During suppertime, a father had given his young son directions concerning the next day. Son, I want you to go into the shed tomorrow after school and move that wooden beam to the second floor. Son responded, no problem, dad. They were cleaning up and getting ready for bed. The young boy's father said to him, by the way, if the wooden beam is too heavy for you, I would like you to leave it where it is and I will take care of it when I get home. The next day after school, the young boy made his way to the shed and attempted to lift the wooden beam. It was heavy. At first, the boy tried to lift the middle of the beam and he wasn't able to even get it off the dirty ground, so the boy smartened up and lifted one end and was dragging it across the barn. As he got to the exit of the barn, he made his way to the back door of the house. When he approached the back door, he tried to juggle and hold one end of this heavy beam, and with the other hand, he reached for the door. The problem was that as he was maneuvering this heavy beam and dragging it across his father's lawn, he was completely unaware of the damage. If you would, please turn to Titus 1. Titus chapter 1 verse 7. We are continuing our study in the qualifications of leader. And keep in mind these moral qualities are not just for elders, it's not just for deacons, it's not just for leaders of the church, it is for everybody who walks and moves forward under the banner of Christ. We are not only to possess these qualities, but we are even to be growing in them as well. Titus chapter 1 verse 7, for an overseer as God's steward must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain. So far as a brief review in verse 7 alone, we have looked at one positive and three negatives. The positive is that he must be beyond reproach, and the negative is that he must not be arrogant, quick-tempered, or drunkard. And some of you are asking the question, what is arrogance again? Good question. We have seen that in the Greek it is literally hedomai, that is where we get our English word hedonism from. That is, this man cannot be a lover of himself. He cannot be someone who was so preoccupied and obsessed with himself that he has no regard for anybody else. A self-willed, arrogant person, first and foremost, never admits that he or she is wrong. He is always someone who is shifting blame to somebody else. He's not a team player and yields the rod at all times. He is unpleasant. and thinks that his way always is the only way. And he is overbearing and refuses to consider other people's suggestions and even criticism. Solomon tells us that a fool takes no pleasure in understanding but only in expressing his own opinion. An arrogant person is not a good listener. Now there are times when the Christian needs to stand their ground, right? There are times when there is no wiggle room, no budging, especially when it comes to truth. There are times when you just need to shut it down. But, for the most part, an arrogant person will not take anybody else into consideration. In addition to that, we see that he cannot be quick-tempered. We are still in verse 7. That is, he has his passions in check. He's sober-minded. When he's angry, he has not given over to his anger. And again, anger is not necessarily bad. We can be angry at the right thing, but express it sinfully. A man whose emotions are always high and low cannot lead others. Anger which comes about through emotions are not always right because you cannot always trust your emotions Emotions do not determine truth what you feel does not even determine truth truth should determine emotions We have also seen for the third negative in that this man cannot be a drunkard We saw that wine was typically three to one in first century Palestine, and it was really a part of the Old Testament and New Testament. And the issue is not again with wine, the issue is of the hearts. Wine is not evil, people are evil. Wine does not have intentions, it has properties. You have freedom to consume alcohol, just be careful because people are watching. So in light of that, today we're going to look at one of the five negatives that are mentioned in verse seven, and you'll see on your outline, he must not be violent. Four points. Point number one, choices and consequences count the cost. Point number two, windows. Point number three, sword. And point number four, meekness. Point number one, choices and consequences count the cost. Now when I say violence, what comes to your mind. If I was to ask you to give a synonym or a description or a definition of what it means to be violent, what would you say? What would you propose? What comes to mind? Some of you may think physical. Some of you may think physical violence. Violence can be physical, but being physical is not always violent. Some of you may think of the tongue. Your tongue can spill out reckless and violent speech. Some of you may think of verbal violence. Speech can be violent, but speech is not always violent. And some of you may even gravitate towards the mind, right? violence of the mind, a mind that meditates on vengeance and harm. The mind is the computer chip, and many of the problems, unfortunately, we have in our life is