Character – The power of a changed life #2

11/08/2007

Review

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.

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

v Your character may not be as good as you would like it to be, But that is not the final word.

You are the product of your Choices! Deut 30:19 This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live (NIV)

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. A GROWING PROCESS!

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

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.

v Like fruit our Characters will be grown. You cannot get character as a gift from God. The gifts of the spirit have nothing to do with you and the fruit of the spirit has everything to do with you. The flesh produces “works” and the spirit “fruit”

You were called to be free – to serve one another in love.
The law is fulfilled if you love one another as yourself. - if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature - 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.

How is Character grown?

Matt 7:12-20

12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. 13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. 15 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.

19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. (NIV)

Once again we see certain things here, Love, the Law, trees and fruit

in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you
"Enter through the narrow gate
"Watch out for false prophets
By their fruit you will recognize them
every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.