Pastor Veola

Objectives of the Lesson

By the end of this lesson, the learner should be able to:

• Define of character
• Identify sources of character?
• Demonstrate Understanding of Character as foundation to Christianity

Explain God as the source of good character

• Identify threats to good character
• Develop ways of Character transformation

What is Character?

Character is defined as strength of moral fiber. A.W. Tozer described character as “the excellence of moral beings.” As the excellence of gold is its purity and the excellence of art is its beauty, so the excellence of man is his character. Persons of character are noted for their honesty, ethics, and charity. Descriptions such as “man of principle” and “woman of integrity” are assertions of character. A lack of character is moral deficiency, and persons lacking character tend to behave dishonestly, unethically, and uncharitably.

A person’s character is the sum of his or her disposition, thoughts, intentions, desires, and actions. It is good to remember that character is gauged by general tendencies, not on the basis of a few isolated actions. We must look at the whole life.

Character is a state of human being

• Character is the total sum of one’s beliefs, convictions, principles, habits and

VALUES

• A person of good character is a good human being.
• Character is what you are in the dark.
• Character is like the foundation of the house, its below the surface.

CHARACTER is a distinctive mark, graphic symbol; sum of mental and moral values, beliefs, principles, convictions, habits, qualities.

Conclusion:  Character is the Christian foundation

 What is Christian character?

The thing that makes the difference in Christian character is that we are answerable to God foremost. Christian character is character lived out in the reverence for and respect for God, as opposed to simply honoring man. The “fear of God” is the biblical terminology for it. The fear of God is the starting place, but what it boils down to is the willingness to die to our own agendas, to die to our own conveniences.

Genuine Christian character involves sacrifice, and that is something that the culture will not require of us. That is something that only faith will bring us to. We are called to be servants—not just honest people, but servants. Jesus cast it in the most severe terms. He said, “So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty'” (Luke 17:10, NIV),

How do we develop character?

It is the Lord’s purpose to develop character within us. “The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the heart” (Proverbs 17:3). Godly character is the result of the Holy Spirit’s work of sanctification. Character in the believer is a consistent manifestation of Jesus in his life. It is the purity of heart that God gives becoming purity in action. God sometimes uses trials to strengthen character: “we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:3-4). The Lord is pleased when His children grow in character. “You test the heart and are pleased with integrity” (1 Chronicles 29:17; see also Psalm 15:1-2).

We can develop character by controlling our thoughts (Philippians 4:8), practicing Christian virtues (2 Peter 1:5-6), guarding our hearts (Proverbs 4:23; Matthew 15:18-20), and keeping good company (1 Corinthians 15:33). Men and women of character will set a good example for others to follow, and their godly reputation will be evident to all (Titus 2:7-8).

We need to ask ourselves: What then are sources of Character?

1.      Creation (Nature)

There is a natural order to things, and there is a time for everything. E.g. There is order and design in nature.

Nature gives us patterns for good behavior. E.g. Parents protect the young and the weak; Geese fly together and help the weak; Dolphins hunt together, big elephant protect the young ones

2.      Conscience

The invisible law written on every person’s heart

The “God-part “of humans.

Examples

• Do not kill another person
• Do not steal from another
• Do not lie … Speak the truth
• Share with those in need

1.      Religion

3. Religion: e.g. sacrifices, Christianity, Islam

4. Culture e.g. Ubuntu,

Examples

5. Tradition: e, g. Scotland – “Brave Hearts” film.

6. World view (combination)

Culture shapes our worldview and values, these in turn deeply affect our character and if we follow Christ, we develop Christ-like character.

Culture_________worldview________values_____________character__________ Godly character.

This is wrong:

“If We only on Christ, we eventually will become self-righteous”. (Its difficult to figure out what the statement really means!).  Christianity for such people becomes a club of the godly elite rather than a fellowship of the growing and the learning.

How do we practically apply “putting on the new man” that Paul talks about in his epistles?

It boils down to committing ourselves to a lifestyle of repentance. It has to do with defining repentance in terms of an immediate willingness to stand corrected on a moment-to-moment basis in our walk with Christ, as the Holy Spirit deals with us. The Holy Spirit dwelling in us will affirm our alignment with God’s ways, and He also will automatically, immediately signal us with an internal sense of His conviction. Our response to that - what is meant by repentance—literally means a change of mind, a change in course. We make a mid-course adjustment at that moment. For example:  We are in the middle of a sentence, and if we are wrong, we stop, and make corrections immediately, it’s a process.

God is the ultimate source and goal of character.

•        God created humans in his image (characteristics).

•        Good character is “God-likeness (in character)”.

Important: We should rely on Christ to achieve a godly lifestyle.

How do we develop Christ-like character?

1.       Through prayer

2.       Discipleship - reading the word

3.       Mentorship

4.       Coaching

How else do we develop Christ-like character?

How would you define Christlikeness?

Christ lived out His character. Christlikeness involves functioning in His power as well as living in the character of His person. We have a disposition to define Christlikeness by “being nice,” and we overlook that it also means to be powerful in our use of the Holy Spirit’s gifts and power.

God-like character traits:

•   Integrity, Justice, Righteousness, Love, Compassion, Forgiveness, caring

•   Goodness, Kindness, Faithfulness, Mercy, Grace, Truth, Patience, Gentleness,

•   Wisdom, Courage, Self-Control, Endurance, Wholehearted, Humble, Fear of God,

•   Servant-leader, Shepherd-leader, Steward-leader, Selflessness, Hospitality, Respectful

CHARACTER is the distinctive mark of an individual.

•   God-like character traits are the marks of quality on character.

