• Are we seriously seeking what God has for us today?
• Even though we can't go at it alone, Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, we must still make the final step ourselves - And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.  II Timothy 2:26
• Do we even think we need help?
• Who should we look to for help?
• Who can help us find God's way in our life?
• What is God's way for us and our family?
• What is God's "purpose" in our life?
• (not 'our' purpose' - "HIS")
• Are we really seeking help?
• Do you ladies even WANT to be a Titus 2 women?
• Do you men even want to a man for God's ways?
• young men?  aged men / aged women?

We can say yes, but do we mean it?
It can be hard to answer honestly today- we live in such a spoiled generation - :

• As it was in the days of Noah and Lot... Luke 17:26-30 - And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.  Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;  But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.  Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
• As it was in Sodom's time... Ezekiel 16:49-51 - Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.  And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.  Neither hath Samaria committed half of thy sins; but thou hast multiplied thine abominations more than they, and hast justified thy sisters in all thine abominations which thou hast done.
• Rotten generations in America -Proverbs 30:11-14 - There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother. There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness. There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes!  and their eyelids are lifted up.   There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.
• Immodest, vulgar and 'dirty' people who are not even aware of it - nappy headed ho's is how we heard it stated recently...  So if you don't like that term,  don't dress and act like one and for sure, don't ever dress your little girls like a prostitot!
• Our government is corrupt - it all is even obvious now... but it is also obvious that we can do anything about it anymore!
• People are unthankful - selfish!  CHRISTIANS INCLUDED!
• lack of any character and integrity, etc. and it isn't being taught or led by example!
• money is our god!
• our children are our gods!
• we are our own gods!
• images have more final authority than any 'word's - words actually OFFEND people today!
• the grace of God is being turned into lasciviousness!
• Do Christians even WANT to learn to please God?

• a grateful appreciation towards others work and efforts - including God's giving of His only begotten Son!
• thankfulness
• Christian character and integrity - still based on a Christian walk...
• Desire to do right and live for God - according to Paul, of course!
• To please someone else - not yourself!  - living to please God instead of one's own self!
• Not just live by hiding under the umbrella of grace!

• II Timothy 2:25 - In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
• Ephesians 1:13 - In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
• I Corinthians 13:10 - But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
• I Thessalonians 2:13 - For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
• II Timothy 2:15,16 - Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
• Philippians 4:9 - Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

• profane and vain babblings - (vs 16)
• religion (godliness without the power thereof - II Timothy 3:5 - Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
• corrupt teachings taken from corrupt texts and manuscripts & written by educated corrupt men destitute of truth through perverse disputings, etc.  I Timothy 6:4-5
• godliness based on gain - I Timothy 6:5 ... supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
• rudiments of the world - Colossians 2:8 - Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
• part of the seduction from seducing spirits and doctrines of devils! I Timothy 4:1 - Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
• preparing you - and your family - for the delusion that God will send during the Tribulation! II Thessalonians 2:11-12 - And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:  That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Faith is our shield today - not just 'the Lord' - in Paul's dispensation of grace - it is FAITH!
See Ephesians 6:16 - Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

By this faith will come our JOY!

I admit it - will you? ...We need help in our JOY!
Not just 'happiness.' 'feeling good,'  'fun,' busy 'Christian activities,' entertainment, lasciviousness, works of the flesh, etc.

This is a  joy that is designed by God and taught to us through Paul is our life's purpose & testimony to others!

• Jesus said it:
• John 15:10,11 -  If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
• John 16:24 - Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
• John 17:13 - And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
• Jesus is gone now and the Tribulation has to take place - but God's joy will return physically on the earth.
• John 16:20-22 - Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.  A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
• It seems that more and more joy is lost as we near the Tribulation!
• Jeremiah 33:11 - The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD.  For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the LORD.

In fact, as we see Christianity and Bible Believers reject Paul's teachings and ministry, we see the loss of joy with these same folks!

• Romans 5:1-11 - Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.  For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
• Romans 15:13 - Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
• Romans 15:30-32 - Paul's ministry -Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints; That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.
• II Corinthians 8:1,2 - Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

• Romans 14:17-19 - For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
• Galatians 5:22-25 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.  And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
• Philippians 1:25 - And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again. Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
• I Thessalonians 4:1 - Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.