Advancing Encouragement By:
Bishop James Jr. Hairston

Titus: 3:5: Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

The idea here in the book of Titus is of the same purpose in which Paul wrote to Timothy to set up order in the Church. The background to this book is that the Cretans worshiped pagan gods and was used to living their lives filled with lust, they were liars, and barbaric in behavior, Titus 1:12 and also this behavior was written in historical documents about the Cretans. The thugs today cannot compare to the thugs of the old if you will, like the Cretans. The Isle of Crete has a background of Egyptian culture and filled with all kinds’ pagan doctrine. There were a lot of Jews on the Island of Crete as well because some were present on the day of Pentecost, Acts 2:11 that were trying to convert them to Jewish fables, and commandments of men that turned from the Truth, Titus 1:14. Therefore, Titus had a mess of sin, wickedness, disobedience, and being abominable unto every good work reprobate that he was dealing with, Titus 1:16. Do all of these types of lifestyles, behaviors and way of life sound familiar to you? Right now among Liars, lustful thug like behaviors, false doctrine, following man commandments and just totally believing a bare face lie in how to live for God is what you see today with people representing themselves as believers of Jesus Christ. If you have been witnessing any of these types of behaviors what Titus had to deal with like Paul he had to set them in order, you too can make a difference in someone’s life. You do not have to go around preaching to them but you can live your life regenerated, filled with the Holy Ghost, under the anointing of God’s love, meekness, Kindness, holiness, and living out the truth of Jesus Christ in your life. Today you are different from everyone else, you are not keeping up with the world to satisfy the world but you live against (counter to) the world and above it, not of the world. However, your works cannot save you but it is the grace of God working through you by faith that your works are made known to man that you are a true Child of God because of the washing of the blood of Jesus Christ in your life. Today you are not phony or fake you are the real deal a born again baptized believer that love to live out the truth of Jesus Christ and when people see you they see Christ. Today my friend, you are advancing the Kingdom of God changing lives changing the world just by the way you live and by sharing your faith you will make a difference in someone’s’ life, in Jesus Name…

James Jr. Hairston