Sermon Central
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The Joy Of Developing Godly Character Series
Contributed by Tom Shepard on Dec 3, 2009 (message contributor)
Summary: This sermon looks at Five Character Traits God desires in a Christian. 1. COMPASSION 2. CONSISTENCY 3. COOPERATION 4. COMMITMENT 5. COURAGE
The Joy of Developing A Godly Character
I have said it before – but let me say it again:
God is more concerned with your character than He is with your comfort.
God is more concerned with your holiness than He is with your happiness.
God is more concerned with you as a person than He is with your possessions.
God is getting you ready – to live with Him forever. He is getting you ready to accept His inheritance. Your possessions will not go with you – but your character – your holiness – who you are as a person is important to God. Why? Because if you are a Christian – you will live in God’s Kingdom – forever and ever and ever. You see:
God is more concerned with your character than He is with your comfort – it is your character that will last forever. It is who you are as a person that counts.
We live in a world that put a lot of emphasis on possession or popularity. How much money does a person have? Is he or she famous? How much power or authority do they carry? God asks questions like: Is the person holy? Is he or she seeking to follow me? Are they really striving to be a Godly person? Are you? Do you strive to be more like the One who laid down His life for you? Are you striving to be more like Jesus? You see:
God is more concerned with your character than He is with your comfort.
He is more concerned with your holiness than He is with your happiness.
He is more concerned with you as a person than He is with your possessions.
Today I want us to look at five Godly characteristics that I believe every Christian should strive for. As we begin let read our focal verse for today. We have been going through a series on Philippians – so let us look at Philippians chapter two verse nineteen thru thirty:
“But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel. Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me. But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly. Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need; since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.” Philippians 2:19-30 (NKJV)
In this passage of scripture Paul gives us two examples of people with Godly character. He speaks of Timothy and Epaphroditus.
Paul says of Timothy: “you know his proven character” and of Epaphroditus he says: “Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem.” Clearly both men, in Paul’s estimation, were people of Godly character. So let us ask the question:
WHAT KIND OF GODLY CHARACTERISTICS IS GOD LOOKING FOR IN A PERSON?
Here are five characteristics God looks for in a person.
1. COMPASSION
God is looking for people who care about people. Over the long haul relationships are more valuable than riches. The Bible says:
“If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.” 1 Corinthians 13:3 (MSG)
You can be a success in everything else but if you don’t have love in your life you’re a failure. God is looking for people of compassion.
Compassion is protecting the needs and rights of people. Too often we’re just in it for ourselves, not caring what other people need or want. Look at what Paul says of Timothy in verses twenty and twenty one. This is from the Message Bible:
