Character – The power of a changed life #1

I've learned.... That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it.

Character: Dictionary - The qualities of a person that make up his personality A simple definition that I like is:  Who you are when no one else is there.

One man said: Your Character is the result of your practiced habit in life.

Your Character is not inherited, it is not learned from parents (you chose what you wanted to keep) and you are not the product of your environment. You are the product of your Choices! Your character may not be as good as you would like it to be, But that is not the final word.

Gal 5:13-25 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. 14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 15 If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. 16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. 19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (there are no laws created condemning these things) 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Ø  If I choose to follow my fleshly impulses my Character, Soul, Personality will be natural, carnal, self serving and bad. If I choose to follow the spirit my Character, Soul, Personality will be good, others serving and good.

Ø  Bad Character is usually Self centered.

Ø  Good Character is usually others centered

Fruit is produced and grown through seasons of change.

Rom 5:1-5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. (NIV)

1382  dokime- 1) proving, trial 2) approved, tried character 3) a proof, a specimen of tried worth

1 Cor 4:1-3 So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. 2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. (NIV)

Servants of Christ

q  Not the Church itself – Church is one of the outlets of servant hood to Christ.

q  Must prove faithful

·                     Must: There are no short cuts. We cannot fool God (maybe people) with our personalities. Promotion is from the Lord, it’s his Ministry.

·                     Prove: There is an action involved. Take it through the fire, the rain, time test etc..

·                     Faithful: Those that by continuing to do the right things form trust in the hearts of others.