Sermon Tone Analysis

Text: “And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully” (Colossians 1:10–11, NIV84)

Theme: The kingdom of God is the reign of God in the universe and by extension, the reign of God in the believer’s heart.

Date: 08/12/2018 File name: Resurrection26.wpd

ID Number:

Do you have a Kingdom Character?

Character is simply the sum total of mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual.

We all have it.

The question is, of course, what kind of mental and moral qualities do you have?

Are they shaped by our interactions with the world, and the people of the world?

Or are they shaped by our interactions with Jesus and the people of Jesus?

Do people look at our lives and our choices and say to themselves, “Now there’s a Christian?”

Or do they look at our lives and our choices and say to themselves, “That’s a Christian?”

O, even worse, do they look at our lives and our choices and say to themselves, “I didn’t know they were a Christian.”?

Do you have Kingdom Character?

This is not an unimportant question.

The Scriptures are pretty clear.

Christians are to live differently than those who are not Christians.

We are, as the Colossian passage affirms, to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord.

That word walk refers to one’s manner of life and living.

I want you to consider the question this evening Do I have a Kingdom Character?

I. DO I HAVE KINGDOM CHARACTER?

1. is obedience to Christ’s kingly rule evident in you conduct and lifestyle?

a. is it evident in your language?

b. is it evident in your relationships?

c. is it evident in your use of possessions?

2. character is more than making grand pronouncements as to your moral beliefs or mental convictions

a. anyone can claim they are of good Christian character, but consistent behavior over a long period of time is the true indicator

ILLUS.

We are entering a period in American culture known as “an election cycle.”

Between now and November 6 we’re going to hear lots of men and women telling us about their moral beliefs and mental convictions.

The question is, do they act in a way consistent with what they are telling us about themselves?

b. the more important question, because it has eternal ramifications, are our actions consistent with what we are telling other people about ourselves?

“Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right.”

(Proverbs 20:11, NIV84)

“But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.”

(James 2:18, NIV84)

ILLUS.

John C. Maxwell is an American author, speaker, and pastor.

He speaks to Fortune 500 companies around the country about leadership.

On Kingdom character he writes, "Your walk talks and your talk talks but your walk talks louder than your talk talks."

3. here’s the bottom line:

a. as a Christian, does your behavior match your beliefs?

b. as a Christian, does your walk match your words?

ILLUS.

In 1904 a young man, devoutly Christian, graduated from a Chicago high school as a millionaire.

His name was William Borden, and he was heir to the Borden Dairy Estate.

As a graduation present, his parents gave him a trip around the world.

Traveling through Asia, the middle East, and Europe gave Borden a burden for the world's hurting people.

Writing home, he said, "I'm going to give my life to prepare for the mission field."

When he made this decision, he wrote in the back of his Bible two words: "No Reserves."

He returned to the U.S. and entered Yale University.

Upon graduation, he turned down dozens of high-paying job offers.

On the day of his graduation he entered two more words in his Bible: "No Retreats."

Completing studies at Princeton Seminary, Borden sailed for China to work with Muslims, stopping first at Egypt for some preparation.

While there he was stricken with cerebral meningitis and died within a month.

Many of his family and friends thought "What a waste!

Surely this was not in God's plan."

His body and personal affects were shipped home to his family.

When they went through his bible, they found those words "No Reserves" and "No Retreats."

Underneath them was another phrase he had written shortly before he died.

The words were, "No Regrets".

Borden’s life was one who’s behavior matched his beliefs.

4. character is truly defined by the consistency of what you do, not by what you say or believe

a. every choice that you make in this life reveals the kind of person you really are on the inside

b. do your choices reveal a character being shaped by Christ?

5.

So Here’s the Question: Do I Have Kingdom Character?

II.

CHRISTIANS WITH KINGDOM CHARACTER WALK WORTHY OF THE LORD

“And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,” (Colossians 1:10, NIV84)

1. Paul encourages the Colossian believers to walk worthy of Christ

ILLUS.

Notice that Paul does not encourage us to walk worthy of the Church Covenant, or to walk worthy of the expectations of the church matriarch, or to walk worthy of the world’s expectations of Christian conduct (like not judging them), or to walk worthy of a set of unwritten rules and regulations that are more denominational than biblical.

2. Kingdom Character is to walk worthy of Christ

a. it is not enough to know God’s will

b. it is not enough to possess heavenly wisdom

c. it is not enough to have spiritual understanding

2. the critical objective in the Christian’s life is putting what we know into practice

a. knowing the will of God is of no value until we have committed our lives to fleshing it out in our day-to-day activity

1) are we going to fail at times? ... Absolutely

b. but Kingdom Character is attempting to live out the will of God before others each day

3. Paul is not insisting on sinless perfection in their lives, but he is encouraging a striving for spiritual maturity

a. Paul says that their relationship with Christ will affect their moral and ethical behavior

1) we are not to just fill our heads with great biblical and spiritual truth

2) that truth is to show up in our business dealings, and our social relationships, and our financial investments, and our family relations, and our speech habits

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”

(Ephesians 4:1–3, NIV84)

ILLUS.

During the days of the French Revolution that saw King Louis XVI and his queen beheaded, history records an amazing event.

It’s one of those stories that we don’t know if it is absolutely true or not, but it is a story that was widely circulated by French Royalists who had fled France during the Revolution’s reign of terror.

After the public execution of his parents, the frenzied mob called for the king’s oldest son: “Bring out the prince,” they cried.

“He’s next.”

The boy was terrified.

The prince was only six years old, but he was in line to become the next king, so he, too, had to be eliminated.

According to the story, the young prince stood on the platform trembling.

He was still dressed in his black velvet coat and patent leather shoes.

Long golden curls tumbled down his shoulders.

The mob cried, “Down with royalty!