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The ABC’s of Christian Character - Part 1 of 9
By Bro. Cheek | April 12, 2008
Table of contents for The ABCs of Christian Character
- The ABC’s of Christian Character - Part 1 of 9
- The ABC’s of Christian Character - Part 2 of 9
- The ABC’s of Christian Character - Part 3 of 9
- The ABC’s of Christian Character - Part 4 of 9
- The ABC’s of Christian Character - Part 5 of 9
- The ABC’s of Christian Character - Part 6 of 9
- The ABC’s of Christian Character - Part 7 of 9
- The ABC’s of Christian Character - Part 8 of 9
- The ABC’s of Christian Character - Part 9 of 9
The ABC’S of
Christian Character
1 Thessalonians 4:1-12
Part One of Nine
By Pastor Robert L. Cheek Jr.
Victory Baptist Church
1 Thessalonians 4:1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.
1 Thessalonians 4:2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
1 Thessalonians 4:4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
1 Thessalonians 4:5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
1 Thessalonians 4:6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.
1 Thessalonians 4:7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
1 Thessalonians 4:8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 4:9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
1 Thessalonians 4:10 And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;
1 Thessalonians 4:11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
1 Thessalonians 4:12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.
There are several phrases in this text that have to do with a word that is very important to the Christian life. That word is “character”.
“how ye ought to walk and to please God”. – Character in relation to God
“That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter” – Character in relation to the saints
“Walk honestly toward them that are without” – Character in relation to the lost.
Character, Christian character, is important to our walk with God and our testimony towards others.
Let me give you a definition for character. Character is:
“The peculiar qualities, impressed by nature or habit on a person, which distinguish him from others; these constitute real character, and the qualities which he is supposed to possess, constitute his estimated character, or reputation. Hence we say, a character is not formed, when the person has not acquired stable and distinctive qualities.”
Character then is the true peculiar qualities that distinguish one person from another person. Someone has said that character is how you are when nobody else is around. Reputation, on the other hand, is the supposed peculiar qualities that distinguish one person from another person. Character is what you are and reputation is what people think you are.
All of us have a character that has been molded by our experiences in life. It is important to know and understand that character is not static. What I mean is, our character is always capable of changing. You have heard it said that a person is, “too old to change”. That isn’t true. As long as we are alive we are capable of change. Now the definition of character states that character is the sum of the peculiar qualities that makes a person unique. The Bible says,
1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
God’s people are to be peculiar. What makes them peculiar unto God is the process of molding the character to be more like the Lord Jesus Christ.
Exodus 19:5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
The more we allow the qualities of our character to be formed by God’s Word, the more peculiar a treasure we become to God. God’s desire is that our salvation be the starting point of a process of molding our character into a vessel that is zealous of good works.
Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
I want to begin a series of messages that I have titled, The ABC’s of Christian Character. I want us to take a look at some peculiar qualities that create the “Christian character” according to the Word of God. By considering these qualities of the Christian character, we have a standard that we can use to compare with our own developed character. Ultimately, our character should be developed to match the Bible’s Christian character. This is not something that is impossible. No matter how many bad habits we have or how we might consider our character to be flawed, the Holy Spirit and our willingness to be molded by God can correct any and all non-Christian qualities in our character. This series of messages is directed solely to God’s people. None of these principles can be fully implemented if a person is lost. Salvation gives a person the one critical ingredient to developing a true Christian character. That ingredient is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Let’s consider the process that is involved in changing any aspect of our character as Christians. How does a Christian change the way they are? How can a Christian modify his or her character? Let’s consider some principles about that.
1. Change of Character Requires a Serious Heart
Psalm 119:57-59 give us an outline of the steps to changing our character, or should I say molding our character to be more like our Saviour.
Psalms 119:57 CHETH. Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words.
Psalms 119:58 I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word.
Psalms 119:59 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.
Notice first of all that the Psalmist implies a desire to keep God’s words.
Psalms 119:57 CHETH. Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words.
A Christian can never change their character until they really truly desire that change and are serious about it. The psalmist recognized that keeping the word of God was his goal and he was serious about it. Have you ever said to yourself, “I am going to do this”? Have you ever felt determined enough that you set yourself to do something? The Psalmist said, “I would keep thy words.” He was determined. A person can do a lot if they set their mind to it. Humans have determined to do many things and have accomplished many things simply by following through with a desire until they accomplish their goal. The first step to correcting our character is to be serious with ourselves. When Christians stop playing games with themselves and with God and get serious, that is when God responds.
Genesis 32:24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
Genesis 32:25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.
Genesis 32:26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
Genesis 32:27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.
Genesis 32:28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
Jacob’s wrestling with the Lord is a perfect picture of a man who is so desperate to have God’s blessing that he will not quit until he gets what he wants. The only way to change any aspect of character is to first want the change and be serious enough to do anything to change.
