OVM KJV

                                                     Titus 1

1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;

Can you acknowledge The Truth? Are you a seeker of God? If the answer is yes and you do this daily, your growing as one of Gods elect.

2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; 

This is referring to Ephesians Ch.1, he knew us and wanted the best for us.

3 But hath in due times manifested His Word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;

Titus is a true worker of Gods Words and in this we can see both God and our Savoir Christ Jesus.

4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. 

Titus was yoked in same mind. Are you?

5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: 

Paul left Titus in charge and now Titus is placing others to help with the church in Crete.

6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. 

The ones Titus chooses must keep his family with God in mind and in order to run the church as well with God as their focus. This throws out some traditions of some denominations where they say you can't be married to run a church.

7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; 

There are guidelines to becoming a worker of the church. It's not about you! It's about serving God. You don't get angry at the drop of a hat. This isn't saying you can't get angry, just slow to anger. You shouldn't be a drunk. It's not saying you can't have a drink. "Given" = it over takes you. You shouldn't be one looking for a physical fight. If it comes, be ready to defend yourself, but never go looking for one. You shouldn't find the ways of the world good in your eyes.

8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; 

Some of the guidelines for someone who works for a church.

9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. 

Does your "pastor" feed you GODS WORD?  How would you know unless you open it yourself. Are you hearing more than a couple verses on Sunday? Get Busy! A REAL Pastor will feed the lambs and the sheep. They will give more than a few verses a week and you will feel compelled to do more and do better than when you went in.

10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 

This is speaking of those in the church. This is more so today than ever before. Evil creeps in, so we must hold to The Truth.

11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. 

These are in the church as leaders. Only with The Word in your mind will you have The seal of God to know just who they are. The fakes are everywhere today!  What's this I hear? half the "congregation" saying that is not very Christ-like. Oh really, Christ-like is to have lies in His church? Time to rethink it all!

12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, the Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. 

Paul is telling us, just as in the synagogues, they where teaching traditions instead of The Word. Being lazy one verse Charlie's. So many won't take the time to write their own sermons today. They will talk more about the world than Gods Word. They fill the time at church with music and passing the plate. If you hear more of The Word Chapter for Chapter and verse for verse than words from a humans mouth, you have a good church. If it's The Truth, then you have one of the only TWO churches God is pleased with in today's time. Rev. 1-3 Do you have the key of David? You have a Church!

13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; 

Call out those fake pastors! Set them straight their, soul is at stake. Be bold as they don't understand sugar talk even if that's what comes out of them.

14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. 

Evil had taken over the church then just as it is today. If its humans words coming out of their mouth and not Gods, it's fables and traditions. Our Fathers Word warns us of this today. In this chapter and other Books. 2 Tim. 4 and Rev. Ch. 1-3 is the finest examples. Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. 

They will put others in bondage with false doctrines and traditions, lacking the understand of the cross. They will hold people to what they have done instead of what they do.