Titus 2:11-12

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.

Devotional Thoughts

By David Wilkerson

The mark of a mature believer is a refusal to be "tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine..." (Ephesians 4:14). Such believers cannot be manipulated by any teacher. They don't need to run around because they are drinking from the Rock. They are growing up in Christ. They are feasting in green pastures. They have circumcised their ears, and they measure every teacher, every doctrine, by how much it conforms to Christ's holiness. They can discern all doctrines that are false, and they are repulsed by all the strange, new teachings. They have learned Christ. They will not be held by music, friends, personalities or miracles, but by a hunger for the pure Word.

There are only two doctrines. They doctrine of Christ and the doctrine of Jezebel. Paul said, "...that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things" (Titus 2:10). What is Christ's doctrine? The grace of God teaches us that "denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly, in this present world" (Titus 2:11,12). The doctrine of Christ will conform you to the image of Christ. It will expose every hidden sin and every evil longing.

Is your teacher rebuking with authority, speaking and exhorting you to forsake sin and to lay down all idols as he is instructed in Titus 2? Are you learning to hate sin passionately? Or do you leave church, still not deeply convicted? Can you go out clinging to pet sins? The message of the doctrine of Christ is, "Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (2 Corinthians 7:1).

So many write to us saying, "Our pastor keeps saying, 'I'm not here to preach against sin; I'm here to lift up Jesus.' Or, 'None of that condemnation preaching from this pulpit — I'm here to lift the fear and depression in my people.'" Even with Pentecostal preachers there are two extremes. Some scream a hard, legalistic gospel without love, one of works; while others preach against sin like cowards, taking it all back in the same message. False love and crocodile tears.

The doctrine of Christ is a doctrine of godliness and holiness. "If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings " (1 Timothy 6:3-4). Some tell us, "My teacher speaks about holiness." But I do not mean merely using the words "holy" and "godly"; I mean preaching it with all authority. The preaching of Christ's doctrine will bless, strengthen and encourage you, but it will also convict you so deeply you cannot sit under it and still cling to a secret lust.