•   When we bear in our lives the marks of quality, then we are demonstrating that God’s brand, the most excellent brand of all, is on us!

How do you grow in new character?

• Galatians 5:22-23

The world has always been full of religious nuts, with a long list of do’s and don’ts trying to regulate their own behavior and everybody else’s to their liking. They are full of good advice but empty of good news for those whose character fails to conform to their legal regulations. Not even Jesus measured up to their standards, their religion does not address our deepest need, the one thing we don’t need is some religious nut handing us a new rule book. What Jesus wants is not religious nuts but spiritual fruits. “The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control: against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:2-23.

The Apostle Paul lists three clusters of fruits; Personal, Interpersonal and regulatory.

First cluster: Personal fruits

• Love

First cluster which comprises of three (Love, joy and peace) are personal and part of the inner consciousness of a Christian. Love is the “first” fruit of the spirit, since the Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:3-4) and God is love (1Jhn 4:16) the first effect of the spirit’s presence in your life is love.

Love is not determined by the circumstances that you go through life, we are to love always, the circumference of your character is measured by the radius of your love Jesus asked, “If you love those who love you, what reward do you get.” (Mathew 5:46)

• Joy

People lack joy in life not because they are Christians but because they are not Christians enough, no one has any greater reason to be happy than spirit-filled Christians. They are joyful not because they are trying to find joy but it springs forth from the Holy Spirit within them like fruit on a tree; their joy is produced not by what is around them but because of what is within them

• Peace

Peace is not just a human achievement, it’s a divine gift (John 14:27) it is the Holy calm breathed into the human soul by a forgiving God, over and above all frustrated efforts to keep the peace there is a peace that keeps you. (Philippians 4:7)

Second cluster: Interpersonal Fruits

The second group (long suffering, gentleness and goodness) three fruits are interpersonal. Long suffering, gentleness, and goodness are what a Christians needs in dealing with others.

• Long suffering (patience)

The heart that has peace with God has patience with people. The Holy Spirit enables us to be like Jesus in long suffering. The Holy Spirit enables us to withstand stand fast under great stress

• Gentleness (Kindness)

Gentleness or kindness as it is more translated is the fruit of the spirit most highly prized by others in the lives of Christians. Wives look for it in their Christian husbands, and husbands in their Christian wives, children look for it in their Christian parents and parents in their children

The most persuasive evidence of the Holy Spirit’s presence in the lives of Christians is their kindness (Ephesians 4:29-32).

• Goodness

The fruit of goodness is a hybrid variety of kindness-the flavor of each enhanced by the other. The Spirit filled Christian is good to everyone, but kind especially to those who are especially needy, but if God the Holy Spirit who is good dwells within Christians, His fruit of goodness should be demonstrated in the life of a Christian.

Third Cluster: Regulatory Fruit

First three fruits of the spirit are personal. Love, joy and peace are part of the inner consciousness of a Christian. The next three fruits are interpersonal. Long suffering, gentleness, and goodness are what a Christians needs in dealing with others. he last three fruits are regulatory. Faith, meekness and self-control are what a Christian need to provide a balanced diet of all the spiritual fruits. You cannot grow strong in your Christian character by “pigging” out on any one of the fruits of the spirit. That is why you need the third cluster.

• Faith

Faith or faithfulness, as more often translated is not a mystic sensation that comes or on rare occasions, but a sturdy confidence in God who directs all you do.

• Meekness

The fruit of the spirit will begin to stink the moment the mold of spiritual pride touches them. They must be disinfected by meekness. That is not to say that the Christian character will be timid and mousy. Meekness has too often been confused with weakness. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5). Anyone can be meek before circumstances or events, but the spirit-filled Christian is meek before God.

• Self-Control

Without self-control, however, the rest of the Spirit’s fruit will be misused. The wise Solomon counseled: “It is better to win control over yourself than over whole cities” (proverbs 16:32 TEV). He also concurs that: “I count him braver who overcomes his desire than him who conquers his enemies: “The hardest victory is the victory against oneself”. The spirit produces the fruit in our lives enabling us to grow into Christ like character.

What are the threats to Christ-like character?

• Competition

Wanting the best for ourselves is the reason we want something less than the best for others. Abundance vs Scarcity Mentality.

• Comparison

I am not as bad as some others.”

• Cultural Isolation

“In my culture, this is good or OK.”

• Selfishness and greed

“I am not satisfied, I want more.”

• Uncommon sense (Irrational forces:)

“I know it does not make sense, but I like it anyway.”

• Wickedness

Inherent in human nature is the complex ability to do what we know is wrong and not do what we know is right.

How can we change undesirable character traits to good character traits?

We need to replace:

What Example of characters do we find in the bible?

For example, King David was a man of good character (1 Samuel 13:14) although he sinned on occasion (2 Samuel 11). And although King Ahab may have acted nobly once (1 Kings 22:35), he was still a man of overall bad character (1 Kings 16:33). Several people in the Bible are described as having noble character: Ruth (Ruth 3:11), Hanani (Nehemiah 7:2), David (Psalm 78:72), and Job (Job 2:3). These individuals’ lives were distinguished by persistent moral virtue.

Conclusion

Every Christian should desire to grow their character in Christ daily. Make it your daily ambition in each of these areas. 2 Peter 1: -12 presents the believer with a building program in which the fruitfulness of the apostle lays out, brick by brick, the qualities that all Christians, all disciples of Jesus Christ are to exhibit and express both inwardly and outwardly. We may consider peter’s exhortation a building program and the never-ending project. Brick by brick, layer upon layer, we are built up to greater heights by the grace and love of our Lord for his good pleasure.