GATHER 2016 IGATPURI | Island Lessons Part 4 Titus - Steve Oliver

This message was preached by Steve Oliver who leads Regions Beyond , an apostolic sphere that is a part of Newfrontiers Intl. This was preached at the Gather 2016 leaders Conference held in Igatpuri India.  

For the audio link please  click here

For Part 1 please click here Part 2 please click here. Part 3 please click here

TITUS PART 4

There are 4 things I’d like to get through in this session. I’d like everyone to take a sheet of paper and sit quietly before God and write out what Jesus has entrusted to you. What has He put into your hand so that when you leave from here you leave with your mandate, command, commission from Jesus. This is a symbol to remind you of what God has given you.

Ch3:4-6

In our quest to build good churches to raise up Titus’ to impact our communities, we should not forget the preaching of the gospel of Jesus. In all that we do we mustn’t forget to preach the gospel. I was reminded of this while I was preparing the gospel. When last did I lead someone to Christ? I am always with church leaders. When last did I have the privilege of seeing someone being born again. Paul paints this picture of this glorious gospel and then he says I want you to insist on these things.

1

As we go from here I want to encourage you to personally lead people to Christ and grow our churches to salvation.

Ps 132 – He clothed the priests with Salvation. At Gateway I spoke that this is the gospel of Jesus. Seven people got saved – lives no longer in sin and shame. I know it does not end there but starts there

About 1995 Simon Petit was leading Jubilee Church in Cape town and Lex Loizedes joined him. He is an evangelist and want people to be saved. He calculated that they had only a hand full of people saved in the last few months. That is shameful for a church of 800. That means we have not trained the church well. They then transformed the church so that everybody’s lifestyle became the message. As Elders they asked the people to forgive him. Sometimes the desire for a mature churches stops us from reaching out. So in everything they did they always has the gospel. At the end of the year 349 got saved.

 In Gateway 2014 we were facing the same thing. We were growing fast but not born out of ourselves – coming from overseas but not seeing people saved. You can’t go out in that nation and preach. So our messages always had the gospel. But by May we led 49 people to the Lord. I want to ask you today what is in your heart for your church in faith? We need to build well, We have Titus’  - young men and women raised up, our work amongst the poor to flourish . But we must see the gospel flourish.

It’s not about the number but the desire for people to know Jesus Christ. We want to see people saved and added.

3:9 – This is key for us in the age of the internet where are people have access to all sort of things. There is this big preacher giving a new revelation about the End Times with Brexit as a part of this. The problem is we want to be God. We want to know, control our futures. We don’t want to submit our lives to someone else’s authority. And so controversy is born.

Paul is saying Titus stay true to the Word. In Crete there were all sorts of people peddling stuff. Be discerning what you are listening to. Just because they gather a big crowd does not mean what they are saying is right.

3:10 the enemy big tactic is to divide us. In the dessert Satan tried to divide the Trinity. He will put people in our midst who will be divisive. We need to give good godly leadership. Every culture handles it differently. In Africa where there are differences they will take a gun and shoot the people. The culture is violent.

I’ve noticed in USA if there is some division you slander the person on the net. In the UK it happens but not as much. In India I’ve learnt you are quite dramatic!! Your movies are always about division – the tears!! The trouble is we let that come into the church when we face hardship. So Paul is teaching Titus how to handle this.

Here is my view on how to handle division in the church. Our culture mustn’t determine how we respond but we should be Biblical.

Always believe every single person can be won for Christ. In hardship everyone can win – this is the gospel. We are all victorious. Go in with the attitude that we want to win this.

Never pre judge. Think right thoughts about the person. They might be in your church by an act of God to shape your leadership gift. God put that stone in your shoe. You learn to walk differently. Ask what can I learn from this situation.

Recently I was looking at the Last Supper. I saw it’s the final night he is going to be betrayed. The one who is going to betray him is known to him. You are having your final meal- you are seeing your friends in that context for the last time. And you have one person who will betray you. Where would you put him? He was on Jesus left hand side – a place of honor, where Jesus would lean on him.

A commentator Kent R Hughes – Says right up until the last moment Jesus was reaching out to Judas to show him a better way. My question is that our experience in the church?

Bring warning by opening truth -  Matt 18 The Bible teaches us how to handle these things.

Keep reaching out with truth until they reject it. You seek them out. Jesus went and looked for Peter Then you have to release them. Keep believing until the final moment.

