Titus 1:10-16 Father’s Day 6/16/13 AM Building Leaders #3

* The teaching of the Word of God is a deterrent to false teachers. * Dads, be aware - lead in the fight against the ever-present threat of false teaching. * Today, let us learn more of the false teachers on the Island of Crete.

* Explanation * “many” * “unruly * “vain talkers” * “deceivers” * “especially they of the circumcision” * a mixture of faith and works. Faith + Works = Works. The truths of the LAW were hidden and twisted into a works salvation. The LAW was never meant to save.

* There are many who would lead us astray. * The Lord looks on the heart. Let Him put on the labels. * Don’t take that task upon yourself. * -Some of us love to label with our labels. * Some of us won’t label even with God’s labels. * Let God use mature leadership with sound doctrine to label false teachers. * Use His program to deal with them. Such commands as: * A man that is a heretic after the second admonition, reject. * Reprove, rebuke, exhort with all LONGSUFFERING and DOCTRINE. * There are 3 criteria here: are they unruly? Vain talkers? Deceivers?

* Ultimatum * whose mouths must be stopped” * literally, “muzzle that dangerous animal.” * Outcome * who subvert whole houses” * entire families are swept into error. * Curriculum * “teaching things which they ought not” * because they are false things! * Premium * “for filthy lucre’s sake” * motive- they desire to profit! Self-gain

* To solidify the lack of character of these individuals, Paul quotes a famous Cretin, Epimenides from 600 BC- a prophet/poet, who characterized his own people as… * Liars- to “cretize” is to tell a lie or be a liar. * Evil Beasts- fierce, wild nature, lovers of cruelty. * Slow Bellies- idle, gluttonous, governed by passion and slow to be satisfied. * “This witness is TRUE” - in other words- “Titus, you do have your problems!” I put you here to develop godly leadership and that your people and you might stand against false teachers whose FERVENCY is to satisfy their fallen, depraved natures.

* False teachers fervently spread their venomous curriculum in order to satisfy their lying, wild, self-satisfying natures. * It is not the doctrine as much as the profit that is important to them. * Do you know anyone who would lie to get what they want? * How about ‘stretch’ the truth? * Profit may not be financial, but acceptance or elevation in the eyes of one’s peers.

* Rebuke to Restore- Restoration to spiritual health is a great deterrent! * Warn Not to Wander- once restored and healthy, they will not wander off to cute or interesting stories. There are some amazing stories out there. * Caution to Save Conscience- the ceremonial limitations of the law are removed. Believers are not under law. We still have restrictions! * Moral- avoid the unholy to please God. * Social- avoid as offensive to others. (II Thess. 5:22) * Personal- avoid some things for self-control purposes. * A bad heart contaminates everything. (Isa. 64:6) * Admonish to be Authentic- Hey, false teacher, what you do and say are two different things. * What you do speaks so loud the world can’t hear what you say. * Your walk talks, and your talk talks, but your walk talks louder than your talk talks.

* When God’s people are faithful in the Word, prayer, church participation and fellowship, and honoring their leaders that helps to spell FAILURE for false teachers. * When God’s leadership is proper or biblical in attitude, affirmation, and admonition, then that spells failure for false teachers.