What is the value of character

1
What is the value of character?

• Character is moral strength and courage. (Rom
  53-5)  

2
What is the value of character?

•  Romans 53-5 (NKJV) - And not only that, but
  we also glory in tribulations, knowing that
  tribulation produces perseverance 4 and
  perseverance, character and character, hope. 5
  Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of
  God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy
  Spirit who was given to us.

3
What is the value of character?

• Character is moral strength and courage. (Rom
  53-5)  
• Men of faith stand when desires beckon to
  another path. (Heb 1124-25)

4
What is the value of character?

• Hebrews 1124-25 (NKJV) - By faith Moses, when
  he became of age, refused to be called the son of
  Pharaohs daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer
  affliction with the people of God than to enjoy
  the passing pleasures of sin,

5
What is the value of character?

• Character is moral strength and courage. (Rom
  53-5)  
• Men of faith stand when desires beckon to
  another path. (Heb 1124-25)
• Many are overconfident and blind as to their true
  character. (2 Cor 135 1 Cor 1012)  

6
What is the value of character?

• 2 Corinthians 135 (NKJV) - Examine yourselves as
  to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves.
  Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is
  in you?unless indeed you are disqualified.

7
What is the value of character?

• 1 Corinthians 1012 (NKJV) - Therefore let him
  who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 

8
What is the value of character?

• The reason men stand is because of preparation in
  the word of God. (Psa 11911)

9
What is the value of character?

• Psalm 11911 (NKJV) - Your word I have hidden in
  my heart, That I might not sin against You.

10
The Advantages of Easu

• He had Godly parents, Isaac and Rebekah.
  (Gen 2525-28)

11
The Advantages of Easu

• Genesis 2525-28 (NKJV) - And the first came out
  red. He was like a hairy garment all over so
  they called his name Esau. 26 Afterward his
  brother came out, and his hand took hold of
  Esaus heel so his name was called Jacob. Isaac
  was sixty years old when she bore them.

12
The Advantages of Easu

• 27 So the boys grew. And Esau was a skillful
  hunter, a man of the field but Jacob was a mild
  man, dwelling in tents. 28 And Isaac loved Esau
  because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved
  Jacob.

13
The Advantages of Easu

• Isaac was the beloved son of Abraham!

14
The Advantages of Easu

• Isaac was the beloved son of Abraham!
• God identified Himself to Moses as being the God
  of Isaac! (Acts 731-32)

15
The Advantages of Easu

• Acts 731-32 (NKJV) - When Moses saw it, he
  marveled at the sight and as he drew near to
  observe, the voice of the Lord came to him, 32
  saying, I am the God of your fathersthe God of
  Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.
  And Moses trembled and dared not look.

16
The Advantages of Easu

• Unfortunately both Isaac and Rebekah became
  divided and showed favoritism. (Gen
  2528)

17
The Advantages of Easu

• Genesis 2528 (NKJV) - And Isaac loved Esau
  because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved
  Jacob.

18
The Advantages of Easu

• This division had terrible consequences. Parents
  need unity to give the greatest
  strength of character to a child!

19
The Advantages of Easu

• This division had terrible consequences. Parents
  need unity to give the greatest
  strength of character to a child!
• This later led to deceit, bitterness and
  separation.

20
The Advantages of Easu

• He had Godly parents, Isaac and Rebekah.
  (Gen 2525-28)
• He was the firstborn. (Gen 121-3)

21
The Advantages of Easu

• In other words he had the birthright.

22
The Advantages of Easu

• In other words he had the birthright.
• This meant a double share of the inheritance and
  first place among the sons.

23
The Advantages of Easu

• In other words he had the birthright.
• This meant a double share of the inheritance and
  first place among the sons.
• Because he was a direct descendant of Abraham a
  major spiritual blessing was involved. He
  knew of the exalted place he occupied.

24
The Advantages of Easu

• He had Godly parents, Isaac and Rebekah.
  (Gen 2525-28)
• He was the firstborn. (Gen 121-3)

25
The Advantages of Easu

• God had blessed Esau greatly.

26
The Advantages of Easu

• God had blessed Esau greatly.
• God's prophecy of Isaac and Esau was of their
  descendants. (Rom 911-13 Gen 2523)

27
The Advantages of Easu

• Romans 911-13 (NKJV) - (for the children not yet
  being born, nor having done any good or evil,
  that the purpose of God according to election
  might stand, not of works but of Him who calls),
  12 it was said to her, The older shall serve the
  younger. 13 As it is written, Jacob I have
  loved, but Esau I have hated.

