need to remind you that Jesus Christ was born a Man – not a Woman – because of Adam’s sin, not Eve’s. The only way to salvation is through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Author of the New Covenant (Hebrews 8:8, 13; 12:24). What you believe matters.

We’ll return to the qualifications of the Elder/ Pastor/ Overseer next week.

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We Need Godly Leadership

Posted on March 8, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by Tabrez Syed on Unsplash

As we come into Proverbs chapter 28, most of these Proverbs are couplets. A couplet gives a truth and a contrast to emphasize that truth.

God Gave You A Conscience – And His Word

Proverbs 28:1 The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.

What stalks the “wicked”, those who do that which is against God’s directive, is the “conscience”. God created each one of us with something called a conscience. The conscience (also called “the heart” because it is located in the “heart” of the soul) can be hardened through repeated and unrepentant sin. The conscience is NOT the indwelling Spirit of God – though the Spirit of God can effect our conscience. But every person, whether saved or not, has a conscience. The Bible tells us that:

Romans 2:14-15 (NKJV) for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their CONSCIENCE {syneidēsis} also bearing witness, and between themselves [their] thoughts accusing or else excusing [them])

Word Study: The Gentiles were never given the Ten Commandments on tablets of stone. God gave these Commandments to Israel to share with the world. But the Gentiles – those who did not receive the Law through Moses – had the Ten Commandments built into them. That’s the conscience. The conscience is “THE WORK OF THE LAW WRITTEN IN THE HEART”. In all but the most hardened societies people know that MURDER, RAPE, ADULTERY, THEFT are wrong. The syneidēsis {pro. soon-i’-day-sis} is that part of the soul that distinguishes between morally good or bad acts.

When the conscience of a large people group becomes hardened, it is not long before that nation destroys itself.

Jesus often used the conscience of His listeners to drive home Biblical truths. While Jesus was teaching in the Temple (probably on Solomon’s Porch) a group of Scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery (John 8:3). These men threw the woman down in front of the Bible class, and asked Jesus:

John 8:4-5 (NKJV) … Teacher, this woman was CAUGHT IN ADULTERY, in the very act. 5 Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that SUCH SHOULD BE STONED. But what do You say?

These Pharisees had heard Jesus say “I did not come to abolish or erase the Law, but to fulfill it” (Matthew 5:17-18). They were not interested in the Law of God, or else they would have brought the man who was with the woman sinner. They were interested in trapping Jesus into doing something that He ought not to do. Israel, as a nation under Roman rule, had no authority to execute others without first getting permission from Pilate. They wanted Jesus to either validate the Law so they could accuse Him to Pilate as a traitor to Roman Law, or validate Caesar’s Law so that they could accuse Him as a traitor to Israel. Jesus did neither.

Jesus, being righteous, quoted the Law.
Then He waited on their conscience.

John 8:7 (NKJV) {Jesus} raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is WITHOUT SIN AMONG YOU, let him throw a stone at her first.”

Under the Law of Moses, those who were witnesses of the sin were to be the first to cast the stone (see Deuteronomy 17:6-7). Jesus just quoted the Law.

Then Jesus waited on their conscience.

John 8:9 (NKJV) Then those who heard [it], being CONVICTED BY [their] CONSCIENCE, {syneidēsis} went out one by one, beginning with the oldest [even] to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

What causes the paranoia and fear, where “The wicked FLEE when no man pursueth”. It is an imbalanced conscience. When a person acts against their conscience – the moral center of the soul – they will feel guilt and paranoia. They become defensive, reading implications into what is not there. When Adam led Eve into sin, when he heard God coming he hid himself from the Master. When God asked why he was hiding, Adam replied:

Genesis 3:10 (LSB) I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I WAS AFRAID because I was naked; so I hid.

Adam was running in fear against his own nakedness. His wicked act caused him to run from God – though God had only love for him. When Jonah ran from the call of God to preach in Nineveh, “Jonah arose to FLEE to Tarshish from the presence of Yahweh”. After Jacob cheated his brother Esau out of his birthright, he immediately assumed the worst:

Genesis 32:6-8 (LSB) …. messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother, to Esau, and furthermore HE IS COMING TO MEET YOU, and FOUR HUNDRED MEN ARE WITH HIM.” 7 Then Jacob was GREATLY AFRAID AND DISTRESSED; and he divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and the herds and the camels, into two camps. 8 And he said, If Esau comes to the one camp and strikes it, then the camp which remains will escape.

As it was, Esau had forgiven his brother (Genesis 33:4) because God had blessed him (Genesis 33:9). This is grace. When we do wickedly, our conscience amplifies our fear – for sin has separated us from God’s blessing. Pastor J. Vernon McGee wrote:

“I was speaking to a group of young people about sin, just sin in general. A young fellow and girl in the group were living together. I had never even mentioned that as a sin, but it was interesting to hear how that young man began to defend himself—it would have been amusing if it had not been so serious. When sin was being discussed, his conscience began to prick him, and then he began defending himself. ‘The wicked flee when no man pursueth.’ No one had pointed a finger at him. I would not have known of his sin if he had kept quiet. The discussion was about sin, not his particular sin.”

God warned Israel that if they violated His Covenant and refused to repent, that

Leviticus 26:36-37 (LSB) … the sound of a driven leaf will pursue them, and even when no one is pursuing they will FLEE as though from the sword, and they will fall. [37] They will therefore stumble over each other as if [RUNNING] from the sword, ALTHOUGH NO ONE IS PURSUING; and you will have [no strength] to stand up before your enemies.

But to those who love the Lord, and draw near to Him we have the promise:

Proverbs 28:1 … but the RIGHTEOUS are bold as a lion.

When you stand with God and do that which is right, this gives you boldness in this life. As Paul and the Apostles went out to share the Gospel in dangerous and unreceptive places because they maintained a GOOD CONSCIENCE before God and man.

Hebrews 13:18 (NKJV) Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a GOOD CONSCIENCE, in all things desiring to live honorably.

Paul was able to stand before the Governor Felix and preach the Gospel without fear, telling that old Pagan:

Acts 24:14-16 (NKJV) But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. 15 I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of [the] dead, both of [the] just and [the] unjust. 16 This [being] so, I MYSELF ALWAYS STRIVE TO HAVE A CONSCIENCE WITHOUT OFFENSE TOWARD GOD AND MEN.

The one who does right according to God and his conscience will be able to stand against slander and liable. The promise that God gives to those who walk with Him is DO NOT FEAR. Look at our forefathers in the faith. God told

Abraham, “DO NOT BE AFRAID. I am your Shield. I am your Reward.” (Genesis 15:1). When the other spies encouraged the people to not enter the land of Promise, Joshua and Caleb told them “do not rebel against the LORD. Do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them.” (Numbers 14:8-9). When God sent Jeremiah to a rebellious Israel to preach, He told him “go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THEM, for I am with you and will rescue you.” (Jeremiah 1:7-8). God told the same to Ezekiel (2:6). And when John the Revelator was cast out on Patmos to die, Jesus told him “DO NOT BE AFRAID. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades” (Revelation 1:17-18).

Wickedness Causes Not Only Paranoia,
But National Instability

Proverbs 28:2 (KJV) For the transgression of a land MANY [are] THE PRINCES THEREOF: but by a man of understanding [and] knowledge the state [thereof] shall be prolonged.

As a nation becomes more and more godless, there is a high turnover of leadership and rising instability in the land. When King David ruled Israel, as David was “a man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22) the land was blessed. Yes, David sinned grievously when he robbed Uriah of his wife and his life – but David repented of that before the Lord. The Bible tells us:

2 Samuel 7:1 (LSB) … the King inhabited his house {his palace}, and Yahweh had GIVEN HIM REST ON EVERY SIDE FROM ALL HIS ENEMIES

2 Samuel 8:14-15 (NKJV) … the LORD PRESERVED DAVID wherever he went. [15] So David reigned over all Israel; and David ADMINISTERED JUDGMENT AND JUSTICE TO ALL HIS PEOPLE.

Because David was a righteous King, the land was blessed because of it. His son Solomon ruled over Israel fairly and justly, and the land prospered.

When Solomon’s son Rehoboam became King, he treated the ten northern tribes not as a King and a Shepherd, but as a Tyrant – and caused a division of Israel (1 Kings 12; 2 Chronicles 10-11). Ten of the tribes went north and made King Jeroboam their ruler, whereas Judah and Benjamin stayed true to the ruling line of David. When Rehoboam assembled 180,000 chosen warriors to conquer the northern kingdom God spoke:

1 Kings 12:24 (NKJV) Thus says the LORD: You shall not go up nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel. Let every man return to his house, for THIS THING IS FROM ME. Therefore they obeyed the word of the LORD, and turned back, according to the word of the LORD.

God was showing Israel – and us – what happens when a nation drifts from His precepts.

Northern Israel not only rejected the Throne of David (and the Messianic Line), but they established pagan sacrifices to false gods rather than going to Jerusalem and the Temple to worship Yahweh (1 Kings 12:27-29). What happened after this?

The Northern Kingdom had 19 Kings while it existed, and ALL 19 were described as EVIL. Every Northern King rejected the worship of God in Jerusalem at the Temple. Every Northern King supported idolatry.

What about the Southern Kingdom, called Judah? Judah had 20 Kings, and of them 12 were evil. Because there were 8 good kings who led the nation to worship God, Judah outlasted Israel by 136 years. Israel fell to Assyria in 722 BC while Hoshea was King (2 Kings 17). The Assyrians scattered Israel so thoroughly that they are called “The Lost Tribes of Israel”. Judah, on the other hand, was conquered by Babylon while Zedekiah was King (586 BC).

Judah was preserved 136 years longer than Israel because of godly leadership.

