OF GOOD CHARACTER 3

Systematically Aware

Galatians 5:19-23

The behavior of the self-life is obvious: Sexual immorality, lustful thoughts, pornography, chasing after things instead of God, manipulating others, hatred of those who get in your way, senseless arguments, resentment when others are favored, temper tantrums, angry quarrels, only thinking of yourself, being in love with your own opinions, being envious of the blessings of others, murder, uncontrolled addictions, wild parties, and all other similar behavior. 

Haven’t I already warned you that those who use their “freedom” for these things will not inherit the kingdom realm of God! 

But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions: joy that overflows, peace that subdues, patience that endures, kindness in action, a life full of virtue, faith that prevails, gentleness of heart, and strength of spirit. 

Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless.

You can only build a good character if you are acutely aware of your responses, your decisions, and your reactions. 

STUDY YOURSELF

Asking The Why Questions 

WHEN CHRIST-LIKE RESPONSES ARE NOT OUR DEFAULT 

1. You believe in Him but you haven’t got to really know Him!

2. You believe in Him but you live as if He doesn’t exist!

3. You believe in Jesus but you don’t want to be a fanatic!

4. You believe in Jesus but you don’t fully trust Him 

Romans 7:15, 18-19, 24-25 NLT

I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate…I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway… Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. 

1 Corinthians 10:23

You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial.

Much of what you normally do isn’t a result of conscious choices but a result of daily habits. 

Our life is the sum total of all the small decisions, responses, and habits that we take, make or have. 

MOMENTUM CHANGES CHARACTER

Goals don’t determine success. 

Systems determine success. 

“You don’t rise to the level of your goals, you fall to the level of your systems.” James Clear  (Atomic) 

Successful people do consistently what other people do occasionally. 

SYSTEMATIC GROWTH COMES FROM SYSTEMATIC AWARENESS 

If you want to change who you are—Change what you KNOW about yourself. 

THE SYSTEM

Creating habits, responses and decision-making processes that grow our character and reflect the character of Christ

LIFE OF DANIEL 

DANIEL 6:3

Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. 

DANIEL 6:4,5

At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.

Your decisions, habits, and responses reflect your character and not the opinions of others

DANIEL 6:10

Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. Daniel 6:10  

Never underestimate how God can do something big 

through one small habit.

I’m not successful when I hit my goal somewhere or somehow in the future! I’m successful when MY CHARACTER HAS honored God.

CONSIDER YOUR WAYS

September 21, 520 BC – Haggai’s Prophetic Word comes to pass as the peopl

Tonight was such a powerful night in worship! We had sixteen people get baptized, had healing take place, and so much more.

OF GOOD CHARACTER 2

WHO BEFORE THE DO

Galatians 5:19-23

The behavior of the self-life is obvious: Sexual immorality, lustful thoughts, pornography, chasing after things instead of God, manipulating others, hatred of those who get in your way, senseless arguments, resentment when others are favored, temper tantrums, angry quarrels, only thinking of yourself, being in love with your own opinions, being envious of the blessings of others, murder, uncontrolled addictions, wild parties, and all other similar behavior.

Haven’t I already warned you that those who use their “freedom” for these things will not inherit the kingdom realm of God!

But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions: joy that overflows, peace that subdues, patience that endures, kindness in action, a life full of virtue, faith that prevails, gentleness of heart, and strength of spirit.

Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless.

A good character is boundless

A bad character is limited

THE FORMATION OF OUR CHARACTER

Our past forms our character

Our hurts form our character

Our mistakes form our character

Our faults form our character

We are not about the formation of character, we are about the transformation of our character.

The true reflection of our character is the sum of all the decisions we make and the responses we have.

Decisions and responses are not our character, they are only a reflection if it.

Don’t live life deciding who we are along the way.

GOD WANTS YOU TO HAVE A TRANSFORMED CHARACTER

God has never asked us to do anything that is not possible with Him.

