What’s keeping you from following your purpose?
Are you looking to restore your life and purpose? What is distracting you?
I am continuing to study Titus using the SIMPLE Method of Bible Study and Ed Hird’s book Restoring Health. Today I am working through Titus 1:11.
If you want a PDF of the SIMPLE Bible Study –
please click on SIMPLE Bible Study by Janis Cox.
Of course, I start with a prayer for God to open the Scripture to me.
S – Say the passage aloud.
They must be silenced because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach – and that for the sake of dishonest gain (Titus 1:11, NIVUK).
I – Identify the characters, the setting, and the circumstances surrounding this passage.
Since we have been following Titus verse by verse, if you are new here, you will need to go back to the beginning to better understand the characters, setting and circumstances.
Continuing from the last verse from last week:
They = mere talkers and deceivers
These deceivers are teaching things they ought not to teach.
M- Make a list of the thoughts, questions and ideas.
So how do we silence them? Everyone is involved – whole households. I wonder who the “they” were in Paul’s day. Were they people who knew God but started their own ideas? Or were they people who wanted to have people follow them – for the sake of dishonest gain. So they pretended to be “like” the apostles but without the sound doctrine of Jesus.
Were they Jewish rabbis who were following so closely to the rules they forgot to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with their God? (Micah 6:8) Remember Jesus got very angry when they turned the temple into a marketplace – Church is supposed to be a House of God.
I look at all that can deceive us. There is plenty. We have so much vying for our attention – TV, videos, movies, social media, sellers, Facebook ads, – all taking us on rabbit trails (some good some bad).
This all reminded me of Satan’s Letter.
What takes us away from the TRUTH – that we follow Jesus? Are we holding firmly to the trustworthy message as we have learned it from Jesus? (Titus 1:9)
P – Pray again for God’s guidance.
Make sure when you do this study that you take time for this step. Otherwise we are thinking our own thoughts and can be led astray.
L- Life – How can I apply what I have been studying to my life?
Deceivers come looking like goodness but they are covered up and we can’t see the truth behind them. Remember Satan is the devil in disguise. I chose the icon because Satan can come looking like a Valentine.
the two greatest dangers to … the Kingdom of God, come from two directions, money and power… Money and power crucified Christ (E. Stanley Jones).
This reminded me again of the course by Dave Ramsey, Financial Peace. We need to get a handle on money so it doesn’t get a handle on us.
I wanted to look at all the areas of my life – all of them. Where could I be deceived?
Here is what I discovered.
POWER –
That is self. I struggle with self sometimes, many times. I have to keep asking myself, am I going this for God or me?
SOCIAL MEDIA
I must watch how much time I spend on this. Which one should I focus on?
PROCRASTINATION
Of course I do what I like to do first, or what is most pressing. But maybe I need to stop and ask God where I need to focus my attention for that time?
ACTIVITIES/STUFF
God is really speaking to me about this. Is there something else I need to lay down?
About 10 years ago I heard my LIFE VERSE, “feed my lambs”. I have been trying to do this but I do go on rabbit trails. That is why this year my goal is to be Intentional to Restore my focus on God.
So in December I decided to stop writing for Inscribe, stop Under the Cover of Prayer, stop Family and Faith Matters.
I picked up being a contributor to Hope Stream Radio each Tuesday. I hope you listen to this wonderful online radio station.
And I keep hearing, do Sunday Stillness.
Of course then there are projects I need to still work on this. Which ones?
E – Exit the passage with a prayer for God to help you.
Lord, all of the things I am involved in are good things but they may not be where you want me to spend my time. Help me to wrestle through this. I am asking for clarification of the truth – the real road. Please point me in the right direction. Help me to learn the best way to “feed your lambs”. Help me clearly see and hear the deceivers. In Jesus’ name. AMEN.
Tweetable:
Are deceivers blinding you to God’s purpose for your life? (click tweet)
2015 – my year for being intentional to focus on God’s plan (click to tweet)
CALL TO ACTION
Do you want to restore your life and faith in Jesus?
Are you struggling to find time to get to know God?
Are you anxious but don’t know how to deal with it?
Do you want to know what path God has for you?
Do you need more time reading your Bible?
I have a solution for you.
Join me on my FB Page called Growing Through Gods’ Word. We learn together how to pray and how to study His Word.
This month I am offering 3 – free spots – to 3 people for a “coffee Skype or FB Messenger video” to talk over what you feel you need to accomplish these goals. The first 3 to email me get a spot. Email me at Janis Cox.
