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| Picture of Church Building of First Baptist, Freeport |
How God Revitalized a Local Church to the Praise of His Glorious Grace!
The year was 63 AD. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair." In many ways, the young churches in Crete were already spiritually broken. In response, Paul left one of his young protégés behind in order that "Doctor" Titus might help put "humpty dumpty" back together again.
Titus was to "set straight" this broken ministry. Note the inspired purpose statement mentioned in Titus 1:5. For this reason I left you in Crete, that you might set in order what remains, and appoint elders in every city as I directed you. This young pastor was to put on his reformation cap and with God's help he was to try and right anything that was defective in a God-honoring way. He was to reform these churches according to the precepts of Holy Scripture.
As important as Titus was to this revitalization effort he was not to try and carry out this mammoth sized task alone. Titus 1:5b, and appoint elders in every city as I directed you. Titus was to find, select, train, and set apart qualified leaders (note Titus 1:6-9) who would help him shepherd the flock of God (see 1 Peter 5:1-4; Acts 14:23). I believe this has always been God's plan for His Church (note Acts 14:23, Phil. 1:2, Hebrews 13:17).
OK great! What does any of this have to do with you preacher boy? For this reason the Lord directed my family to Freeport in 2008 that His Word might set in order what remains, and that through much blood, sweat, and tears the Spirit of truth and holiness might raise up a team of shepherd leaders to the end that the good work God started some 168 years ago might continue until the day of Christ Jesus.
This post was initially published on April 1, 2013
