Character & Community
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Introduction of Me
Introduction of Me
For those of you who don’t know me, I am wear a lot of hats. I am a husband to my wife Deann—she’s the one who makes all the great food we’ll be eating this week. We’ve been married for 41 years!
I’m a dad—I have four sons. All of them are married. One of them is our bass player.
I am a granddad or Papi to 10 grandchildren.
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in private practice where I work with children, youth, and adults through Christian Counseling.
I am a Firefighter—actually the fire chief for this district.
And I am a pastor—the pastor of Mt. Olive Baptist Church. Where I love to preach and teach the word of God.
That’s me in a nutshell—I am a committed follower of Jesus Christ that seeks to spread the gospel message wherever I go.
Introduction of the Series
Introduction of the Series
In our time together this week we are going to be looking at character. Now, I believe our society does not place a very high value on character.
In fact, whenever I talk about character, I find that there are a lot of definitions floating out there.
Okay, let me ask you. How would you define “character?”
For our purposes, we are going to define “character” this way:
—Character is “the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual.”
Or to put it another way,
—Your character is the sum total of what you think and believe. Your core values and beliefs.
So this week we are going to be looking at who you are down deep inside of you. We are going to look at what you value, what is important to you. And we are going to be looking at the moral qualities upon which you are building your lives.
Now the first thing that I must accept (and you must accept it too) is that we are not all in the same place with our character development. Some of you are younger than others. You may just beginning to develop the foundation of character.
Some of you are older, and you may be eager to be on your own where your character will be put to the test.
Character in Community
Character in Community
Tonight we are going to begin looking at character—your character. I think the best place to start is to look at how those we hangout with effects how we see things.
So we’re going to begin by looking at character and its interactions with our community.
Now I hope you have your Bibles, and I would encourage you to bring your Bibles, and a note pad (if you have one) to all of our sessions so you can follow along. So if you have your Bibles turn to Psalm 1. And we are going to begin reading with verse 1.
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
In this passage there are three verbs: (1) Walk; (2) Stand; and (3) Sit.
(1) Walk—this is the Hebrew word halach—which means: to walk beside, to follow, or to go with the flow. This seems to have the idea of checking things out. What are the wicked all about? Are they as “dangerous” as the stuck up adults in your life really say they are. You’re there to check them out and see what it is all about!
(2) Stand—this is the Hebrew word amad—it means: to stop moving, to stand, to remain, or to take one’s stand. The idea here is that you are no just going with the flow of ideas, but you are beginning to accept their ideas as your own. You’re lingering and becoming more and more comfortable with the ideas and beliefs of those who are involved in sinful activity.
(3) Sit—this is the Hebrew word yashav—and it means: to sit, dwell, to marry, to remain sitting.
These three are increasing in intensity! And that is often how sin works. First, we begin by walking along—going with the flow, trying to avoid controversy. As we go with the flow, we gradually begin to “follow.” Sin becomes acceptable. Maybe not for us, but acceptable for others and we don’t say anything.
Then next step is to stand. In this we begin to hang around with those involved in the sin. We are more accepting and will often find ourselves defending a person’s right to do whatever makes them “happy.”
The finally step is to sit. Remember the Hebrew word means “to marry?” We totally accept the sin and marry our lifestyle to that sinful lifestyle—even doing it without reservation! All the time believing it will make us “happy,” or “fulfilled” in life. Yet the truth is sin never makes us feel “happy.”
In the world of psychology, it is called “systematic desensitization.”
We become desensitized to sin so that it eventually becomes acceptable! And we all believe it will make us HAPPY!
QUESTION: Have you ever wanted something, or wanted to do something that you really thought would make you happy? How did it work out for you?
QUESTION: What is something you think will make you “happy?”
According to this passage the person that avoids walking in the counsel of the wicked, or standing in the way of sinners, or sitting in the seat of mockers is the “blessed” person.
To understand this passage we need to understand this world “blessed.” It actually could be translated “happy,” but it also could be translated “fortunate” or “joyful.” It has the idea of being happy because the person is enjoying the spiritual peace and joy that comes from a relationship with Almighty God!
The person who avoids getting wrapped up in sin can enjoy an intimate relations with God.
Look at verse 2.
But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.
Instead of adopting the world’s view of “right & wrong,” this person does the opposite. This person accepts God’s view of “right & wrong” and delights in the commands of God.
Jesus talked about this in John 15:9-10.
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
The person in Psalm 1 delights in the commands of God—in fact this person meditates on it day and night—a fancy way of saying “all the time.”
This theme was also given to Joshua as he began to lead the people into the promise land. In Joshua 1:7-9 we read:
“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Here, God is giving Joshua His path for Joshua’s success. And it is also our path to success!
When we come back to Psalm 1 we see the connection. Remember verse 2?
But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.
Now look at verse 3
He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
God’s plan for success is that you and I focus on His Word and become obedient followers of Jesus.
Now, heres the thing. Chasing after the wicked, the sinners, the mockers is easy. In fact it is often pleasurable, comfortable, or even down right enjoyable. but look where it leads.
Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.
Chaff—the husk around grains like wheat, barley, and oats. In the days of King David, they would take the harvested grain to a threshing floor. An open air building with walls around it. They would crush the hulls of the grain and then throw the grain into the air. The husk (or chaff) would blow away and the heavier grain would fall back down to the threshing floor.
God says the wicked will blow away in the wind because they have no substance! Sin is NOT substance!
Proverbs 21:12 echos this thought.
The Righteous One takes note of the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin.
The Righteous One—Jesus! takes note of the house of the wicked and brings them to ruin! Again this idea is echoed in Psalm 1:5.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
This idea is immediately contrasted with what the Lord does for those who are righteous.
For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
So What?
So What?
I want to challenge you tonight to examine your community. Everyone one of us is walking with someone, were standing with someone, and were sitting with someone—what are those someone’s like? What do they stand for? Do they stand for evil? Would they be described as “wicked” or as “sinners” or as “righteous?”
Now here’s why this is important. Look with me at 1 Corinthians 15:33.
Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
To use the computer adage, “Garbage in Garbage out!”
The group that you normally hangout with at school—do they have good character, or bad character?
Finally, we are reminded that each of us is recognized by the “fruit” that we bear. Look at Matthew 12:33 .
“Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.
What kind of fruit do you bear? Is it good fruit that pleases God. Or is it sinful fruit that goes against God’s standard?