Christ-like living, as we saw last time, is personal sanctification. I Press toward The Goal Personal sanctification is a lifelong ‘pressing towards the goal’ of Christ-like behavior. This singular goal can pull together all the rest of the many pieces of life. We look at everything we must do and weigh each one as to whether or not it contributes to the one great finish line of our life—Christ-conformity! So what exactly is Christ-like behavior? How do we know where to point our lives, our time, and our energies? Last time we saw in Philippians 2:12-13 we were to work on something in our progressive sanctification. Philippians 2:12-13 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. NKJV Paul said we are to pursue living God’s desires for our life. And where would we find that? Paul would say, “That’s simple!” So that there is no confusion about what we should work on, God wrote it down. We have it this morning. God's Word is God’s plan for our life. No matter where you go in this book we find the will of God for us His children. Paul saw his purpose was to obediently yield his life to ever-increasing levels of Christ-conformity. He saw life as being more and more conformed to Christ. 2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. NKJV This morning our quest for personal, progressive sanctification—or living life continually surrendering my life to God’s plan, is what’s written down in Titus. Paul left Titus in Crete with a simple assignment—do everything you can to help these new believers become like Christ. Note the purpose Titus had in chapter 1. Titus 1:5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order (also KJV, NASB; NIV ‘straighten out’) the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you—NKJV What did Paul want Titus to set in order or straighten out? He was to address the wrong doctrines and practices that were going on in the Cretan church. Now look at Chapter 2. Titus 2:1 But as for you, speak [present active imperative “I command you to keep on speaking”] the things which are proper for sound doctrine: NKJV The best way to get the whole church headed in the right direction was to get them focused on “healthy” doctrine. The word “sound” is hugiano (we get the word hygiene from this word) it means healthy—and Paul uses this word 9 times in the pastoral epistles (5 times in Titus). Paul always emphasized that truth produces spiritual well-being. The “things” (v. 1) Paul commands to be taught in vv. 2–10 are the doctrinal truths of godly attitudes, and Christ-like behavior. “In order not only to please God but also to have an effective witness to unbelievers, God’s people must know the truth that leads to spiritual health.” The plan was that the older believers, who are living the life, train the younger ones in how to do likewise. Paul then spells out a list of the 24 character qualities, 12 each for godly men and women. We are now in the 11th of 12 virtues or godly character qualities God wants in women. This quality in God’s 12-part list for women is the quality of being “good” or “kind”. Kindness energized by grace is what we are all called to demonstrate. God's Word portrays in a very clear way exactly how God measures kindness. And that is what we want to open our hearts to as we look into His Word today. From GEW-19d - The Eternal Reward of Grace-Energized Kindness (070902AM) - https://youtu.be/Qp_ucVP8KDc Join the LAND OF THE BOOK channel to get access to weekly video releases over the next year totaling 50+ EXCLUSIVE VIDEOS that feature weekly in-depth Bible Study lessons with John & Bonnie. Clips are taken at just one of the places where we are taking our virtual journey through all the Lands of the Bible & Great Museums of the Bible on the Paul's Life & Letters Course. Plus all the assigned HOLY LAND, Paul's Life & Letters Course STUDY RESOURCES, and John's two most loved books--David's Spiritual Secret & Living Hope for the End of Days at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVK6dN-9kLDnQhYBFuES09A/join Follow Discover the Book Ministries to stay up to date: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/discoverthebook/ DTBM Academy Courses: https://dtbma.com/Default.aspx Purchase John's Books, Mp3 & DVD resources: E-Books: https://tinyurl.com/y3wbhlxy Here are links to our Amazon Pages-- https://www.amazon.com/shop/dtbm Donate to the ministry: https://dtbm.org/donations/partnership/ For more of Dr. John Barnett's Bible teaching messages go to: https://dtbm.org/ https://youtu.be/cj5LkG51c6Q ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cj5LkG51c6Q

