2 Five Tests of Our Character Romans 5:4

3  How do you react to one of God’s com- mands if it does not agree with your idea? Five Tests of Our Character 1.A Command Contrary To Your Ideas  No such commands?  Think again! I would ‘wager’ we all can come up with a few that at least make us uncomfortable.

4  Naaman is an example of one who did not agree with one of God’s commands. Five Tests of Our Character 1.A Command Contrary To Your Ideas  2 Kings 5:1-14 How do you react?  Do you react like Naaman when you disagree with one of God’s commands?  Rom. 1:16-17; Prov. 10:8; 2 Kgs. 5:14; Isa. 55:8-9; Jer. 10:23; 1 Jn. 5:3

5  Peter is an example of one who did not agree with one of God’s commands. Five Tests of Our Character 1.A Command Contrary To Your Ideas  Three times the voice from heaven told Peter: Acts 10 & 11 Acts 10:13:“Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” Acts 10:13: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” Acts 10:15:“What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.” Acts 10:15: “What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.” Acts 10:28:“…but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.” Acts 10:28: “…but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.”

6  No commands members of the church disagree with God? Five Tests of Our Character 1.A Command Contrary To Your Ideas YOU!  Ephesians 5:23-25  Think again!  Colossians 3:5  2 Thessalonians 3:6  Hebrews 10:25  Matthew 19:9  Hebrews 13:12

7  How do you react to criticism? Five Tests of Our Character 2.Criticism  Sooner or later we all come in for some criticism whether fair or unfair.  Criticism can be quite painful; it’s a huge test of our character!  Acts 15:37-40; 2 Tim. 4:11

8  Consider the case of Nehemiah (Neh. 4). Five Tests of Our Character 2.Criticism  Sanballat initiates unfair criticism (vss. 1 & 2). Unfair Criticism  Tobiah reinforces unfair criticism (vs. 3).  How did the Jews react to unfair criticism?  They realized the criticism was really aimed at God (vss. 4 & 5).  So they just kept on doing what was right! vs. 6

9  When someone criticizes your religion are you big enough to accept it? Do you… Five Tests of Our Character 2.Criticism  Seriously consider it may be legitimate? We show weak character when we fail to at least consider criticism! Acts 17:11; 1 Pet. 3:15Unfair  If unfair, then realize it is really aimed at God! Matt. 10:24-25; 1 Pet. 4:12-14  Just keep on building! Matt. 5:11-12

10  Consider Paul’s response to unfair criticism (2 Corinthians 10). Five Tests of Our Character 2.Criticism  Recall the charges? 2 Cor. 10:10Unfair  Was ever a more false charge made?

11  How did Paul react? Phil. 1:12-18 Five Tests of Our Character 2.Criticism Unfair  Regardless of the criticism leveled against us for doing God’s will, we just need to press on (Matt. 10:24-25).  Most people just can’t be satisified no matter what you do (Matt. 11:18-19).

12  How do you react when you don’t get your own way? Five Tests of Our Character 3.When You Don ’ t Get Your Own Way  Whine? Pout? Sulk?  Take your ball and go home?

13  Paul didn’t always get his own way! Five Tests of Our Character 3.When You Don ’ t Get Your Own Way  What is he going to do? Quit? Move back to Tarsus and go back to tent making? Sell insurance?  No! He didn’t quit! 1 Cor. 9:16Paul  Ran into “blank walls” often while trying to preach the gospel (Acts 16, 17, 18, etc.).

14  We’re not guided by H.S. in same way as Paul, but we are directed by Him! Five Tests of Our Character 3.When You Don ’ t Get Your Own Way  Need is the same as in Paul’s day (Rom. 3:23; 6:23; 1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9).  Fields just as “white unto harvest” as in the first century! Jn. 4:35Us  Hence, we cannot quit! Mk. 16:15; Lk. 8:11-15; 1 Cor. 3:7, 9

15  Can never compromise the truth: Five Tests of Our Character 3.When You Don ’ t Get Your Own Way  But in matters of judgment we need to be flexible (Romans 14).  True character does not demand “it’s my way or the highway!”Us  True character exhibits a good dose of humility! Phil. 2:3-5

16  What do you do, how do you react, when people mistreat you or persecute you for being a faithful Christian? Five Tests of Our Character 4.Mistreatment/ Persecution  Complain? Quit?  Let timidity take over?

17  If I had been in Paul’s sandals, quite frankly, I don’t know what I would’ve done. Five Tests of Our Character 4.Mistreatment/ Persecution Paul “Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.” (Acts 14:19)  What would I do? If an armed group of thugs dragged me outside and gave me a “supposing him to be dead” beating?

18 Five Tests of Our Character 4.Mistreatment/ Persecution Paul “However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. 21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, ‘We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.’” (Acts 14:20-22)  What a test of character! Paul passed it with flying colors!

19  How do you react to failure? Five Tests of Our Character 5.Failure The Hardest Test?  Those who allow the discouragement of failure to overwhelm them are Satan’s easiest prey! Gen. 4:6-7

20  Consider the account in Luke 5:1ff. Five Tests of Our Character 5.Failure The Hardest Test?  What were Simon and his cohorts?  Professional fisherman; they knew what they were doing!  What had happened? They had failed, “Master we have toiled all night and caught nothing” (vs. 5).

21  The character of Peter is shown in the most significant statement in the whole passage: Five Tests of Our Character 5.Failure The Hardest Test?  We know what we’re doing Lord; we’re professional fisherman; we’ve fished all night and didn’t catch a thing. “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” (vs. 5) “nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” (vs. 5)

22  The rest of the story (vss. 6 & 7). Five Tests of Our Character 5.Failure The Hardest Test?  The Lord knows when we’ve tried and done our best.  He knows and appreciates the effort we’ve put in. He sees and understands!  The point is: when we “fail” let us… “nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” (vs. 5)

23  Paul was certainly cut from this cloth (2 Cor. 11:23-29). Five Tests of Our Character 5.Failure The Hardest Test?  Preaching the gospel: Lk. 8:11-15; 1 Cor. 3:6- 9.  Mortifying the flesh: Col. 3:5ff; Rom. 7:15; Phil. 3:13-14; Lk. 9:23.  Many areas of application:  Setting a good example: Matt. 5:13-16; 2 Cor. 3:2.

24 Conclusion  Can we pass these five tests of character?  The Lord expects us to! He expects us to stand!

25 Conclusion  How shall we stand? Trust! Jude 24; Psalm 18:2-3  Realize our standing doesn’t depend wholly on our own ability (Phil. 4:13), but we have to do something! 1 Corinthians 10:13  The Lord cares and wants us to succeed! 1 John 2:1; Hebrews 4:15-16