 Bless them as they go. In handling someone who is divisive let them know that they are precious to God. They are not the enemy. They are blood bought. Bring to their attention why what they are doing is causing hindrance.

Never write emails about these things. NEVER. Discern whether there is rejection or insecurity or a demonic response. Keep reaching out to meet them. How many time? Seventy times seven. If there is no response release them. I am accepting that you are working in team. When this happens bring it to the attention of the church not to shame the person but to disciple the church.

Last year in Gateway we went through a difficult situation. We handle it like this. We took it to the church. Our numbers went up by 10%. No one should leave the body without an explanation. It’s a body.

Keep believing in people.

Lastly. If you are here and you are a divisive person, please build up the body. Division comes out of pride, selfishness and sin.

3:12

Titus had been left to finish a task but he was not left alone. So even though Paul left, Paul is sending Artemus and Tychitus.  Tychitus carried the same letters to Colosse. So this guy had proved faithful because some of Paul’s letter did not reach the churches.

When God calls us to do things, when we send people out we should back them up by sending people to encourage them

There is another lesson I want us to learn. “Come to me.” i.e Its time to lay down the work that you are doing esp. when its fruitful. It can give you your identity. It is the work of our labor and sacrifice. It’s difficult to lay down. What[b1] ever you are doing hold it lightly. When we don’t do this we plateau and stop growing.

In Africa they cut a pumpkin a small hole – for a Baboon to put his hand in. When they do this they can’t; let go and then this is how they get caught. Some leaders are like that. They can’t let go.

Paul calls Titus. This is Paul at his relational best. Give and you will receive. Be ready to release. Be faithful with your part of the building and trust that Jesus will truly builds his church.

One of the major reasons why Churches don’t grow is because they don’t release.

I end with this – Grace and peace be upon you all.

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 [b1]

GATHER 2016 IGATPURI | Island Lessons Titus Part 3- Steve O

This message was preached by Steve Oliver who leads Regions Beyond , an apostolic sphere that is a part of Newfrontiers Intl. This was preached at the Gather 2016 leaders Conference held in Igatpuri India.  

For the audio link please  click here

For Part 1 please click here Part 2 please click here.

PART 3

We are going to continue with Pauls letter. This young Greek has been left on the island and he has work to do on behalf on Paul. He was a good Christian. Why do you think Paul sent Titus with the letter to the Corinthians? Why did he select him?

One of the other reasons was because Titus was Greek. And Corinth was in  Acacia which is Greek. So he needed someone who could carry in heart in the context. Many lessons to learn from that.

He reminds Titus that he is writing as a servant and as an apostle

Ch1:4

My true child: If you’ve been around me for a while you may have heard me speak on this verse “ Timothy my true son in the Lord” One of the things the modern church has lost is the intimacy of raising leaders. It has become almost fashionable to base your church on a commercial model. So even when you into the church in the  United States the terminology they use is the same as a business. He is the “president of the youth group”. I appointed him etc.

We don’t know where Paul found Titus but he is able to say to him my true child. The Greek word is “teknon” i.e It’s the same word you would use to refer to your child. It’s not some leader that I put an advert in some Christian magazine and I got him. One of our worship leaders was “headhunted”. Have we forgotten our Bibles?

Paul produced sons. Paul meets Titus and sees that God’s spirit is upon him. If I can train him and do the role of a father to him, provide security, affirmation, belief my resources become yours then I can birth a spiritual child. Its intimate. Ask a mother who births a child. Isn’t child birth an incredible thing?? You see the mother when she is handed the baby for the first time – I this is mine! It’s a part of me. This is the language that Paul uses

.

Sadly, in many churches most leaders are just mangers or slaves of the leader. They get given tasks, get measured and held accountable. But not many sons. Paul says you are an heir to my property. It means all that I own will be his one day.

I have put this in bold letters in my notes. This is probably one of our greatest call at present – Yours to count on!!!! There are so many areas we can go plant churches but we don’t have sons. WE need to raise and release them. We need to model life for them and we need to birth these spiritual children in our churches. Secure, sharing in our inheritance, sharing at the table.

This is the biggest call I believe as we go forward.

Many years before in Dihlabeng church we taught on mentoring and discipleship. And we told everybody find someone to disciple you and you to disciple someone. AS a leader for us to say someone and say I can help you. For those in leadership if you don’t have five people you are investing you won’t see those trees being born.