Janis, since you re laying it all out there I will be forthright with you too then:
Yes, I’ve read and studied the Bible (did BSF for 8 years for one) but what all this showed me was that beyond the basics, there is a lot of confusion over what books and passages really say. Each interpretation can sound/seem convincing and each group claims that God showed them their was the right one and yet they so differ, even on something say as basic as Communion or Baptism, or even if there is a Hell (SDA’s) and does the Sabbath’s day really matter or not, etc, etc, etc.
What this all says to me is I am amazed when anyone really thinks they can figure out God and Gods word for SURE. none of us really know that we know but so many think they do. What that boils down to then for me, is following one’s heart, conscience and not elevate words on paper to the level of some kind of magic when in the end it’s not..in spite of what peeps think.
I say this respectfully and hope you understand I am simply giving you my heart here as you are here too. I’ve seen far more destruction with those who claim boldly preach God’s word (these days) than those who simply live a simple quiet faith filled humble life.
Michael,
I appreciate your thoughts and understand the difficulty. But we can’t just give up. We need to be continually in prayer, asking for God to show us the right way to speak. I agree that hurtful words can do more damage than being quiet.
I guess it is the Holy Spirit that will tell us whether we should or should not speak.
But we are told to be bold as well – not harmful, but in love as Titus did it – in love and telling the truth.
I would never ever say I have figured it out. But I know that I have to keep growing as well.
Blessings,
Janis
Boiling everything down to the privacy of one’s conscience can leave one in radical subjectivism. The authority of Holy Scripture protects us from the vagaries of momentary experiences.
Hi Michael,
It is certainly true that different cults, and even different mainstream denominations, take verses out of context and twist them to create a “doctrine” that represents man’s traditions and ideas, rather than the truth of God’s Word. As we approach the End Times, false doctrines and false teachers are increasing. That is why it is so important that we are rooted in the truth of God’s Word by studying it for ourselves, rather than being swayed by what televangelists, preachers, speakers or authors may say. No one can understand it completely, for we are not God, but the beauty of Bible study is that the Holy Spirit teaches you more and more with each reading if you ask Him to.
Even Peter, who spent 3 years with Jesus and heard God the Father’s words during His.transfiguration, wrote that God’s recorded Word, which was Spirit-inspired, is our source of truth, rather than personal experience.
2 Peter 1: 18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
God bless.
Laurie Collett
Saved by Grace
My grandmother would tell me, “Hazel you must get rid of self.” At my young age, I could not understand how I could get rid of me. I suppose if she explained it better she would have told me selfishness, self will and yield to God’s will for a starter.
Thanks for your invitation to your lovely site.
That’s great Hazel. She was telling you what you would remember years later. How to get rid of “me”.
Blessings,
Janis
Your post reminds me of the book I did a review on this week…learning to transform our minds in God’s Word.
Knowing God’s Word helps us see the lies of satan easier and not be so easily deceived.
Transforming our minds in Christ takes work, it requires more than simply “going to church” or being around other Christians. We must take responsibility in our walk with Christ and determine that we are going to grow in Him. And allowing Him to root out sins and strongholds in our lives.
Great post.
TC,
Sounds like a great book. Do you know the name of it? I have found that the more I read His word the closer I get to Him and knowing His will for my life.Two words: responsibility and determination. YES those are good words.
Blessings,
Janis
It’s a great book! I can’t recommend it highly enough. It’s called “The Renewing of the Mind Project” by Barb Raveling.
Here’s the link to it on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Renewing-Mind-Project-Habits-Emotions/dp/0980224357/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1423076334&sr=8-1&keywords=the+renewing+of+the+mind+project
TC
That is great. I have it in my cart for an Amazon order. I love when others recommend a book, especially one who is getting the same messages from our Lord. Thank you,
Blessings,
Janis
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the book when you read it!
Have a great evening.
Janis…Thank you for hosting a sweet party. Have a wonderful week.
Naomi,
Thank you for your sweet words of encouragement.
Blessings,
Janis
This is my first time here, Janis, and it’s nice to meet you and visit your lovely blog. Thank you for the meet-up for kindred spirits.
Blessings,
Gail
Gail,
So lovely to meet you too.
Blessings,
Janis
Thank you for hosting. Sunday Stillness is a place to rest and lean in to what God is saying. Thanks.
Donna,
Thank you for your kind words. I am glad it is blessing you.
Janis
Hi Janis,
This really spoke to my heart. As you may see from my post, similar topics have been on my mind this week.
Love and blessings,
Laurie
Laurie,
It is amazing what God teaches us – together. Blessings on your writing.
Janis
Thank you for hosting each week.
Jenny,
You are most welcome. I love the encouragement from the linkers.
Blessings,
Janis