God's Work Zone

 “For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).

There are few things I hate more when I’m driving than work zones. Hey man, how in the world am I supposed to make good time when I’m suddenly faced with a giant flashing arrow, a sign warning “Left Lane Closed Ahead” and a line of orange cones disappearing into the horizon? There IS one thing worse. No workers in the work zone. Few things get my undies in a bundle more than a construction zone on the highway when the crew has the day off. Hey, I’m not opposed to anybody getting a day off. But why am I merging into one lane when there’s not a single hard hat along the highway? 

There’s one work zone that’s fully staffed 24-7-365. That’s the life of every follower of Jesus. Paul tells his friends back in Philippi that God never stops, never takes a break, never takes a day off when He’s working in our lives. There are no cones. No orange barrels. No Jersey barriers. But this is God’s work zone. It’s non-stop. He’s always up to something. Nothing is wasted. As a matter of fact, He even works to gives you and me the desire to and energy to please Him. Once Jesus comes to the rescue, your life is God’s work zone. 

The apostle reassures his readers that it’s not up to each of us to save ourselves. We may have gotten just a wee bit worried that it was up to us after reading the previous verse. We’re told to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil 2:12). I don’t know about you, but I would be shaking in my boots if God left it up to me to earn my way into heaven. It would not end well. Instead, Paul tells us to explore what it means to be on the receiving end of God’s grace. If salvation were a car, we wouldn’t really enjoy our new ride until we took it out on the road to see what it will do. We work out our faith by exercising our faith muscle through obedience. It’s only when we do what Jesus commands that we truly experience the abundant life He has for us. 

One verse later, the man from Tarsus reassures us “it is God who works in you” (v13). We’ve already read what God starts in us, He will finish (Phil 1:6). God’s the ultimate closer. He’ll wrap things up every single time. Just as sure as He’s always closing is that He’s always working. Paul uses the Greek verb energeo, which means to be powerfully effective, be active, produce, cause, or be in action. It focuses on the energy, power, or force involved. God doesn’t just punch the clock. He simply mail it in when He’s on the job. He works and works HARD. He gives it His full supernatural attention. The verb form of energeo is in the present tense. You can easily read this as “God who is currently working in you right here, right now.” His work isn’t a one-time event. He’s not a short-term contractor. He’s doesn’t just punch the clock 9 to 5. If you’re a follower of Jesus, our Savior has His supernatural sleeves rolled up at this very moment. “It is God who works in you” (v13). And He’s working while you read this.

All throughout the Bible, we read how our God isn’t afraid to get His hands dirty. He pulls the first full six-day work week in the history of the universe and then takes Saturday off (Gen 1:3-2:3). Paul tells the folks over in Corinth, “There are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone” (1Cor 12:6). The writer of Hebrews prays that God would “equip you with everything good that you may do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to Whom be glory forever and ever. Amen” (Heb 13:21). And the apostle says he wouldn’t be where he is without heaven’s descending one-way love. “By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain” (1Cor 15:10). All awesome examples of our God at work.

There’s interesting aspect of God’s work is His impact on our desire to do what He wants. He’s plugging away “both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (v13). The translators of the NLT do an awesome job of getting this idea across. It’s God who’s “giving you the desire to obey Him and the power to do what pleases Him” (v13 NLT). He does simply just leave you and me swinging in the breeze after coming to our rescue. Who would blame Jesus for kicking back and waiting for us to get off our tails to obey Him? Hey, He did go out of His way to leave paradise, live the perfectly obedient life we failed to live, died a bloody death on the cross we should have died, and rose to a glorious new life we don’t deserve. That sure sounds like a full career to me. But He doesn’t stop there. He works overtime to give us the want-to. 

But wait, there’s more! Kinda like one of those cheesy Ginsu knife commercials where they throw in the Bamboo Steamer. God doesn’t stop there. He stokes us with the power to also do what He tells us. This is where His Holy Spirit does what He does best. The Third Person of the Trinity is the power behind Christ’s resurrection (Rom 8:11).  Jesus tells His followers not to make move until the Spirit powers them up for the mission of spreading His Gospel (Acts 1:8). God’s Spirit is a total game changer. Once the Spirit falls, the Good News washes across the Mediterranean like a supernatural tsunami. Imagine what the kind of power the Holy Spirit gives you and me.