because we choose to dwell on the wrong thing. This word, violent, has actually changed within the last 600 years. The word violent today means something completely different than it did 600 years ago, let alone 2,000 years ago. The etymology of the word actually goes back to the Latin word violere, which means violation. For a basic and simple definition, on your outline we'll say this, violence is the improper treatment of God's creation expressed physically, verbally, or mentally through unwarranted and unreserved damage or abuse. It took me about two hours to define it. If you're cognizant, you will notice that violence in verse 7 and quick-tempered have an overlap. And you're right in that. Because people who are quick-tempered are oftentimes violent. The Greek word here for violent is plaitain, which means a striker, or a brawler, or a smiter. This word actually is only used twice in scripture. It is used here in Titus chapter 1 verse 7, and it is used again in 1 Timothy chapter 3 verse 3. Both are qualifications for leadership. But the immediate context is physical. Now, it would not be uncommon for people in first century Palestine to take care of business by using fists, stones, and sticks and swords. To give you a picture, Titus here is saying that there were people in church leadership who, when disagreeing, would literally swing towards one another. They would actually literally try to fight one another. It would be like you and I going out to breakfast or lunch or dinner and us talking about the future state of Israel. You believe that the church has replaced Israel. I believe that there is a future promise for the nation of Israel. There's a disagreement. You disagree with me. And out of the kindness of your heart, you reach for the knife. If there's no knife, you look for the fork. There's no fork. You have a spoon. If there's no spoon, you go for the salt shaker. And I don't know what else you would have. But you guys get the point and picture. The first inclination of someone in light of disagreements cannot be the fists. It cannot be a fork. It can't be a knife. And Paul is telling Titus, listen, this man cannot lead. So here's the question. Can a police officer be an elder? Absolutely. Can a military veteran be Elder absolutely it is not the man's position. It is his disposition and As image bearers we have within us actually pre Programmed understanding of the value and sanctity of human life You can reject that and become cold to it But that rejection does not negate you from the consequences in this life and the next the Christian cannot be a violent man Permit me here to give you two scenarios. Now, these two scenarios that I give you will and do have rabbit trails, and we are not running down it. We are not going there. I want to, but we're not going there. Scenario one, someone breaks into your house at 3 a.m. They're uninvited. They're not coming to have tea and crumpets for two reasons. First, you don't have crumpets, and second, you don't even know what crumpets are. They're coming to take. Now, you don't know what they want to take or who they want to take, if anyone, but they are coming to take. They're uninvited. They may want your TV. They may want your computer. They may want what's on that first floor. They may want what's in your garage. So you let them have all that stuff, maybe. But what happens if you hear footsteps towards the second floor, where the kids are, where their spouses, where your parents are? What are you going to do? Now, we're not going down this rabbit trail. But really, when it boils down to it, what are you going to do? You may call the police, but they're several minutes away. What will you do? You have an obligation to protect those who are innocent, especially those whom God has entrusted to your care. Or scenario number two, men, you're walking in the park with your wife, your children, or your grandchildren, and an assailant comes and begins to attack or assault them or try to kidnap them. What would you do? If you ran away and left them there, What would you be called? A coward. People would be right. Why? Because you have a moral obligation to them. How you defend them and what means you use plays a tremendous factor, check it, in whether it is violent or not. I don't want to go down any rabbit trail, but I would say that if you did not do everything in your power in both scenarios to protect those innocent people you would not be loving. There gets to be a point where you can defend yourself at your house, at a park, wherever it is, physically, without being violent. And you would be a loving man because your moral obligation is to the innocent who you are protecting, not to the assailant. There is a response and then there is violence and vengeance. Vengeance belongs to the Lord. So regardless, you really have choices in both scenarios. We can think of others. Count the cost. Whatever you choose to do, in whatever manner, you need to count the cost. What is it worth? Some of you may be thinking, there is no way they're going anywhere close to the steps. That's fine. Count the cost. Some of you will say, nope, no physical altercation for me. OK, but count the cost. Count. the cost. We also have the issue of the tongue. We're not going to turn to it, but many of you are familiar with James chapter 3. James likens the tongue to the bridle on a horse or to poison or to the rudder of a ship or a spark to a fire. What do all of these have in common? They're small and they're in a position of influence. Think about it. The same tongue that we use to thank God is the same tongue that spills curses on man who is made in His image. The same tongue that thanks God for all of His favors and mercies which are new every day is the same tongue that gripes and complains when we have seasons of rain. It's interesting to note But James also says about the tongue, the tongue is a restless evil. Or how about the mind? Hatred towards your brother is murder. Wishing ill on your brother is murder. And I just need to ask you, I just need to ask you a question. How much time do we spend and do we waste scheming and assuming the worst? How much time do we dwell on wrongdoing? How often do we actually wish ill on someone? I do want us to turn to Philippians chapter 4 verse 8, please. Philippians chapter 4 verse 8. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. We have to be careful what we dwell on, and this is why. You sow a thought, you reap an act. You reap an act, You sow an act, you reap a habit. You sow a habit, you reap character. You sow character, you reap a destiny. You need to watch what your mind dwells on, and you need to be careful what you input in. As Christians, we are to dwell as we see in Philippians chapter four, verse eight, what is true. What is true? What is honorable? Is what I'm dwelling on honorable? Is it just? Is it lovely? Is it commendable? Most of the time, we spend our lives dwelling on past wrongs, don't we? We allow wrongs to fester and grow and we feed these ill feelings by dwelling on it. Often times, what we dwell on has consequences. Way number two, window. What do windows do? They're a conduit to light and allow light to penetrate what otherwise would be hidden. If all your car had was metal and no windows, you wouldn't see what was going on outside of you. They wouldn't see you, and you'd be in big trouble. And also, it would be really, really hot during the summer. Now, how we react and what we are proactive towards reveals what's really going on in our hearts. What stirs the waters of our heart is when something or someone who you value and treasure is attacked. Now, your treasure can be in yourself. It can be in your job. It can be in your possessions, in your children, in your spouse. It can even be in your sports team, unfortunately. But when that which you treasure is attacked, there is a response. That response is a window to your heart. There are two types of response that I want to dwell on real quick. The first is reactive, and the second is proactive. And all of this is in light of being violent. Reactive. Reaction. Your initial reaction to a wrong done to you or something or someone that you treasure is violent. The violence under reactive falls under physical, the use of the tongue, or the mind. It is reactive. It is a response to something or someone. It can be immediate, it can be planned, but it is always responsive. Or the second is proactive. When you are proactive to something or someone, you're taking steps towards that goal. As it relates to our text this morning, we're concerned with what is dwelled on and what is acted upon. Typical synonyms to being proactive is planning, scheming, and anticipating. It could be retaliation that is planned, or it could be you being proactive towards a particular end with no outside influence. Gossip that's planned, slander that's planned, payback and vengeance that is planned. But unlike reactive, which is a response to the external stimuli, proactive is in regards to a future anticipated event, not necessarily through an outside external stimuli. So when you're wronged or when I am wronged, whatever it is, that surfaces what is lying underneath. What you said to your children and what you said to your spouse was not because you're angry. Anger may have been the vehicle, but all anger does is carry the baggage. The reality, beloved, is that we are so good at shifting blame, aren't we? Adam and Eve did it. in the garden, and we have actually improved upon it. Don't make excuses. People who respond immediately in violence is wrong, and those who have premeditative vengeance on their own accord are wrong. The mind is dangerous, and we are wired in Adam to assume the worst in every scenario. What happens in your life is a window to your heart. Point number three, sword. If you would please turn to Luke chapter 22. Luke chapter 22. Verses 31 through 36. Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demands to have you that he might sift you like wheat. But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers. Peter said to him, Lord, I'm ready to go with you both to prison and to death. Jesus said to him, I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day until you deny three times that you know me. And he said to them, when I sent you out with no money bag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything? They said, nothing. He said to them, but now let the one who has a money bag take it and likewise a knapsack, and let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you that this scripture must be fulfilled in me. And he was numbered with the transgressors. For what is written about me has its fulfillment. And they said, look, Lord, here are two swords. And he said to them, this is enough. What did Jesus tell Peter to do? To get a what? Sword. He said, Peter, do you remember when you went out with the other 72 and you didn't have any purse or bag or sandals, referring to earlier in the ministry? Peter, do you remember when I told you to go out with no provisions and to be completely reliant upon me? Okay. But now, as we enter a different season and dispensation of Christ's ministry here on earth and following, notice what Christ tells Peter to do. Go. by a sword. Now, some people spiritualize it and say, no, no, no, you don't understand. Jesus did not mean a literal physical sword. He was referring to the sword of the spirit. No, Jesus is telling him to buy a literal sword. Now, we need to ask the question, what was this sword used for? It's a good question. Do you remember when the soldiers came and tried to arrest Jesus? Remember Peter took out his sword and started swinging? And Jesus told Peter, Peter, put your sword away. Why? Is it because Peter was wrong in carrying that sword and carrying that weapon? No. But I thought earlier, Jesus told Peter to get a sword, and now Peter is using the sword, and he's being rebuked by Jesus. I'm really confused here. Jesus is saying, Peter, you're using the sword at the wrong time. See, Peter, in his ignorance, is actually trying to hinder Christ getting to the cross. Because if Peter starts swinging away, and these guards come in to take Jesus, if Jesus doesn't get to that cross, mission failure. Peter is actually, by his choice, hindering the predetermined plan of God, who even ordained that to happen. Get your mind around that. And Jesus tells Peter to put that sword away. And additionally, it is a proverb. It is an idiom. It is a way of life. Jesus says, hey, if you live by the sword, you're going to what? Die by the sword. Right. This is an idiom. If you use violence towards others, guess what? You can expect them to be violent towards you. If your way of life is dealing with things physically, you better keep in mind that oftentimes what goes around comes around. I want you to turn to Matthew chapter 26, please. Similar account. Verses 51 and following. Matthew chapter 26, verse 51. And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. I love how Matthew was trying to protect Peter. He doesn't call him out. He's like, one of them did it, but we know who did it. It was Peter, okay? Verse 52, Jesus said to him, put your sword back in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my father and he will at once send me more than 12 legions of angels? But how then should the scriptures be fulfilled that I must that it must be so You know Peter just rose to defend his master. He loved him. He wanted to protect him All Peter knew was that his Lord was being taken away. He's got a sword and he's gonna use it But Peter was reckless. He just started swinging. I mean, Jesus told him, Peter, you live by the sword, you're going to die by the sword. So what does this mean? Two things. First, specifically to that time, Jesus is telling Peter, Peter, you can't just be swinging at everyone. I mean, Peter didn't even hit a soldier, and there were so many of them there. Chopped off. Servants ear you missed your intended audience and that was really hard to do You can't just start swinging at the earliest sign of physical altercation That's the first The second is this Peter's response was to an arrest where there's no violence Peter escalated the situation he endangered Jesus and the other 12 and Peter was wild, and Jesus is telling Peter, you better put that thing away. You're escalating the situation, and I need to get to that cross, and you're hindering that plan. Put it away. It is honorable, but you're being foolish. So here's the question. Why did Jesus tell Peter to get a sword? This is why. Because of what would happen after the cross. Jesus was not referring to the Mount of Olives or Garden of Gethsemane. He was referring to after his burial, death, resurrection, and ascension. That is, swords are not for the offense, but for defense. We have to keep in mind that they were not police officers, roads were unsafe. And if they're gonna travel to all over Judea and Samaria and the ends of the earth, they're gonna have to protect themselves from wild beasts and robbers. And Jesus is saying this very simply, get a sword and protect yourself. Defending yourself does not equivocally mean you are using violence necessarily. Point number four, meekness. What is the opposite of violence? Well, the opposite of violence is meekness. If I was to ask you to define for me what is meekness, what would you say? Some of you may say gentleness, and you'd be right. But the word actually literally means to be fit or to be fair. to be fit or to be fair. One of the qualities of meekness is sobriety, being sober. And we're going to look at this, Lord