KYS- WK-2 Be Honest In Assessing Your Character

The Character Development of Moses

Most people do not realize that Moses was well informed of Gods plan to use him as Israels deliverer long before the burning bush encounter. Luke records this in Acts 7.

Acts 7:24–25 NASB95

24 “And when he saw one of them being treated unjustly, he defended him and took vengeance for the oppressed by striking down the Egyptian. 25 “And he supposed that his brethren understood that God was granting them deliverance through him, but they did not understand.

Moses assumed his calling would be recognized, but his pride led to failure. Decades later, humbled, Moses cries, “Who am I?” and God answers, “I will be with you.”

Exodus 3:11–12 NASB95

11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 And He said, “Certainly I will be with you, and this shall be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God at this mountain.”

Moses had to learn that His calling and his character had to be aligned. When your season outruns your character, failure is certain. God promotes leaders whose character has been proven.

1. Seasons Will Test Your Character

The Greek word for character = dokimē (proof, proven, ordeal, tested character).

Romans 5:4 NASB95

4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;

2 Corinthians 2:9 NASB95

9 For to this end also I wrote, so that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things.

We all should ask - am I enduring trials as character-forming tests, or resenting them as inconveniences?

2. Godly Promotion is Tied to Tested and Proven Character

Philippians 2:22 NASB95

22 But you know of his proven worth, that he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a child serving his father.

Paul didn’t promote Timothy for raw gifting, but because of his proven character in serving.

Years of faithfulness prepared Timothy for public responsibility as a representative of Paul to the church in Phiippi.

1 Corinthians 16:3 NASB95

3 When I arrive, whomever you may approve, I will send them with letters to carry your gift to Jerusalem;

Ministry was entrusted to those whose character had been tested and approved.

In God’s kingdom, promotion isn’t about talent but trustworthiness.

3. Ways to Develop Character

A. Personal Discipline (hypopiazo — 1 Cor. 9:27

1 Corinthians 9:27 NASB95

27 but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

discipline (hypopiazo)

disqualified (adokimos)

There needs to be a recognition that discipline and habits are not the same thing.

Habits are formed; discipline is maintained.

Habits live in the basal ganglia — the brain’s autopilot, which governs automatic behaviors. Certain actions can be written into our subconscious through repetition, becoming second nature.

But character requires discipline. Discipline is not automatic; it is the intentional exercise of a behavior that runs against personal preference.

Think of it like this:

Working out can become a habit — but only because you first chose the discipline of getting up early, sweating, and showing up when you didn’t feel like it.

Telling the truth at all times can become a habit — but only because you first embraced the discipline of honesty when it cost you.

Discipline is the training ground where character is forged.

Habits are the fruit, but discipline is the root.

An undisciplined follower or Christ will eventually become disqualified, no matter how gifted they are.

Areas of Character Development (1 Tim. 3; Titus 1)

a. Moral purity — faithful in marriage (“husband of one wife”). — 1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:6

b. Sober-minded — temperate, free from life-dominating habits. — 1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8

c. Sensible — sound judgment, prudent, self-controlled. — 1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8

d. Respectable — dignified, modest, and appropriate in conduct. — 1 Timothy 3:2

e. Hospitable — open and loving toward strangers. — 1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8

f. Able to teach — skillful in communicating and applying God’s Word. — 1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:9

g. Not addicted to wine — sober in lifestyle, not ruled by substances. — 1 Timothy 3:3; Titus 1:7

h. Not violent — not quick-tempered, quarrelsome, or abusive. — 1 Timothy 3:3; Titus 1:7

i. Gentle — kind, patient, and tolerant with others. — 1 Timothy 3:3

j. Peaceable — not divisive or argumentative; a reconciler. — 1 Timothy 3:3

k. Free from the love of money — not greedy, materialistic, or driven by wealth. — 1 Timothy 3:3; Titus 1:7

l. Faithful in family leadership — leads spouse and children well, home in spiritual and emotional order. — 1 Timothy 3:4–5; Titus 1:6

m. Prioritizes the home — understands family care sometimes precedes public ministry. — 1 Timothy 3:5 (implied); Titus 1:6

n. Spiritually mature — not a new or immature convert; seasoned by testing. — 1 Timothy 3:6

o. Respected by outsiders — good reputation in the wider community. — 1 Timothy 3:7

B. Submit to the Training of Leaders

Philippians 2:22 NASB95

22 But you know of his proven worth, that he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a child serving his father.