Titus has been travelling in an apostolic team, seen signs and wonders, churches being born and suddenly the day comes when Paul says tomorrow we sail but Titus I want you to stay and finish the work that we have started. Then he gets this letter from Paul – My true child. I’m sure he just got a letter on a scroll. He must have felt so good. I belong to someone. I’m not an orphan or a missionary sent by some organisation.

If you want to see God’s heart on this see the Transfiguration. Here is Jesus in his true identity. And then come s those beautiful words: This is my beloved son whom I love, listen to Him. Paul is following a Godly pattern.

Let me say something to you in India because you have a history here. Your sons and daughters are not slaves. You are there for their success to make sure that their life is better than your life. There is nothing better. Your heart swells when they do well.

Grace and peace –

The context of leadership in church is warfare. It’s like fighting a war like darkness against light.To succeed in what he had to do he had to have the grace of God. Paul is writing Grace and peace to you – without it you will not succeed. Paul trusted in that more than his own presence with Titus. We know what Grace is.

 When I was a young believer and joined a Newfrontiers church you only heard this word Grace all the time. I didn’t know what it meant. But one through teaching I understand it’s that favour of God that we are given that we don’t deserve and can’t earn. Its just God coming and giving his favour to a situation. Titus for you to overcome all you need is the grace of God or you will be in trouble. Ministry is like that. Sometimes I feel like Peter stepping on out onto water. I call this the panic zone because unless God is in it I am going down. Church planting is like that. We want God’s favour and grace upon us.

We are in a supernatural battle therefore we need supernatural favour. The devil wanted to sift Peter but Jesus protected him. The grace of God kept him. How many times we have been protected by the grace of God!

Band of brothers is a TV series I like – It’s about a  Platoon of GI soldiers who come to rescue Europe from the Nazi’s. The captain is a paratrooper dropped behind enemy lines. This captain and his soldiers are going into a battle situation where the odds of survival are very low. They are in a bad state. These two commanders one leaving and one arriving. They meet and the guy leaving says Captain do you realize that when you are up there you will be totally surrounded. Captain Winters replies, Sir we are paratroopers. WE are meant to be surrounded.

“I am a church planter. Its meant to be tough. I am taken ground from the enemy. I am working with broken people who think sexual immorality is ok. We need to rediscover that passion that comes from working with the grace of God. Paul knows that Titus has got to be robust.

Jesus tells the story that he is the good shepherd and not a hired hand. So when the wolves come you won’t run away. We need to get to the point where we see struggles as blessings where they teach us things and put strength into us.

This is a prophetic moment now

Verse 5 – this is why I left you in Crete …  These words spoke to me more from this whole book. If we are to fulfill our mandate to plant new testament church across the world we will have to leave people behind in difficult situations.

Donna wrote I booked a ticket to Burundi. I have been warned by my government, leaders and friends that I should not go there because they are on the brink of civil war. But God has told me to go. What do you think? What can I say? We had to send her off and pray. The pictures start coming. She is doing an apostolic work.

As we go forward and we leave from here we will have to send people and leave them in areas. If we have to do that then we need to build a culture of being left. There are many church planters in this room so I don’t need to explain how lonely it is.

It is not easy to be left. If you like write sent. Its starts with sending and then leaving. Those who are sent are usually in a very dynamic church situation. You send your best and they have to leave fabulous community. You are used to having people around you. The sounds are different. The smells. All you have is some promises that we are praying for you. You have been left to finish a work. Loneliness is a massive enemy. When we went Clarence the loneliness being in the country. Its costly. The family ask why do you want to go there? We will disown you.

My longing is that we will be an apostolic people group where we all are caught up in mission.

The Moravians in the 1800s – qualified people felt called to go to the slaves that were being forcibly taken out of Africa. So they sold themselves as slaves in order to reach the slaves. After a week or two you can’t buy yourself out. This was for life!!! The early missionaries that came to countries like yours packed their belongings in coffins.

If we are to be a people group that follow God, we will leave people behind. Paul like Jesus entrusted this task to the young Greek.

What is my definition of being left?

Mums and dads. Leaders, sending your best. Your loved ones. The mark of an Apostle is that they open up new things and then entrust it to others. They open something up get the basic foundation in place and then get a Titus to take it forward.

How do you succeed if you are one of those left ones?

