[In our text the Apostle Paul wrote that he left Titus in Crete so that he might set things in order.  Now, I must ask you dear child of God, are there things that are out of order around you?  Should you and I be about setting things in order?  Does our Lord expect us to set things in order while we wait for his glorious appearing and our blessed hope?] 

A.    The Symptoms of Disorder (Hab 2.15; 1 Tim 2.11-12; 2 Tim 4.1-5 ; Lev 18.22) [- I wonder if there are those here today, whom like me, note that things are undeniably out of order and need to be set back in order.  Or perhaps there are some here today who, when I say things need to be set back in order, are wondering “What needs to be set back in order?] 

[Concerning Unwed Mothers - This last Wednesday I saw a news video on Fox News where they were talking about a well-known actress who said that a woman does not need a man in order to have children.  This actress has recently starred in a move sporting this theme.  In this video clip the news anchors debated the idea of single mother parenthood and then stated that in a America 39% of the births this year will be by single mothers.  Is there something to be set in order in America?  When teenage girls think it is wonderful to give birth before they are married and before they graduate from high school?  When the parents of these young girls seem the think it is a wonderful thing as well?  How about when older single women think that single parenthood is the way to go?  Is there something to be set in order?] 

[Concerning Homosexuality – When a US Federal Judge states that parenting by homosexual cohabiting adults is no different than parenting by traditional monogamous heterosexual married couples, as occurred this last week in California, then we must ask ourselves is there something to be set in order?  When our children are being taught in our public schools from kindergarten on that homosexuality is just another lifestyle choice and there is nothing wrong with such a lifestyle?  Is there something to be set in order?]  

[Concerning Alcohol - When the US Centers for Disease Control  and Prevention state that 50% of US Adults are classified as regular drinkers[1] is there something to be set in order?  When  studies have revealed that three-forths of high school seniors survey stated that they had been drunk, is there something to be set in order?] 

[These are just a few things that have been reported in the last week on our national news.  Now it is one thing when we see these statistics and think that these statistics represent the lost around us.  We expect that sinners will act like sinners.  But what about among those who profess to be Christians?]   

[Alcohol Among Pastors – It must have been four years ago when I was astounded by a Southern Baptist survey that revealed that six out of ten Southern Baptist Pastors were casual drinkers of alcohol.  As I think about this statistic I wonder how high this percentage must be among denominations that teach that casual drinking is just fine.  When I read in the Bible,] 

[Habakkuk 2:15 ¹⁵ Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, . . .] 

[Then we must ask ourselves is there something to be set in order.] 

[I wonder how Churches would fair if someone were to pole the statistics of unwed pregnancy, sexual promiscuity, alcoholism, drug abuse, divorce, and a host of other sinful and clearly condemned activities within congregations in our day.  Then I ask you my brothers and sisters in Christ, are there things to be set in order?]  

[It is interesting to me that Paul told Titus to set things in order by ordaining elders in each city.  As I consider the ordination of Church elders or Pastors and I think about their goal of helping to set things in order, I then am reminded of the situation occurring all around us in our culture.  Are we setting things in order when we,] 

[Ordain Women into the Gospel ministry.  Now here is a hot bed issue and I have stepped right into it.   So why would I mention this issue?  Because my friends we will never set things in order until we set them in order God’s way, and God’s way is revealed in His Word the Bible.  What does God’s Word say about this issue,] 

[1 Timothy 2:11-12 ¹¹ Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. ¹² But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.]

[Some might argue that a woman pastor does not have to usurp authority over a man, but the Bible says,] 

[2 Timothy 4:1-5 ¹ I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; ² Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. ³ For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; ⁴ And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. ⁵ But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.]

[This is what Paul commanded Timothy to do as a pastor and this is what a pastor must do.  Now how does a pastor rebuke and reprove without usurping authority.] 

[Homosexual Ordinations – It was over ten years ago, while pastoring in Atlanta, Georgia when I was involved in a highly political Church Association struggle over a Baptist Church that was ordaining Homosexuals as deacons.  Just last week I saw a news article that stated that the Lutheran Denomination was now placing ordained homosexual pastors on their clergy list.  God has said,] 

[Leviticus 18:22 ²² Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.]