· Timothy proved himself under Paul’s mentorship before leading in Philippi.

· Resisting authority is resisting God’s order

Romans 13:1–2 NASB95

1 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.

Ways leaders resist authority:

Clinging to power— Abimelech

In Judges chapter eight we find that Gideon refused to be named King of Israel. These are his exact words:

Judges 8:23 NASB95

23 But Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the Lord shall rule over you.”

Following this, in Judges nine following the death of Gideon, Abimelech, (“my father is king”) rejected Gideon’s stance that only God should rule and seized authority through manipulation and bloodshed. We find that he hired worthless men and killed his 70 half brothers and claimed the throne as king of Israel.

Building personal kingdoms — Absalom

Absolom, son of King David, would stand at the gate to the city and hear the complaints of the people. Look at how Absolom promoted himself and sewed division in the kingdom.

2 Samuel 15:4 NASB95

4 Moreover, Absalom would say, “Oh that one would appoint me judge in the land, then every man who has any suit or cause could come to me and I would give him justice.”

Craving position— Diotrephes

Diotrephes, who was most likely an elder in Asia Minor, ignored the Apostle John’s teaching because he “loved to be first”

3 John 9 NASB95

9 I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say.

Careless in God’s presence — Hophni and Phinehas

1 Sam. 2:12–17 tells us of the two sons of Eli the priest. They treated the Lord’s offerings with contempt, proving that irreverence in God’s presence corrodes character.

Doubting God’s sovereignty — Saul

1 Sam. 15:24 tells us that Saul feared people more than he trusted God, and his disobedience shows us that insecurity can topple even anointed leaders.

Subjection To Leadership

Romans 13:1 NASB95

1 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.

· Person (psyche) = soul, life, the inner self. Paul stresses that submission is a soul-level issue.

· Subjection (hypotasso) = to place or arrange under, to submit, to subordinate oneself. A military term meaning to line up under a commander.

Romans 13:2 NASB95

2 Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.

Application: Am I living under covering, or excusing rebellion as “independence”?

C. Test Yourself

2 Corinthians 13:5 NASB95

5 Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?

Ephesians 5:10 NASB95

10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

Self-examination is not condemnation but calibration.

Regularly ask: Is my character keeping pace with my calling?

Character is the anchor of calling. If your season outruns your character, failure is certain. But if your character is proven in testing, God will entrust you with greater responsibility.

Simple Actions This Week

Identify one area where discipline is lacking.

Invite a mentor/leader to speak into it.

Take one concrete step to strengthen that area, trusting God’s grace to mature your character.

Salvation Response

For others of you, taking a next step means you need to make your life right with God. You have not allowed your life to come under His lordship. You are ruling your own life, and the reason you are here today is because God so wants a relationship with you. To a group of people, Jesus said:

Matthew 11:28 NASB95

28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.

Jesus was not only speaking of rest in the natural sense, but rest in the mind, the soul and rest eternally from the torment of hell. Today- if you have not given your life over to Jesus, you are in the right place at the right time. I have a friend right now ready to pray with you if you will simply raise your hand when I say “Go”.

If you are ready to make the most important decision of your life and invite Jesus in - raise your hand now - GO

“Heavenly Father, I trust You to save me through Your Son, Jesus. Forgive me for all of my sins. Make me brand new. Because You died for me, I want to live for You. Fill me with Your Spirit, so I could follow You. Jesus, You’re now my Lord and the Savior of my life. Take my life. It is Yours. In Jesus’ name, I pray.”