ROMANS 12:2

Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you,  but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes

New Person – WHO

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

APART FROM OUR WORKS

Romans 4:6

Even King David himself speaks to us regarding the complete wholeness that comes inside a person when God’s powerful declaration of righteousness is heard over our life. Apart from our works, God’s work is enough. 

Understanding our why before we boast about our what!

THE WHO TRANSFORMED

Character can be recovered and reputation can be rebuilt…

Only if you begin to identify your past, your hurts, your mistakes and your faults with Jesus and what He has done to transform them.

2 Corinthians 12:9

But he answered me, “My grace is always more than enough for you, and my power finds its full expression through your weakness.” So I will celebrate my weaknesses, for when I’m weak I sense more deeply the mighty power of Christ living in me.

Open yourself to the possibility that your life character can be recovered, your life rebuilt and your circumstances transformed. 

RECOVERED, REBUILT AND TRANSFORMED

People of Good Character do consistently what other people do occasionally. (Spiritually, Financially, Physically, Relationally)

Might not always get it but he is always on it.

Romans 7:15, 18-19, 24-25 NLT

I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate…I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway… Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Corinthians 10:23

You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial.

Good happens sometimes

I want good to happen all the time

1 Corinthians 10:23 WBT

Even a bl

THE OTHER SIDE“OF A HARD HEART”To be of Good Character you need to be rooted!You cannot be rooted if you have a hard heart!What does a hard heart look like?Set in your waysEasily offendedHabitual/ReligiousUnteachable“I got this” / “I know”The real storm is not your circumstances but your hard heart!The Tale of Two StormsStorm 1Mark 4:35-41“Later that day, after it grew dark, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s crossover to the other side of the lake.” After they had sent the crowd away, theyshoved off from shore with him, as he had been teaching from the boat, andthere were other boats that sailed with them. Suddenly, as they werecrossing the lake, a ferocious tempest arose, with violent winds and wavesthat were crashing into the boat until it was all but swamped. But Jesus wascalmly sleeping in the stern, resting on a cushion. So they shook him awake,saying, “Teacher, don’t you even care that we are all about to die!” Fullyawake, he rebuked the storm and shouted to the sea, “Hush! Calm down!” Allat once the wind stopped howling and the water became perfectly calm.Then he turned to his disciples and said to them, “Why are you so afraid?Haven’t you learned to trust yet?” But they were overwhelmed with fear andawe and said to one another, “Who is this man who has such authority thateven t”–––Mark 4:35-41 TPTAsked “do you even care?”Amplified dramaThought they were going to dieAt times we believe that a storms objective is to grow us in faith! But if thestorm was from God then why did Jesus rebuke it?Jesus was in the storm. But the storm was in the disciples!The disciples thought “we got this!” They’ve done this before. It was theirway of life!Molded by their own habits, hurts, traditions, abilities and thoughts!This is all ground were seeds cannot grow!SeedsMark 4:13“If you don’t understand this parable, how will you understand any parable?If you miss what God is saying, you’ll miss what God is doing!Mark 4:14The Farmer sows the Word as seed!Your heart is the soil!Not having an understanding of the parable amplified the storm by hardeningthe heart of the disciples.The storm comes to choke the seed!Storm 2Mark 6:35-52–––1.2.“After everyone had their meal, Jesus instructed his disciples to get back intothe boat and go on ahead of him and sail to the other side to Bethsaida. Sohe dispersed the crowd, said good-bye to his disciples, then slipped away topray on the mountain. As night fell, the boat was in the middle of the lake andJesus was alone on land. The wind was against the disciples and he couldsee that they were straining at the oars, trying to make headway. When it wasalmost morning, Jesus came to them, walking on the surface of the water,and he started to pass by them. When they all saw him walking on the waves,they thought he was a ghost and screamed out in terror. But he said to themat once, “Don’t yield to fear. Have courage. It’s really me—I Am!” Then hecame closer and climbed into the boat with them, and immediately thestormy wind became still. They were completely and utterly overwhelmedwith astonishment because they failed to learn the lesson of the miracle ofthe loaves, and their hearts were unwilling to learn the lesson.”Mark 6:45-52 TPTAsked with longing not fearDid something different (they were rowing)They believedThree Storm StoppersAsk the right questions“We have a biblical mandate to know God and study His Word by askingquestions and seeking answers.” Billy GrahamI Chronicles 28:9 NKJV““As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Himwith a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts andunderstands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be foundby you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.”I Chronicles 28:9 NKJVWho is in the boat with you?Proverbs 18:1“An unfriendly person isolates himself and seems to care only about his ownissues. For his contempt of sound judgment makes him a recluse.”Proverbs 18:1 TPT