28
The Advantages of Easu

• Genesis 2523 (NKJV) - And the LORD said to her
  Two nations are in your womb, Two peoples shall
  be separated from your body One people shall be
  stronger than the other, And the older shall
  serve the younger.

29
The Advantages of Easu

• No man can blame God for their failures!
  (Jas 113)

30
The Advantages of Easu

• James 113 (NKJV) - Let no one say when he is
  tempted, I am tempted by God for God cannot be
  tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.

31
The Obsession of Esau

• Esau made a choice based upon a temporary
  obsession. (Gen 2529-34)

32
The Obsession of Esau

• Genesis 2529-34 (NKJV) - Now Jacob cooked a
  stew and Esau came in from the field, and he was
  weary. 30 And Esau said to Jacob, Please feed me
  with that same red stew, for I am weary.
  Therefore his name was called Edom.31 But Jacob
  said, Sell me your birthright as of this day.
  32 And Esau said, Look, I am about to die so
  what is this birthright to me?

33
The Obsession of Esau

• 33 Then Jacob said, Swear to me as of this day.
  So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to
  Jacob. 34 And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of
  lentils then he ate and drank, arose, and went
  his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

34
The Obsession of Esau

• If a man could have half his wishes, he would
  double his troubles.

35
The Obsession of Esau

• In this world there are only two tragedies. One
  is not getting what one wants, and the other is
  getting it.

36
The Obsession of Esau

• Esau made a choice based upon a temporary
  obsession. (Gen 2529-34)
• There are two ways of thinking and making
  decisions. (Rom 85-6)

37
The Obsession of Esau

• Romans 85-6 (NKJV) - For those who live
  according to the flesh set their minds on the
  things of the flesh, but those who live according
  to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For
  to be carnally minded is death, but to be
  spiritually minded is life and peace.

38
The Obsession of Esau

• Because of Esau's carnal mind he "despised" that
  which was truly valuable.

39
The Obsession of Esau

• Because of Esau's carnal mind he "despised" that
  which was truly valuable.
• When we treat God's things lightly we despise it.
  (1 Cor 1122)

40
The Obsession of Esau

• 1 Corinthians 1122 (NKJV) - What! Do you not
  have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you
  despise the church of God and shame those who
  have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I
  praise you in this? I do not praise you.

41
The Obsession of Esau

• Characteristics of obsession.

42
The Obsession of Esau

• Obsession has its own reality. (Gen 2532)

43
The Obsession of Esau

• Obsession "1. Compulsive preoccupation with a
  fixed idea or an unwanted feeling or emotion,
  often accompanied by symptoms of anxiety. 2. A
  compulsive, often unreasonable idea or emotion."

44
The Obsession of Esau

• Genesis 2532 (NKJV) - And Esau said, Look, I
  am about to die so what is this birthright to
  me?

45
The Obsession of Esau

• Was Esau about to die? NO!

46
The Obsession of Esau

• Was Esau about to die? NO!
• The strong desire for something causes one to
  believe a lie.

47
The Obsession of Esau

• Was Esau about to die? NO!
• The strong desire for something causes one to
  believe a lie.
• Reason has little value, the goal is to obtain
  the thing desired not to see and stand upon the
  truth. (Ex. The desire for a mate.)

48
The Obsession of Esau

• All passions exaggerate it is only because they
  exaggerate that they are passions. It is
  difficult to overcome one's passions, and
  impossible to satisfy them.

49
The Obsession of Esau

• Govern your passions, or they will govern you.
  -- Latin proverb

50
The Obsession of Esau

• This is the driving force behind most false
  teachers. God described Balaam as "mad". (2 Peter
  215-16 Jude 11)

51
The Obsession of Esau

• 2 Peter 215-16 (NKJV) - They have forsaken the
  right way and gone astray, following the way of
  Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of
  unrighteousness 16 but he was rebuked for his
  iniquity a dumb donkey speaking with a mans
  voice restrained the madness of the prophet.

52
The Obsession of Esau

• Jude 11 (NKJV) - Woe to them! For they have gone
  in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the
  error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the
  rebellion of Korah.

53
The Obsession of Esau

• If you want something bad enough, God will give
  it to you! (2 Thess 211-12)

54
The Obsession of Esau

• 2 Thessalonians 211-12 (NKJV) - And for this
  reason God will send them strong delusion, that
  they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may
  be condemned who did not believe the truth but
  had pleasure in unrighteousness.

55
The Obsession of Esau

• Man finds it hard to get what he wants because
  he does not want the best God finds it hard to
  give because he would give the best and man will
  not take it.

56
The Obsession of Esau

• How many Christians have I seen give up heaven
  for an obsession!