Psalms 42:1 <<To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah.>> As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
Psalms 42:2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
Psalms 42:3 My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?
Religion in and of itself can change the outward appearance. But there is one thing that human effort cannot do. Human effort cannot change the heart and changing the heart is the only true way to change character. That is why a lost person cannot really change until they get saved. To change the heart, a person needs God.
2. Change of Character Requires the Saviour’s Help
Our hearts made an initial change the moment we got saved. The change that took place involved having the influence of the Holy Spirit in our heart and life. Notice the next verse in Psalm 119.
Psalms 119:58 I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word.
God’s help is needed to change the heart and thus change character. Human effort can only take us so far. The psalmist needed God’s favor and God’s mercy. To get that, he intreated God with all his heart. To intreat means to be earnest and urgent. It means to literally beg God for something. Our desire for change must be so great that we are willing to beg God for His favor and His mercy.
Psalms 22:19 But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
Psalms 33:20 Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.
Psalms 40:17 But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.
In order to get favor and mercy from the Lord, we must confess and forsake sin.
Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Once we are right with God and we are maintaining our earnest desire for God to help us change or mold our character to be more like Him, we are ready to consider the last step in changing our character.
3. Change of Character Requires a Steadfast Heeding
Notice the next verse in Psalm 119.
Psalms 119:59 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.
God’s Word is the standard for Christian character. As we compare ourselves (think on our ways) and apply God’s Word faithfully (turn our feet unto God’s testimonies) our character will slowly but surely begin to change. With a serious heart and the Saviour’s help, we must steadfastly heed the Word of God. The reason I say steadfastly heed is because changing character is a process that takes time. Someone said, “Habits turn in to strongholds.” Think of character change in this way: Bad habits are like carnal strongholds in our life that hinder our walk with God.
For example, a bad temper is a carnal stronghold.
A gossiping or lying tongue is a carnal stronghold.
An adulterous eye is a carnal stronghold.
A rebellious attitude is a carnal stronghold.
Pride is a carnal stronghold.
Laziness regarding spiritual things is a carnal stronghold.
Carnal strongholds make our character unchristian (not Christ-like). However, good habits are like spiritual strongholds that provide us with a haven of rest and protection and help us to stay right with God.
Faithfully reading our Bibles every day no matter what is a spiritual stronghold.
Praying every day no matter what is a spiritual stronghold.
Guarding our tongues so that we do not hurt others with our speech is a spiritual stronghold.
Being faithful to church and not letting anything sidetrack us from faithfulness is a spiritual stronghold.
Guess what, spiritual strongholds develop into a total Christian character.
Ultimately what we need to do to have a Christian character is destroy every carnal stronghold and build/repair the spiritual strongholds. Both take time and the Lord’s help.
Nehemiah was very distraught over the condition of Jerusalem during the captivity. When he came before the king with a sad countenance, the king asked him what was the matter. After hearing how Nehemiah felt, the king gave him permission to go and rebuild Jerusalem. Nehemiah then took a trip to Jerusalem and scoped out the city to see just how bad the damage was. Then, he returned and summoned the rulers of the Jews and said this to them.
Nehemiah 2:17 Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.
Nehemiah 2:18 Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king’s words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.
I want you to notice that all three of my points are found in verse 18.
A serious heart – “Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work”
The Saviours help – “the hand of my God which was good upon me”
A steadfast heeding – “the king’s words” (type of the Word of God, the King of kings.)
As you read Nehemiah, you realize that it took a long time to build that wall. They had to be steadfast, unmoveable and always abounding in their work. That’s how we must be.
Carnal habits are strongholds that must be torn down, brick by brick and stone by stone.
Spiritual habits are strongholds that must be build or repaired brick by brick and stone by stone.
But you can’t give up and you can’t quit. Three men tried to get Nehemiah to stop building the wall.
Nehemiah 2:19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?
Nehemiah 2:20 Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.
The world, the flesh and the devil are like those three men. They will mock you as you try to faithfully develop spiritual strongholds and destroy carnal ones. Nehemiah didn’t let them hinder the work and neither should we.
These three steps are needed to change character. A serious heart, the Saviour’s help and a steadfast heeing to God’s Word.
In our next message in this series, we are going to begin taking a look at the ABC’s of Christian character. These will be the strongholds we will want to build in our life or repair. The opposites of these character traits will be the carnal strongholds we will want to tear down. The end result will be that our character will start to become more like the Lord.
(If this series helps you, please post a comment.)
Topics: Studies |
November 5th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
Blin … really beautifully written! All this is so familiar … and truthfully!
December 16th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
The Study made to check my character before preach to others.