Manage your thought

Of Good Character…

Exposed

_________________________________________

Character Definition:  the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual

Self Lead Character vs. Spirit Transformed Character

_________________________________________

Galatians 5:19-23

The behavior of the self-life is obvious: Sexual immorality, lustful thoughts, pornography, chasing after things instead of God, manipulating others, hatred of those who get in your way, senseless arguments, resentment when others are favored, temper tantrums, angry quarrels, only thinking of yourself, being in love with your own opinions, being envious of the blessings of others, murder, uncontrolled addictions, wild parties, and all other similar behavior.

Haven’t I already warned you that those who use their “freedom” for these things will not inherit the kingdom realm of God!

But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions: joy that overflows, peace that subdues, patience that endures, kindness in action, a life full of virtue, faith that prevails, gentleness of heart, and strength of spirit.

Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless.

_________________________________________

The Series Summary

Structuring your character recovery

Exposing your character to the character of God

_________________________________________

The Who Before the Do

Our true character is the sum of all the decisions we make and the responses we have. 

Understanding our why before we boast about our what!

_________________________________________

Habits to stop and habits to start

Your habits expose your character!

If you desire a good character form good habits!

“Our habits will make us or break us. We become what we repeatedly do.”  – Sean Covey

The most dangerous and character deforming habits are your thought habits.

Stop Bad Habits

Start Good Habits

_________________________________________

The Struggle is Real

Romans 7:18-19

For I know that nothing good lives within the flesh of my fallen humanity. The longings to do what is right are within me, but willpower is not enough to accomplish it.My lofty desires to do what is good are dashed when I do the things I want to avoid.

_________________________________________

The justification of poor responses to Christ erodes good character.

_________________________________________

Justifications

Four reasons you have not let Christ transform your Character

_________________________________________

You believe in Him but you haven’t got to really know Him!

Titus 1:16

They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.

You are informed about God, but your character has not been transformed by Him!

_________________________________________

2. You believe in Him but you live as if He doesn’t exist!

1 Timothy 3:5

They may pretend to have a respect for God, but in reality they want nothing to do with God’s power. Stay away from people like these!

You know His principles but justify their exclusion from your character or circumstance!

The greatest evidence of the fear of God is your immediate obedience to Him.

John 14:15

If you love me, keep my commands.

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3. You believe in Jesus but you don’t want to be a fanatic!

Revelation 3:16

So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

Revelation 3:20

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.  

You have been declared holy, different, radical and transformed.

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4. You believe in Jesus but you don’t fully trust Him

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all

SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS: [email protected]

Firmly Planted, Pt. 4 — “Stand Against the Wind”

Victory Life, Brownwood — Sunday June 13, 2021

Psalm 1:1-3 (ESV) Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. 

Storms are inevitable, standing is optional. 

The objective in a storm is not control, but rootedness.

The unexpected does not have to mean being unprepared.

[ How to Dig Deeper Roots ]

Psalm 1:1-3 (ESV) Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

Meditating on the Word

Luke 6:46-49 (ESV) “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.” 

Integration of the Word (Luke 6:46-49)

Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NKJV) Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit. 