This is so important. I wish I knew this earlier.

1.You want a clear calling from God. You must have your own calling. You may ask people to do something but ask them to seek God as well.

2.Promises that confirm that you need to be there and why you are there. There will be days when you will wake up and think, what have I done? Why did I leave that church, why did I leave that business, why did I leave my family? When they ask are you sure you heard God correctly. You should be able to say, because God said not because Steve or Franco etc.

That is what its meant to be an apostolic people sent by God not by Head office.

3 Courage – we need to teach on courage. Caleb and Joshua. Men of courage. Esther women of courage. You need courage to do the work of God you need to press through and deal with some things.

4. Biblical conviction. Simon Petit one of our leaders and great friend. I was talking to him about doing something. He asked me whether I had biblical/scriptural confirmation as to whether I should do it. In front of my Bible I have written. This is from UK and Master Builders. You will change wells into springs.

When things get though you can go back to scripture. Scripture has a way of lift us up. Comfort means to fortify. Terry Vigo taught me this. I’ll send you a Comforter – he is not a cuddly blanket. That is the work of the spirit. He reminds you that you have some muscle. And if you don’t have He has real muscle to carry you and fortify you. That is what Scripture does.

Bill Hyble teaches all leaders to have life verses. Find verses that you know your life is founded on. These pile ons that you have in India. Big concrete /steel that is put into the ground. Your life verses as like that concrete footing. When you feel wobbly you go back to them and find comfort. For me Ps 84 is my one.

5. Prayer support and encouragement. If you have to survive being left you want prayer support and encouragement. I spoke about encouragement yesterday. We need to become excellent at encouraging others. Just going up and saying “Donald you did so well today” You are doing so well up North. Not flattery. I’ll give you an example – “Franco you look good with a beard!!!”. Encouragement!! When I was at Gateway on Friday I told them don’t forget your son and daughter from here. Pankaj and Tressa.

6. You need friends- Those who believe with you. Those who understand why you laid so much down. If you are a friend to someone else don’t forget them.

Our first Christmas on our own. We had just planted out in November. This box arrived a big one. The whole church in Cape Town has bought presents for us. You need friends that will keep you.

We will see how Titus looked after Paul.

7. Spiritual Discipline – In the last session I said Many church leaders are lazy. I’m sorry. This is what I most wanted to refer to. You have to spend time with the One who sent you. Sometimes when you don’t have the words you just have to sit quietly before the Lord and allow Him to minister to you. You may not know what to pray for. But you keep your disciple. Sometime I sit and pray, sometimes I just sit. It is like that. Sometimes it’s so hard.

8. Building skills – We have to build well. Paul left Titus because he could finish what he had started. Don’t be sloppy with the church. Treat it as though it is the most beautiful thing you have. If you know how, then ask for help.

Many years ago I was in Kenya with Simon Petit. He did a teaching on Apostolic foundations. If you want to build a house you need a plan. And before that you need a good foundation and he went on to explain what the foundation of a NT church looks like. He went through 14. Know what you are building. When you start building you know what the finished product will look like. When you build the church in your heart and mind you should know what it should look like.

I need to end here for now.

IF you know you have been slightly beaten up or damaged by being left to build a church plant and you know you are carrying things in your heart that are very sore. Your life/heart has been damaged by the process, please lift your hand ( eyes closed everyone!). I would love to minister to you and pray Paul’s pray over to you. Grace and peace from God and Father and Christ Jesus. Father please keep us as we go from city to city and village to village. That we will be good at being left – robust and strong. You will never leave us not forsake us. Amen.

(to be continued… Part4)

GATHER 2016 IGATPURI | Island Lessons Titus Part 2 - Steve O

This message was preached by Steve Oliver who leads Regions Beyond , an apostolic sphere that is a part of Newfrontiers Intl. This was preached at the Gather 2016 leaders Conference held in Igatpuri India  For the audio link please  click here

For Part 1 please click here

I hope the lesson from the Island of Crete has been helping you. One of things I did as a younger leader and still continue to do, I take some time on the conclusion of a conference like this. I go through my journal and go through all we have done list all the things that God has spoken to me and wants me to change. So please as the Bible says you are only blessed as you do what you have been taught. Being at this conference does not make you a great leader or wife or great husband. But as you put into practice by the spirit, that you will grow up as a leader. So be encouraged to do that.