Righteous Kings like Hezekiah, Josiah, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Uzziah, and Jotham led Judah back to God by destroying idols and worshiping the Lord themselves. Eventually Judah would fall – but God would raise her back up again. “By a man of understanding [and] knowledge THE STATE SHALL BE PROLONGED”. We who are Christians in America need to pray that God will raise up godly leaders to draw us away from idolatry and demonic deceptions.

America, we need to get back to Jesus!
Church, we need to get back to Jesus!

We need Shepherds to lead us to the Good Shepherd – not tyrants. Our next verse addresses bad leaders.

Proverbs 28:3 (KJV) A POOR {rûš} man that oppresseth the POOR {dal} [is like] a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.

Word Study: The word POOR stands out in this verse, but the two words are not the same in the Hebrew. The first use of POOR is the Hebrew rûš {pro. Roosh} which means those who lack, are in want, or are needy. The second POOR is the Hebrew dal, which means the weaker one, the one who is dangling. My commentary notes:

“{This} refers to a usurper who, rising to power from poor estate, makes the very worst and most tyrannical ruler. Such a one has learned nothing from his former condition but callous indifference, and now seeks to exercise on others that power which once galled him. Thus among schoolboys it is found that the greatest bully is one who has himself been bullied.”

Some move into power from obscurity, but once they get there (often by claiming “Vote for me, because I’m for the downtrodden. After all, I myself am downtrodden!”) they begin to take vengeance and bring suffering to the nation. My Bridges Commentary notes “Place an unprincipled spendthrift in power, and he is a destructive flood in his sphere: greedily serving every advantage by oppression to redeem his substance. A poor man suddenly raised to power, instead of sympathizing with grievances familiar to his former recollection, is usually preeminently distinguished by selfishness”.

Jesus illustrated this principle in His Parable of the Two Debtors.

Matthew 18:23-35 (KJV) Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. [24] And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. [25] But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. [26] The servant therefore fell down, and worshiped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. [27] Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. [28] But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took [him] by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. [29] And his fellow servant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. [30] And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. [31] So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. [32] Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: [33] Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow servant, even as I had pity on thee? [34] And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. [35] So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

The best leader of a nation is not a poor man who struggled with poverty, and fought his way into power. The best leader is the one who has experienced the Grace of God, and practices that Grace to those around them. We are all impoverished apart from God. Oh, how we all need Jesus!

The Righteous Leader Will Stand Against Evil –
Not Enable It

Proverbs 28:4 (KJV) They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law CONTEND WITH THEM.

You cannot praise the wicked and yet be righteous. There are actions that the Bible clearly defines as wicked according to God. If you justify wickedness, then you yourself are a lawless offender. It was only after many years where sexual sin was encouraged by our national leaders to the point where we now have “Pride Month”, that such sins as God has condemned are now increasingly regarded as acceptable. The truth is …

Where an action is not clearly recognized as unlawful in God’s eyes and therefore sinful, then there is no call to repentance. In such a case, sin spreads like wildfire.

Those who honor God’s Law are called to not be quiet, but to “CONTEND WITH THEM”. We who are God’s children are not to sit down and shut up, but to stand with the Lord Jesus and share the Scripture. The Bible condemns those,

Romans 1:32 (NKJV) who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also APPROVE OF THOSE WHO PRACTICE THEM.

As Noah prepared the Ark for the judgment of God, the Bible says that he was “a PREACHER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS” (2 Peter 2:5). God warns us who are Christ’s:

Ephesians 5:11-14 (NKJV) And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but RATHER EXPOSE THEM. [12] For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. [13] But all things that are exposed are MADE MANIFEST BY THE LIGHT, for whatever makes manifest is light. [14] Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”

Proverbs 28:5 (KJV) Evil men understand not judgment: but they that SEEK THE LORD understand all [things].

The best leaders are those who “SEEK THE LORD” in their own lives. A lot of politicians claim to love the Lord, but only use Him as a photo op! Holding a high office – whether it be in local, state, or federal government – is a great responsibility. We need leaders who did as Solomon did before he actively began to reign a united Israel. Solomon went before the Lord in prayer.

1 Kings 3:7-9 (NKJV) Now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I AM A LITTLE CHILD; I do not know [how] to go out or come in. [8] And Your servant [is] in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. [9] Therefore GIVE TO YOUR SERVANT AN UNDERSTANDING HEART to judge Your people, that I MAY DISCERN BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?

The great leaders know that all wisdom comes from God, and that leadership requires humility and wisdom. Solomon humbled himself. God gave Solomon wisdom to rule well. The Bible says “Solomon had peace ON ALL SIDES AROUND HIM. And Judah and Israel LIVED IN SAFETY … every man under his vine and under his fig tree” (1 Kings 4:24-25). We are told “the people of Judah and Israel were as NUMEROUS AS THE SAND BY THE SEA; they ate, drank, and were happy” (1 Kings 4:20).

Solomon’s reign was the golden age of a united monarchy. Why? Because God was in its midst. Until we as a nation get back to Godly leadership, we will struggled with madness and possible collapse. We need the Lord now more than ever before.

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Business Meetings are To Glorify God

Posted on March 8, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by Dylan Gillis on Unsplash

About every quarter we as a Church have a “Business Meeting”. As we have a business meeting planned tonight, I got to thinking about business meetings, and whether the early Church had them. They did. There are three recorded business meetings (if you would call it that) in the Book of Acts. The early Church did not possess buildings, did not have electric or water bills, and usually met regularly on Solomon’s Porch at the Temple or in private homes (see Acts 2:46; 5:42; 12:12; Romans 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:19; Colossians 4:15; Philemon 1:2).

There was no overhead, no bank accounts.
They just met to worship God.

Today we have to have Business Meetings, and we prayerfully vote on matters that will effect out Church. I want to ask this question: In the light of Scripture,

“What should be the focus of our Business Meetings?” I believe the only right answer is, “To glorify God our Father, and to enable the Kingdom of Christ to grow”.

Tonight we’ll talk about the first business meeting of the early Church. You’ll see that …

The First Church Business Meeting Was Out Of Order

The first recorded Church business meeting is found in:

Acts 1:16-26 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,) Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus. 17 For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. 18 Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood. 20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take. 21 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that He was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of His resurrection. 23 And THEY APPOINTED TWO, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. 24 And THEY PRAYED, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, 25 That he may take part of this ministry and APOSTLESHIP, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. 26 And THEY GAVE FORTH THEIR LOTS; and the LOT FELL UPON MATTHIAS; and HE WAS NUMBERED WITH THE ELEVEN APOSTLES.

The first business meeting of the Church was called by Peter the Chief Apostle – and it was out of order. Why? Because of what Jesus ordered. Before Jesus ascended into Heaven, He told His disciples (Peter among them):

Acts 1:4-8 And, being assembled together with them, {Jesus} commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but WAIT FOR THE PROMISE OF THE FATHER, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but YE SHALL BE BAPTIZED WITH THE HOLY GHOST NOT MANY DAYS HENCE. 6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7 And he said unto them, It is NOT FOR YOU TO KNOW THE TIMES OR THE SEASONS, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8 But YE SHALL RECEIVE POWER, AFTER THAT THE HOLY GHOST IS COME UPON YOU: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Jesus’ instructions were very clear. The disciples were to WAIT. He did not ask Peter to go about replacing Judas. He did not ask Peter to do anything but WAIT, to PRAY, and to trust that God would do what He promised to do. The Power of the Church had not come.

God would not send the Holy Spirit to the Church until the Day of Pentecost (Jewish Shavuot [pronounced shah-VOO-oht]). God chose that day because Shavuot was when God gave Israel the Law at Sinai (Exodus 19-20), establishing her as God’s Covenant Nation. The Church would be empowered that very day.

Shavuotor the Feast of weeks was 50 days after Passover (Leviticus 23:15-21). During Shavuot Jews from all over the world would come to celebrate the founding of Israel at Sinai. God had a plan, and Peter as well as the other disciples were to wait on that plan. But Peter didn’t.

Peter was persuasive, and sincere in what he did. It was not his intention to do wrong. But he felt, as the leader of the Apostles, that since Judas Iscariot had dishonored the Lord by betraying him, that it would be a great thing to go ahead and replace Judas while they were waiting. But here’s the key questions:

Did Jesus as him to do that?
Did Jesus ask the Church to appoint a replacement?
Or was this just a “good idea”, Peter’s way of helping God out?

Who Actually Appoints Apostles?

Who appointed the Apostles in the first place? The Bible tells us:

Mark 3:13-14 (KJV) {Jesus} goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto Him WHOM HE WOULD: and they came unto Him. And HE ORDAINED TWELVE, that THEY SHOULD BE WITH HIM, and that He might send them forth to preach.

Luke 6:12-13 .. (KJV) it came to pass in those days, that {Jesus} went out into a mountain to pray, and CONTINUED ALL NIGHT IN PRAYER TO GOD. 13 And when it was day, HE CALLED UNTO HIM His disciples: and OF THEM HE CHOSE TWELVE, WHOM ALSO HE NAMED APOSTLES

Our Lord Jesus chose His Apostles. He chose Peter. He also chose Judas Iscariot. Jesus told them:

John 15:16 (KJV) … ye have not chosen Me, but I HAVE CHOSEN YOU, AND ORDAINED YOU…

Did Jesus make a mistake when He chose Judas Iscariot? No, Jesus deliberately chose Judas. He said, “I have CHOSEN YOU TWELVE, and ONE OF YOU A DEVIL” (John 6:70). Why did Jesus choose Judas Iscariot, knowing that he would betray Him? Jesus gives us the answer:

John 13:18 (LSB) … I know the ones I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘HE WHO EATS MY BREAD HAS LIFTED UP HIS HEEL AGAINST ME.’