57
The Obsession of Esau

• Obsession has no concept of waiting. (Gen 2534)

58
The Obsession of Esau

• Genesis 2534 (NKJV) - And Jacob gave Esau bread
  and stew of lentils then he ate and drank,
  arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his
  birthright.

59
The Obsession of Esau

• Why wait for something? Wisdom knows why. (Isa
  4031 Hosea 126)

60
The Obsession of Esau

• Isaiah 4031 (NKJV) - But those who wait on the
  LORD Shall renew their strength They shall mount
  up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not
  be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

61
The Obsession of Esau

• Hosea 126 (NKJV) - So you, by the help of your
  God, return Observe mercy and justice, And wait
  on your God continually.

62
The Obsession of Esau

• What are the dangers of rushing? You may leave
  God out!

63
The Obsession of Esau

• Obsession will pay any price.

64
The Obsession of Esau

• Obsession will pay any price.
• Salesmen love to create obsession in their
  customers. Why?

65
The Obsession of Esau

• Advertising deals in open sores--. Fear. Greed.
  Anger. Hostility. You name the dwarfs and we play
  on every one. We play on all the emotions and on
  all the problems, from not getting ahead -- to
  the desire to be one of the crowd. Everyone has a
  button. If enough people have the same button,
  you have a successful ad and a successful
  product. - Ad executive Jerry Della Femina

66
The Obsession of Esau

• When reason departs men close their eyes. What
  will they think later when they look back?

67
The Obsession of Esau

• Obsession is powerful.

68
The Obsession of Esau

• Obsession is powerful.
• The power is found in our lusts. (1 Pt 211 1
  Tim 69)

69
The Obsession of Esau

• 1 Peter 211 (NKJV) - Beloved, I beg you as
  sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly
  lusts which war against the soul,

70
The Obsession of Esau

• 1 Timothy 69 (NKJV) - But those who desire to
  be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and
  into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown
  men in destruction and perdition.

71
The Obsession of Esau

• Too many of our young think they will not be
  affected. (2 Tim 222 Rom 124)

72
The Obsession of Esau

• 2 Timothy 222 (NKJV) - Flee also youthful
  lusts but pursue righteousness, faith, love,
  peace with those who call on the Lord out of a
  pure heart.

73
The Obsession of Esau

• Romans 124 (NKJV) - Therefore God also gave
  them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their
  hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,

74
The Obsession of Esau

• All false teaching has this "power" as its
  drawing power. (Eph 422 Jude 16)

75
The Obsession of Esau

• Ephesians 422 (NKJV) - that you put off,
  concerning your former conduct, the old man which
  grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,

76
The Obsession of Esau

• Jude 16 (NKJV) - These are grumblers,
  complainers, walking according to their own
  lusts and they mouth great swelling words,
  flattering people to gain advantage.

77
The Obsession of Esau

• If you deny this point ask an alcoholic or drug
  addict.

78
The Obsession of Esau

• Obsession cannot see the future and its
  consequences. (Heb 1216-17)

79
The Obsession of Esau

• Hebrews 1216-17 (NKJV) - lest there be any
  fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for
  one morsel of food sold his birthright. 17 For
  you know that afterward, when he wanted to
  inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he
  found no place for repentance, though he sought
  it diligently with tears.

80
The Obsession of Esau

• Satan wants you to be deceived. (Eph 422)

81
The Obsession of Esau

• Ephesians 422 (NKJV) - that you put off,
  concerning your former conduct, the old man which
  grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,

82
The Obsession of Esau

• Some luck lies in not getting what you thought
  you wanted but getting what you have, which once
  you have it you may be smart enough to see is
  what you would have wanted had you known. --
  Garrison Keillor in Lake Wobegon Days.

83
The Obsession of Esau

• The great value of the gospel is that it is true.
  (Psa 13-5)

84
The Obsession of Esau

• Psalm 13-5 (NKJV) - He shall be like a tree
  Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth
  its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall
  not wither And whatever he does shall prosper.
  4 The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff
  which the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the
  ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor
  sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

85
The Obsession of Esau

• While Esau's obsession was temporary, could Esau
  change the past?

86
The Obsession of Esau

• While Esau's obsession was temporary, could Esau
  change the past?
• Sadly Esau continued in bad decisions because he
  was a "profane" person. (Gen 2741)

87
The Obsession of Esau

• Genesis 2741 (NKJV) - So Esau hated Jacob
  because of the blessing with which his father
  blessed him, and Esau said in his heart, The
  days of mourning for my father are at hand then
  I will kill my brother Jacob.

88
Obsessions of our Generation

• Sexual Desire (Heb 134 1 Cor 618)

89
Obsessions of our Generation

• Hebrews 134 (NKJV) - Marriage is honorable
  among all, and the bed undefiled but fornicators
  and adulterers God will judge.