Trusting in the Lord

Intimacy with Jesus (John 15:4-5)

John 15:12-16 (ESV) “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”

Remain Rooted Together

Ephesians 3:14-19 (ESV) For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 

Integration and Intimacy in Community (Ephesians 3:14-19)

Ezekiel 47:12 (ESV) And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing. 

Identity is bestowed, Character is developed.

Romans 5:3-5 (ESV) Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and ho

THE OTHER SIDE

“OF A HARD HEART”

To be of Good Character you need to be rooted! 

You cannot be rooted if you have a hard heart! 

What does a hard heart look like? 

Set in your ways Easily offended Habitual/Religious Unteachable “I got this” / “I  know” 

The real storm is not your circumstances but your hard heart! 

The Tale of Two Storms 

Storm 1 

Mark 4:35-41 

“Later that day, after it grew dark, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the lake.” After they had sent the crowd away, they shoved off from shore with him, as he had been teaching from the boat, and there were other boats that sailed with them. Suddenly, as they were crossing the lake, a ferocious tempest arose, with violent winds and waves that were crashing into the boat until it was all but swamped. But Jesus was calmly sleeping in the stern, resting on a cushion. So they shook him awake, saying, “Teacher, don’t you even care that we are all about to die!” Fully awake, he rebuked the storm and shouted to the sea, “Hush! Calm down!” All at once the wind stopped howling and the water became perfectly calm. Then he turned to his disciples and said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Haven’t you learned to trust yet?” But they were overwhelmed with fear and awe and said to one another, “Who is this man who has such authority that even t”

Mark 4:35-41 TPT

Asked “do you even care?” Amplified drama Thought they were going to die 

At times we believe that a storms objective is to grow us in faith! But if the storm was from God then why did Jesus rebuke it? 

Jesus was in the storm. But the storm was in the disciples! 

The disciples thought “we got this!” They’ve done this before. It was their way of life! 

Molded by their own habits, hurts, traditions, abilities and thoughts! 

This is all ground were seeds cannot grow! 

Seeds 

Mark 4:13 

“If you don’t understand this parable, how will you understand any parable? 

If you miss what God is saying, you’ll miss what God is doing! 

Mark 4:14

The Farmer sows the Word as seed! 

Your heart is the soil! 

Not having an understanding of the parable amplified the storm by hardening the heart of the disciples. 

The storm comes to choke the seed! 

Storm 2 

Mark 6:35-52

“After everyone had their meal, Jesus instructed his disciples to get back into the boat and go on ahead of him and sail to the other side to Bethsaida. So he dispersed the crowd, said good-bye to his disciples, then slipped away to pray on the mountain. As night fell, the boat was in the middle of the lake and Jesus was alone on land. The wind was against the disciples and he could see that they were straining at the oars, trying to make headway. When it was almost morning, Jesus came to them, walking on the surface of the water, and he started to pass by them. When they all saw him walking on the waves, they thought he was a ghost and screamed out in terror. But he said to them at once, “Don’t yield to fear. Have courage. It’s really me—I Am!” Then he came closer and climbed into the boat with them, and immediately the stormy wind became still. They were completely and utterly overwhelmed with astonishment because they failed to learn the lesson of the miracle of the loaves, and their hearts were unwilling to learn the lesson.”

Mark 6:45-52 TPT

Asked with longing not fear Did something different (they were rowing)They believed 

Three Storm Stoppers 

Ask the right questions 

“We have a biblical mandate to know God and study His Word by asking questions and seeking answers.” Billy Graham

I Chronicles 28:9 NKJV

““As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.”

I Chronicles 28:9 NKJV

Who is in th

The panel, which included Pastor Joey Bishop, Angela Bishop, and Professor Jim Wunderle, discussed marriage and family! This is the beginning of a longer series that we will continue on these next couple Wednesdays.

Sunday June 13, 2021

Psalm 1:1-3 (ESV) Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. 

Storms are inevitable, standing is optional. 