When the Messiah came, one of those closest to Him would betray Him (Psalm 41:9; 55:12-14). The Scripture said that the Messiah would be betrayed for thirty pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12-13). Jesus also knew that “his days would be few, and another would take his office” (Psalm 109:8). Jesus knew that.

He didn’t ask Peter to replace him.
The Word of God said WAIT.
Peter said “WE CAN’T WAIT”.

Peter led the Church is picking out two men, “Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias”. I am sure they were good, Godly men. Then we are told that “THEY PRAYED … And THEY GAVE FORTH THEIR LOTS; and the LOT FELL UPON MATTHIAS”. They cast lots, rolling marked stones – like dice – expecting the Lord to cause the lot to fall on the right man. God allowed Israel to cast lots in certain instances, but only as He directed.

Leviticus 16:8 Lots were used to determine the scapegoat.
Joshua 18:10 Canaan was divided by casting lots.
Jonah 1:7 Pagans cast lots to determine Jonah was at fault.
Joshua 7:14-18 the sinner Achan was uncovered by casting lots.

Jesus NEVER asked the disciples to cast lots to replace Judas. This is an Old Covenant method that the indwelling Holy Spirit will replace.

This was Peter’s idea he pushed on his church family. Sadly, the lot fell on Matthias, and “HE WAS NUMBERED WITH THE ELEVEN APOSTLES”. They called Matthias an Apostle – but was he?

When Matthias was chosen by lot (an Old Covenant technique before the coming of the Holy Spirit), this is the last recorded use of casting lots. After the Holy Spirit came, we are led by the Holy Spirit and the written Word of God:

Romans 8:14-16 (LSB) For as many as are being LED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD, THESE ARE THE SONS OF GOD. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received [the] Spirit of adoption as sons by whom we cry out, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,

Once Matthias was ordained, he is never mentioned again in Scripture, nor in Church history. I am sure that God never penalized Matthias – but it is as if he is ignored completely by God. We know about the other Apostles:

Peter died a martyr’s death (John 21:18-19)
James (son of Zebedee) was executed by the sword (Acts 12:1-2)
Andrew was crucified in Greece
Thomas was killed by spear in Mylapore
Philip was killed in Hierapolis, death unknown
Bartholomew (Nathaniel) was beaten to death and beheaded
Matthew was stabbed to death in Ethiopia or Persia
James (son of Alphaeus) was thrown from the Temple
Thaddaeus (Jude) was killed in Persia
Simon the Zealot was sawn in half
Judas Iscariot hung himself (Matthew 27:3-5)
John died a natural death somewhere from 90-100 years old.

What about Matthias? No one really knows about his life, his contribution to the Church, or his death. Was he martyred, or did he die in bed? There are no reliable accounts that tell us anything about him. You know why?

Because Jesus Christ chose Paul the Apostle.

Galatians 1:1 (ESV) Paul, AN APOSTLE—NOT FROM MEN NOR THROUGH MAN, but THROUGH JESUS CHRIST and God the Father, who raised him from the dead–

Jesus called Paul an Apostle. Jesus told Ananias, “Paul is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My Name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the Children of Israel” (Acts 9:15). He was hand picked, and given the message of the Gospel directly by God:

Galatians 1:11-12 (ESV) For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. 12 For I DID NOT RECEIVE IT FROM ANY MAN, nor was I taught it, but I RECEIVED IT THROUGH A REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST.

Matthias was chosen by an Old Covenant method, without the direction of the Word of God. He was not chosen by Jesus. Jesus chose Paul. God is in control. We exist as a Church to glorify Jesus, not ourselves.

I had someone call me the other day and ask me to do something that I felt the Spirit of God telling me to say NO! When I told him that I would pray for him, but that no, I would not be available for what he wanted me to do, he remarked:

“Brother, you NEVER say no to God”

I wasn’t saying no to God. I was saying no to this man and his desires. I live to glorify the Lord Jesus, not to please others – even if they are sincere in what they think. As we go into our business meeting let us understand that we are here …

“To glorify God our Father, and to enable the Kingdom of Christ to grow”

We are only to do as the Holy Spirit leads us to do, in accordance with the Word of God. The Bible says:

1 Corinthians 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

We are to please the Lord, not ourselves. Let us pray.

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Breastplate of Righteousness: Ephesians 6:12-14

Posted on March 3, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by Frederick Shaw on Unsplash

Ephesians 6:12-14 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your LOINS GIRT ABOUT WITH TRUTH, AND HAVING ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

Hallmark Theology or Biblical Theology?

Minnesota Representative (R) Walter Hudson is first and foremost a Bible Based Christian. He has a podcast called “Closing Argument”. On a recent episode he spoke of “Hallmark Theology”, which is what many Churches have defaulted to today. Hallmark Theology portrays Christianity – as – Walter states:

“a mandate to project positivity, approval, and good wishes regardless of circumstances, actions or consequences. That’s not Christianity. That’s Hallmark Theology. The Bible does not teach us to shine the light of affirmation. It teaches us to shine the light of truth. Truth is not always comforting. Truth exposes. It divides. It demands repentance. And truth carries consequences. If your version of Christianity never makes anyone uncomfortable, never challenges wrongdoing, never calls sin what it is, never demands accountability, then you’re not practicing Christianity, you’re practicing emotional validation with Bible verses taped on to it. … Hell exists because precisely because light is just not pleasant, light reveals reality, and sometimes reality can be unbearable. Light is not vibes. Light is not niceness. Light is not emotional soothing. Light is revelation, and revelation is often painful.”

You may disagree with that statement, but every bit of it is Biblically true. Jesus flipped over the moneychangers tables. Jesus shamed the Pharisees and Chief Priests. John the Baptist called the self righteous “a brood of vipers” (Matthew 3:7), and our Lord Jesus publicly called them the same (Matthew 12:34; 23:33). Jesus lashed out at the self righteous Sadducees, Scribes and Pharisees as “hypocrites” (Matthew 23). Many people rejected Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, our Lord said,

John 15:20-22, 24 (LSB) … If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you … But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because THEY DO NOT KNOW THE ONE WHO SENT ME. 22 “If I HAD NOT COME AND SPOKEN TO THEM, they would not have sin, but NOW THEY HAVE NO EXCUSE FOR THEIR SIN. … 24 “If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin; but now THEY HAVE BOTH SEEN AND HATED ME and MY FATHER AS WELL.

Last week we talked about the Belt of Truth, which is the integral part of the armor of God. Truth is the first thing you must put on before you put on anything else. If you modify the truth, making God into Who He is NOT, then everything you attach to that Belt will fail.

Once the Belt of Truth is put on, then and only then can you put on the first piece of the Armor of God: The Breastplate of Righteousness.

God Is Righteous, But We Are Naturally Unrighteous

It is true that God loves us, and that God expressed His love for us by sending Jesus Christ to this earth. But why did Jesus come to this earth? There are two things that are absolutely true:

1. God is absolutely righteous, totally without sin, and

2. We are born into this world sinners by nature

How “holy” or righteous is God? The Prophet Isaiah is an interesting person. He was a Prophet, the son of Amoz (Isaiah 1:1), a man who loved the Lord. God gave Isaiah a vision and began to speak through him to Israel – and the message was not good. God told Israel through Isaiah:

Isaiah 1:4 (LSB) Alas, sinful nation, People heavy with iniquity, Seed of evildoers, sons who act corruptly! THEY HAVE FORSAKEN YAHWEH!; They have spurned the Holy One of Israel; They have become estranged from Him.

Sin had come into Israel, and the nation was sick. How sick. God told them:

Isaiah 1:6 (LSB)From the sole of the foot even to the head There is nothing sound in it, Only bruises, wounds, and raw wounds, Not pressed out, not bandaged, Not softened with oil.

Isaiah was called of God to lead Israel back to YAHWEH. So was Isaiah perfect, without sin? In Isaiah chapter 6 God allowed Isaiah to look into Heaven, to see God as He really is. We humans think of God like He’s a BIG MAN upstairs, but just like us. When Isaiah looked into Heaven – a man who loved the Lord – the Bible says:

Isaiah 6:1-4 (AP) {Angels} flew above the throne of God, high and lifted up. The angels cried out “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY IS YAHWEH OF HOSTS, the whole earth is full of His glory!”

The ground shook as Isaiah looked on the holiness of God. Did he dance and sing, like the song “I Can Only Imagine” suggests? No. Isaiah was HORRIFIED when he compared himself to God. Isaiah cried out:

Isaiah 6:5 (LSB) Woe is me, for I am ruined! For I am A MAN OF UNCLEAN LIPS, And I live among a PEOPLE OF UNCLEAN LIPS; For my eyes have seen the King, Yahweh of hosts.

Isaiah lamented his LIPS as being UNCLEAN, and the people that he represented, Israel, as a PEOPLE OF UNCLEAN LIPS. Not hands, but LIPS. Our Lord Jesus said “that which comes OUT OF THE MOUTH defiles a person” (Matthew 15:11). He said,

Matthew 15:18-19 (ESV) … what COMES OUT OF THE MOUTH PROCEEDS FROM THE HEART, and THIS DEFILES THE PERSON. 19 For OUT OF THE HEART come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.

The unsaved heart is not righteous, but unrighteous. How did the Angel of Mercy help Isaiah. HE TOOK A BURNING COAL from the altar of God, and CAUTERIZED HIS MOUTH, the wound that evidences the wickedness of the heart. Isaiah did not make himself righteous before God. God sent a Messenger to Isaiah to TOUCH HIS LIPS, to make him right before God.

God is holy – we are not! God must touch our lips. He must change our hearts. Only God can do this!

God is not a BIG BUDDY upstairs that is just filled with LOVE and nothing else. Yes, God is LOVE (1 John 4:8, 16). But God’s love is motivated by His HOLINESS. When John the Revelator looked into Heaven from Patmos where he was exiled, and he first saw Jesus, did he run to Jesus to hug Him? What does John say?