Paul in v9 Rebuke those who contradict it. Protect the Word. The warning is that in the latter days people will water down scripture to tickle the ears. This is already happening.

 V12 All Cretans are liars!!! This is not Paul having a bad day. I think (there is not much detail of how Titus got to Crete) after Paul’s visit there he must have become aware of an undermining negative culture of lying. So he is really taking on this culture for the gospel to take root. 

When we went to Clarence all the people were Basotho people engage in ancestor worship. So we had to be very strong and undermine and uproot ancestral worship. The missionaries who had gone before had allowed dualism. Follow Jesus and follow ancestor worship. The word syncretism or dualism. Allowing the two to coexist. So when we started I was very strong in opposing this. I was grateful that a group of Basotho people understood and cut it off and they began to uproot it from the culture. Be aware of cultural strongholds and uproot. The gospel must go deep and under all the cultural strongholds.

Ch2 Paul talks about this to Titus. So how do we grow in sound doctrine. Not everyone can go to Bible college but that’s no excuse to have poor doctrine. So I have put a list to provoke you and seek after that.

How do you get there?

- teaching

- study

- consideration

- time with God through the Spirit

- listen to teachers

- ask lots of questions

- settle that you won’t know everything

- be willing to admit you don’t know

- build friendships you can call on

The one I want to touch on is Ch2:2.

What does he mean by older men and women? In those day life expectancy was very low. Forty years old was a good age. Only about 2.5% of the Roman world we known as middle class or wealthy. 97.5% were people who lived in abject poverty. So older were people in the prime of their life.eg) Pankaj and Tressa. SO he is not addressing men with gray beard because there were not much around.

He talks to the next group. v6 – In your teaching show integrity, dignity and sound speech that no one can condemn.

Then he talks to the next group the Slaves – to be submissive and be respectful and not steal but bring glory to God

I’m not bringing a teaching for each group. But I want to talk about growing your church through empowering every section of your church. The community of God is the most incredible creation. I hope you see the church as a creation. Because that’s is what Ep is talking about because it was not there and suddenly it was brought to light. Once we were not a people but now we are a people. Born of the spirit. M L Jones says the church is God’s new humanity.

God’s plan for us to multiply and fill the whole earth. God’s plan is for the church to prosper. And how we grow the church is by empowering and releasing every part to function. One reason it does not grow and prosper is because of the mindset of superiority and self-importance. It’s the way in the world everybody is put in a diff category

So in 1Cor 12 we have all the gifts but he goes on to say how they work. They work in a complete community. Verse12 – all the members of the body are one body. If we understand this, it will change your church.

V13 we are all baptized into one body. He then goes on to talk about the things that don’t allow the body to prosper. The foot saying to the hand I don’t need you or don’t belong to the body. This is a picture of society where you have someone coming to the church from another generation/understanding of culture. They may come from a people that were looked down and see themselves as a foot and say I don’t belong in this, our work is that every single part of the body participates.

The world through oppression and sin has got divided but through the Spirit God wants a community that is one new man.eg) In Dubai we are lacking the grandfathers and fathers amongst us because you can’t stay there after retirement. Whereas in the Uk it’s the opposite. A lot of elderly!!!

If you want to prosper your church empower and release every group to participate. Paul is speaking into a culture setting which I am not really addressing. So when he is speaking to older women. It looks like that the men were pathetic and they were left to their own devices. Don’t use this scripture to beat up certain section in your church. If you want to see your church prosper release the older people to be mothers, fathers, grandfathers etc. to all in the church. Don’t make them feel that their time is done. 

Paul is saying there are not many fathers. This is lacking in society. We want to see the older men life restored by Christ,so that all the youngest men look to him and say I want to be like that one day. I want to be a father like him, a husband like him. Our life become the message.

When we planted in Clarence, there norm was that when a couple had a baby, the responsibility was totally with the mother. The father hardly carried the child, never changed nappies etc. We had three little boys. And I would carry our youngest and sometimes when I was preaching he would tug on me. And slowly the message of the gospel through our lifestyle began to change the culture., When we saw younger couples getting married and now the man would carried the baby and release his wife to lead worship. So we become a model. WE need to become effective, as each groups is effective and released, it becomes a model to follow. Otherwise all the young people in India see are the Bollywood stars.

This is so important in India. 

