The Importance of Character
Andrew Wommack - Charis Bible College IN
Test Review/Class Recap
Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Q: How do you find God's will for your life?
A: According to Romans 12:1-2 if you are a living sacrifice and renew your mind, you will find God's will for your life: "you may prove...and perfect will of God."
According to Romans 12:1-2 the finding God's will for your life is a process, progression; "good, acceptable and perfect"
80% of ministers drop out of the ministry in the first five years.
You must be a living sacrifice! God needs to be in absolute control of your life. According to Jeremiah 10:23, the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps!
God has a better plan than you do! Check out Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Romans 12:1 - God is beseeching (that means: begging, pleading, strongly urging or imploring) you to be a living sacrifice!
Deuteronomy 30:19b I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live. Choose life by being a living sacrifice!
Since according to 2 Chronicles 16:9 God is to show himself strong in those whose heart are perfect towards Him: you do not need to pray "God use me'' but instead pray that God would make you usable.
Talented people (multi-talented people) often times struggle with self-righteousness. Your talent is what God wants to use, but God wants to use your talent(s) under a sacrificed life. He will NOT use an unsacrifice (uncommitted) life for the sake of their talent.
Read 2 Chronicle 16:9 for more clarification.
Lesson 2 - Finding God's Will Part 2
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
To be conformed means to be poured into a mold. You can choose which mold you want to be conformed to, the world's or God's. It is dangerous to be a living sacrifice and not have a renewed mind.
James 4:7 says submit to God and resist the devil. This shows that not everything that happens to you in life is a gift from God. Therefore you need to renew your mind in the word and understand the truth. You need the right message to preach which only come from renewing your mind in God's Word. (If you preach condemnation, you will bear judgement!) ~ See Galatians 6:7
Do not believe that curses have now become blessings from God. Galatians 3:13 says Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. God does not cause the problems and curses in your life. This teaching comes from lack of a renewed mind.
Make yourself usable and God will find you!
Steps to making yourself usable:
- From Lesson 1, Become a living sacrifice
- Choose to be poured into God's mold, not the world's.
- Preach the right message by renewing your mind!
Lesson 3 - Discipling
The moment God calls you, you are a minister!
2 Timothy 2:1-2 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
Ministry cannot be based on gifts it must be based on character. "commit to faithful men [and women]"
The Lord said to make disciples not converts (we are not just repeat the sinner's prayer with unsaved), we are not called to make converts of all nations!
A disciple is one who embraces and assists in spreading the teachings of another; an active adherent, as of a movement or philosophy; a LEARNER; IMITATOR of their teacher.
Many say they are Christian, but are they a faithful disciple? Only 15% of the Church church tithes. A basic principle in our Christian faith. It is not ok to stop following God, if your finances are a problem.
False conversions inoculate people against Christianity. Only about 5% of real Christians become mature.
John 15:16a You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain. If you are not reproducing yourself you will be a Christian failure! Ouch!
Faithfulness is not bred in you. You choose to be faithful! Faithfulness (emunah) -- stability, to be prepared, established, ready. Consider the soldier example of faithfulness in 2 Tim 2:3-6
You are no longer your own, you are bought with a price. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Just as a member of the US Armed Forces are not their own, Christians are not their own. A soldier has something to do bigger than themself.
Operate in integrity (faithfulness) and allow God to promote you. Faithfulness is the key; you must just be faithful in the little things before you can be faithful in the big things. Luke 16:10
Lesson 4 - Be a Good Soldier
God uses three examples (attributes) of good a minister in 2 Timothy 2:3-6:
1) the athlete
- an athlete trains prior to competing, goal in mind
- an athlete is consistent, disciplined, self-denial
- an athlete does NOT comprise: Comprise is the language of the devil! Whatever you compromise to gain you will lose!
- husbandman matches his lifestyle to his words
- husbandman is measured by fruit/crop not the amount of seed.
- husbandman knows harvest requires planting, sowing, time and nurturing!
3) and the soldier
- soldier gives government priority - be committed to do what God call you to do.
- soldier doesn't let the cares of this world choke the word Matthew 13:22
- soldier is a blessing to others
God uses three examples (attributes) of good a minister in 2 Timothy 2:3-6:
1) the athlete
- an athlete trains prior to competing, goal in mind
- an athlete is consistent, disciplined, self-denial
- an athlete does NOT comprise: Comprise is the language of the devil! Whatever you compromise to gain you will lose!
- husbandman matches his lifestyle to his words
- husbandman is measured by fruit/crop not the amount of seed.
- husbandman knows harvest requires planting, sowing, time and nurturing!
3) and the soldier
- soldier gives government priority - be committed to do what God call you to do.
- soldier doesn't let the cares of this world choke the word Matthew 13:22
- soldier is a blessing to others
Lesson 6 - Your Calling and Separation
Your calling starts from the womb and the calling of God is done by grace. See the following scriptures: Isaiah 49:1-2, Jeremiah 1:4-10, and Acts 13:2. You do not earn your calling!
We must cooperate with His calling on lives by separating ourselves. If we do NOT separate ourselves, we can/will frustrate His plan for our lives.
We must cooperate with His calling on lives by separating ourselves. If we do NOT separate ourselves, we can/will frustrate His plan for our lives.
Lesson 7 - Discerning Your Call
One way God will guide you, will be the desires of your heart. As you put Him first in your life, He will place His desire in you.
Your call will excite, bless, and satisfy you. Your greatest area of anointing will be what God has call you to do!
We know the calling of God is in our life when He puts the desires in our heart and we have the peace of God.
The number one reason ministers fail is lack of relationship with God.