Revelation 1:17-18 (LSB) … when I saw {Jesus}, I FELL AT HIS FEET LIKE A DEAD MAN. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not fear; I am THE FIRST AND THE LAST, 18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forever and ever, and I HAVE THE KEYS OF DEATH AND OF HADES.

Oh, what a strange god we American Christians worship! You think when you get to Heaven, that you will get there because you were better than someone else. You think when you get the Heaven that you and your buddy jesus (and I meant to not capitalize this name, for this is the imaginary jesus some of you follow) will grab a fishing pole and go down and wet a hook at the River of Life. When Isaiah saw the God of the Bible, he nearly wet himself! When John the Revelator saw Jesus in his purity, he fell down like a dead man until Grace lifted him up.

You cannot get to Heaven without a heart transplant.
God must take a coal from His altar of righteousness, and touch our lips. We MUST be born again. The Holy Spirit must save us by the Blood of the Lamb, by Grace.

The Breastplate of Righteousness is attached to the Belt of Truth, and the truth is that GOD MUST SAVE US. It is of Absolute Grace that you are saved! Some say, “But I’m a good person. I know I’ll go to Heaven when I die.” Or one of the favorite things I hear people say at funerals, “If ANYONE deserved to go to Heaven, she/he did!” Here’s the truth. NO ONE DESERVES TO GO TO HEAVEN.

Is God “Love”? Yes, but it is “Love” motivated by HOLINESS or RIGHTEOUSNESS. This is why God sent His ONLY BELOVED SON to a damnable Cross for us!

What does God say of the unregenerate heart, the heart of the person who is not “born again”. He says:

Jeremiah 17:9-10 (LSB) The HEART IS MORE DECEITFUL THAN ALL ELSE, AND IS DESPERATELY SICK; Who can know it? 10 I, YAHWEH, SEARCH THE HEART; I test the inmost being, Even to GIVE TO EACH MAN ACCORDING TO HIS WAYS, According to the fruit of his deeds.

We look at a beautiful baby, our babies, and say “Oh, how sweet! How innocent. How pure and pristine!” But God looks at the heart of all and says,

Romans 3:10-18 (ESV) … NONE ARE RIGHTEOUS, NO, NOT ONE; 11 no one understands; NO ONE SEEKS FOR GOD. ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one. Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive. The venom of asps is under their lips. Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known. THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES.”

I hear people who profess to be Christian, “When I get to Heaven, God’s gonna tell me why …”. Can I tell you this: if you believe this, you’re not saved.

I heard Dr R. C. Sproul (rhymes with bowl) preach a message on the thief that Jesus saved. I can’t remember exactly how he put it, so this is a paraphrase. He spoke on the thief who repented, acknowledging his sin, asked Jesus to “remember me when you come into Your Kingdom” (Luke 23:39-43). Jesus told him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). Later that day the Roman soldier in charge broke the legs of the thieves, and that man died. One thief went to hell, but the other thief went to Heaven. When that thief walked into Heaven, imagine if an angel asked him, “How did you get here?” The thief would have said, “I didn’t get here. WITH MY LIPS I CONFESSED JESUS. GOD TOOK A COAL FROM THE ALTAR, and though I was in unbearable agony, GOD CAUSED ME TO CONFESS THE SON AS MY LORD. I put all my hope and eternity in Him. I don’t deserve to be here, but JESUS GOT ME HERE!”

The man made breastplate of self righteousness will not save you. God must touch your lips. He must change your heart. With the MOUTH we confess Jesus as Lord. With the HEART we believe He has conquered sin and death.

When Nicodemus came to see Jesus at night, he was wearing the breastplate of the Pharisee, of self righteousness and pride. He began by commending Jesus as a great Rabbi. Jesus ignored what he said, and told Nicodemus:

John 3:3, 5-7 (ESV) Truly, truly, I say to you, UNLESS ONE IS BORN AGAIN he cannot see the kingdom of God.” … 5 Truly, truly, I SAY TO YOU, UNLESS ONE IS BORN OF WATER AND OF THE SPIRIT, HE CANNOT ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD. 6 THAT WHICH IS BORN OF THE FLESH IS FLESH, AND THAT WHICH IS BORN OF THE SPIRIT IS SPIRIT. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN’

“Nicodemus, you may be RELIGIOUS. The Pharisees were RELIGIOUS. Jesus told the Pharisees: “I assure you and most solemnly say to YOU that the tax collectors and the prostitutes WILL GET INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD BEFORE YOU” (Matthew 21:31). Why is that? Because the Pharisees and Chief Priests put on a man made breastplate of righteousness. That thief who repented got into Heaven because he was born again of the Spirit of God. He repented, and God made a way. The Breastplate of Righteousness is a breastplate composed – not of the righteousness of man – but of the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD. It is a God thing!

The Pharisees thought that they were going to Heaven because they kept the Law of God – and even augmented that Law with their own man made additions. They thought they were going to Heaven because the checked off all the items on the “holier than thou” list that THEY composed. What did God say of self righteousness and pretend religions?

Isaiah 65:5 {You} say, ‘Keep to yourself, do not come near me, For I AM HOLIER THAN YOU!’ These are SMOKE IN MY NOSTRILS, A fire that burns all the day.

The Breastplate of Righteousness is not OUR righteousness, but the righteousness that is only attained by surrender and acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

How do you get the Breastplate of Righteousness? What work can you do to achieve it? The only work you can do is complete surrender of your life to God. The Apostle Paul described it this way:

Philippians 3:7-11 (LSB) But WHATEVER THINGS WERE GAIN TO ME, THOSE THINGS I HAVE COUNTED LOSS FOR THE SAKE OF CHRIST. 8 More than that, I COUNT ALL THINGS TO BE LOSS because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, FOR WHOM I HAVE SUFFERED THE LOSS OF ALL THINGS, and COUNT THEM BUT RUBBISH SO THAT I MAY GAIN CHRIST 9 and BE FOUND IN HIM, NOT HAVING A RIGHTEOUSNESS OF MY OWN which is from [the] Law, but THAT WHICH IS THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST, the RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH IS FROM GOD UPON FAITH, 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Man Made Armor Cannot Defeat The Enemy

Ephesians 6:12-14 For WE WRESTLE NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD, but against PRINCIPALITIES {fallen angels that control nations}, against POWERS {fallen angels that control states}, against the RULERS OF DARKNESS of this world, against SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS IN HIGH PLACES. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God … your LOINS GIRT ABOUT WITH TRUTH, AND HAVING ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

Oh how the devil wants us to trade the God made Breastplate of Righteousness with the man-made breastplate of self righteousness! Our battle is not against flesh and blood. Our actual enemy is not human beings or animal life. Our enemy is not the natural elements of this earth. Our enemy is not the CORONAVIRUS {SARS-CoV-2} nor the INFLUENZA nor the BIRD FLU (avian influenza H5N1, H7N9, or H5N8). Just as it was not actually a SERPENT in the Garden of Eden, but SATAN, it is not a fleshly thing that is our enemy. Satan may possess the flesh, but he is the ultimate source of our battle.

When Goliath stood before the armies of Israel shouting, the soldiers of God’s people feared flesh and blood. But there was one young boy who loved God. The Lord described him as “a man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22). David wore the Breastplate of Righteousness that God gave him. When he came up and heard Goliath, David volunteered to fight Goliath in the power of God.

The unsaved heart is far from God. But the saved have surrendered their broken lives to the Lord. We have “been brought near to God by the Blood of Jesus”

Ephesians 2:13-16, 18 (LSB) now in Christ Jesus you who formerly WERE FAR OFF HAVE BEEN BROUGHT NEAR (TO GOD) BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both [groups] one and broke down the dividing wall of the partition 15 by ABOLISHING IN HIS FLESH THE ENMITY, the Law of commandments [contained] in ordinances, so that in Himself He might create the two into one new man, making peace, 16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, having in Himself put to death the enmity. … 18 for THROUGH HIM WE BOTH HAVE OUR ACCESS IN ONE SPIRIT TO THE FATHER.

David learned to walk close to Jesus while watching sheep at night by himself. David had trusted God, and when wild animals threatened his sheep, he fought the enemy in the power of Christ.

Saul tried to get David to wear his armor before fighting Goliath. David refused it, saying “I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them” (1 Samuel 17:39). David only wanted the Armor of God. David put on the Breastplate of Righteousness. He trusted fully in God. He picked up his sling, and five smooth stones.

And the enemy was defeated.
Not by David, but THROUGH David.
By God Who is faithful

We who are saved do not “follow our hearts”. We put on the Breastplate of Righteousness, and this GUARDS our hearts. Later in life David would sin by committing adultery with Bathsheba, and by having her husband killed. When Nathan the Prophet confronted David for his sin, David didn’t say “What can I do to make it up to Uriah’s family?” David told Nathan:

2 Samuel 12:13 I have sinned against Yahweh

He confessed his sin to God. David would later write in:

Psalm 51:1-4 (LSB) Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your loving kindness; According to the abundance of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity And cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me. 4 Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak And pure when You judge.

It is God Who saves us, and makes us right before God (righteous). When we sin, we confess our sin to God (1 John 1:8-10). We should later seek to give restitution to those we have harmed by our sins:

Zacchaeus restored fourfold that which he had stolen (Luke 19:8)
Those who did wrong are to make restitution (Ephesians 4:28)
We are not to owe anyone anything but love (Romans 13:8)
God expects us to reconcile with others (Matthew 5:23-24)

We do not do this in order to BE saved. The Breastplate of Righteousness is BLOOD BOUGHT. We do this BECAUSE we are saved (Revelation 1:5-6).