If you mobilize the different people groups, your church will truly prosper. If you think you can grow your church through worship or the worship, then you are part of only a hand full who can do that. So how do we grow the church. We have the old, young the slaves, the older ladies and we equip them how their lives can be a model. We say to the youngest ones, you don’t have to be old and gray you can start now. You don’t have to be full time; you can start now. We say to the older men, don’t retire, look cool and help lead this community. We say to the slaves, you are as important and you belong and you can be an elder in this church. The world out there might exclude you but were you one to us.

So think of ways of influencing all these groups. One of the ways those of you who preach can do it is to choose messages that empower and release. Also celebrate the different groups i.e. honor and give importance to.

How do you mobilise the different age groups for the church to prosper;

• ·                       Teach a good understanding of the body
• ·                       Make sure every group feels equally important – even the slaves
• ·                       Let your leadership team model what you want to see in the wholechurch
• ·                       Find key ‘initiators’ in each group to inspire & gather
• ·                       Let each group express itself on it’s own and within the body
• ·                       Give each group ‘airtime’ – celebrate achievements
• ·                       Make them missional
• ·                       Empower everyone to be a disciple/mentor
• ·                       Give them responsibilities

When I was preparing I understood what Paul was doing because he was undermining what was so wrong. The culture was terrible where the men would throw off all restraint. That’s why he says be sober minded, self-controlled. How do we do that? By the Spirit. I am a new creation. Grace teaches me to say no to ungodliness. To be self-controlled is to be full of the Spirit. When the flesh wants to be stupid, the Spirit draws us back within the line.

Pg 3Make them missional

Ch2:2 Empower every group to be preachers of the gospel. When we came to Dubai there was a small group of ladies that met mid-week. But that group had a lot of strive and mistrust. Heather slowly began to talk about being there for one another success and got them to pray, pray, pray. Slowly this group grew to 25 ladies because the atmosphere in the group had changed. This group then went on to become the most effect in attracting families to the church. We realized that there were many men in church who had top executive positions in their companies and their wives did not work. They had nothing to do. Through this group they found acceptance and a home and they brought their husbands into gateway and their wallets. I was an effective pickpocket for the gospel!!! I could mobilize their wealth for the gospel. This group empowered released, celebrated to be effective.

This is a discovery I made. Ch3:1  Remind them to be submissive to the ruler and authorities. Be ready for every good work. How do you feel about your government? In my nation we have become experts at pulling down our leaders also because they have failed horribly. But that is no excuse. 

The Bible tells us that God appoints rulers of nations.

Paul saw this happening as well. Roman politic was all about greed, power and influence. IT had nothing to do with the people. They did not care about the people. It was about themselves. Paul says be submissive to those who only think about themselves and only want power. Incredible!!!! I think  I found the answer.

 Be submissive to your rulers and authorities, PM. Be obedient to them. Be ready for many good works because they are likely not to succeed. That is why Christ has prepared church to be in readiness to be the answer through good works. They can’t do it. But the church can do it because we can do it. Be ready for every good work.

In 365 AD there was a Roman Caesar. It is recorded that the stood up in the senate and said “ I am sick to death of these pious Galileans because they are turning the  ton upside down because  they not only care for their own poor but for ours as well” The church was so effective. Incredible!! When the Romans came back from campaigns all wounded the only are there was for them was the church. Eventually the Roman empire became Christian. Because Titus and the leaders taught the people to be submissive and serve. There is so much need.

There is much work in England where  now no one wants to be PM. Suddenly the structure of  UK society is being showing up for what is it post WWII. Its time of revival. The church spends billions of pounds to serving the poor. A portion of the tithes are used for this. In Parliament its being recognized that they cannot do without the church.

You may not like your PM but be submissive and obedient and be ready with every good work because there will be many.

How do we get ready with good works ?

- You will be needed to fill the gaps

- the church will be provided the gifts for their context.. “I will build my church”

- when faced with a need, only respond when the ‘grace gift’ has been provided

- if it’s not there, pray for it

 ( to be continued ... Part 3)

Gather 2016 : Island Lessons Part 1| Steve Oliver

This message was preached by Steve Oliver who leads Regions Beyond , an apostolic sphere that is a part of Newfrontiers Intl. This was preached at the Gather 2016 leaders Conference held in Igatpuri India  For the audio link please  click here

One of the greatest gifts a leader can be to his community is  give the people the word of what God is saying at that time. It thrills my heart to see what Colin and Franco are doing.