[My brothers and sisters in Christ, when the Church endorses such sin is there something to be set in order?] 

[Folks, if we are going to set things in order then they won’t be in order until we get back to the Bible and get back in order with Almighty-God.] 

B.     The Source of Disorder (1 Sam 15.22-23; Jer 7.22-23; John 14.15; Psalm 119.9,11; Heb 10.28-30) [- Where is the disorder that we are seeing in our culture coming from?  It comes from the rejection of the Word of God!  Samuel said to king Saul,]

[1 Samuel 15:22-23 ²² And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. ²³ For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.]

[Jeremiah said,] 

[Jeremiah 7:22-23 ²² For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices: ²³ But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.]

 [Our Lord Jesus Christ said,]

[John 14:15 ¹⁵ If ye love me, keep my commandments.]

[When people reject the Word of God they will be found in rebellion toward God.  If there is anything that Americans are doing in our day, they are rejecting the clear Word of God.]

[My Christian brothern, what is a Pastor supposed to do?  Titus in our text was left in Crete to ordain elders in every city.  To ordain Church leaders.  What were these elders to do?  They were to help set things in order.  They will set things in order by, as Paul commanded Timothy,  PREACHING THE WORD OF GOD! (2 Tim 4.2)]

[What is it that the Palmist wrote,]

[Psalm 119:9 ⁹ Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. ]

[Psalm 119:11 ¹¹ Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. ]

[You cannot call yourself in order with God if you are out of order with God’s Word.  God Word is God’s revealed will and way to us.  Far too many who call themselves good and moral are anything but good and moral in comparison to God’s Word.  Far too many who call themselves Christian are out of order with the Word of God.]

[Now, I know that we are all sinners and need the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ to wash our sins away.  We are all bought by the precious, sacrificial, shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.  But to continue in presumptuous sin after you have heard and claim to have received the gospel message concerning our Lord Jesus Christ is to trample the blood of our Lord under foot.  Bible says,]

[Hebrews 10:28-30 ²⁸ He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: ²⁹ Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? ³⁰ For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. ]

[Let us be careful to never trample under the foot of rebellion and rejection our precious Savior and His precious shed blood.  For this is what all who excuse and justify their sinful decisions and actions do.]

C.    The Seriousness of Disorder (Prov 14.34; Num 32.23; Rom 6.23; Rev 20.11-15; 2 Chron 6.21-31; 7.12-15)  [– What do you think oh sinful man?  Do you suppose that your sin and iniquity will be merely ignored?  Do you suppose that your disorder just doesn’t really matter?  God has said,]

[Proverbs 14:34 ³⁴ Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.]

[Rebellion against God, sin and sinfulness, are serious matters with God.  God has said,]

[Numbers 32:23 ²³ But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.]

 [It is because of sin that human beings are condemned to an eternal hell.  God warn,]

[Romans 6:23 ²³ For the wages of sin is death; . . .]

[Be sure that your sins are being written down, they will all one day be accounted for, without fail.  The Bible reveals,]

[Revelation 20:11-15 ¹¹ And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. ¹² And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. ¹³ And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. ¹⁴ And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. ¹⁵ And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.]

[All of these scriptures which I have expounded point to one’s eternal, immortal judgment and if that seems too far in the future for you, then understand that many warnings are being manifest all around this world, warning mankind of a far more serious and impending judgment by God.] 