permitting, in a few weeks. But the meek person is always aware of himself and what's going on around him. The meek person is always living in light of who he is in Christ, in light of who he is in light of his fellow man and who he is in light of God. A meek man is not impressed by himself. He's not impressed by his own self-importance, gentleness, humility, courtesy, or even meekness. The Greek word for meekness is prautes, and it was used to describe a domesticated colt or donkey that was used for riding. But the difference is that this colt or donkey or ox was broken for riding. This breaking is not necessarily physically, but it is mentally. Those of you who work on a farm know exactly what I'm talking about. The colt or this donkey, this domesticated animal's will was broken and is now under the submission of his master. And the actual manner was really interesting of how a colt or a donkey was broken. I'm not gonna share, but I will share this. When the owner would train or teach the colt how to submit, he needed to be very careful. He had to be very careful for two reasons. He needed to make sure that that colt would not lose its energy because of its will being broken. But the master also needed to understand that it just needed to do its own thing. It needed energy. You don't want that animal crazy and going all over the place. You need an animal that knows when to turn it on and when to turn it off. The meek person is not violent because he is self-controlled. Meekness and gentleness denotes power that is under control. Meekness has nothing to do with impotence, shyness, weakness, or being a coward. Meekness is power supplied under control. Gentleness and meekness, listen, are born not out of weakness but out of power. Why? Because weak people can't do anything. If you're weak, you're weak. Meekness means that you have the power to respond and even to do damage, plus some, but you are reserved, you are selective, and your responses and your actions are measured and calculated for the well-being of the other person, if possible. Violence is oftentimes uncalculated. Oftentimes. Meekness isn't, because meekness is always calculated. The problem is that we can't be meek in our own strength, can we? Hence, why? Because you and I are naturally wired to be prideful, and we are wired to take offense against us at all times and assume the worst. When the pride is blown, we want revenge. Meekness has to do with intentions. Everybody knows that in the court of law, when a violent crime or when a crime is committed, how intentional somebody is. When the crime is committed has a significant factor in the sentencing and ruling, right? Someone who meditates and who intentionally commits a crime with poor motives gets the book thrown at him, and rightfully so. And in the same way, God is concerned with our heart and our mind. Meekness sees the person as an image-bearer. A meek person will not intimidate. He will not threaten. A meek person shows a consideration towards others that a violent person doesn't. Meekness's goal is not destruction. It is redemption. Now, in light of our text this morning in regards to violence, the leader cannot be a violent man. Violent people oftentimes act with no consideration for the well-being of others. And if they do take into consideration the well-being of others and choose to violate them, that is even worse. Have you ever been wronged before and retaliated immediately only to find out that you did not have all of the facts. You were not being meek. Have you ever, even in light of finding out that you did not have all of the information, still not seek forgiveness and reconciliation, you were not being meek? Do you justify your lack of control? You were not being meek. When you're wronged and you have the capacity to get even, do you? If you do, you are not being meek. When you find someone gossiping about you or saying something else, if you gossip back, you are not being meek. Confront the person in love with the right words and disposition, you're being meek. See, a meek person will seek to understand to the best of their ability what exactly is going on and what Christ will do. The fool will act without any consideration of this. And I told you earlier that meekness and gentleness refers to a domesticated animal that is under the control of his master. And what I left out is that the animal has the power to do harm. The meek man or woman has the power to have payback. The animal has the strength plus some, but chooses not to, because he has brought his mind, his heart, and his tongue under the submission of his master. A meek man is self-restraining. A violent man is not. A meek man or woman has the right to get even, but chooses not to. So how do I know if I'm a gentle person? How do I know if I'm a meek person? Question number one, I genuinely seek to understand the situation when I'm wronged. Second, I'm free from malice and revenge. For three, I desire to make peace to the best of my ability as a means towards redemption. And number four, I am conscious of reserving full force because God in His omnipotence and omniscience has dealt kindly with me. I mean, think about it. You know, you and I as an enemy, Christ kept our heart that was wicked and defiled beating When you and I were lost in sin, Christ saw us as sinners, God saw us as sinners, and kept that heartbeat going that had one thing in mind, sin. But even more than that, now that we are adopted into God's family, we still sometimes revert to our old way, don't we? We sometimes even have within us the old man. And God has every right to strike even His child down. How patient has He been with you and with me? You see, you and I are not omnipotent. We don't have all power. But I think even more Sobering is that we're not omniscient. We don't know everything for every situation at all times And so my encouragement to you is that when you are wrong You seek to understand it the best of your ability and pray to God that he would give you divine wisdom on how to move forward You know, maybe the reason why we're so exhausted and so tired is because we're trying to carry that heavy beam by ourself See, we don't have the strength necessary to carry that without there being damage. What if we ask the Lord for help? What if we asked our Father for help? Christ is stronger than us and have promised us that if we yoke ourselves to Him and cry out, Lord, it is too heavy for me. I need your help. His right hand will come and bear it for you. So as a young boy approached that back door, his father came home. His father saw the line of missing grass as that boy was dragging that beam and ran, not to give the son help, but to take the wooden beam from him. See, this boy's father was strong. He exerted just the right amount of strength. The father held in his hand the beam right in the middle. And so there was no question unto who really was holding all the weight. The only thing the father told the son to do was... Just hold the door open for me, will you? And so once they got to the stairs, the father told the son to step aside. Why? Because there's only enough room for one person to come up here. There is only one person who has the strength to climb up those stairs. Because this was something the father had to do alone. And so the boy stood back and watched his father carry all that weight up those stairs. Beloved, this is what happened at Calvary. We are trying to carry all that baggage and sin and damage all around us. And Christ came along and said, step aside, I got this in faith. You can't carry it. You don't have the strength. See, Christ is the gentlest and the meekest man because His power was reserved, measured, and weighted. And Matthew, which we just saw in chapter 26, tells us that as Christ was being arrested, Jesus told Peter that those who live by the sword will die by the sword and he says in verse 53 Do you not think that I cannot appeal to my father and he will at once send me more than 12 legions of angels? Do you know how many people one angel can kill We're not going to turn to it. But in 2nd Kings chapter 19 verse 35 the angel the Lord killed a hundred and eighty-five thousand Assyrians in one night That was one How many soldiers are in a legion? 5,000. What's 12 times 5,000? 60,000. I think you get the point. Jesus is saying, I can have help, but I'm choosing not to. His mission was to die. He was born to die. He took on my burden and my sin. All I can do is wonder and say, Hallelujah. Thank you, Lord, for what you were able to do for me. However, I will give you a warning for those who are listening. Do not confuse weakness, meekness with weakness. One characteristic of meekness is self-restraint, not giving full vent, being reserved. Because this is what you need to see. The first time Christ came was as a suffering servant in meekness. But when he comes again in his second coming, he will not come in meekness. He will come in divine power and wrath and judgment. If you carry that beam by yourself, you're going to find out you don't have the strength. And He comes to you today and offers you Himself in faith alone. The Lord is gracious and compassionate. He is slow to anger and rich and abounding in steadfast love. Salvation is offered to you today through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Repent, cling to the cross, and find forgiveness at the feet of Jesus, who is your righteousness and your peace. To God be the glory, great things. He has done for us. Let us pray. Father, we confess that. At times we assume the worst of everything, of every scenario, of every situation, that we are quick even to carry out vengeance on our own. Lord, give us a meekness. Give us a power under control. Give us a mind of Christ. Give us the wisdom to be able to exert power when necessary and when to bear wrongs. Father, we don't have this in ourselves, and so we look to the power and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. And so, Lord, we can say, if any good arises out of our life, to you be the glory, in Jesus' name, amen. Let's stand and sing together. I once was lost in darkest night and thought I knew the way. The sin that promised joy and life had led me to the grave. I had no hope. a rebel to your will. If you had not loved me first, I would refuse you still. But as I ran my hell-bound race, indifferent to the cost, you looked upon my helpless state and led me to the