Character… Building a Christ-Like Character #7
"Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. Now everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall." Matthew 7:24-27.
* It is Holy Week… & the character of Christ is such that He willingly gives His Life for people. He then resurrects and gives us eternal life. His character is one of Sacrifice – of giving everything of Himself for others. I call that the “Holy Week Character.”
* But the above text presents us with the fact that there two classes of people: wise or foolish builders. Jesus is encouraging His hearers to apply His teaching to their lives - not to be "forgetful hearers".
* They were trying an Irishman, charged with a petty offense, in an Oklahoma town, when the judge asked: "Have you any one in court who will vouch for your good character?" "Yis, your honor," quickly responded the Celt, "there's the sheriff there." Whereupon the sheriff evinced signs of great amazement. "Why, your honor," declared he, "I don't even know the man." "Observe, your honor," said the Irishman, triumphantly, "observe that I've lived in the country for over twelve years an' the sheriff doesn't know me yit! Ain't that a character for ye?"
* Over the last weeks we looked at what can kill our character. To summarize it… it comes down to selfishness! That is the basis on which this world lives by and tries to convince us to adopt. As followers of Christ we are to conform to the will of God in all things "bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" 2 Cor. 10:5. This process is described in Romans 12:1-2, "And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” We are not to live according to the Word.
* Paul even tells us to have the "the mind of Christ" Phil. 2:5. Every Christian is to build such a character that it resembles the character of Christ – and that means to be willing to die for others.
* Here are some suggestions to build a character modeled according to Christ:
A. Study Scripture and Learn Self-Discipline – Learn to say "no" to self, friends, evil ways, bad habits, etc. Jesus taught self-denial (Matt. 16:24). A lack of self-discipline is one sure sign of immaturity.
B. Be Unselfish. Selfishness, the seat of all sins and wrongdoing, is having too much concern with one's own welfare - "God first, others second and self third."
C. Discriminate between good and evil – There are not a lot of gray areas in life… Live what is correct. Reject what is evil.
D. Have Convictions – Do not be "wishy-washy." Stand with your convictions even if you must stand alone.
E. Train Yourself - Acquire Good Habits – There are good and bad habits. Decide what kind of habits you will have.
F. Be & Do Your Best. "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might" Eccl. 9:10.
G. Learn to Think for Yourself – Do not follow other people blindly. Paul says: "Bring every thought in captivity to the obedience of Christ" 2 Cor. 10:5.
H. Speak what Edifies – Listen, "Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good & helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them." Col. 4:6.
I. Behave Properly. "Be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity" 1 Tim. 4:12. A good rule for all when it comes to behavior is do not do anything you would not want to be doing when Jesus comes.
* As children of God we want to follow God’s purpose for our life. We do not want to poison our character that we become problematic, selfish and arrogant people. Since we as “Easter People” wear the name of Jesus, our life, our character is to show that we belong to Him. We cannot claim to be a Christian if we are not willing to conform our life - our thoughts and actions - to the teachings and life of Christ (2 John 9). Remember: Character is much better kept than recovered!
* For God and for the people around us, live Christ in everything you say and do. Have a blessed Resurrection (Easter) season.
Your pastor, Rev. Don Sonntag
"Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. Now everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall." Matthew 7:24-27.
* It is Holy Week… & the character of Christ is such that He willingly gives His Life for people. He then resurrects and gives us eternal life. His character is one of Sacrifice – of giving everything of Himself for others. I call that the “Holy Week Character.”
* But the above text presents us with the fact that there two classes of people: wise or foolish builders. Jesus is encouraging His hearers to apply His teaching to their lives - not to be "forgetful hearers".
* They were trying an Irishman, charged with a petty offense, in an Oklahoma town, when the judge asked: "Have you any one in court who will vouch for your good character?" "Yis, your honor," quickly responded the Celt, "there's the sheriff there." Whereupon the sheriff evinced signs of great amazement. "Why, your honor," declared he, "I don't even know the man." "Observe, your honor," said the Irishman, triumphantly, "observe that I've lived in the country for over twelve years an' the sheriff doesn't know me yit! Ain't that a character for ye?"
* Over the last weeks we looked at what can kill our character. To summarize it… it comes down to selfishness! That is the basis on which this world lives by and tries to convince us to adopt. As followers of Christ we are to conform to the will of God in all things "bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" 2 Cor. 10:5. This process is described in Romans 12:1-2, "And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” We are not to live according to the Word.
* Paul even tells us to have the "the mind of Christ" Phil. 2:5. Every Christian is to build such a character that it resembles the character of Christ – and that means to be willing to die for others.
* Here are some suggestions to build a character modeled according to Christ:
A. Study Scripture and Learn Self-Discipline – Learn to say "no" to self, friends, evil ways, bad habits, etc. Jesus taught self-denial (Matt. 16:24). A lack of self-discipline is one sure sign of immaturity.
B. Be Unselfish. Selfishness, the seat of all sins and wrongdoing, is having too much concern with one's own welfare - "God first, others second and self third."
C. Discriminate between good and evil – There are not a lot of gray areas in life… Live what is correct. Reject what is evil.
D. Have Convictions – Do not be "wishy-washy." Stand with your convictions even if you must stand alone.
E. Train Yourself - Acquire Good Habits – There are good and bad habits. Decide what kind of habits you will have.
F. Be & Do Your Best. "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might" Eccl. 9:10.
G. Learn to Think for Yourself – Do not follow other people blindly. Paul says: "Bring every thought in captivity to the obedience of Christ" 2 Cor. 10:5.
H. Speak what Edifies – Listen, "Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good & helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them." Col. 4:6.
I. Behave Properly. "Be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity" 1 Tim. 4:12. A good rule for all when it comes to behavior is do not do anything you would not want to be doing when Jesus comes.
* As children of God we want to follow God’s purpose for our life. We do not want to poison our character that we become problematic, selfish and arrogant people. Since we as “Easter People” wear the name of Jesus, our life, our character is to show that we belong to Him. We cannot claim to be a Christian if we are not willing to conform our life - our thoughts and actions - to the teachings and life of Christ (2 John 9). Remember: Character is much better kept than recovered!
* For God and for the people around us, live Christ in everything you say and do. Have a blessed Resurrection (Easter) season.
Your pastor, Rev. Don Sonntag