90
Obsessions of our Generation

• 1 Corinthians 618 (NKJV) - Flee sexual
  immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside
  the body, but he who commits sexual immorality
  sins against his own body.

91
Obsessions of our Generation

• The Need for a Mate (Mark 617)

92
Obsessions of our Generation

• Mark 617 (NKJV) - For Herod himself had sent
  and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison
  for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philips
  wife for he had married her.

93
Obsessions of our Generation

• The desire for Material Things. (1 Tim 69-10)

94
Obsessions of our Generation

• 1 Timothy 69-10 (NKJV) - But those who desire
  to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and
  into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown
  men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love
  of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for
  which some have strayed from the faith in their
  greediness, and pierced themselves through with
  many sorrows.

95
Obsessions of our Generation

• It is characteristic of our age that people want
  to have God but do not want to have the Devil.
  People are inventing gods for themselves, with
  what I have elsewhere called their do-it-yourself
  God Kits. But they are gods who do not demand
  much of them, and they certainly are not gods who
  punish, although they are allowed to reward.

96
Obsessions of our Generation

• On the contrary, their gods absolve them from
  conflict and doubt, massage them, pat them on the
  head. ... But above all they are gods who will
  not trouble them with the fact of evil. The
  problems of evil, suffering, and death are not
  confronted, but evaded and dismissed. -- Henry
  Fairlie

97
Obsessions of our Generation

• The desire for Revenge. (Rom 1219-21 Eph
  431-32 Heb 1215)

98
Obsessions of our Generation

• Romans 1219-21 (NKJV) - Beloved, do not avenge
  yourselves, but rather give place to wrath for
  it is written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,
  says the Lord. 20 Therefore If your enemy is
  hungry, feed him If he is thirsty, give him a
  drink For in so doing you will heap coals of
  fire on his head. 21 Do not be overcome by evil,
  but overcome evil with good.

99
Obsessions of our Generation

• Ephesians 431-32 (NKJV) - Let all bitterness,
  wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put
  away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to
  one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one
  another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

100
Obsessions of our Generation

• Hebrews 1215 (NKJV) - looking carefully lest
  anyone fall short of the grace of God lest any
  root of bitterness springing up cause trouble,
  and by this many become defiled

101
Obsessions of our Generation

• The Desire for Alcohol and Drugs. (Prov
  2332-35)

102
Obsessions of our Generation

• Proverbs 2332-35 (NKJV) - At the last it bites
  like a serpent, And stings like a viper. 33 Your
  eyes will see strange things, And your heart will
  utter perverse things. 34 Yes, you will be like
  one who lies down in the midst of the sea, Or
  like one who lies at the top of the mast, saying
  35 They have struck me, but I was not hurt They
  have beaten me, but I did not feel it. When
  shall I awake, that I may seek another drink?

103
Obsessions of our Generation

• The Desire for Attention.

104
How to Overcome Obsession

• Build a Character that pleases God. (Heb 1117)

105
How to Overcome Obsession

• Hebrews 1117 (NKJV) - By faith Abraham, when he
  was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had
  received the promises offered up his only
  begotten son,

106
How to Overcome Obsession

• Why does a person attend all the services?
  Principle or ease?

107
How to Overcome Obsession

• When obsession comes, you will find out what a
  person is made of.

108
How to Overcome Obsession

• When obsession comes, you will find out what a
  person is made of.
• True spirituality manifests itself in certain
  dominant desires.

109
How to Overcome Obsession

• When obsession comes, you will find out what a
  person is made of.
• True spirituality manifests itself in certain
  dominant desires.
• First is the desire to be holy rather than happy.

110
How to Overcome Obsession

• A man may be considered spiritual when he wants
  to see the honor of God advanced through his life
  even if it means that he himself must suffer
  temporary dishonor or loss.

111
How to Overcome Obsession

• A man may be considered spiritual when he wants
  to see the honor of God advanced through his life
  even if it means that he himself must suffer
  temporary dishonor or loss.
• The spiritual man wants to carry his cross.

112
How to Overcome Obsession

• A man may be considered spiritual when he wants
  to see the honor of God advanced through his life
  even if it means that he himself must suffer
  temporary dishonor or loss.
• The spiritual man wants to carry his cross.
• Again, a Christian is spiritual when he sees
  everything from God's viewpoint.

113
How to Overcome Obsession

• Another desire of the spiritual man is to die
  right rather than to live wrong.

114
How to Overcome Obsession

• Another desire of the spiritual man is to die
  right rather than to live wrong.
• The desire to see others advance at his expense.

