Titus 2:11-12 Worldliness

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldy desires and to live sensibly, righteous and godly in the present age..." Titus 2:11-12

I have been doing alot of study on worldliness, conforming to the world, etc. as it relates Christians. It should be no surprise to hear the church has become conformed to the world. (If you disagree I think you are deceived and you need to get your head out of the sand). It is very hard to recognize Christians from non-Christians anymore. Even listening to the conversations in churches these days I hear things that shock me.

I have been quite "down" about the state of the church these days. I am part of it too and am quick to see my own error in relation to these verses as well. So when I read these verses it just clinched it for me.

Verse 11 - Praise God, he opened the doors of salvation to all men, that Gentiles as well as Jews can be God's people (Acts 15:17) Thank you Lord!

Verse 12- We are instructed to deny ungodliness and worldly desires. Ok, stop there. That is alot to chew on, we can't just swallow it whole and move on to the next course. In this first part of the verse, it clearly tells us what God wants us to be doing. We all need to stop and think about things that are ungodly and worldly that we have let into our lives, that we have tolerated in the church. That we have even desired. Everything sinful starts with the desires of the heart and mind.

Ungodly means anything wicked or without God. Anything lacking reverence for God.

Worldly means what belongs to the world, anything which would estrange you from God.
Desires (in this verse based on the Greek word) means the desires and lusts resulting from the diseased condition of the soul. (This should not be confused with good desires like in Hebrews 6:11 which means a good desire)

1. How is your entertainment? ENTERTAINMENT has become a god. We are gorging ourselves on fun, pleasures, worthless TV shows, and entertaining ourselves on Facebook and things as such. Things which truly do pull us away from God.

Make sure your entertainment is honoring to God and not out of balance when it comes to how much time you spend in vain pleasures.

2. What do you desire? Is knowing God better and knowing His Word like nothing else something that would describe you? Do you even know what God desires? We need to have the same mind as that of Jesus Christ (2 Cor 2:16)

3. Have you denied or refused anything lately that is not for God but against Him?

4. Are you living sensibly, righteously, and godly in THIS PRESENT AGE?

To really live out this verse in our current culture, we will be having to say "no" to alot that knocks at our door. There is a constant downpour of sin that is being disguised as "wholesome". Let's not forget how craftly Satan is. He knows how to trick even the smartest of Christians out there. He know how to market sin well.

I would really challenge you to sit back and meditate on this verse and ask God what things you haven't denied that need denial. As Christians we need to face the truth that we tolerate more than we should. Without realizing it we are letting our hearts and minds be conformed to this world, the one that Satan rules over for now.

Here is a list to start with to get you thinking and then please seek God's face, He will be faithful to show you areas that need correction.

Clothes Shopping- is my motivation worldly?
How much entertaining do I do to my brain?
What am I letting in my eyes?
What am I letting in my ears?
Is my heart set on success defined by the world?
Are my children a blessing or burden in my eyes?
Is 1 car enough or is it an image thing that I want 2?
Is the smaller house enough?
Do I really need cable TV?
Do I really need to be this busy doing this many unimportant things?
Do I allow my kids to skip church to play sports? Is that showing respect for God?
Do I desire man's approval or God's?
Am I self-controlled? Disciplined?
Has my computer or phone become my idol?
Am I being foolish in any area of my life?
Does my ease and comfort come before serving others?

Don't wait to make changes, do it today and reject that which is ungodly and reject even that thought that is a worldly desire.
Have a Blessed Day!