2021 0426 Personal Virtues 2

Foundational Person

Jesus is by far the most influential person in history

Foundational Principles

Influence

* the capacity to have an effect on the character or behaviour of someone

Integrity

* what you are on the inside is what you show on the outside the level of our integrity will directly determine what influence we have

Foundational Purpose

1 Thessalonians 4:7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.

live a holy life

Personal Qualities Two

1 Timothy 3:3 NIV

not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.

Four behaviours of Concern

drunkenness = addiction of any kind

violence = external expression

quarrelsome = internal anger

lover of money = materialism

General Comments

these behaviours are clear demonstrations of a life not holy

these behaviours are external expressions of the flesh - what should be dead in Christ

we have the Holy Spirit within us

the power of God is stronger than these fleshy desires and lifestyles

Addictions

these are quite strong and difficult to put aside

my personal belief is that an addiction is filling a hole in your inside being

it should be filled by Jesus yet we have allowed something worldly to stay there

bottom line is that we are never strong enough, even the strongest of us, to remove the spiritual influences

it is only in the power of the holy Spirit that enables us to live a victorious life

External Expressions: Violence and Quarrelsome

anger, rage, slander and the like are indicators of a deeper malaise within the soul

these contrast with the fruit of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, gentleness, patience, self -control

Christ died to remove theses negative, fleshy behaviours

we should killed off the hurts and traumas, even the sin that allows them to continue

how can we profess Christ in public yet turn around and be ugly in private

rest assured - what is done in secret will be revealed

Lover of Money

money is important - we need it to live our lives as it is the basis of our economy

yet money is a tool for us not a master

1 Timothy 6:9–10 NIV

Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

eager for money have wandered from the faith

Jesus himself tells us that God will provide all of our needs

so a desire for wealth comes with a trap

the worldly outcomes become more important than the spiritual and eternal of being in Christ

money is not evil of itself - it is just another indicator of who rules your life

Our Response

it is a matter of surrender - first in the Spirit, then in the mind and soul

worldly solutions are usually needed yet the spirit must be willing

acts of righteousness must be pre-eminent: prayer, Scripture and fellowship

every negative thought and impulse needs to be countered by righteousness and godly intent

often wise counsel is required yet the spiritual health must be taken care of first

worldly solutions are helpful but are limited outside of Christ

Role of Liberty and our People

let us operate in the things of the Spirit

let us first pray into your situation - allow the spiritual insight into your very being

you may have had trauma and turmoil in your life

healing may be required, yet sometimes the scar that remains has to be removed

your old self relies upon itself to protect you

it is only in Jesus that total healing can come

Will you allow the Spirit to flow in your life?