Once Saved By Grace, Given The Righteousness Of God
You Want To Follow God

Ephesians 6:14 HAVING ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

Saved by Grace, indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God, the Christian COVERS THE HEART WITH RIGHTEOUS DEEDS. If you are saved, if you have been given the Breastplate of Righteousness, IT WILL SHOW IN HOW YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE. The Bible does not give us as Christians permission to sin. Once saved, we “PUT ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST”. We walk with God in right living each and every day. We contribute to the LIGHT, not to the darkness.

Romans 13:12-14 (KJV) The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14 But PUT YE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, and MAKE NOT PROVISION FOR THE FLESH, to fulfill the lusts thereof.

If you are saved, you are not saved by works, but by God the Holy Spirit. You are saved because you were drowning in sin, and you cried out to the Lord Jesus. He pulled you out of the waters of destruction, out of certain death. Does the Scripture not say, “The WAGES of SIN IS DEATH” (Romans 6:23). Didn’t James warn us:

James 1:15 (NKJV) each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren

Someone once asked me, “Pastor, how can I know I am saved?” Very simple. Do you WANT to walk with Jesus? Do you WANT to hear and read the Word of God?

You should want to wear the Breastplate of Righteousness? When you sin, are you comfortable in your sin, or are you uncomfortable until you repent? What does the fruit of your life look like? If you are saved, the Holy Spirit will convict you when you sin. You will be uncomfortable until you repent, casting your sin on Jesus, and come back to the “Shepherd and Bishop of our souls” (1 Peter 2:25).

Don’t get me wrong. Though we strive to do so, true Christians never lead a sinless life. You will strive to do so, because you love the Lord. But we are all broken, imperfect. Our halos slip! We fail. I fail often. I don’t want to, but I do. The Apostle wrote:

2 Timothy 2:11-15 (LSB) It is a trustworthy saying: For IF WE DIED WITH HIM, WE WILL ALSO LIVE WITH HIM; 12 If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If WE DENY HIM, HE WILL ALSO DENY US; 13 If WE ARE FAITHLESS, HE REMAINS FAITHFUL, for HE CANNOT DENY HIMSELF. 14 Remind them of these things, solemnly charging them in the presence of God not to dispute about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to PRESENT YOURSELF APPROVED TO GOD AS A WORKMAN who does not need to be ashamed, ACCURATELY HANDLING THE WORD OF TRUTH. 16 But avoid godless and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, 17 and their word will spread like gangrene.

Those who are Christ’s do not live to please the lost world, but to please Christ. I don’t care if you agree with me, or like what I’m saying. I do care what the Bible says. Period. My Best Friend and my Obsession is Jesus Christ.

So it is with you, too, if you are a Christian. We are saved by faith in Him. We adhere to the Word of God, not the word of this world. What saves me is my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. So I will live for Him – and you will too. I will live so as to bring glory to Him, to the Father Who loves me so – and you will, too.

The Christian who sins will not remain in sin, but will repent and run back into the arms of the Savior. The Christian cherishes the Word of God, knowing that the word of this world is variable, and filled with darkness. There are times when our faith is small, but God remains faithful to us, for He cannot deny Himself. God indwells the believer, and never leaves us nor forsakes us.

The Breastplate of Righteousness guards our hearts. “The LORD KNOWS THOSE WHO ARE HIS” and “EVERYONE WHO NAMES THE NAME OF THE LORD IS TO DEPART FROM WICKEDNESS” (2 Timothy 2:19). A sinning Christian is abnormal, uncomfortable, and subject to discipline from the Father. If you are saved, you will follow the Savior, wearing the Breastplate that God has given to you by Grace.

Not a breastplate of self righteousness.
Not a breastplate of unrighteousness.
Not a breastplate of denominational righteousness
A Breastplate of God’s Righteousness!

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Manifesting The Word Of God

Posted on March 3, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by Humble Lamb on Unsplash

Titus 1:1-4 (KJV) Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; 2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; 3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Savior; 4 To Titus, [mine] own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, [and] peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.

Introduction

What in the world are we doing in the Book of Titus? I imagine as you read this you’re thinking, “What does this have to do with me?”. As a matter of fact, in 30 years of ministry, the only sermons I’ve ever preached from Titus are in Titus 2:11-15. I didn’t realize that until just the other day. I usually preach the Gospels, the Church Epistles (like Romans, Corinthians), the General Epistles (like James, Peter, John), or the Revelation. Titus is called a Pastoral Epistle. There are two Pastoral Epistles,

Timothy (1 & 2)
Titus

Let’s talk about the two men Timothy and Titus. When Paul went out to preach there were two young men who went with him that he led to the Lord. Timothy, who Paul called “my true son in the faith” (1 Timothy 1:2) had a Jewish mother and a Gentile father. Paul left Timothy is Ephesus to help establish the Church there.

Titus, who Paul called “my true son in our common faith” (Titus 1:4), was a Gentile. When Gentiles began to enter the Church by faith in Christ (for initially it was entirely Jewish), Paul and Titus met with the Apostles to discuss whether saved Gentiles had to follow the Law of Moses. This meeting is described in:

Acts 15:2 (LSB) the brothers determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem TO THE APOSTLES AND ELDERS concerning this issue ..

Titus isn’t mentioned by name in the meeting of the Apostles and Elders (Pastors) of Jerusalem in Acts 15, but Paul mentions him by name in:

Galatians 2:1 (LSB) Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, TAKING TITUS ALONG ALSO.

Pharisees had come into the Church in Jerusalem, just as they come into the Church of every age. The Pharisees said:

Acts 15:5 (LSB) But some of the sect of the PHARISEES WHO HAD BELIEVED stood up, saying, “It is NECESSARY TO CIRCUMCISE THEM {the Gentiles} and to command them to KEEP THE LAW OF MOSES.”

The Law of Moses is much more than just the Ten Commandments that we all know (and which are still valid today). The Law of Moses established ceremonial laws, sacrificial laws, feasts, and rituals like circumcision on the Jewish people. When God gave the Law of Circumcision to Abraham, He said:

Genesis 17:10-14 (NKJV) This [is] My covenant which YOU SHALL KEEP, between Me and you and YOUR DESCENDANTS AFTER YOU: Every male child among you shall be circumcised; 11 and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. 12 He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised, every male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with money from any foreigner who is not your descendant. 13 “He who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money must be circumcised, and MY COVENANT SHALL BE IN YOUR FLESH FOR AN EVERLASTING COVENANT. 14 “And the uncircumcised male child, WHO IS NOT CIRCUMCISED in the flesh of his foreskin, THAT PERSON SHALL BE CUT OFF FROM HIS PEOPLE; he has broken My covenant.”

The Pharisees who had been ordained to the Pastorate – and who influential in the Church of Jerusalem – said “a Gentile can be saved. But that Gentile man MUST BE CIRCUMCISED and MUST KEEP THE LAW of Moses”.

So the elders (the Pastors) and the Apostles met to discuss the matter. Peter the Apostle (who had first seen Gentiles saved) stood on the Grace of God alone. He said:

Acts 15:11 (LSB) But we believe that WE ARE SAVED THROUGH THE GRACE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, in the same way as THEY {the Gentiles} ALSO ARE.

The Pharisees wanted Titus to be circumcised, but Paul refused to do so. Timothy had been circumcised because he was a Jew, but not Titus. Circumcision was never given to the Gentiles, but to the Jews. In fact, circumcision has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH SALVATION. God told Israel that the man who would not be circumcised “THAT PERSON SHALL BE CUT OFF FROM HIS PEOPLE”. Not from Heaven, but from “HIS PEOPLE”, or Israel. Circumcision, the feasts, the ceremonial laws that God gave to Israel under the Old Covenant were fulfilled in Christ. Why did these Pharisees come into the Church, professing to be children of God by faith in Christ? Paul said,

Galatians 2:4-5 (LSB) But [this was] because of THE FALSE BROTHERS SECRETLY BROUGHT IN, who had SNEAKED IN to spy out our freedom which we have in Christ Jesus, IN ORDER TO ENSLAVE US. 5 But we did not yield in subjection to them for even a moment, so that THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL WOULD REMAIN WITH YOU.

So Titus was in the midst of this grand meeting of the Church. And in Acts 15 the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ specified that the born again Gentiles did NOT have to be circumcised, but they did have to STAY AWAY FROM IDOLATRY AND SEXUAL IMMORALITY (Acts 15:20).

From that point, Titus went with Paul to Corinth to establish the Church there. Then Paul left Titus in Crete, a large Grecian Island, so he could establish Churches there. The Grecians worshiped the Greek and Roman gods and goddesses. There was also a strong Jewish presence therethat rejected the Lord Jesus Christ. Titus was given the challenge by God to not only preach the Gospel, but to establish Churches in Crete, ordaining Pastors for each Church.

If The Head Is Corrupt, The Body Cannot Be Well

When God sends us to do a chore, a work for Him, He will always equip us to do that work. As God was sending Titus to Crete to establish Churches, God through the Apostle Paul gave him his own “how to” guide. That’s what the Book of Titus is. If you had to establish a Church, the Book of Titus will explain how to do that starting at the Head.

Now I know that Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church. There is ample Scripture that teaches us this:

Ephesians 1:22-23 (LSB) And HE {God the Father} PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET {God the Son}, and gave Him {Jesus} as HEAD OVER ALL THINGS TO THE CHURCH, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Ephesians 5:23 (LSB) For the husband is the head of the wife, as CHRIST ALSO IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH, He Himself [being] the Savior of the body.

Jesus is the Head of His Church. Jesus is “The Word became flesh Who dwelt among us” (John 1:14). But Jesus now is “exalted TO THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD” (Acts 2:33). The Bible says that

Romans 8:34 (LSB) who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, WHO IS AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, who also intercedes for us.