So what in the wide world of sports do we do with all this? First, we’re God’s work zone. He saves us and keeps on saving us. Second, remember God is always up to something in your life. It doesn’t always feel like it but He is. Third, the Lord is working away in each and every one of His followers. I have to admit there are a few believers  I find it difficult to believe. And I’m sure there are a lot of folks who look at me and scratch their heads too. Anywho, He’s doing His thing no matter what we see. Fourth, His Spirit gives each of us the desire and the ability to do what God wants. Do you have any desire to obey Jesus’ commands? Well, you can thank Him for that. He also gives you the ability to actually obey. That’s because once Jesus comes to the rescue, your life is God’s work zone. 

Old Man Strong

“Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness” (v2).

American culture paints the portrait of what an old man should look like. White hair (if any hair!). Pot belly. Sans-a-belt slacks. Wake up at 3am. Walk the mall. Dinner no later than 4:30pm. Endless episodes of “Matlock.” God’s Word tosses that idea in the landfill. According to Paul, spiritual seniors are nothing like that. They are in total control of their lives and passions. They are have a strong faith, a strong love, and a strong commitment. Yeah, they’re Old Man Strong.

After giving instructions to appoint spiritual leaders (Titus 1:5) and shut up false teachers (Titus 1:10-11), the Apostle Paul tells Titus to put in place a sustainable and self-replicating system of telling believers what it means to be a follower of Jesus. He begins by pumping him up to teach strong doctrine (Titus 2:2). At this point, the man from Tarsus starts giving specific examples of what that looks like for the various folks in the church. First on the list are the older men in the faith. “Older men” (v2) are dudes past halftime of life. Call them senior citizens. Call them silver-haired saints. But what every you do, DON’T call them coots or old fogies! Paul even uses this same word to describe himself in that short little note to Philemon. “I, Paul, an old man (Gr. presbutes) and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus” (Phm 9). If you’re wondering, the apostle was around 60 years old at the time he wrote to Phil. The letter to Titus is a couple of years later. Paul is clearly not taking an early retirement and moving to Florida.

From the Greek seaport of Nicopolis (Titus 3:12), the apostle tells the Big T the traits that God is growing in the older men of the church. They “are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness” (v2). He does NOT say they must be boring, irrelevant, and out of touch with reality. First, Christ calls older men to be “sober-minded.” This is the Greek word nephalios, which literally means holding no wine or being without wine. A broader meaning describes someone who behaves in a sober and restrained manner, or one who is calm and collected. An senior saint should have the strength to hold himself back. Old Man Strength.

The second trait God is growing in older men is that they be “dignified” (Gr. semnos). They are to be honorable, reverent, honest, of good character, respected, noble, and devout. You might have a picture of some stodgy codger who would have nothing to do with the riff raff. WRONG! The Lord is calling men to live lives of good character, honesty, and integrity. That takes strength. Old Man Strength.

Batting third in this senior citizen lineup is the quality of being “self-controlled” (Gr. sophron). The word literally means “to rescue the mind or desires.” In other words, someone with godly self-control has rescued their mind from its control over their life. Paul describes the ability to curb one’s desires and impulses. God gives the older man the ability to get a grip on his passions, his wants, and his desires. His emotions no longer rule his life. That takes strength. Old Man Strength.

The apostle ends with a triple crown of senior strength. “Sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness” (v2). Once again, Paul drops the word “sound” (Gr. hugiaino). While it certainly can mean something that is well-grounded, the term is more often used to describe physical health and strength. Pumped. Ripped. Yoked. And the structure of the original text tells us that it modifies faith, love, and steadfastness. Pumped up in faith. Ripped in love. Yoked in steadfastness. There’s nothing weak or wimpy here. Sure these older dudes might not be able to complete a triathlon or climb Everest (though I wouldn’t put it past them!). But their faith in Jesus looks like biggest beast at Muscle Beach. They love God and people with a strength and power. They have endurance that makes a marathoner melt. 

That takes strength. Old man strength.

Health Teachers

“He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it” (v9).

