Tues.1.27.15...Being a Godly MENTOR...(Model part 7)

In the movie “The Patriot” Mel Gibson plays the role of Francis Marion. He was a brave fighter, made Captain in the French and Indian War some 15 years before the Revolutionary War began.  His wife had previously died and recently his son, Thomas was killed in a savage battle. After this, he and his sister-in-law have an exchange of words that are haunting to me:

Marion: How did this... how did I let this happen?

CHARLOTTE: You couldn't have known.

MARION: I should have known... once I would have... I used to be wary... and today I watched my son killed before my eyes... your sister civilized me and I damn myself for having let her...

CHARLOTTE: Thomas is dead, but you've done nothing for which you should be ashamed.

MARION: I've done nothing, and for that I am ashamed.

Men, we are at war and I’m so glad you are a patriot, fighting for the cause of liberty in Christ for men. You won’t have to hang your head and say, “I’ve done nothing, and for that I am ashamed.” How sad that there are many men who are good Christian men, but they are not involved to the great commission. They have bought into a Sunday morning Christianity. They ignore getting involved in the battle and forfeit their manhood on the couch of comfort. It’s good to be good in heart, but I don’t want to be good for nothing. We were made to be good soldiers of Christ Jesus. There’s a war to be won, so complacency we must shun.

Paul’s short letter to Titus is a brilliant battle plan for transforming “not good” people into people “eager to do what is good” (2:14). These evil brutes and lazy gluttons (1:12) needed to become a lean, mean, fighting machine of good works to “make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.” (2:10). Such transformations occur best when we are MENTORS who Model such. Thus, note again Paul’s strategic command, “In everything set them an example by doing what is good.” Titus 2:7. Half a dozen times in this short letter, you’ll see this emphasis on doing good. It’s to be for the glory of our Savior and the salvation of the lost which we once were.

There’s a lot of shallow teaching, which some would like to call “deeper life” teaching, that stresses “Me and Jesus” and just being “spiritual” apart from doing. Ugh! Yes, we need to continually nurture our relationship with Christ, but it is for a purpose. Some are so focused on trying to practice the presence of Christ, yet they have ignored practicing the purpose of Christ- the great commission (Multiplying MANLY men). That’s faith without deeds- it’s dead! If such people want to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant” perhaps they ought to be getting something done as good and faithful servants and soldiers. They have sidestepped the great commission and the battle. They have done nothing and for this they should be ashamed! (Okay, thanks for letting me get that out of my system.)

Now let’s discover how else to help our protégés and ourselves lead lives that make the teaching of God our Savior attractive. Read Titus 3:1-8. Once again you’ll notice good behavior is exhorted.

1.-In 3:3 Paul uses several dismal words to describe our old days and our old ways. What words (not sentences) would you use to describe your past? (Feel free to use some of the words Paul used if that well described you.)

2.Why did Christ save you according to 3:4-7? Use one or more short phrases from the passage to answer this. (Here’s examples of short phrases, but one’s I know you won’t copy: “Because I was good.” “Because God needed me on His team.”)

3.-The passage we’ve studied, Titus 3:1-8, begins and ends with an exhortation to do good works. This is what we are to model and teach as well. But where would you show someone in the Bible that we are not saved by our good works? Often Eph.2:8-9 is used and that truly is an excellent passage. But Titus 3:5 is also a great verse to show people. So write it down on your MP3 card and then do the Did it.

4.-R?

5.-A? (Keep pressing the Attack. It is through such warfare prayer that we set captives free from the power of Satan and complacency. Regarding such spiritual warfare, so many have done nothing, and for that they will be ashamed.)

Recent words worth Repeating
Regarding setting an example in our speech, Mike wrote, "It's been a long time since I swore. Like George, in a sense, I worked for the City of Chicago for twenty seven years. I was a ruff and tough Chicago Police Officer in the beginning. I was known on the streets by the gang members as "Hit Man." This was before Christ. I swore a lot and I had to straighten the gang members up from time to time. Hence the nick name hit man. It was in my 12th year on the force when I came to know Jesus as my personal Savoir. The nick name hit man was gone and replaced with preacher and or Jesus freak. I was used by God to speak into the gang member's lives as well as other offenders of various crimes. I did my job and then spoke to them about God. It was touching to see how God made them cry and made them think about the road they were taking. I had a hand-full of them stop me on the streets to thank me, but I told them it was God not me that did anything. 

Announcements
I'm right proud of you for being Unstoppable in God's word and Unstoppable in prayer! You are GREAT models and Patriots! 

I've gotten great responses from those who have completed their GDPs. Do correct me if I'm wrong (email, call or text me), but I don't believe I've seen the GDP's from the following uncredited people below. Otherwise, please post your thoughts from last Thursday's brief video to watch. We are men of M3. We are Unstoppable.

I do want to thank so many of you for giving me company with your R's. You make it easier for me to put up another one today. (If I wasn't married, I'd do better. If I wasn't around people, I'd do even better:)

	1 Tim.4:15	G=God's Word	Right Wrongs	E	A= Attack Prayers	T	(Men Recruited)
		For Fri.1.23.15
	Alpha Force
	Fire Team 1
1	Jack Rogers U.1	Y		GDP done	A		Daniel & Roger
2	Daniel Contreras U.1	Y	R (Our Respect)	GDP done	A		Vince & Antonio
3	Vince Diaz	Y		GDP done	A
4	Roger Vinlasaca U.1	Y		GDP done	A
	Fire Team 2
1	Israel Fuentes U.1	Y		GDP done	A
2	Sam Vargas U.1	Y	R (Our Respect)	GDP done	A		Robert
3	Robert Roman	Y	R (Our Respect)	GDP done	A
4	Antonio Palomar	Y	R (Our Respect)		A
	Delta Force
	Fire Team 3
1	Alvin James U.1	Y	R (Our Respect)		A
2	Dave Heidekruger U.1	Y		GDP done	A
3	Mike Pagan U.1	Y	R (Our Respect)	GDP done	A		George
4	George Rabiela	Y			A
	Fire Team 4
1	Eddie Morales U.1	Y		GDP done	A		Gary, Ismael, Kentrayle
2	Gary Remson U.1	Y			A
3	Ismael Andrade U.1	Y	R (Our Respect)		A
4	Kentrayle Adams	Y	R (Our Respect)		A