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<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="center">“<font size="3"><b>TWO
ARE BETTER THAN ONE” MINISTRIES</b></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="center"><font size="3"><b>Jim
& Marie Watt</b></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="center"><b><font size="3">Tel:
253-517-9195 - Email: <a href="mailto:jmbetter@gmail.com">jmbetter@gmail.com</a></font></b></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="center"><b><font size="3">Web:
<a href="http://www.2rbetter.org/">www.2rbetter.org</a></font></b></p><p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="center"><b><font size="3"><a href="http://www.2rbetter.org/">August 2, 2009<br></a></font></b></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="center"><br>
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<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="center"><font size="3"><b>T4901R
- TITUS, PHILEMON - OVERVIEW</b></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="center">“<font size="3"><b>GOOD
WORKS: SIGN OF MATURITY”</b></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="center"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left"><font size="3"><b>1.
Titus 1:4 (1:1-4) PAUL TO TITUS. “To Titus, <i>my</i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
genuine child after a common faith: Grace and peace from God </span></span><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">the</span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
Father and Christ Jesus our :Savior.” </span></span></b><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">This
is the way Your Kingdom comes, Father! It is a way of Your Spirit
coming from You and proceeding through Jesus, because of His atoning
blood. First the blood - then the oil! </span></span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">Hallowed
be your :name.</span></i></b></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="left">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left"><font size="3"><b><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">2.
1:5 (1:5-9) ELDERS: CITY PLURALITY AND QUALIFICATIONS. “For this
cause I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the </span></span><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">things</span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
wanting, and appoint elders in every city, as I gave you charge.”
</span></span></b><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">Note
that in the beginning each church in the home required but one elder;
plurality of Eldership was for the </span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><u><span style="">city</span></u></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
church, containing many churches in the home (or local churches).
Seven deacons served the </span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><u><span style="">entire
city church</span></u></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
of Jerusalem. Denominational tradition makes it difficult for us to
see this. </span></span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">Your
:kingdom come.</span></i></b></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="left">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left"><font size="3"><b><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">3.
1:13b-14 (1:10-16) GAINSAYERS: TO BE REBUKED. “For which cause
reprove them sharply, that they be sound in the faith, </span></span><font style="font-size: 8pt;" size="1"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">14</span></span></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
</span></span></font><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">not
giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of</span></span></b></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left"><font size="3"><b><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">men
who turn away from the truth.” </span></span></b><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">This
hardly sounds like Your apostle, Father; but his love for Your true
sheep causes him to protect them vigorously. Paul is a true shepherd,
defends Your sheep, and finds You faithful in Your part. </span></span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">Your
:will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.</span></i></b></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="left">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left">
<font size="3"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>4.
2:7-8 (2:1-14) VARIOUS CLASSES: THEIR STANDARDS. “In all things
showing yourself an example of good works; in the teaching showing
uncorruptness, gravity, </b></span></span><font style="font-size: 8pt;" size="1"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>8</b></span></span></font><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>
sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the
contrary part be ashamed, having no evil to say of us.” </b></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Here
is Your standard for the apostolic city pastor, Father. May we
petition You for such a leader in each city: a James; a Timothy; a
Titus! </span></span><i><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>Our
:daily :bread Give us this day.</b></span></i></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="left">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left"><font size="3"><b><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">5.
3:4-5 (2:15-3:11) GOOD WORKS: TEST OF GRACE. “But when the
kindness of :God our Savior, and </span></span><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">his</span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
:love to man, appeared, </span></span><font style="font-size: 8pt;" size="1"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">5</span></span></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
</span></span></font><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">not
by :works which WE did in righteousness, but according to his :mercy
he saved us, through a washing of regeneration and renewing of </span></span><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">the</span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
Holy Spirit.” </span></span></b><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">Justification
by grace through faith: this is the basis of salvation. From this
flows good works, a way for us to say, Thank You for Jesus, Father.
May we not depart from this clear position. </span></span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">And
forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.</span></i></b></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="left">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left"><font size="3"><b><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">6.
3:14 (3:12-15) SELF-SUPPORT AND WORKS OF LOVE. “And let :our
</span></span><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">people</span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
also learn to maintain good works for the necessary uses, that they
be not unfruitful.” </span></span></b><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">All
fellow believers are to be wise in the use of stewardship. You have
not made us to be spiritual spongers Father, but Jubilant Givers!
</span></span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">And
bring us not into temptation.</span></i></b></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="left">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left"><font size="3"><b><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">7.
Philemon 9-10 (1-25) PHILEMON: PAUL PLEADS FOR ONESIMUS. “For
:love's </span></span><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">sake</span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
I rather beseech, being such as Paul, an old </span></span><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">man</span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
and now also prisoner of Jesus Christ: </span></span><font style="font-size: 8pt;" size="1"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">10</span></span></font><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
- I beseech you for my :child, whom I have begotten in </span></span><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">my</span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
:bonds, Onesimus.” </span></span></b><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">Father,
we are sure Philemon shed tears at this petition; learning of the
salvation of his run-away slave; hearing of the joy Onesimus brought
to Paul; receiving this earnest petition for forgiveness! </span></span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">But
deliver us from the evil </span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">one.</span></span></b></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="left">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="left">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left"><font size="3"><u><b><span style="font-style: normal;">NOTE</span></b></u><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">:
Titus is as it were a short synopsis of 1 & 2 Timothy. It was
essentially the same material, but in an abbreviated form. And of
course, the Holy Spirit through Paul applies it personally to Titus
as an individual. Like the letters to Timothy, this also has direct
application to all apostolic pastors over cities.</span></span></span></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="left">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="left">
<font size="3">Believers in Crete had special problems that Paul knew
required Titus to exercise strictness concerning their besetting
sins.</font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="left">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="left">
<font size="3">Then, just as he held up the importance of example in
Timothy, he repeats this exhortation to Titus. And this applies to
all of us as believers. Our example often - and usually - speaks
louder than words. Oswald Chambers in all of his various writings,
strongly makes this same point.</font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="left">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="left">
<font size="3">But the last epistle in order by Paul in the New
Testament, is Philemon. It is fitting that the Holy Spirit chose to
have this placed in this position in the Canon of Scripture. (Note
that Bible Numerics established the order of New Testament books,
which varies from the normal order.)</font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="left">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="left">
<font size="3">Many Commentators feel that this short epistle is a true
commentary on 1 Corinthians 13. Here we see the wisdom and love and
sensitivity of Paul to a fellow-believer, when he is asking a
difficult favor. We can all learn from Paul through his example here.
- J.A.W.</font></p>
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