They are picking up the prophetic threads and they are taking it and massaging it into the community. So this word is not just for Igatpuri. So that we will understand the times of God and adjust how you lead your people and in the family. Scripture talks about the sons of Issachar who understood the times in which they were living. They were a part of Paul’s family tree. They understood that the anointing of God had shifted from Saul to David. And they said to David :  “ We are yours to David”.

 What breaks my heart is when I hear that some churches are teaching things that are at another tangent to what God is saying to us as a movement. The elders do decide what to teach and it should not be what is the latest fad. You guide your people through teaching and the Spirit of God. It’s a combination of the two. Be clear minded on what you are teaching on a Sunday morning. How you take a statement like that: “Like never before” and how do you teach it. Even worship leaders what songs are you teaching.

Island Lessons. This is the series we will be doing over these two days.

Paul wrote to Titus. This is one of the pastoral letters. It is written to a young man who has been entrusted with a task. When Titus received this it would have been written on very primitive paper and very relational. It did not have chapters or numbers. It was a spiritual father helping his on succeed. 

This letter was probably written at the end of Paul’s life viz AD 63-65.  He was possibly in Rome as a prisoner. One reason we don’t know much is because any ministry work on the island of Crete is not recorded in Acts so we don’t know the timing. We don’t know when Paul planted churches there. The exciting thing is that there is a lot happening that even Luke did not record.

 Even when we record the Regions Beyond story which is not about a person but a people group you will realise that there are thing happening that are not being recorded. How many more letters could be out there? But God in his wisdom allowed this one to be included. I enjoy the people stories because it tells me that I can also be a part of it.

Titus is on the Island of Crete south of Italy part of the Roman empire which had a strong culture. A culture lived out in depravity – Lifestyle was sensuous. Corruption was a way of life. Living a life of lying was an accepted norm! it was not seen as wrong. They did not expect people to tell the truth. 

The gospel is able to break into any culture. When God calls you into a village where you will encounter strongholds of beliefs the gospel is powerful and saves and can bring down every thought and pretense that sets itself up against God.

I hope to get through this book. As you know expository preaching is not my style. What I want us to be aware of is that there is a prophetic thrust in doing this scripture because God wants to equip us to what God wants to do.

I will read from the ESV. So some disciples got to Crete and hand over the letter to Titus which is written by Paul.

One thing you will find in this letter there is a lot more instruction, almost authoritarian. Titus do this... and a real sense of urgency. I hope as I spoke to you today you picked up some of the urgency of God. It does not have the same encouragement the kind Timothy gets.

There could be a few reasons and I surmise. I wonder whether Paul know that his time had come to an end. Its in 2 Tim you sense that he is saying his time is near.

So he tells us in v5 why he wrote this letter. To finish what is left unfinished and appoint leaders/elders in very town. So Titus was given a very definite task.

V6 -16 pretty strong words!!.

1: 1     servant of God, apostle of Jesus Christ

V1 I If you read Paul’s letters you will see how amazingly relational he was. He knew everybody’s names what they did. When he introduces himself he lays a very clear foundation which gives him the right to put this letter forward.

Paul a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. We are an apostolic movement so we use this word very often.

I want you to understand that an apostle is a gift not a title. So when he calls you in apostolic ministry pastoral or teaching you don’t get a light above your head. You still have to use your feet you don’t float around. Paul is making it clear that firstly he is a servant. He tells us that Jesus is the first apostle. HE was the first ambassador. It’s like Jesus saying to Gurmeet I am sending you to the north. You are my ambassador in that region. As I served, washing feet, the work of the lowest servant of that time; so go and serve the people.

Paul says I’m coming to serve. It does not matter what you do please guard your heart. Whatever role you play it does not puff you up to think you are somebody. Be careful you want to be recognized and be served. Be careful. Serve.

You cannot separate servant and apostle. So if your leaders say they want to make you an elder go home and write on your wall, I have been called to wash feet. The actual meaning of the word is to be slave of Jesus. Paul thought he was a great guy but what he did not know that he was a salve to sin. And then Jesus comes and breaks the chain and then he became a slave of Christ. Blood bought. Does whatever Jesus wants. A Slave not to his destruction but to life. A slave of Jesus Christ.

