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Covenant Love Discipleship Lesson Thirteen - BUILDING ON A SOLID FOUNDATION OF GODLY CHARACTER – PART TWO by Samuel Jeanrenaud
In the last lesson, we started a Bible study in II Peter 1:5-7. “And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness, and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity (love).”
Benefits of having Christian character (II Peter 1:8-12) b. We will not be unfruitful c. We will know our knowledge of our Lord, Jesus Christ d. An abundant entrance will be given into the “everlasting Kingdom” our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (verse 11) e. Established in the present truth (verse 12) f. You will never fall (verse 10)
Results of NOT having Christian character (I Peter 1:9) b. He cannot see afar off c. He has forgotten that he was purged from his sins.
II Peter 1:3-4 (Great memory verses)
Adding to our faith the quality character of virtue ii. Story – The great wall of China was built so high (30-50 feet high, so long (1500 miles in length), and 50 feet in width so that no army or person could scale over, cross over, or pierce thru it. In the first 100 years of its being built, China had three invasions. You see, the Chinese overlooked a very important aspect – the human heart could be bribed with money or goods, so the gatekeepers were the ones who allowed the enemy in. It still comes down to virtue, character, and integrity. iii. D. James Kennedy, in his book, Character and destiny, said that today we are facing a crisis of character that is undermining every aspect of American life.
Esther exhibits great virtue – Read the Book of Esther found in the
Old Testament a. She was obedient to Mordecai, her mentoring uncle. (Esther 2:20b) “Esther did the commandment (obeyed) of Mordecai like as when she was brought up with him.” b. She listened to the advice of Hegai, who was in charge of the beauty contestants. (V. 2:15) When Esther’s turn came to go into the King, she “requested nothing but what Hegai, the King’s chamberlain, the keeper of the woman appointed.” c. She got all the Jews to fast and pray for deliverance (Esther 4:15-16). d. She had remarkable courage and strength to lay down her life, if necessary, for her people. (Esther 4:16b) “If I perish, I perish.” e. She used great wisdom in exposing the enemy. She invited the enemy Haman, and the king, the possible deliverer, to a banquet. (Esther 5:8) f. She knew hot to express priority on important issues. Esther 7:4 “For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king’s damage.”
CONCLUSION – Someone said, “Sow a thought, and you reap an act; Sow an act, and you reap a habit; Sow a habit, and you reap character; Sow character, and you reap destiny.” Building character requires godly habits, listening to the Holy Spirit, and being willing to be obedient, no matter what the cost.
Encouraging Scripture – “The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:8-9
PRAYER – “Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven.” Matthew 6:10
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