The Scripture says, “You’ve known the holy scriptures that have been able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine.”  In Titus, we see that sound doctrine is not just proper exegesis, systematic theology.  Sound doctrine is character-related; amen?  Sound doctrine has to do with us “doing the Word, not just hearing it.”  Sound doctrine is when we recognize the source and the authority of the Word of God: “Never a man spoke like this man.  He speaks as “one having authority,” amen?  So, sound doctrine is what Jesus lived.  You want to look at sound doctrine?  Look at Jesus.  "The Word become flesh and dwelt among us."  We’re to walk as He walked.  We’re to be perfect as He was perfect, as our Father which is in heaven is perfect.  So, he talks about this inspiration of Scripture and he says, “It’s profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”  We can, then, stop and say, “Okay, what are the good works at the moment?”

You know, there’s a time to be Martha and there’s a time to be Mary.  Many of us are caught up in wanting to, literally, go serve one another, but not as interested in the ministry of intercession for the needs.  We won’t get into what the motives behind some of that might be.  But we can get a whole lot more self-worth by taking somebody a pie than we can by just praying for them in secret, especially when nobody knows we’re praying.  It’s great to be able to give offerings but what about praying in secret, “not letting your left hand know what your right hand is doing," good works that aren’t seen?  Jesus says, “Let the world see our good works that they might glorify our Father which is in heaven,” amen?  So, good works are those that glorify God, not us.  Good works are the ones that when that person walks away, you are so thankful to God, not that person, because of the spirit in which it was ministered, “that the man of God might become mature and furnished through all good works.”

1 Timothy 6:17 says, “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.”  Charge these rich guys that they, “Do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate.”  That word, communicate, is an interesting one.  It means “to recognize through offerings.”  Paul speaks to Timothy, again, and admonishes these men to “be rich in good works.”