There are some tremendous possibilities for us to be used by God in our families - community - and nation. Titus is a very practical book - it focuses on where we need to be spiritually if God is going to use us as individuals and as a congregation.

During the 1600’s, Oliver Cromwell led a revolt against the King of England. Not only did Cromwell oust King Charles I - but Cromwell led a viscous attack against the Anglican Church of England.

In the midst of all the persecution - Sir Robert Shirley - who was a devout Anglican - built a church - Harold Church - in the village of Staunton, England. The church became a refuge for Anglican priests and a center of worship.

On the wall of the church is a letter written to the pastor. It says this, “In the year 1653, when all things sacred were throughout the nation destroyed or profaned, this church was built to the glory of God by Sir Robert Shirley whose singular praise it was to have done the best things in the worst of times.”

Today - these times may not be the worst of times - no one is burning us at the stake. But - in times like these - we are challenged in how we live and share the Gospel.

The gold rush of the 90’s has no end in sight and yet amid great wealth people are emptier inside. Technology has made the world smaller and yet we long for community. We have more knowledge at our finger tips than at any time in history and yet we lack the wisdom and understanding to process that information. Today there’s an increasing interest in “spirituality.” But, our society has rejected the God who speaks of absolute spiritual truth. People live without hope and purpose.

In this society - at the close of the 20th century and on the dawn of the 21st - people more desperately need the truth, the way to God, and the life given to us through Jesus Christ. How can we be spiritually in a place where God can use us to share His Gospel? Its with this purpose in mind that Paul writes to Titus.

Titus 1:1: “Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness, in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago, but at the proper time manifested, even His word, in the proclamation with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior, to Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. For this reason I left you - Titus - in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you.”

Paul is called by God to share the Gospel - and to help Christians grow in their relationship with God. In Antioch - through Paul’s teaching - Titus had come to trust in Jesus as his Savior. And, Paul began to help Titus to grow in his relationship with God.

Titus became a disciple of Paul. Where Paul went - Titus went. Titus learned about ministry from Paul. In time, they came to Crete. But this time - when Paul moved on - he left Titus in charge - to “set in order” the church at Crete - to do those things which would place the church spiritually in a place where God can use it to share His Gospel.

First - Paul writes - Titus needs to appoint elders - the right kind of leadership in every city.

In the Old Testament - elders were the senior leaders of the nation - men mature in wisdom - knowledge - and experience. In the New Testament there is the additional of spiritual maturity. Leaders of the church must be qualified to lead.

Verse 6 - here are the qualifications: “namely, if any man is above reproach - blameless - the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion. For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.”

This is a tough list. But its that important. In too many churches elders are appointed based on popularity - or because of their financial status - or because they’ve been faithful in their service. Maybe they’ve just been around longer than anyone else.

Paul is saying - if the church is to be effective in reaching people with the Gospel - its crucial to appoint men of proven godly calling and character to church leadership. Men who will oversee the ministry of the church - who will guard it against false teaching and teachers - who will care for the church - teaching the word of God - leading the church forward in sharing the Gospel.

Paul gives examples of why this important - verse 10: “For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, who must be silenced - these ungodly men shouldn’t be in leadership - don’t even listen to them - because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain” - they’re in it for their own egos - their own financial profit.

“One of themselves - a Cretan - Epimendies who was writing in the 6th century B.C. - a prophet of their own said, ‘Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.’ This testimony is true - its the way ungodly men are. For this reason reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith - that they might pursue godliness - not paying attention to Jewish myths and commandments of men who turn away from the truth.”

Paul’s summary is in verses 15 and 16: “To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed.” - the church cannot be led by men who do not know God - and know Him intimately.

If we - as a congregation - are going to be spiritually where God can use us - then we must expect Godliness of our leadership.

Second - we need to consider the personal implications of what Paul writes. How can each of us be in a place - spiritually - where God can use us to share His Gospel?

To be used by God - to live and share the Gospel - to have a lasting impact in our families and communities and nation means that we must be open to what God wants to do in our lives - His work of maturing us and using us.

Looking at this practically - I invite you to turn with me to Acts 2.

In the Bible - Jesus compares the Holy Spirit to wind. Jesus says that the Holy Spirit - like the wind - blows where He wills - when He wills - and through whomever He wills - moving the believer in service for God. (John 3:8)

In Armenian we say that the Bible is “Asdvadzashounch” - “the breath of God.” “Asdvadzashounch” is a translation of the original Greek “theopneustos” - literally - God’s breath - or God’s wind - God’s Spirit. The idea is that the Holy Spirit blew through the writers of the Bible - so that what was written was the work of the Holy Spirit coming through the writers and onto the pages of the Bible. (2 Timothy 3:16)

That’s a great picture of how God wants to work in our lives - to blow through us. But we need to be open - like open windows ready for the breeze to blow through.

Acts 2:1: “And when the day of Pentecost had come, they - the disciples of Jesus - were all together in one place - waiting on God and wondering where God would lead them next - And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent, rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Verse 4 - and they were filled with the Holy Spirit....”

Reading on - the following verses give the results of the Holy Spirit’s work. The Spirit led disciples began to testify of Jesus - Peter preached - the church was born - 3,000 people came to salvation in Jesus on that day.

At a meeting of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes - Bobby Richardson - who used to play with the New York Yankees - offered a brief prayer that expresses openness to God: “Dear God, Your will, nothing more, nothing less, nothing else. Amen.”

Openness means turning everything over to God - everything we are - everything we’re a part of - so there’s nothing left to close us off from what He wants to do in us and through us.

Paul writes to Titus about being open to God’s working in the midst of our daily lives. Paul talks about being a husband - a father - about our relationships with other people - about hanging in there with our faith through every day circumstances.

That’s where we need to be spiritually for God to begin the process of maturing us and for Him to use us in sharing His Gospel. That’s the process that produces elders. Its the process that takes ordinary people like us - and allows God to accomplish incredible things through us for His glory.

If we allow Him:

God can transform a man like Moses - hesitant of speech - and use him as His mouthpiece to humble the mightiest nation on earth and to free His people.

If we allow Him, God can take a timid - fearful - man like Gideon and use him - to lead a small company of 300 men - to defeat the massive army of Midianites and Amalekites. (Judges 6,7)

Or God can take a handful of fisherman from Galilee and use them to turn the world upside down with His Gospel.

God can take the great persecutor of the church - Saul - and make him into Paul - the greatest advocate and evangelist of the church.

Or God can take a small boy - offering 5 loaves of bread and 2 fishes - and feed over 5,000 people. (John 6:1-14)

And God uses ordinary people like us. Like the person who shared the Gospel with Billy Graham.

It takes openness. It takes the pursuit of Godliness to be in the place where God can use us. Some He’ll raise to be elders - leaders of His people. All of us He wants to use for His glory.

Here we are - the Armenian Evangelical Church - in a community of about 15,000 Armenians - living in the technological capital of the world - living in San Francisco - a very spiritually confused city - called on to live and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. May we be open to what He wants to do in us and through us.