Character%20Tests

1

• Character Tests
• Romans 54

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Who Wants to Take A Test?

• Lets take a test. No way! We dont like tests.
• Our life is a one big test. This test cannot be
  avoided. Its a pass or fail exam.
• Character is everything!

3
Character in the NT

• The Gr. dokime means to past the test and stand
  approved or a stamp of approval. It is
  translated experience, approvedness, or
  character.
• This word is found 6 times in the NT Rom.54 2
  Cor.29 82 913 133 Phil.222.

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Six Tests of Character

• 1. When you are given a Bible command (teaching)
  contrary to your thinking.
• How do we react? Argue about it, substitute, or
  ignore it?
• Examples Naaman (2 K.51-14), rich young ruler
  (Mt.1916-22), and Peter (Ac.109-16 cf. 1117).

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Six Tests of Character

• There are Bible commands that are contrary to our
  thinking husbands (Eph. 523ff 1 Pet.37)
  wives (Eph.523 1 Cor.113) and children
  (Eph.61).
• Disobedience shows poor character (Tit.33).

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Six Tests of Character

• 2. When you are alone.
• How do we react? Misbehave, fall into sin, or act
  without restraint?
• Examples of those who were alone Joseph (Gen.
  37), Daniel and friends (Dan. 1 3 6), and Peter
  (Mt. 26).

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Six Tests of Character

• We must remember that God sees all. He sees the
  good and the evil (Prov. 153). We are naked
  before God (Heb. 412).
• Doing shameful things in secret shows poor
  character (Eph. 512).

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Six Tests of Character

• 3. When you fail.
• How do we react? Disappointment, discouragement,
  or give up and quit?
• Examples of those who failed, but continued on
  Joshua (Josh.6-7), Peter the fishermen
  (Lk.51-11), and Peters denial (Lk.2232).

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Six Tests of Character

• We must learn from our failures and move on. The
  only place where success comes before work is in
  the dictionary.
• Surrendering to defeat shows poor character (2
  Sam. 1723 Mt. 275).

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Six Tests of Character

• 4. When you are persecuted or mistreated.
• How do we react? Complain, give up and quit, or
  revenge?
• Examples of those who were persecuted, but kept
  on Peter John (Ac.4-5), the Jerusalem church
  (Ac.81-4), Paul (Ac.1419-22 cf. 2
  Cor.1123,32-33 Ac.2022-24), and Jesus (1 Pet.
  223).

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Six Tests of Character

• We must endure our persecution and move on.
  Persecution reveals our character (1 Pet. 17).
• Quitting shows poor character (Gal. 69 Heb.
  123).

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Six Tests of Character

• 5. When you are criticized (justly or unjustly).
• How do you react? Cry unfair, give up and quit,
  or revenge?
• Examples of persons who were criticized for doing
  Gods work Nehemiah (41-6), Paul Silas
  (Ac.1620-21), John and Jesus (Mt.1118-19).

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Six Tests of Character

• We must continue on through criticism. When the
  criticism is fair and just, do we listen to it
  and make correction (Prov. 98-9)?
• Not being able to receive criticism shows poor
  character (Prov. 1017 121 1532).

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Six Tests of Character

• 6. When you dont get your way.
• How do you react (matters of opinion)? Pout,
  childish, or forceful?
• Examples Paul Barnabas (Ac.1539), the Romans
  (141-153), and the Corinthians (81-13
  1023-33).
• Selfishness shows poor character (2
  Tim. 32).

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Character Tests

• Are you passing the character tests (2
  Cor.135-6 reprobate is adokimos, to fail the
  test).
• If we fail in the judgment day, we wont get an
  F, well get an H (for Hell).