Tom Wright has just released a translation of the Bible after years of study. There are some very interesting insights

Eph4:11. Apostle is with a little “a” so it’s not a title. God gives us these gifts so that we will succeed in what we do. Tom Wright says this could read “ to equip the saints,( Wright says to equip the saints to do the work) and for continuing the work of ministry. So it’s to serve and serve and serve. The main thing about the Eph 4 gifts is not just to equip the saints but they must continue that ministry.

Wesley feels that God is saying, this is my office that I am entrusting to you. Christ comes as the first apostle, fulfills his mission, died and was raised from the dead and ascends, gives gifts. So Jesus is taking what he did and giving it to people.

At fusion I preached about the talents. The master gives you 20 years salary and entrusts it to him.

So Paul writes as one who has been given a very important task. a message of truth that he now has to carry over. When you go back to your churches, you have been entrusted with truth. To go and bring fruit. When truth gets into our minds, it changes our hearts and the way we live. We are ambassadress of truth and that’s what Paul says.

V1 For the sake of faith- he is established the right motivation for the message. Paul has the right motivation for doing what he is doing. The question I want to ask is what is the motivation for what you are doing? Why do you do what you do?

We have a terrible problem in Africa. Most leaders lead a church because they get an income. Even in South Africa. Africa is a fear based culture. They preach in a way that people will give their money.

So Paul is establishing his motive. So he is undermining what these Jewish leaders were doing. So be clear why you are doing why you are doing this. It cannot be for status, name or control. But to see those whom Jesus has elected are strengthened in faith.

1:2      Hope of eternal life

V2. The Crete worshiped a God of lies which you can also lie. When we worship a righteous savior you want to deal with the sin in your life. This is a life or death message.

1:3      I have been entrusted     

V3. Entrusted. We touched on this earlier. Jesus has taken what he died for and taken it and put it in your hand. Melanie he has taken his love for children and given a portion of it to you to look after these children. It’s a joy to see what you are doing.

Those of you who have come from Punjab, 30 hours on the train, realize that you have Jesus bags with you, things what he has entrusted you to do. That is what Paul is saying.

V3. By the command of God the savior – It’s like when you open the mail and a letter comes. In the army you get your command from the general. You get instructions to go here and there. You realize this has authority and there is a warning that if you disobey you will court martialed. This is what is like

If we take seriously what God is saying the focus goes away form where and to whom to who has sent us.

Franco said we want to hear your heart. I find that average pastor is not working hard enough. Because what we have been entrusted. Too often I hear my work is not going well because I don’t have this or that. We need to be fully committed to this task.

I’ve heard people quote 2 Cor. 2: 12 . When I came to Troas ( Troy), even though a door was opened by the Lord I could not find Titus and so I left. You think why? Because he did not want to minister alone? He has ministered alone and was capable. He had written his first letter to Corinth. Titus took the letter which was a tough letter: Sexual immorality, law suits, fighting etc. He takes them to task as a church. Paul cannot minister in Troas because he is carrying Corinth in his heart so when he gets there he wants to hear how Corinth received his instruction. But Titus is not there. So he goes to Macedonia.

I don’t want to put a heavy work load on you. But we have a life and death message. That’s what has been put into our hands/ You are not playing church. You have been entrusted for your city. That’s why people died. That’s what we have been entrusted.

After lunch we will come to the verse “the reason I left you” Paul was under orders. When we are under orders we respond differently. It causes you to soak in the Word of God, pray. You move when you are asked to. Are we under orders?

I love history when I get a chance to read. Abraham Lincoln was a godly man. He had a few pathetic generals in his army. Men who would not get on with the fight. Finally, an unusual man arose. A scruffy man. All the others were considered with their appearance. This man Ulysses Grant is up for a fight. He has belief, commitment and purpose. One day he gets a letter form the President. Orders to get onto to Charleston. He writes back a beautiful response. He signs off “yours to count on”

So I ask you this afternoon. With what Jesus has put in your hand can he count on you? Can your brothers and sisters sitting next to you count on you? As we spread out, as you pick up your task, are you using what God has put into your hand?

The general before Ulysses got a different letter. He had a finest uniform and the most equipped army and had everything he needed for success.  Gen. Mclellan has the most portraits taken of himself. But the one thing is he would not fight. One day the rider bring a letter form the President saying “You are fired! Your command has been taken away from you” The parable of the talents. It was taken away from him and given to a more faithful person.

God will call us to some difficult places.
( to be Continued… Part 2)