Character Development by Pastor Paul Enenche

POWER COMMUNION SERVICE – 19TH SEPTEMBER 2018
ANCHOR SCRIPTURE(S): 1 TIMOTHY 4:12-16
MESSAGE TOPIC: CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT

SERVICE OBJECTIVES:
1. Understanding character
2. Understanding the development process of character

THINGS TO NOTE:
1. The most significant impact of Christianity is character transformation (Acts 11:26)

2. The followers of Christ are known by their fruits or character, and not just by church attendance (Matt. 7:15-20)

3. The work of Christian ministry is the development of Godly character (Eph. 4:11-13)

4. Christian character development is a process (Eph. 4:15)
Character development is not a destination but an adventure

FACTORS THAT AFFECT CHRISTIAN CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT:
1. A sense of vision and purpose for Godly character (Dan. 1:8; Gen. 37:2; Exo. 23:2)
1a. It involves knowing exactly the kind of person you want to be in life, what kind of life you want
to live and who the role models of that life are
1b. It involves being a person who lives by conviction and not to the consensus
1c. It involves knowing the kind of person you want to be remembered for when your life on earth is over
1d. It implies being a person that is not under the control of the crowd but under the control of God
Don’t live your life at the mercy of what others think or do, be a pacesetter and road pointer.

Also Read: Attaining Intimacy in Marriage (Part 2) by Pastor Faith Oyedepo

2. Feeding on and living in the Word of God (Ps. 119:9,11; John 15:3; Rom. 12:1-2; Jam. 1:23-25; Ps. 119:67; Eph. 5:26)
2a. The Word of God changes mindsets and mindset affects lifestyle (Rom. 12:1-2)
2b. The Word of God is a mirror for life and reveals where adjustments need to be made in life (Jam. 1:23-25)
2c. The Word of God impacts thoughts and thoughts imparts lifestyle (Isa. 59:9-11)
2d. The Word of God is a discerner of the motives of people (Heb. 4:12-13)

3. Living in God’s Presence in prayer and communion (Gen. 32:24-28; Prov. 13:20; Luke 9:28-29)
3a. The place of prayer is the place of character transformation, where the person you used to
be gives way for the person God wants you to be
Prayer does not only change things, it changes the people who pray
3b. The place of prayer is the place of company with God, and company affects character (Prov. 13:20)
3c. Spiritual fire generated at the place of prayer purifies the garment of the saints
3d. The place of prayer is the place to seek the face of God and what you look at determines what you look like (2Cor. 3:18)
The place of prayer is not just where needs are met, it is where people are changed

4. Living and flowing in the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23; Rom. 1:4)
4a. The Spirit of God is not just for the manifestation of gifts but for the development of fruit (character)
4b. The Spirit of God is called the Spirit of holiness, and His assignment is the empowerment
of the saint unto Godly living (Rom. 1:4)
4c. The Holy Spirit is the character development agency of the Kingdom, so the proof of walk
with the Spirit is the improvement of character
4d. The assignment of the Holy Spirit is the elevation of the spirit of man over the flesh of man

5. Guard your mind; watch the intakes and inputs of your life (Prov. 4:23; Rom. 12:1-2; Phil. 4:8)
5a. The mind is the control room of character because thoughts become actions, actions become habits and habits become character
You are not doing anything about your character until you are doing something about your thoughts. The beginning place of character is your thoughts
5b. Inflow into life determines outflow from life; as the saying goes, garbage in, garbage out!
5c. The seed of thought is what produces the harvest of character
5d. Input determines outcome in life; until input is handled, outcome has not been helped

6. COMPLETELY avoid the wrong company and association (2Cor. 6:14-18)
6a. Association equals assimilation; company equals impact; who speaks into your ears shapes your life
Anybody who says any single thing to you that is contrary to Scripture, REJECT IT!
6b. Never manage the wrong association; what you manage can damage you
6a. The environment of your life affects the development of your life; to be wrongly surrounded is to be wrongly developed
6b. Never feel right about what does not feel right
Never ignore your perceptions, otherwise you head for disaster
When you ignore your feelings, you invite your pains

7. Be ready to learn, open to change (Phil. 3:10-14; Rom. 12:1-2)
7a. Meekness, that is, the readiness to learn, grants access to lifestyle-changing insight (Ps. 25:9)
7b. Openness to change is key to character adjustment
7c. The absence of meekness closes the door to change
7d. Where the willingness to change is absent, character improvement is impossible

8. Be open to feedback and correction (Matt. 16:13-16; Acts 23:1-5)
8a. Feedback is the fuel for upgrade of character
Be open to feedback so that your life can be upgraded; especially from those who have your interest at heart
8b. Correction brings transformation
8c. Those who are closed to feedback are closed to change
8d. Those who avoid the way of correction settle for the way of corruption

9. Be determined, don’t give up (Mic. 7:8; 1Cor. 9:27)
9a. Never see failure to uphold character as proof of defeat
Failure is not a person or an event, it is an opinion
9b. Determination is the guarantee of every destination (Phil. 3:14)
9c. Never agree to remain in a fallen state; arise and shine (Isa. 60:1)
9d. Persistence will always guarantee victory

10. Rely on grace; apply continually for the grace to live right (Acts 20:32; Tit. 2:11-12)
10a. Grace is fuel for ease; anything that will be easy takes grace
10b. Grace empowers to do the right thing
10c. Grace constructs life and character
10b. Grace facilitates the ability to say no to wrong
What you couldn’t have done with your power, grace says ‘you can’.

CONCLUSION:
1. There must be the decision to live right in order to live right (Dan. 1:8)

2. The choice to live right must be backed up with action (Phil. 2:12-13; 1John 2:29)

PRAYERS
Lord thank You for Your Word to us today. Blessed be Your Name Lord, in Jesus’ Name.

Father, I come before You today and I ask for Your help and mercy to live in uprightness and Godly character. Where I failed, I ask for forgiveness Lord, in Jesus’ Name.

Father, I apply for grace, it is my decision to live right and today I receive the grace to work out my salvation with fear and trembling and to do right

COMMUNION FOCUS:
Communion of grace. The grace Christ came and died to supply us is released via this communion.

Click HERE to read Other Inspirational Messages by Pastor Paul Enenche

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