Tomorrow morning when you wake up, aliens are lurking around ready to attack. Our demonic enemies—more lethal than any terrorist, murderer, or hardened criminal, will be waiting for you. With a flaming arrow ready he will watch for the exact moment to shoot that fiery missile into your mind. Are you ready to deflect that missile? Or will you have another horrible, defeated, empty, restless, discouraging, sad day of defeat? The attacks on humans are led by the Serpent Dragon named the Devil & Satan. He is a person with a single focus as the Adversary of God. He was formerly Lucifer the most brilliant and powerful of all God’s created angels. Now as Satan, he leads the hosts of darkness in their relentless attacks. The war is real, the enemy is deadly and focused, and the damage among believers is widespread. The Devil named Satan continually bombards God's child­ren with the flaming arrows of immorality, hatred, anger, covetousness, pride, doubt, fear, despair, distrust, and other temptations. Every temptation, either directly or indirectly, tries to get us to doubt or distrust God. The purpose of Satan's missiles is to cause believers to forsake their trust in God, to drive a wedge between the Savior and the saved. Put up the shield of faith and that won't happen to you. Do we live like we’re part of Christ’s Special Forces that He has deployed behind enemy lines? The Commanding Officer giving these LAST WORDS for you before you go, has already made this patrol hundreds of times; and HE is the only one who ever has made it back, unscathed by the enemy. At the briefing, HIS personally written field manual for battlefield survival will be explained, plus the key elements of the body armor will be shown, explained, and fitted. Also, the ONLY weapon for the offense will be demonstrated and ammunition will be issued. Wow, wouldn’t every one of us being deployed, be there in the front row? We’d all be taking notes, staying after asking questions, helping each other as fellow soldiers getting geared up, and working together for our mutual survival. Yet today, most of the Special Forces (that’s us as believers)…. Deployed by the Lord (that’s the Great Commission)…. Into the harsh and deadly territory of Satan the master terrorist (the god of this world): Are riding around like they are on vacation, Like sitting ducks, riding in the open seats atop a double-decker tour bus, Driving through enemy territory. No daily preparation (pray without ceasing), No body armor (take up the full armor of God), No attendance at the briefings (assembling of yourselves together), No ammunition (but by every Word of God), and No weapons (the sword of the Spirit) in sight. The daily casualties are horrific as you can imagine, Many wounded soldiers are strewn along the road, Most have flaming darts burning in their unprotected lives, Most are incapacitated and no longer on their mission. Only a few seem to be at the briefings, reading and using the manual, and following the Commanding Officer each day. That is what Jesus found on His visit to His Special Forces bases (the 7 churches in Rev. 1-3). Are any of us just going through the motions, no longer passionate for Jesus like we used to be? Are any of us starting to fear how bad the world is getting? Are any of us getting comfortable around sin, and no longer forsaking personal sins? Are any of us acting and operating like lost people, and because we’re so distracted, we’ve stopped even seeing Christ in His Word each day? Beware of: coasting, just going through the motions, not passionate for Jesus like we used to be; starting to fear our future, our health, our safety; getting comfortable around sin, amusing and entertaining ourselves with sin, and not fleeing sin; getting truth-challenged; acting & operating like lost people; so distracted that time with God in His Word is gone from our daily vitals. (Isaiah-6) Join the LAND OF THE BOOK channel to get access to weekly video releases over the next year totaling 50+ EXCLUSIVE VIDEOS that feature weekly in-depth Bible Study lessons with John & Bonnie. Clips are taken at just one of the places where we are taking our virtual journey through all the Lands of the Bible & Great Museums of the Bible on the Paul's Life & Letters Course. Plus all the assigned HOLY LAND, Paul's Life & Letters Course STUDY RESOURCES, and John's two most loved books--David's Spiritual Secret & Living Hope for the End of Days at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVK6dN-9kLDnQhYBFuES09A/join Follow Discover the Book Ministries to stay up to date: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/discoverthebook/ DTBM Academy Courses: https://dtbma.com/Default.aspx Purchase John's Books, Mp3 & DVD resources: E-Books: https://tinyurl.com/y3wbhlxy Here are links to our Amazon Pages-- https://www.amazon.com/shop/dtbm Donate to the ministry: https://dtbm.org/donations/partnership/ https://youtu.be/L08Lqk6w9Uw ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L08Lqk6w9Uw