What a Character

The exact etymology of the word character is uncertain. However, leading linguists consider the word to be most probably from Greek. The Latin "ch" spelling of the word was added in the 1500s. Character is defined as, the sum of qualities or habits that define a person or thing and distinguish it from another; the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual. A habit is defined as, a settled or regular tendency or practice that influences one decisions. Therefore, we can say that a persons character, is the sum total of their habits, and their habits are produced by the sum total of their decisions.

Thinking about it from this perspective, every time you make a right decision, you are strengthening a right habit. Every time you strengthen a right habit, you are building a right character. However, on the other hand, every time you make a wrong decision, you are building a wrong habit, and out of that wrong habit, you are building a wrong character. Therefore, in order to build good habits you must make good decision. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul tells us, "Therefore, brethren, we are debtors not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live." (Romans 8:12-13) 

So, every time you make a decision to do the wrong thing, you become more and more a debtor, a slave, to the flesh, but every time you make a decision to do the right thing, you become more and more the slave of righteousness. "But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness." (Romans 6:17-18) Paul goes on in Romans 8, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God." (Romans 8:14) In order to become a child of God, you must be born again. (John 1:12) To receive the power to be an effective witness, you must be baptized in the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:8) But to live as a son (child) of God, you must be daily led by the Holy Spirit.

Some teach that you have to be super-spiritual first, or reach a level of sinless perfection and then you will emerge as a son of God. But this idea is in direct conflict with what we saw in Romans 8:14, which says all who are led (regularly) by the Holy Spirit are the sons of God. A level of maturity is implied. Oft times many people have the attitude, "When I'm perfect, the Holy Spirit will come in." That essentially used to be a teaching in certain Christian circles. That would be like attending a university and the professors coming in and saying, "When you graduate, we will start to teach you." The fact is, when you graduate, you do not need the professors, but you do need them to graduate. So, when do you need the Holy Spirit? Right now, in order to become mature. The Holy Spirit does not come to you because you are perfect. He comes to you because you have confessed Christ, He is a gift from God and the reality is, we need Him.

Jesus said it this way, "Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you...I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He ^[c]will take of Mine and declare it to you." (John 16:7, 12-15) In other words, Jesus is saying, "As long as I am here, the Holy Spirit, the Helper, the Comforter will not come. But if I leave, I will be free to send Him to you. You will be better off with Me in heaven and the Holy Spirit on earth. I have completed all I can do. When the Holy Spirit comes, He will finish the job that I have started and will do it through you and all who believe." 

Not only does the Holy Spirit work through believers to continue the supernatural ministry of Jesus on earth (see Mark 16:17-18; John 14:12), but He is also the One who builds the character of Christ in us. "Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3:17-18) The Father's desire is to build the very likeness of Jesus in us, which transforms our character.  

The transforming work of the Holy Spirit naturally begins in the inner person, "Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day." (2 Corinthians 4:16) Some of the things the Holy Spirit does in us are; He enables us to grow in our knowledge of God. (Ephesians 1:17-18) He brings about changes in our wills, emotions, attitudes and perspectives, which also builds Godly character. (Matthew 5 - 7) He develops within us the fruit of the Spirit. 
(Galatians 5:22-23) He empowers us to live through faith being bold witnesses for Him. (Acts 1:8) He also provides both the ability and desire to successfully do what the Lord calls us to do (Philippians 2:13). 

If you are struggling with your walk with Christ in the area of your character being transformed into the image of Christ, Jesus gives us a beautiful invitation, followed by a tremendous challenge, in regard to yielding to Him, the Holy Spirit and being transformed, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30) This passage suggests a process by which we yield to the Lord and learn His ways. First, we lay down our heavy burdens and have rest. We must become disciples by taking Christ's yoke and learning from Him. Next, we  follow Jesus' example of being gentle and lowly in heart, because God teaches the gentle and lowly but resists the proud. (James 4:6)  Simply put, let go of you, take hold of Jesus and live in the fullness of the redemption that He has freely provided. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all...

Let Him Deal

Solomon states, "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life." (Proverbs 4:23) "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he..." (Proverbs 23:7) Jesus tells us, "Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.” (Matthew 15:11) "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man." (Matthew 15:18) Basically, these verses of scripture deal with ones character. What begins in the heart must be carefully cultivated to come to full fruit in actions that bring glory to the Lord. The Apostle Paul tells us, "...whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31) Whether we want to accept it or not, God deals with the heart of all believers to develop their character so they may be vessels of honor for His use, and effective in their ministries. While the gifts of the Spirit are given freely, character development comes only with time through self-denial (Luke 9:23) and a greater dependence upon the Lord in every area of life. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

The provision of the divine nature through repentance from sin, faith in Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit belong to the divine sovereignty of the Lord. But the application of these become the responsibility of every believer to apply in their lives. God has given believers all things pertaining to life and godliness, (2 Peter 1:4); He has given us His Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8); He has given us His abundance of grace (Romans 5:17); and in Christ, believers lack nothing. (Colossians 2:9-10) Therefore, believers have all that it takes to develop a mature Christian character as they follow the Lord Jesus Christ. But, if believers do not do the things necessary for these promises to be fulfilled, Jesus tells us that they could lose the things that should be theirs. (Matthew 25:29)

The writer of Hebrews reveals specifics concerning the Lord dealing with believers, "For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves He chastens,
and scourges every son whom He receives.” If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." (Hebrews 12:3-11)

Notice, the Lord deals with believers as "sons"; He deals with His sons through His great love; His dealing are for His sons to profit; His dealing yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness. If every believer would keep these things in mind, they would never have anything manifest in their life but joy. (James 1:2) There are several purposes for God's dealings in believers. (The following are not all inclusive nor do they have a particular order) First, to transform us, "But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3:18) Second, to purge us from  any and all dross (worthless rubbish) from our lives. (Matthew 6:24; Philippians 3:8) Third, to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (Ephesians 5:25-27; 1 John 1:9) 

Fourthly, to cause fruitfulness in our lives. (John 15:1-8) Fifth, to prepare us for service. (Ephesians 2:10; 2 Timothy 2:19-21) Sixth, to bring enlargement to our lives (Isaiah 54:2), in areas such as, our vision, our steps, our heart, our confession, our prayers, our ministry, our dominion, our love, our service, and in our gifts and callings.  Seventh, to provoke us to seek God, His Kingdom and His Word. (Matthew 4:4; Matthew 6:33) Eighth, to produce more spiritual wine in us. (Ephesians 5:18) Ninth, to give us a new focus and perspective of the world in contrast to the Kingdom of God. The Apostle Paul tells us, "Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,  while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

The Apostle Paul tells us to, "be imitators of God as dear children." (Ephesians 5:1) This becomes more evident as we yield ourselves over the the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives, daily, as He builds the very character of Christ in us. So, let us, "put off, concerning our former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of our mind, and that we put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness." (Ephesians 4:22-24) Amen...