Godly Character and Convictions

Character and Convictions

One Monday morning I sat at my computer to prepare a series of Bible Sermons on Godly Character. Men like Joseph, Job, and Daniel in the Bible who displayed Godly Character. Also Godly Convictions, like a person who has a conviction that they will not use God’s name in vain. There are certain lines that they won’t cross. I believe that these traits are missing in our society today. People have lost convictions and character is not important. There is only one problem character and conviction are also missing from the scriptures.

Where are Character and Conviction?

I know some of you will take offense to my last statement let me explain. I told you I sat at my computer to look into these topics and I did. I had a couple of books on Christian Character on my desk but I want to really start with the Bible, so I got out my Strong’s Concordance of the KJV Bible and searched for conviction, I found nothing no convict, convicting, convicts nothing. OK I understand that word may be tricky. So I looked up character in my Strong’s concordance and all it’s various derivatives. NOTHING. This isn’t really a good start to my series. So I looked up each word in the dictionary both words the primary definition was not what I was thinking about and it was the second definition that appropriately fit my purposes. To say I was discouraged was an understatement. I had books on Christian Character sitting on my desk and had been thinking about this a lot. I was discouraged...... but I know that those words are in the Bible I can picture them.

Conviction - (1) a formal declaration of guilt

John 16:8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

The word convict is found in the New King James, it is reprove in the King James, but the word means to tell a fault. It isn’t what I wanted, I did find the word convicted in John 8 but the context was still this formal declaration of guilt.

Conviction - (2) a firmly held belief

Acts 10:14 But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.”

Peter had such convictions, firmly held belief that he challenged the Lord on about eating unclean animals. God had to change his convictions. But do you have convictions? There are things in the church that people used to be convicted about but things change but the Bible doesn’t. I believe your convictions should be Biblical convictions.

Resolve - Decide firmly on an action or a firm determination

2 Chronicles 30:5 So they resolved to make a proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, that they should come to keep the Passover to the Lord God of Israel at Jerusalem, since they had not done it for a long time in the prescribed manner.

I am resolved no longer to linger.

Character (1) - someone who appears in a book, or movie.

Character (2) - the features that distinguish an individual (moral excellence and firmness)

Romans 5:3–4 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.

That is what I wanted moral excellence. We don’t want to be legalistic. That is not what this message is about. I don’t want you to become legalistic. I want you to have resolve, conviction, unshakeable Christian Character. I believe in Jesus so therefore I live as a child of the King. I want you to be free of the entrapment of sin, but I want you to maintain your Godly Character. I believe that the world thinks (I live in a free country you can’t tell me what to do) That’s not how it works. Sin is a cruel taskmaster. Grace frees and builds character. Where you will say God is the only one who is going to tell me what to do.

The word the King James uses is integrity

Integrity - moral uprightness (the quality of being honest)

Psalm 25:21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, For I wait for You.

So I have the principles of integrity and character from the Bible. Don’t you think that we need these in our live today. I like to challenge you. We are going to spend some weeks talking about character and integrity. Would you do me a favor. I challenge you. I won’t grade you or give you homework. Write down your spiritual convictions (firmly held beliefs) don’t give it to me today. I want you to think about this for awhile. Self evaluate your character. These things should be between you and God Biblically appropriate.

Convictions are decisions that are set in stone before the storms come.

Psalm 75:3 The earth and all its inhabitants are dissolved; I set up its pillars firmly. Selah

Character is the quality of your inner man.

Psalm 26:11 But as for me, I will walk in my integrity; Redeem me and be merciful to me.

I believe that I find convictions and character all over the Bible

Joseph had great conviction about purity.

Genesis 39:7–10 And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.” But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her.

David lacked Joseph’s convictions and it cost him.

2 Samuel 11:1–3 It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold. So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, “Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?”

I do not believe that Joseph decided on those convictions on the spot. Maybe but I doubt it. If you try to wing convictions remember even David failed.

Daniel was convicted to follow God over comfort.

Daniel 1:8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

Do you notice something about Joseph and Daniel. Both of them were not in ideal situations. Things were not comfortable. Each one was a slave, each thing would have made their life better for a little while.

Christians with Godly convictions already know what to do.

Daniel 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.

Living by your convictions is not easy.

Daniel 3:16–18 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

People will see your Godly character when you live by your convictions.

Daniel 3:28–29 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God! Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this.”

Exercising your convictions will reveal your character.

Daniel 6:20–22 And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.”

When your convictions come from God, you can not compromise.

Acts 5:29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.”

Peter and John were convicted that they should speak the name of Jesus. No one was going to tell them other wise. I hope that is how you view your convictions. It is all about God your relationship with Him.

Character is tried when trials hit.

Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.

It is easy to say I want to have good character today. But what about on Monday morning what about when temptation and peer pressure comes. It is important to make sure that you are settled in your character before you are tempted to compromise your character and conviction.

Character is not something you should let go of.

Job 27:5–6 Far be it from me That I should say you are right; Till I die I will not put away my integrity from me. My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go; My heart shall not reproach me as long as I live.

My wife gives me a hard time because I throw stuff away, important papers hair ties stuff that looks like garbage to me. But I have important stuff. I have a rock on my desk. It is garbage to you but it is very important to me. I am not throwing that out and I have my reasons. Our character should not easily be tossed aside it is imporant

Character is judged by God.

Job 31:6 Let me be weighed on honest scales, That God may know my integrity.

Ultimately convictions and character are about your relationship with God. Let me tell you something. There was a young man that worked for me that lived across the street from the church here his name was Paul he wore 3/4 sleaved shirts all the time it was his families conviction. ok! I don’t find that in the Bible my convictions I try to have be Biblical based. I won’t teach evolution. I am convicted that is my character. I know some people used to not allow playing cards in their lives. I don’t find anything about playing cards in the scripture. BUT if you feel differently I am not going to condemn you for holding convictions different from God. I have convictions about the ten commandments, I try not to comprimise on those things that is a conviction that reveals my character.