FBC Morning Light – August 23, 2022

Well, a good Tuesday morning to you. So, let me ask you this. When it comes to listening to preaching or teaching of God's Word, what kind of preaching do you like to hear?

What kind of teaching do you like to listen to? You know, we're living in an age in the church where it seems that more and more teaching and preaching seems to be ear -tickling kind of stuff.

That is, you know, the preacher just tells people what they want to hear rather than preach or teach things that are, you know, contrary to what's going on in the culture and all the rest of that kind of stuff.

But let me look at Titus chapter 1. It's in our Scripture reading for today, and this first verse gives us some insight into the kind of preaching that pastors and preachers of God's Word ought to aim for.

Paul says this, I'm a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect and the acknowledgement of the truth which accords with godliness in hope of eternal life, which

God, who cannot lie, promised before the world began, but has in due time manifested his word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our

Savior. That first verse, he says, I'm communicating to you, Titus. I'm telling you some things.

I'm passing on truth that accords with godliness.

The kind of preaching and teaching that is going to benefit God's elect, that is, those whom

God has saved by his grace, the kind of preaching and teaching that's going to benefit you is that which accords with godliness.

Now, what does that mean? Well, let's ask ourselves first, what do we mean by godliness?

And I think kind of a simple explanation of godliness would be a life that is consistent with the will of God and the character of God.

Godliness would be a lifestyle, a way of living that is consistent with and reflects the will of God and the character of God.

So, for example, to the extent that I, as a professing Christian, am living my life in a way that is contrary to God's will, as revealed in the scriptures, and is contrary to the character of God, then

I am ungodly. It would be hypocritical and a grave error to conclude that I, as a

Christian, can be drunken and carousing and still consider myself to be godly.

Why is that inconsistent? Why would that be hypocritical? Because godliness does not allow for drunkenness and carousing.

How do we know that? Because God's word tells us that. And we're told to avoid drunkenness, we're told to avoid carousing.

That was the old lifestyle, that's not the lifestyle of the Christian. All right, so godliness is a lifestyle that is consistent with the will of God and reflects the character of God.

So, preaching and teaching that is pleasing to God and that is beneficial to God's elect is going to be preaching and teaching that, as Paul says, accords with godliness.

I'm writing and acknowledging the truth that accords with godliness.

That doesn't always feel good, teaching or preaching the truth that accords with godliness, because we're fallen human beings.

We may be redeemed, we may be chosen of God and be saved, but we're still dealing with sin in our lives.

In our sin, we do what we want to do and we want to live the way we want to live.

We have our will that is often in contrast to God's will.

We want to do things that are inconsistent with the character of God. That's all ungodliness.

We're tempted to be ungodly. So, when I'm sitting in a preaching service and I hear the preacher start, you know, nailing some things that I'm guilty of,

I can be uncomfortable. Ah, but it's needful. It's needful. We need the truth that is according to godliness.

We need it. I hope that you realize that need in your life today and that you appreciate it when you hear it, when you receive it, and I hope you will receive it.

So, let's ask God to give us an appreciation for stepping on our toes and for passing on to us the truth that accords with godliness.

Father, we do thank you for faithful preachers and teachers that will open up the scriptures and they'll preach the truth that will help us to live godly lives, lives that are consistent with your will and reflecting of your character.

And this we pray in Jesus' name and for his sake. Amen. All right.