(Tit 1:7) “For a bishop must be….(9)  Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught,…” Surely each of us need to be faithful to the truths we have been taught be God’s Spirit. Yes, by God’s Spirit. Ephesians Chapter 4 teaches us that pastors/teachers are gifts from God. Their purpose: to teach us the truths by the direction of the Holy Spirit. Those pastors/teachers are practice what they preach; and so are we.

 (Tit 1:7) “For a bishop must be….(8)…. temperate;”  “Temperate”: from a root that means “strong in a thing; mastering”; so, able to overcome self – thus, self control. Yet, the Bible teaches that in truth, we need “God-control” rather than “self-control”. So, it means allowing the Holy Spirit to have control over our impulses, over our flesh.

(Tit 1:7) “For a bishop must be ….(8) … holy,…”   Holiness is not just a separation from sin, for personal holiness is the doing so with the desire of being close to; in thankfulness to God for Jesus Christ; for the salvation He purchased for us in suffering for my (your) individual sins. The pastor in doing so can direct us onto the same path.

(Tit 1:7) “For a bishop must be …..(8) … just,….”   “Just” here is not referring to his standing before God in salvation (justification), but in his actions towards others. Does he treat people equably, doing right in his dealings with other in and out of the church? Remember, you and I are to seek to be like Jesus, which means doing as Jesus would do.

(Tit 1:7)  “For a bishop must be….(8) ….. sober,….”  “Sober”: sound of mind, self-controlled. We know that both soundness of mind and self-control come from yieldedness to the Spirit of God: (2Ti_1:7)  “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”; (Gal 5:22)  “But the fruit of the Spirit is…(23) … temperance:” So, the pastor must be led of the Spirit of God!

(Tit 1:7) “For a bishop must be… (8)  …a lover of good men,….”  “Good men”: lover of virtue.  The following verse best interprets this passage: (Rom_12:9) “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.”  We are influenced by those we associate with. Be sure you associate with good people, those who love and wish to please God.

Tit 1:7) “For a bishop must be ….(8)  But a lover of hospitality,…”  “Hospitality”: fond of guest. Interesting that our word, “hospital”, is taken from this. Why? Those who come to our churches are in need of spiritual healing every week from exposure to this world’s doctrine. A pastor must love guests of our church, greeting each and every one with open arms, loving them in the Name of the Lord.

(Tit 1:7) “For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;…”  “Filthy Lucre”: sordid gain; greedy of gain. The Lord has promised to meet our needs but not necessarily our wants. How much is enough? That’s something every person should ponder. If our spiritual leader’s focus is upon personal gain, his heart is definitely not upon eternity: “for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also (Matt 6:21)”.

 (Tit 1:7) “For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker,….”  In 1 Corinthians it speaks of the greatest of God’s gifts – love. Not human love, but God’s love, a sacrificial love, referring to the sacrifice of self. It is this love that allows the man of God to turn the other cheek, to take reproach, to bear being wronged: (1 Cor 13:5) “…. is not easily provoked,….(7) Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” 

(Tit 1:7) “For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine,….”  The pastor is to be the example of a true Child of God. In Revelation it says we are kings and priests. Our bodies temple the Holy Spirit (God) (1 Cor 3:16-17). Our lives are to be offered in sacrifice (Rom 12:1; Heb 13:15). Priests serving were not to drink in order to “….put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;” (Lev 10:10). Those who do not love the Lord enough will not heed such teaching as this for they and their desires come first.