Text:     Titus 2:11-13

By:         Bro. Sunny Ogumor

Download Lesson

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.

There are so many negative things happening in this world today. It looks like the world is in a hurry but not the world itself the people that makes the world wants to reach or acquire quickly what ordinarily they should with less stress. It seems that the food they buy this period will last the whole of next year.

However, we are going to look at Living soberly which involves more than the idea of being free from the intoxication of alcohol or drugs.

So what does it mean to live soberly?

1. Basically it means being of sound mind: 2 Timothy 1:7 God has not given us the spirit of fear, but the spirit of power, of courage and resolution, to meet difficulties and dangers, the spirit of love to him, which will carry us through opposition. And the spirit of a sound mind, quietness of mind. The Holy Spirit is not the author of a timid or cowardly behavior, or of slavish fears. Because you believe you have this spirit does not mean you should go to sleep. 1 Thessalonians 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. There is no way to show we really believe in Christ, but by being diligent in good works, from gospel motives ie the reason for being a Christian to the gospel purposes. Let not your mind be divided nor doubting in the service to God.
2. Self-controlled: Proverbs 16:32. He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city. Why did Cain kill Abel, it was out of anger, Genesis 4:5 – 6 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not accepted. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?

Then Esau and Jacob. Gen 27:41 Esau bore malice to Jacob on account of the blessing he had collected. So Esau wanted to go in the way of Cain, who killed his brother. So Esau planned to prevent Jacob or his seed from having the dominion as by the father’s prayer, by killing him. Men may worry about God’s decisions but cannot change them. To prevent blood shed Rebekah warned Jacob of this danger and advised Jacob to run away for safety. If we hear of this type of plan, we must intervene and not to say it cannot happen. We must not do evil that good may come. From the above scriptures is it not a good thing to do somebody bad thing because he prospers more than you or he is progressing more than you. This is a wrong move due to jealousy and anger.  Please control your emotions.

When fear set in. Act 24:25 And Felix trembled at the word of God. Many are frightened by the word of God, because they cannot change their ways so they don’t want to hear. Many fear the consequences of sin, yet continue in the love and practice of sin. In the matter concerning our souls, delays are dangerous. Felix put off this matter to a more convenient season, but we do not find that the more convenient season ever came. Behold now is the accepted time hear the voice of the Lord to-day. He was in haste to turn from hearing the truth. Was any business more urgent than for him to reform his conduct or more important than the salvation of his soul.

Growing old in life does not change the word of God in our hearts or will grow softer or that the influence of the world will be reduce. If you think in this direction you are at this moment in danger of being lost forever. Now is the day of salvation tomorrow may be too late do not be in haste to run away from the word. Romans 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Develop strong will against sin and enforce it.

Know that lusts are not totally removed from our day to day activities, it must be the care of the Christian to resist their motions and advances trying always so that through divine grace, they may not take control of our mortal state. Let the thought that this state will soon come to an end encourage the true Christian to live soberly.

Sin shall not have dominion. God’s promises to us are more powerful and effective for sin not to have dominion. Sin may struggle in a real believer and create him a great deal of trouble but it shall not have dominion. It may vex him but it shall not rule over him.

Control the tongue: James 3:2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. We are taught to avoid unruly tongue as one of the greatest evils. The affairs of mankind are thrown into confusion by the tongues of men. Every age of the world and every condition of life private or public have an examples of this to give. Hell has more to do in promoting the fire of the tongue than men generally think and whenever men’s tongues are employed in a sinful way, fire of hell is kindled. No man can tame the tongue without Divine grace and assistance. Everybody have bad mouth, control your own.

All we are saying is,  Christians should have the Cardinal Virtue: 2 Peter 1:5-10 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.

The believer must add knowledge (all that you need to know i.e all the informations, facts, truths and principle about the religion) to his virtue (the quality of been morally good or righteous), increasing your friendship with the whole truth and will of God. We must add temperance (restrain: remove yourself from where there is temptation or desire) to knowledge; moderation about worldly things; and add to temperance, patience, or cheerful submission to the will of God.

3. To be in the right mind and senses: Romans 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So Enjoyments that minister to the wants and desires of man’s animal nature are so called (carnal). 1 Corinthians 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
4. To be able to carefully consider the real life situation to differentiate between good and bad practices.

From Genesis to Revelation God has given us the code of conduct for our lives and so we do not need to go outside the Bible; e.g Col. 3:12 – 17 tells us about Christian virtue. Rom. 12: 1- 21 is a gird to Christian lifestyles.

Conclusion:

Phil. 4:8 Whatsoever things are true and good, think of those things they will shape your life for the better.

Download Lesson