The objective in a storm is not control, but rootedness.

The unexpected does not have to mean being unprepared.

[ How to Dig Deeper Roots ]

Psalm 1:1-3 (ESV) Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

Meditating on the Word

Luke 6:46-49 (ESV) “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.” 

Integration of the Word (Luke 6:46-49)

Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NKJV) Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit. 

Trusting in the Lord

Intimacy with Jesus (John 15:4-5)

John 15:12-16 (ESV) “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”

Remain Rooted Together

Ephesians 3:14-19 (ESV) For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 

Integration and Intimacy in Community (Ephesians 3:14-19)

Ezekiel 47:12 (ESV) And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing. 

Identity is bestowed, Character is developed.

Romans 5:3-5 (ESV) Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to

Firmly Planted 3

The Power of the Forest

Psalm 1:1-3 – The Message

How well God must like you—    you don’t walk in the ruts of those blind-as-bats,    you don’t stand with the good-for-nothings,    you don’t take your seat among the know-it-alls.

Instead you thrill to do God’s Word,    you chew on Scripture day and night.You’re a tree replanted in Eden,    bearing fresh fruit every month,Never dropping a leaf,    always in blossom.

Deeply rooted in what we believe not caught up in what we do.

Deeply rooted in what we believe not caught up in what we feel.

Deeply rooted in what we believe not caught up in what others think.

Not distracted by our fruit but getting focussed on our roots.

WEEK 1 – You are a good tree

WEEK 2 – Roots – Positioned by the promises of God

WEEK 3 – Aligned with others – the power of the forest

WEEK 4 – Keep planted – Spiritual Stamina

Hebrews 12:1

As for us, we have all of these great witnesses who encircle us like clouds. So we must let go of every wound that has pierced us and the sin we so easily fall into. Then we will be able to run life’s marathon race with passion and determination, for the path has been already marked out before us.

The path set before us is the promises of God. 

The positioning and the planting of God becomes a reality that we can live out with passion and determination, we will be able to hang on to His promises despite the sin and hurt of this world, when we link arms with those around us.

Show me a man’s friends and I will show you his destiny

If you show me a man’s church I will show you his power.

1 Corinthians 15:33 – The Passion Translation

So stop fooling yourselves! Evil companions will corrupt good morals and character.

This is likely a quotation from the Athenian poet Menander and Paul is using this quote to encourage the believers to stay away from those who deny the resurrection.

The group of people you call your church is a supernatural expression of the power of Jesus.

CHURCH IS SUPERNATURAL

Romans 12:3-5 – The Passion Translation

God has given me grace to speak a warning about pride. I would ask each of you to be emptied of self-promotion and not create a false image of your importance. Instead, honestly assess your worth by using your God-given faith as the standard of measurement, and then you will see your true value with an appropriate self-esteem. In the human body there are many parts and organs, each with a unique function. And so it is in the body of Christ. For though we are many, we’ve all been mingled into one body in Christ. This means that we are all vitally joined to one another, with each contributing to the others.

1. IT’S NOT ABOUT US

We don’t live life working out what we believe. We decide on what we believe and life our lives accordingly.

Roots vs. Fairy Stories

Rooted

Messiah is Jesus and the Gospels were written by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Fairy Stories

Messiah is Hans Christian Anderson

Gospels written by the Brothers Grimm

Firmly rooted means that, in the most difficult of circumstances, we call out the real rooted promises of Jesus and not the whimsical fairy tale one-liners of our imaginations.

2. IT’S ALL ABOUT OTHERS

Those who are firmly planted in Jesus become the foundation for others to find their roots.

Galatians 6:9-10

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Psalm 68:5-6

To the fatherless he is a father.

    To the widow he is a champion friend.

    The lonely he makes part of a family.

    The prisoners he leads into prosperity until they sing for joy.

    This is our Holy God in his Holy Place!

    But for the rebels there is heartache and despair. (live in a sun-scorched land.)

If you are feeling s