[Solomon, when dedicating the temple he had built to Almighty-God prayed a revealing prayer of dedication.  In that prayer Solomon revealed much about God’s response to rebellious sinfulness.  Solomon prayed,]

[2 Chronicles 6:21-31 ²¹ Hearken therefore unto the supplications of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, which they shall make toward this place: hear thou from thy dwelling place, even from heaven; and when thou hearest, forgive. ²² If a man sin against his neighbour, and an oath be laid upon him to make him swear, and the oath come before thine altar in this house; ²³ Then hear thou from heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, by requiting the wicked, by recompensing his way upon his own head; and by justifying the righteous, by giving him according to his righteousness. ²⁴ And if thy people Israel be put to the worse before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee; and shall return and confess thy name, and pray and make supplication before thee in this house; ²⁵ Then hear thou from the heavens, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest to them and to their fathers. ²⁶ When the heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; yet if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou dost afflict them; ²⁷ Then hear thou from heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, when thou hast taught them the good way, wherein they should walk; and send rain upon thy land, which thou hast given unto thy people for an inheritance. ²⁸ If there be dearth in the land, if there be pestilence, if there be blasting, or mildew, locusts, or caterpillers; if their enemies besiege them in the cities of their land; whatsoever sore or whatsoever sickness there be: ²⁹ Then what prayer or what supplication soever shall be made of any man, or of all thy people Israel, when every one shall know his own sore and his own grief, and shall spread forth his hands in this house: ³⁰ Then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men:) ³¹ That they may fear thee, to walk in thy ways, so long as they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers.]

[Now, listen to God’s answer,]

[2 Chronicles 7:12-15 ¹² And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice. ¹³ If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; ¹⁴ If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. ¹⁵ Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.]

[What are we seeing around our world?  Disorderly terrorism and war.  Historic heat and wild fires in Russia, so intense that people are dying from the smoke.  Historic flooding in Pakistan.  The oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.  Hurricanes have struck our own country in recent years.  We have seen the recent Economic melt down that attacked the security and the contemporary idol (god) of American culture, our money.  Nashville Tennessee, not too long ago, and other US cities have seen historic rapid flooding.  Oh, yes someone should note that all of these are either natural disasters or man-made troubles, but what about the list of worldly judgments listed by Solomon,]

[2 Chronicles 6:28 ²⁸ If there be dearth in the land, if there be pestilence, if there be blasting, or mildew, locusts, or caterpillers; if their enemies besiege them in the cities of their land; whatsoever sore or whatsoever sickness there be:]

[Will you ignore the warning signs all around us?  Or will you respond to God, repent and set things in order again.]

[Be certain, judgment is coming, it is but on the horizon.  The precursors to God’s foretold Tribulation Period are all around us.  Will you see, hear, repent and receive the Lord Jesus Christ?  Or will you ignorantly turn away from God and fail to respond to His mercy and grace?  If you wait too long, you will be forced to endure His coming,  promised,  judgment.]

D.    The Setting of Order (Ezek 3.17; Matt 5.12-16; 2 Cor 5.10-20; 1 Cor 1.21) [– As God’s People we are called,]

1.       [The Wathcman on the Wall (Ezek 3.17)]

2.      [The Salt and Light of the World (Matt 5.13-16)]

3.      [Ambassadors for Christ (2 Cor 5.20) carrying reconciliation to a lost and disorderly world (2 Cor 5.19)]

[We are the last hope of lost, and blind people everywhere.  We are commissioned as the Church and body of Christ to set things in order.  Do things need to be set in order?  Indeed they do?  Then what are you waiting for?  Perhaps many of us are waiting for God to set things in order, or perhaps for someone else to set things in order.  However, few of us realize that God will set things in order through you and I.  God has said,]

[1 Corinthians 1:21 ²¹ For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. ]

[Just as Paul commissioned Timothy to set up men to SET THINGS IN ORDER, my brothers and sisters in Christ you are called by God to SET THINGS IN ORDER!]

[How do we go about setting things in order?]

1.      [Get your life in order, by getting your life in alignment with the word of God.]

2.      [Help others to get their life in order by being salt and light for them.]

3.      [Help our nation and world to get into order by being a watchman on the wall, and sounding the needed alarm.]

[Just as I call the people of our Lord Jesus Christ to SET THINGS IN ORDER.  I must ask those who are here who have not received the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior to begin to set their life in order by receiving the love gift of God, Eternal Life, today by surrendering their life to the Lord Jesus Christ.  You need to be saved today!]

CrossRoads Baptist Church,  Aug 15, 2010