Choose Character

• Colossians 3:12   Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering

 A.    Definitions – character

1.  The sum of our traits that we are known by.

2.     Reputation – How you are known

3.     Faithfulness

4.     Character is the total of what makes us up, or the “whole”. Integrity is the parts and pieces that make up the “whole” – We are going to talk about both. Many times the two are used interchangeably, but keep in mind the differences.

           1. The milk of the Word vs. the meat of the Word

A.    The milk is what Jesus or the Kingdom of God will do for you. – (Heb 5:12)

a) salvation

b) hope and comfort in troubled times

      c) healing – physical, emotional

(all are benefits of Jesus’ work at The Cross or Atonement)

2.    The meat of the Word is what you do for The Kingdom

1)   Hebrews 5:12 (NIV)
 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!

a)       baby food

2)     James 2 : 8 (Mess)   I can already hear one of you agreeing by saying, "Sounds good. You take care of the faith department, I'll handle the works department." Not so fast. You can no more show me your works apart from your faith than I can show you my faith apart from my works. Faith and works, works and faith, fit together hand in glove

Show your faith – God expects it, from ourselves, show to family and friends benefit

a)      an example - practical Christianity / meat of The Word

b)      God does the supernatural – all miracles of past, present, and future – Jesus, conquering Love, re-establishing His Kingdom and making us part of it.

c)      He expects us to do the natural (because of our faith – IN HIM) to show His Love to others – Shows Him to others (family, those around us) – perhaps we are the only God that person will see!

3) Character of God

a)  Isaiah 11:5

            5 Righteousness will be his belt
                   and faithfulness the sash around his waist

note: faithfulness one of the deffs. Of character

b)   1 Thessalonians 5:24

     The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.

         c) Deuteronomy 7:9

9  Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping    his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands

The Word says to “Be like Him” – 1 John 3:2

Kids want to be like their father – they naturally emulate their parents

We are made in His image, since He is of character and it is a trait that we all can and should develop, He expects us to be of character for our own good as well as everyone we come in contact with.

4) Characteristics Traits Of The Saints

            a)   Bible says anyone who is saved is a saint. – We ARE people of character

b)      There are many character traits we can identify

·        Blameless

·         Bold

·         Faithful

·         Just

·         Godly

·         Humble

·         Attentive to Christ’s voice - John 10:3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

·        Prudent - Proverbs 16:21  The wise in heart will be called prudent,
      And sweetness of the lips increases learning.

·        If we are saved The traits are in us – Romans 12:3 – up to us to develop them by exercising and using.

5) God Tells us what Our Choices Are – Then tells Us What To Choose

Deuteronomy 30:19 (New King James Version)

I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before   you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live

           
6) Traits To Be Known By – (what I want people to say about me)

1.     ALWAYS  do what we say we are going to do – if we can’t we make sure the people who are counting on us, know so other arrangements can be made.

2.    ALWAYS be on time. – part of being faithful – trustworthy.

3.    ALWAYS be where you are supposed to be when you are supposed to be.

2 Samuel 11:1 – David supposed to be off at   war

read entire account 2 Sam 11:1-17

• ·        If we always do those things, always being the key, people will know us for those traits. They will cut us slack when we can’t do what we have promised.

• ·        Remember, trust takes a long time to establish but is destroyed in an instant.  (established by your character, the part of you, you are known for). 
• ·        Don’t worry if some people don’t trust in your character right away, just continue to show them you are doing the right things – prove your trustworthiness. 

• There is one way to set yourself apart from the crowd and it will cost you nothing.ALWAYS DO WHAT YOU SAY YOU ARE GOING TO DO!
•  Some never will trust us no matter what we do. But just keep on doing the right thing because it is the right thing to do! – Keep doing what’s right 1 Peter 4:19

REMEMBER, GOD TELLS US WHAT TO CHOOSE, IT’S UP TO US TO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE!