WELCOME TO THE JACKSON STREET CHURCH OF

CHRIST

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Jeremiah 17:9-10 "The heart is deceitful above all things,

And desperately wicked; Who can know it? 10 I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the

mind, Even to give every man according to his ways,

According to the fruit of his doings.

THE ABUNDANT LIFE - CHARACTER

char·ac·ter [kar-ik-ter] 1. The aggregate of features and traits that form the

individual nature of some person or thing. 2. One such feature or trait; characteristic. 3. Moral or ethical quality: a man of fine, honorable

character. 4. Qualities of honesty, courage, or the like;

integrity: It takes character to face up to a bully. 5. Reputation: a stain on one's character.

CHARACTER

A. CHARACTER - TRUE PERSON - SINCERE - WITHOUT WAX - WITHOUT HIDDEN DEFECTS

B. Prov 22:1 "A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold."

C. Eccl 7:1 A good name is better than precious ointment, And the day of death than the day of one's birth;

I. FOUR DIFFERENT CHARACTERS

A. WHAT OTHERS THINK YOU HAVE - KNOWN CHARACTERISTICS. 1 Cor 12:21-23 "And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty,"

I. FOUR DIFFERENT CHARACTERS

B. WHAT YOU ACTUALLY HAVE - POSSESSED CHARACTERISTICS. 1 Cor 12:15-18 "If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased."

I. FOUR DIFFERENT CHARACTERS

C. WHAT YOU THINK YOU HAVE - DECEPTIVE CHARACTERISTICS. Rom 12:3 "For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith."

D. WHAT YOU OUGHT TO HAVE - UNDEVELOPED CHARACTERISTICS. 2 Cor 7:1 "Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."

II. CHARACTER ENDURES - REPUTATIONS DON'T

A. MAKE THE MOST OF YOURSELF - FOR THAT'S ALL THERE IS OF YOU

B. REPUTATION IS FOR A TIME - CHARACTER IS FOR ETERNITY

C. YOUTH PASSES, BEAUTY FADES BUT CHARACTER ENDURES FOREVER

II. CHARACTER ENDURES - REPUTATIONS DON'T

D. REPUTATION IS WHAT MEN THINK OF YOU - CHARACTER IS WHAT GOD THINKS OF YOU. 1. Phil 2:7 "but made Himself of no reputation, taking

the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men."

2. Acts 10:22 And they said, "Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, …..

3. 1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

III. CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD CHARACTER

A. WITHOUT FAULT - Phil 2:15 "that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,"

B. A PURE HEART AND GOOD CONSCIENCE - 1 Tim 1:5 "Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,"

C. EXAMPLE IN CONDUCT, LOVE, SPIRIT, FAITH, PURITY - 1 Tim 4:12 "Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity."

III. CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD CHARACTER

D. HONORABLE CONDUCT - 1 Pet 2:11-12 "Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation."

E. SINCERE AND WITHOUT OFFENCE - Phil 1:10 "that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,"

III. CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD CHARACTER

F. FOLLOW WHAT IS GOOD - 1 Pet 3:13-17 "And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. "And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled." But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil."

CHARACTER

A.A good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you, and were helped by you, will remember you when forget-me-nots are withered. Carve your name on hearts, and not on marble.

CHARACTERB. YOUR NAME

You got it from your father, it was all he had to give.

So it's yours to use and cherish, for as long as you may live.

If you lose the watch he gave you, it can always be replaced.

But a black mark on your name, son, can never be erased.

It was clean the day you took it, and a worthy name to bear,

When he got it from his father, there was no dishonor there.

So make sure you guard it wisely, after all is said and done.

You'll be glad the name is spotless, when you give it to your son.

IF YOU DEVELOP THE CHARACTERISTICS

WHICH GOD DESCRIBES FOR US AS CHRISTIANS THEN YOU WILL HAVE A

GODLY CHARACTER.

HAVE A CHARACTER DEVELOPING WEEK