Jesus as Eternal God will “never leave us, nor forsake us” (Deuteronomy 31:6; Hebrews 13:5; Matthew 28:20). But He is literally at the right hand of the Father now, His Holy Spirit indwelling us. So how is Jesus manifested on the earth now?

Titus 1:2-3 (KJV) … God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; 3 But hath in due times MANIFESTED HIS WORD THROUGH PREACHING {kērygma, pro. kay’-roog-mah}

Word Study: God manifests Himself – His Word – through PREACHING. The word PREACHING is the Greekkērygma. Kērygma means “an AUTHORITATIVE proclamation by a Herald or a Public Crier”.

The Preacher is commissioned or called by God to manifest Jesus Christ to the listener, to make His truths understandable so the believer can live by them. The Preacher calls us to imitate Christ and so manifest Him to others by our very lives.

The Apostle Paul was a Preacher, following the call of God.

Titus 1:3 (KJV) But hath in due times MANIFESTED HIS WORD THROUGH PREACHING, which is COMMITTED {pisteuō} UNTO ME according to the commandment of God our Savior;

Word Study: Paul said, “I’m a Preacher. God “COMMITTED” this to me. The word translated COMMITTED is a very interesting word, the Greek pisteuō. This word is often used for BELIEF in God. We read:

Matthew 8:13 {NKJV}… Jesus said unto the Centurion, Go your way, and as you have BELIEVED {pisteuō}, so let it be done for you …

Matthew 18:6 {NKJV} (Jesus said) whoever causes one of these little ones who BELIEVE {pisteuō} in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

Matthew 21:22 {NKJV} And whatever things you ask in prayer, BELIEVING, {pisteuō} you will receive.

To “BELIEVE” means to “commit to, to entrust with”. God entrusted the Gospel to Paul, and commanded that he preach it. The Preacher proclaims the Gospel of Christ AUTHORITATIVELY, EXCLUSIVELY, and WITHOUT COMPROMISE.

What are the characteristics of the Preacher of the Gospel?

Titus 1:1 Paul, a SERVANT of God …

Word Study: The Preacher is not perfect (for no one is). But the Preacher or the Herald of the Gospel is a “SERVANT”, the Greek doulos or a slave. The slave is someone who has given up his will to the will of the Master. The Master of the Preacher is God and God alone. Our Lord Jesus said,

Matthew 24:46 (KJV) Blessed [is] that SERVANT,[doulos] whom his Lord when He cometh shall find so doing.

There is but one Kingdom of God, and Jesus Christ is its King. Christians are to be servants – slaves unto God. In John 13:12-15 our Lord Jesus washed the feet of His disciples.

John 13:13-17 (NKJV) You call Me TEACHER AND LORD, and you say well, FOR SO I AM. 14 If I then, [your] Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, YOU ALSO OUGHT TO WASH ONE ANOTHER’S FEET. 15 “For I HAVE GIVEN YOU AN EXAMPLE, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 “Most assuredly, I say to you, A SERVANT IS NOT GREATER THAN HIS MASTER; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, BLESSED ARE YOU IF YOU DO THEM.

So many people come to a Church, shopping around to see if they can get “the best buy”. I hear this quite often: “What can YOU offer me?” Beloved, what I can offer you is the Gospel of the Kingdom, a Gospel that makes SLAVES unto God. The world rejects this Gospel.

1 Corinthians 1:18 (NKJV) For the MESSAGE OF THE CROSS is FOOLISHNESS TO THOSE WHO ARE PERISHING, but TO US WHO ARE BEING SAVED IT IS THE POWER OF GOD.

The world teaches “Have it YOUR way. If it FEELS GOOD, do it. Satisfy yourself. You be you. Be your own god, choose your own way”. This is the pathway of Satan. It started in the Garden of Eden, where Satan talked Adam out of the best job he ever had. Beloved, let me tell you this great truth:

If you have a Preacher who is promoting themselves and the glory of man, you are following a false brother who has crept in unawares “IN ORDER TO ENSLAVE US” (Galatians 2:4).

It is not the Gospel of the Kingdom if it makes every person a king over God. It is not the Gospel that teaches “name it and claim it”. It is not the Gospel that makes man glorious, while ignoring the glory of God. It is a Satanic delusion, a false doctrine, a false preacher. The Gospel that saves tells us to BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. As I have shown you before, BELIEVE means TO ENTRUST YOUR LIFE TO. The saved person is the person who has surrendered their lives to God the Father in the name of the Son of God.

The saved person is a SLAVE of the Kingdom!
Not elevated, but God’s property.

Titus 1:1 Paul, a SERVANT {doulos, slave} of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ

Notice the order that Paul put this in. He was a SLAVE FIRST, then He was an Apostle. The Apostles had the highest office in the Church. If you look at the deviations from Christianity today, deviations like Catholicism, the Church of England and some forms of Methodism, you will see leaders of the institution that dress up in specialized costumes and uniforms. You will see people with titles not found in Scripture:

Father (see Matthew 23:29)
Monsignor
Archbishop
Cardinal
Vicar
Abbot
Mother Superior
Supreme Pontiff

These people deviate from God’s Kingdom. Others bow down to them, kiss their rings, kneel before them. God has said:

Isaiah 42:8 I am the LORD; that is my name! I WILL NOT GIVE MY GLORY TO ANOTHER or my praise to idols.

Isaiah 48:11 I will not yield my glory to another.

God is God – we are not. God directs those of His Kingdom:

1 Corinthians 10:31 … whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, DO ALL TO THE GLORY OF GOD.

The Apostle, the Pastor, the Preacher, the People of the Kingdom are all slaves of God. We live to glorify Him. When we get to Heaven (if you get to Heaven), we will glorify Him and worship Him Who saved us. We will not be pleasing ourselves in glory, but HIM! Only HIM! In this life we are told:

Colossians 3:17 And WHATEVER YOU DO, in word or deed, DO EVERYTHING IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS, giving THANKS TO GOD THE FATHER through Him.

1 Peter 4:11 Whoever speaks, as one who speaks the oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who SERVES BY THE STRENGTH THAT GOD SUPPLIES, so that IN EVERYTHING GOD MAY BE GLORIFIED through Jesus Christ.

The Kingdom of God glorifies God. The Church exists to glorify God, to serve God. Not ourselves, but God.

In the Old Testament Israel was a nation of slaves that God took out of Egypt to save them. Why did God free them? “Let My people go, THAT THEY MAY SERVE ME” (Exodus 9:1). In the New Testament, the Church is a group of people who were enslaved to sin, but who are now servants of God.

Romans 6:6 We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that WE SHOULD NO LONGER BE ENSLAVED TO SIN.

Romans 6:18 You have been SET FREE FROM SIN and have BECOME SLAVES TO RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Romans 6:22 But now that you have been SET FREE FROM SIN and have BECOME SLAVES OF GOD, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.

It’s been my experience these last 30 years in the Pastorate that the average Christian wants to go to Heaven, but wants God to be his or her slave. But that’s not Christianity. When you become born again by faith in Christ, God saves you but God possesses you. You become His.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN, for YOU WERE BOUGHT WITH A PRICE. So GLORIFY GOD IN YOUR BODY.

Let’s return to our text:

Titus 1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, ACCORDING TO THE FAITH OF GOD’S ELECT, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness

Saving faith is surrender to God. It’s not a compromise. It is unconditional surrender. If you are saved, then you are “GOD’S ELECT”. The word “ELECT” is the Greek eklektos, which means “to be picked out or chosen by God”. If you are a Christian, God CHOSE you and CALLED you to salvation. You willingly entered into a covenant relationship with Him. The Bible says …

2 Thessalonians 2:13-15 (NKJV) But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, BRETHREN BELOVED BY THE LORD, because God from the beginning CHOSE YOU TO SALVATION through sanctification by the Spirit and BELIEF IN THE TRUTH, 14 to which He CALLED YOU BY OUR GOSPEL, for the OBTAINING OF THE GLORY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. 15 Therefore, brethren, STAND FAST and HOLD THE TRADITIONS which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.

The day the Christian is saved is the day that that person REPENTED of being gods and goddesses, and turn to God through faith in Christ. You believed that there was no way of salvation but by faith and surrender to Christ. God chose you to salvation. God knows who will be saved (Ephesians 1:4-5). You accepted the call. Now you are His. You belong to God, not to yourself.

I serve a risen Savior
He’s in the world today.
I know that He is living,
Whatever men may say.
I see His hand of mercy;
I hear His voice of cheer;
And just the time I need Him
He’s always near.

He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.
He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart.

If Jesus lives within your heart, then, like Jesus, you live to honor the God Who saved you. How do you honor God?

Titus 1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the ACKNOWLEDGING THE TRUTH WHICH IS AFTER GODLINESS

You do not honor God by chasing after the darkness. Whether Apostle, Pastor, or People of God, we live our lives “ACKNOWLEDGING THE TRUTH WHICH IS AFTER GODLINESS”. Christians will sin. No Christian is perfect. But no Christian will twist the truth. EVERY CHURCH THAT TEACHES YOU CAN BE A CHRISTIAN, AND BE COMFORTABLE IN YOUR SIN, WHETHER SEXUAL OR SOCIAL, IS A FALSE CHURCH. Can God save a sexual sinner? Yes. But He does not save them IN their sins, but FROM their sins. Once saved, JESUS IS LORD and WE ARE NOT. Can God save a substance abuser, or a hater or racist? Absolutely. But once saved, you will NOT wallow in that sin anymore. Being born again, you will “ACKNOWLEDGE THE TRUTH WHICH IS AFTER GODLINESS”. This may make you mad, but I have to say it:

There is no such person as a BLACK Christian or a WHITE Christian or an ASIAN Christian or an INDIAN Christian or a JEWISH Christian. There is only the CHRISTIAN. And the CHRISTIAN follows God as His servant.