115
How to Overcome Obsession

• Another desire of the spiritual man is to die
  right rather than to live wrong.
• The desire to see others advance at his expense.
• The spiritual man habitually makes
  eternity-judgments instead of time-judgments.

116
How to Overcome Obsession

• Keep Thinking. (1 Thess 521-22)

117
How to Overcome Obsession

• 1 Thessalonians 521-22 (NKJV) - Test all
  things hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from
  every form of evil.

118
How to Overcome Obsession

• Selfishness consists in dethroning reason from
  the seat of government and enthroning blind
  desire in opposition to it. Selfishness is always
  and by necessity unreasonable. It is a denial of
  that divine attribute that allies human beings to
  God and makes us capable of virtue. Selfishness
  dethrones reason and sinks human beings to the
  level of a brute.

119
How to Overcome Obsession

• It is a contempt for the voice of God within in
  him, and a deliberate trampling down of the
  sovereignty of his own intelligence. Shame on
  selfishness! It dethrones human reason, would
  dethrone the Divine mind. and would place blind
  lust upon the throne of the universe.

120
How to Overcome Obsession

• Have friends who will tell you what you need, not
  what you want! (2 Tim 42-4)

121
How to Overcome Obsession

• 2 Timothy 42-4 (NKJV) - Preach the word! Be
  ready in season and out of season. Convince,
  rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and
  teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will
  not endure sound doctrine, but according to their
  own desires, because they have itching ears, they
  will heap up for themselves teachers 4 and they
  will turn their ears away from the truth, and be
  turned aside to fables.

122
How to Overcome Obsession

• It is an awful hour when the first necessity of
  hiding anything comes. The whole life is
  different thenceforth. When there are questions
  to be feared and eyes to be avoided and subjects
  that must not be touched, then the bloom of life
  is gone.

123
How to Overcome Obsession

• Maintain proper worship. (Psa 7312-17 Rev 24)

124
How to Overcome Obsession

• Psalm 7312-17 (NKJV) - Behold, these are the
  ungodly, Who are always at ease They increase in
  riches. 13 Surely I have cleansed my heart in
  vain, And washed my hands in innocence. 14 For
  all day long I have been plagued, And chastened
  every morning. 15 If I had said, I will speak
  thus, Behold, I would have been untrue to the
  generation of Your children.

125
How to Overcome Obsession

• 16 When I thought how to understand this, It was
  too painful for me 17 Until I went into the
  sanctuary of God Then I understood their end.

126
How to Overcome Obsession

• Revelation 24 (NKJV) - Nevertheless I have this
  against you, that you have left your first love.

127
How to Overcome Obsession

• Go to Spiritual men for advice. (John 319-21)

128
How to Overcome Obsession

• John 319-21 (NKJV) - And this is the
  condemnation, that the light has come into the
  world, and men loved darkness rather than light,
  because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone
  practicing evil hates the light and does not come
  to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
  21 But he who does the truth comes to the light,
  that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they
  have been done in God.

129
How to Overcome Obsession

• A spiritual person wants to be tested. What if
  Esau had first talked with Isaac?

130
How to Overcome Obsession

• A spiritual person wants to be tested. What if
  Esau had first talked with Isaac?
• There is a difference in the advice of the
  worldly and the spiritual.

131
How to Overcome Obsession

• A spiritual person wants to be tested. What if
  Esau had first talked with Isaac?
• There is a difference in the advice of the
  worldly and the spiritual.
• Who do you want in control of your life, God or
  Satan?

132
How to Overcome Obsession

• Beware of worshipping Jesus as the Son of God,
  and professing your faith in Him as the Savior of
  the world, while you blaspheme Him by the
  complete evidence in your daily life that He is
  powerless to do anything in and through you.

133
How to Overcome Obsession

• Esau found out the bitterness Satan brings into
  one's life. (Gen 2738)

134
How to Overcome Obsession

• Genesis 2738 (NKJV) - And Esau said to his
  father, Have you only one blessing, my father?
  Bless meme also, O my father! And Esau lifted
  up his voice and wept.

135
How to Overcome Obsession

• Prepare your heart today to meet the time of
  obsession. (1 Cor 1013)

136
How to Overcome Obsession

• 1 Corinthians 1013 (NKJV) - No temptation has
  overtaken you except such as is common to man
  but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be
  tempted beyond what you are able, but with the
  temptation will also make the way of escape, that
  you may be able to bear it.

137
How to Overcome Obsession

• Faith in God will not get for you everything you
  may want, but it will get for you what God wants
  you to have. The unbeliever does not need what he
  wants the Christian should want only what he
  needs.