Do you remember you favorite teacher growing up? I’m not talking about that “Hot for Teacher” crush you had. Get your mind out of the gutter. Instead, who was that person who did so much more than stand in front of a blackboard (yeah, I said “blackboard; I am THAT old!) and made sure you learned your multiplication tables? Sure the Three Rs are important, but there are those teachers that taught us the big lessons in life that we still use today. Here in his letter to Titus, Paul tells his protege to address the teacher shortage on the island of Crete. Specifically, he’s looking for health teachers. No, not some gym coach to teach health class. There’s a huge need for instructors who teach in a healthy and complete way. They don’t leave anything out. Their instruction is strong and accurate. 

The first item on the apostle’s to-do list for Titus is to find spiritual leaders for the local churches on Crete. The Good News has turned the island on its head. There’s a boatload of new believers, but no leaders. Paul tells the Big T to scour the place for “elders” (Titus 1:4), spiritually mature men of integrity who demonstrate what it means to follow Jesus. He lets his go-to guy know the “must have” qualities for leadership. That list concludes with the ability to teach people what they’ve learned about Jesus. 

So just what’s their lesson plan? What’s in the curriculum? Elders in the local church must “be able to give instruction in sound doctrine” (v9). Oh boy, there’s the dreaded “D” word. “Doctrine.” Most of us roll our eyes when the subject comes up. I know I did. For a lot of us, doctrine equals boring. For Pete’s sake, I’m didn’t enroll in seminary. I just wanted to get to know Jesus better. But a closer look at the original language tells us to cool our jets. The Greek word Paul uses for “doctrine” is actually didaskalia. It literally means the act of teaching or the content being taught. 

Let’s be clear about something. This is NOT about filling your head with all sorts of weird trivia from Leviticus. We’re not asking you to memorize how many cubits are in a homer (is that even a thing?). I’m not saying there’s not good stuff to be learned from some of the more obscure books of the Bible. But the big lesson we learn from the God’s Word is that there is one Hero of the story. The entire message of Scripture is about Jesus. In a nutshell, this is what the Bible tells us. God handcrafted a perfect and spectacular universe. Not long after He created us, we completely jacked up the whole deal and rebelled against our Creator. God then personally came to our rescue in the form of a Rabbi/Carpenter named Jesus. He lived the perfect life that we failed to live. He died the death for our rebellion and sin that we should have died. He rose to an amazing new life that we don’t deserve. He did all of that to fix what we broke and restore our relationship with God. Jesus is THE Hero of THE Story. Now THAT’S the curriculum! That’s doctrine! If you and I trust in what He’s done for us, you don’t have to worry what’s going to be on the final. And God promises there will be no math.

The backbone of teaching in the local church is to be the elders. And their curriculum must be “sound” (v9). Here Paul drops the Greek verb hugiaino. It’s actually a medical term that means to be whole, healthy, and strong. We shouldn’t be shocked that Dr. Luke uses this term when he writes. When the religious police get all hot and bothered when Jesus parties with the wrong crowd, He lets them know, “Those who are well (Gr. hugiaino) have no need of a physician, but those who are sick” (Lk 5:31). After Jesus healed the Centurian’s employee from long distance, when folks got back home to check on him, “they found the servant well (Gr. hugiaino)” (Lk 7:10). And in His legendary parable of the Prodigal Son, Christ tells the crowd how the father is ecstatic because his boy is back in one piece, “safe and sound (Gr. hugiaino)” (Lk 15:27). Teaching about Jesus certainly needs to be correct and accurate. But also must be in top shape. A weak gospel won’t do us any good when the fecal matter hits the whirling device. When life falls apart, I don’t want weeny doctrine. I desperately need it to be BIG and POWERFUL! 

Elders must possess a strong and healthy message about Jesus because they’re getting ready for a fight. Not a physical one anyway. They’re training for the time they must “rebuke those who contradict it” (v9). Paul literally calls these contradictors “back talkers.” There’s always going to be folks to challenge who Jesus is and what He’s done. Our spiritual leaders should have the skills and heart to lovingly but firmly confront those who attempt to challenge Scripture. This was a very big deal to believers on the island of Crete. The second item on Titus’ list of assignments is to shut up and shut down a crew of false teachers that are corrupting the Gospel (Titus 1:10-11). And these spiritual con artists and hucksters are still up to their tricks today. Elders need to be ready to step into the scriptural cage and put submission hold on these trouble makers. And that takes a strong and healthy understanding of the Gospel.