I’m not saying there aren’t cultural differences between what we call “the races”. There are. But the Bible doesn’t teach “races” but NATIONS (see Acts 17:26). Once you are saved, you come into the Kingdom of God. Those who are “born again” are brothers and sisters, regardless of color or culture (Galatians 3:28). And when we get to Heaven, what will we see around the Throne of God? John the Revelator said:

Revelation 7:9-10 (LSB) … I looked, and behold, a GREAT MULTITUDE which no one could count, from EVERY NATION and [all] TRIBES, AND PEOPLES, AND TONGUES, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches [were] in their hands; 10 and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, “SALVATION BELONGS TO OUR GOD who sits on the throne, and TO THE LAMB.”

I don’t see a single COLOR mentioned in this scene. Do you? Beloved, the saved belong to a Kingdom. We belong to God. Do you?

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Suiting Up For Battle

Posted on February 25, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

Ephesians 6:13-14 Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

We Battle An Enemy We Have No Power To Defeat

The Bible tells us that we humans are in a great spiritual battle. Our battle is not between black and white, or Republican or Democrat, or rich or poor. We were previously told in this chapter:

Ephesians 6:12 For we WRESTLE NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Our enemy is an ancient foe, one who manifested himself in the Garden of Eden as a crafty beast of the field, a serpent. Again, our battle is not against flesh and blood. The serpent was not a serpent, though it looked like a serpent to Adam and Eve. The serpent was a possessed creature, possessed of an angelic being named Lucifer, Satan, the Devil (Revelation 12:9). In the end God will imprison that old serpent (Revelation 20:2), and will ultimately cast it into hell. Our Lord Jesus said:

Matthew 25:41 (LSB) {God} will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been PREPARED FOR THE DEVIL AND HIS ANGELS

There will come a day when Satan and the fallen angels will be cast into a Lake of Fire forever, a day when God will re-create the earth without sin and sinners. But until that day, Satan “our Adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). We have no ability within ourselves to do battle with a spiritual being like a fallen angel. We cannot, within our own abilities, wrestle with satanic forces and win. It is impossible. But our Lord Jesus said:

Luke 18:27 The things which are impossible with men are possible with God. (also see Matthew 19:26; Mark 10:27)

We cannot wrestle with nor defeat Satan or his demons within our own strength. But God can. God sent Jesus Christ, His only Begotten Son – and Jesus is greater than Satan.

1 John 3:8 For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that HE MIGHT DESTROY THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL.

Colossians 2:15 Having SPOILED PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS, JESUS made a show of them openly, TRIUMPHING OVER THEM IN IT

What We Cannot Do, God Can Do

Humans cannot defeat the powers of evil. BUT we can submit ourselves unto God and let Him dress us in His armor. We are told WHEREFORE!

Ephesians 6:13 Wherefore TAKE UNTO YOU {analambanō} the WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD

Word Study: Wherefore. Since we cannot defeat demonic forces, we are to turn to God. We could not save ourselves – God must. We cannot defeat our enemy, Satan. God must! The phrase “TAKE UNTO YOU” is the Greek analambanō which means “to receive what is offered so as to use or enjoy”. The word is used in the Septuagint (the earliest translation of the Hebrew scriptures to Greek) to describe Elijah’s last day on earth.

2 Kings 2:11 (Brenton’s English Septuagint – BES) as {Elisha and Elijah} were going, they went on talking; and, behold, a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and it separated them both; and Eliu {Elijah} WAS TAKEN UP {analambanō} in a whirlwind as it were unto Heaven.

When God took Elijah up into Heaven, He took him as he was.

Elijah gave himself to God as he was, and
God took him as he was.

In the same way, we who are saved take to us the armor of God as it is. We do not modify it, or change it in any way. Though we have looked at the armor of God in several Vacation Bible Schools, always showing a picture of a Roman Soldier in armor, we need to remember that the physical armor shown is just an illustration. Paul was led of God to look at the Roman army, and its soldiers, and describe the armor of God by paralleling it to what the soldier wore. But remember, the armor that we are learning about today is spiritual and real. We are to take this armor to ourselves without modification. It is the “armor of God”. It is not man made. It is God made. It is from God. It is spiritual, but real, and powerfully effective.

Illustrate: When God took Elijah off of the earth, He took the whole Elijah – not just a part of him. We are told to take upon ourselves “the WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD”. No soldier would go to battle with just part of the armor. Each piece worked together with the other pieces to help the soldier do a dangerous thing as safely as possible. No battle is won by a dead soldier! We as Christians are involved in deadly work! The spiritual forces of evil hate us.

Have you ever noticed that people don’t mock or make fun of Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus or even Jews and Judaism … but they readily mock and vilify the genuine Christ follower.

In St Paul, Minnesota, the forces of darkness stormed Cities Church on January 18, 2026. You do not hear of mosques or temples being stormed – only Churches. There’s a reason for that. Satan and his followers don’t care if you follow an idol. He does not care if you follow a man made religion. An idol is a man made god. The Bible says of the idols:

Psalm 115:3-9 (LSB) OUR GOD is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases. 4 THEIR IDOLS are silver and gold, The work of man’s hands. 5 They have mouths, but they do not speak; They have eyes, but they do not see; 6 They have ears, but they do not hear; They have noses, but they do not smell; 7 As for their hands, they do not feel; As for their feet, they do not walk; They do not make a sound with their throat. 8 Those who make them will become like them, Everyone who trusts in them. 9 O Israel, trust in Yahweh; He is their help and their shield.

The True God, the God that our Lord Jesus Christ manifested to us, “IS IN THE HEAVENS”. He is all around us. There is no where where God is not. “THEIR IDOLS” are from the earth. They are made of “silver and gold, The work of man’s hands”. They are made of items that the worldly consider valuable, but they are earthly things subject to rust and corrosion. These idols “have mouths, but they do not speak”. Jesus said:

John 10:27-28 (LSB) My sheep HEAR MY VOICE, and I KNOW THEM, and THEY FOLLOW ME; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish—ever; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.

Among the Catholics worshipers bow down and pray before statues of the virgin Mary, of the Church fathers, images and statues of Christ on a cross. This is idolatry. Hindus make gods of silver and gold. Buddhists make idols of themselves, believing they can achieve godhood. “THEY follow idols”. These idols, these statues, they have eyes, nose, mouth, hands, feet – but they cannot see, nor smell, nor taste, nor touch, nor feel, nor move of their own accord.

Our God not only knows us, but He prays for us at the right hand of God the Father (Romans 8:34). Our God not only cares for us, but He indwells us and speaks to us (Romans 8:27). Our God is a personal God Who shed His Blood for us and, on calling us into His family, expects us to follow Him.

There are many who profess to be “Christian”, who attend a local Church somewhat regularly, but who have devolved into idolatry rather than Christ following.

You cannot live the Christian way of life in your ability and in your power. You, like Elijah, must give yourself to God. You cannot modify the Armor of God to suit what you think is best. A man made armor will not survive a battle with highly superior angels! We are told to do TWO THINGS to defeat the demonic forces that want to damn us:

Ephesians 6:13 Wherefore TAKE UNTO YOU {analambanō} the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and HAVING DONE ALL {katergazomai hapas}, to STAND {histēmi}.

Word Study: Your duty as Christians is to first take the WHOLE ARMOR to yourself. To make sure that you are fully suited before going to battle. And the other thing you are to do is “STAND”. This is the Greek histēmi, which means to “make a stand, set your position and hold it, stay in your place, to be ready and watching”. You are to visibly set against the enemy. You are not to hide, run away, go undercover, compromise, be tolerant, or yield. You are to stubbornly stand firm, cloaking yourself with the armor of God. You are to understand that you are in a battle that matters. When you “STAND”, you rest in the power of and certainty of God. But you do not rest in your own abilities. To “STAND” means to get out of your seat and do what God has called you to do. The Christian is a representative of the Kingdom of God, a sheep of Christ. We ought to baa loud enough so that others know we love our Lord, and He loves us. I cannot defeat Satan, but God can through me.

We are to “STAND” knowing that the power is of God, not of ourselves. Jesus told the parable of a Pharisee and a publican (telōnēs – tax agent). The Lord said:

Luke 18:10-13 (LSB) Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. [11] “The Pharisee STOOD {histēmi} and was praying these things to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. [12] ‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ [13] “But the tax collector, STANDING {histēmi} some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his chest, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’

Both men were standing – but only ONE was standing in the right place. The Pharisee was standing on “I” and what he had accomplished in his own power. The forces of darkness love these people, these religious characters that stand on “look at me, see what I’m doing”. Someone recently said to me, “I’ll be preaching on such and such a day. Make sure you come and hear me.” Would I be coming to hear you, or to hear my Lord speak through you? Idolatry is sneaky – and one of the devil’s greatest tools. He twists it so that we make it about ourselves. I have no doubt that the Pharisee was sincere in what he said – but everything he said glorified himself. He was proud that “I am not like other people”. He’s the top dog! He’s not broken like everyone else. Like God, the Pharisee is the Great “I AM”. At least he thinks he is. He fasts and pays tithes, not because he loves God, but because it is part of a checklist that he follows that magnifies himself in his own eyes.

But what of the tax collector? He “STOOD” also, but he stood in humility, as he was. He stood far from the holy place, and lowered his eyes, humbling himself before God. He struck himself in the chest, the center of the soul, near the heart. His prayer was simple:

God, be merciful to me, the sinner!

This man stood powerless before God, humbled before God, and asked God for the armor necessary to bless his life. Our Lord Jesus said:

Luke 18:14 (LSB) I tell you, this man went down to his house JUSTIFIED rather than the other, for EVERYONE WHO EXALTS HIMSELF WILL BE HUMBLED, but HE WHO HUMBLES HIMSELF WILL BE EXALTED.

