Please read Titus 1.
Meditate on verse 10.
For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers,
especially those of the circumcision.
Paul left
Titus in Crete to set the churches in order and appoint elders in every city on
the island (Titus 1:5). There were people in the Cretan churches who
contradicted sound doctrine and taught things upsetting entire families. Strong
leadership was needed to exhort in sound doctrine and refute the contradictors.
Paul gave Titus a list of 18 qualifications to be a church elder or overseer.
He must be:
1.
Above reproach
2.
The husband of one wife
3.
Have children who are believers and are not
rebellious
He must have these first three
qualifications because he has to be:
4.
Above reproach as God’s steward (An elder cannot
be a good steward of the church if his own family is not obediently following
Christ.)
5.
Not self-willed
6.
Not quick-tempered
7.
Not addicted to wine
8.
Not pugnacious
9.
Not fond of sordid gain
10. Hospitable
11. Loving
what is good
12. Sensible
13. Just
14. Devout
15. Self-controlled
16. Holding
fast the faithful Word
17. Able
to exhort in sound doctrine
18. Able
to refute those who contradict sound doctrine
This
describes a man of God, a leader who guides his family to faith and obedience
in Christ and who leads those in his church as well. This is the list of Godly
attributes that should describe every Christian man.
If you are
an unmarried woman, this is your list for what you want in a husband. If you
are a married woman, this is the list to pray every day over your husband. Men,
pray this list over yourself. Mothers and fathers, pray for your sons and
grandsons to be established in the LORD with these 18 attributes characterizing
their lives.
Our churches
desperately need men in leadership positions with ALL 18 characteristics
because there are many rebellious men in our churches, empty talkers and
deceivers who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families by
teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain (Titus
1:10-11).
Pray Titus
1:6-9 over the men in your life as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah
62:6-7).
“LORD,
make ________ above reproach, the husband
of one wife.
Let his
children be believers and not accused of dissipation or rebellion.
Make _________ above reproach as Your steward.
Do not
let him be self-willed, quick-tempered,
addicted to wine, pugnacious,
or fond of
sordid gain.
Let him
be hospitable, loving what is good,
sensible, just, devout, and self-controlled.
Let him
hold fast the faithful Word,
which
is in accordance with the teaching,
so that
he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine
and refute those who contradict.
For the
sake of Your name, Jesus~”
The WATCHMAN
on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell
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