God can use you, but only if you submit, and put on the armor He offers His children. You must take the whole armor as it is, without modification, and let God put it on you. Then you must take your stand for God, glorifying Him, not yourselves.

The Belt Of Truth

Ephesians 6:14 Stand therefore, having your LOINS GIRT ABOUT WITH TRUTH …

The BELT, though not actually a part of the armor, was integral to the armor. Jesus spoke of the “belt of truth” when He said:

Luke 12:35-37 (KJV) Let your LOINS BE GIRDED ABOUT, and YOUR LIGHTS BURNING; [36] And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. [37] Blessed [are] those servants, whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.

The belt was the first thing the warrior put on. It was central to the armor, as all of the other parts of the armor attached to it.

Why is TRUTH the first thing that the Christian puts on?

Truth is under attack today. People talk about “you live YOUR truth, and I live MY truth”. People think that truth is fluid, not fixed. Because they believe this, we see strange things on the television. We see men dressed as women, treated as women, allowed to participate in the same sports that women are in. People say that this is fair though we know that men are structurally created stronger than women. But the majority of dark voices have spoken. Men can be women, and women can be men. This is “truth”.

Based on this “truth”, men can get pregnant. Men can have menstruation periods. Men can breast feed babies. Is it “true”? We are told, yes, because it is “our” truth. We hear “there is no difference between men and women”. And feminists mock men, saying “a woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle”. Is it “true”? Well, yes, it is “our” truth. Raging mobs can burn down buildings while news people report “these are mostly peaceful protests”. Someone’s livelihood was destroyed, but it’s a peaceful protest. And it’s true, because we say it is.

Before Pilate executed Jesus, a Man he judged as innocent, our Lord had this discussion with him:

John 18:36-38 (LSB) Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be delivered over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not from here.” [37] Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You yourself said I am a king. FOR THIS I HAVE BEEN BORN, and FOR THIS I HAVE COME INTO THE WORLD, TO BEAR WITNESS TO THE TRUTH. EVERYONE WHO IS OF THE TRUTH HEARS MY VOICE.” [38] Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?”

The world says “What is TRUTH? It is fluid. We make the truth. What we say is true, is true.” Truth is not fluid. Truth is from God. Truth is in the Bible. As I prayed over this message, God showed me a correlation between creation and the truth. The Bible tells us that the very first thing that God created was LIGHT. “God said, “Let there BE LIGHT, and there WAS LIGHT” (Genesis 1:3). The Light was separate from the darkness. Light was created on the FIRST day of creation. But God did not create the sun or the moon until the FOURTH day (Genesis 1:14-19). Light existed first. Light comes from God. Darkness was there in the absence of God. Darkness is natural, but Light is from God.

When we look at the Armor of God, we see the BELT OF TRUTH is the first piece we receive from God. The order given is:

Belt of Truth
Breastplate of Righteousness
Gospel covered Feet
Shield of Faith
Helmet of Salvation
Sword of the Spirit, The WORD OF GOD

Just as God created LIGHT first, then later the Sun and Moon, God gives us TRUTH first, and as the crowning touch THE WORD OF GOD. Everything binds to the BELT OF TRUTH. The WORD OF GOD is the manifestation of God’s Truth, just as the Sun is the manifestation of God’s Light. It all begins with TRUTH.

Without the BELT OF TRUTH, the armor will not stay in place. If the TRUTH is man made, the God made armor will not be supported. I have seen young people walking around with no belts on, their underwear hanging out. They could not do battle, as their droopy drawers would get around their legs and trip them up.

What is TRUTH? Pilate asked. The God of the Bible is truth. God is the Source of Light and of Truth.

Who is the Source of darkness and lies? Listen to our Lord Jesus speak to the idolatrous Pharisees:

John 8:44 (LSB) You are of [your] father THE DEVIL, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and DOES NOT STAND IN THE TRUTH BECAUSE THERE IS NO TRUTH IN HIM. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own [nature], for HE IS A LIAR, AND THE FATHER OF LIES.

The source of darkness and lies is the devil. The Source of Light and Truth is God our Father. What He says is true. Jesus said, “I am the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE” (John 14:6). The Bible says of God,

Deuteronomy 32:4 He is the Rock, His works are perfect, and all His ways are just, A FAITHFUL GOD WHO DOES NO WRONG

God is called “the GOD OF TRUTH” (Isaiah 65:16). When God came to Moses and told him to go to Pharaoh, to lead His people out of Egypt, Moses asked Him “If they ask me Your Name, what shall I tell them?” God answered simply, “I AM WHO I AM. Say to the people of Israel, I AM has sent me to you” (Exodus 3:13-15). Among the ancients, the name was always descriptive of the person. “Moses” or Mosheh means “one who is drawn out”. He was saved from the river by the princess of Egypt (Exodus 2:10), who said “I named him ‘Moses’ because I drew him out of the water”. God is the great I AM. There is no one like Him. God cannot be understood by comparing Him to something else. Truth comes from God. He establishes Truth.

God was not created. There was a time when you did not exist. I was born in 1958, but before that, there was no David. I became a created being when God allowed me life, and I constantly receive life from God. But God has always been. There was no time when He was created.

God does not receive life, light, love or being. He has always been life, light, love and being. We are born, then we become. God never becomes. He is I AM. Everything exists according to His will.

God does not need us. He is self sufficient. He is I AM. God did not need Adam and Eve, nor did He need Israel. He does not need you or me. God did not create humans because it filled up some deficiency He had. Everything we have and hope to be comes from God. When we give to God, we give back to Him what He has already given us. When King David praised God, he said:

1 Chronicles 29:11-14 (LSB) Yours, O Yahweh, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the kingdom, O Yahweh, and You exalt Yourself as head over all. [12] Both riches and honor [come] from You, and YOU RULE OVER ALL, AND IN YOUR HAND IS POWER AND MIGHT; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone. [13] “So now, our God, we are thanking You and praising Your glorious name. [14] But who am I and who are my people that we should be able to offer as willingly as this? For ALL THINGS COME FROM YOU, and FROM YOUR HAND WE HAVE GIVEN YOU.

When David was confronted by the Prophet Nathan over his murder of Uriah, his adultery with Bathsheba, David repented, saying, “I have sinned AGAINST THE LORD” (2 Samuel 12:13). That has puzzled me till now. David sinned against God, because he robbed Uriah of what god gave him – his wife and his life. Everything we have, we have of God. Sin robs God!

The BELT OF TRUTH is that God does not NEED us,
but God LOVES us.

The Apostle said “For FROM HIM and THROUGH HIM and TO HIM are ALL THINGS” (Romans 11:36). Our God told us “every beast of the forest IS MINE, and the cattle upon a thousand hills” (Psalm 50:10). We are not doing God a favor when we serve Him. The BELT OF TRUTH tells us that God doesn’t need us, but we desperately need God. The Doctrine of the Aseity (pronounced “uh-SEE-uh-tee”) of God is found in God’s name “I AM WHO I AM”. God’s love is free and gracious, not needy. His promises are unshakable. What God has said He will do, He will do. The idols require the service of their followers. But the Apostles knew that “Our God is not served by human hands, as though He needed anything. The Father has life in Himself” (Acts 17:24-25; John 5:26).

The Belt of Truth is that our God is all powerful, all knowing, all able. When God told Moses, “Tell them ‘I AM’ sent you”, he was being told (and now I quote Samuel G. Parkison):

“God} is the infinite Source and Giver of all life and being. Moses could not appeal categorically higher than to this Being for help in his task to deliver Israel from slavery. Who could help Moses more on this mission? Sure, Pharaoh was the king of the greatest earthly superpower—Moses had seen that up close. Sure, no living man was more powerful than he. Sure, Moses was a jaded, humiliated, failed deliverer coming to this people with a deficit of credibility to lead them. But the Being who commissioned Moses in Exodus 3 is the One who gives life and breath and being to everyone, including Pharoah. Moses had the help of the Infinite Maker of heaven and earth behind him: He should almost feel bad for Pharoah! No competition against “I am” is even fair.”

It is THIS God Who saved us by His Grace. This Infinite God knew who you were, and who you would be, when He called your name. He knew you were broken, and called you to salvation through His Son Jesus Christ anyway. This is the BELT OF TRUTH. Some of you run about, trying to save yourselves or to keep yourselves saved. You cannot. You could not make yourself born, nor could you make yourself born again. God did it all. He did it all through Jesus.

Though Adam and Eve ate of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in the Garden, and though from that time WE think we have the answers, the truth is that this is a lie from Satan. We know nothing. Social justice warriors know nothing. Politicians (I’m sorry, Jerry) know nothing. Everything we have and hope to be comes from God, from Jesus, from the Holy Spirit given to us at New Birth. We are NOTHING without God.

We breath God’s air, and drink His water. We walk on the planet He made. And it is our privilege to be able to serve Him. It is not a chore, but an honor. It is also the safest place to be. God made Light and Truth. God made the TWO genders. God sent His ONLY Son Jesus to be our Messiah. If you do not humble yourself, and put on the BELT OF TRUTH, your pants will fall down. And the Devil will destroy your life.

We need God. We need Jesus. We need the Holy Spirit. God doesn’t need us!

Zach Williams sings a beautiful song “Heart of God”. Go listen to it! God doesn’t need YOU, but YOU need God. Come to Jesus Christ, bow before Him as Lord and Savior. Receive the salvation that He purchased for you on Calvary. Let Him send the Holy Spirit to you, and bring you into His Kingdom. As His Children, His Sheep, follow Him, because YOU NEED HIM. What He has said is truth. What is written in God’s Sun, the Bible, is TRUTH.

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