Character or Comfort?

Eph. 4:14(NIV) “Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.”

God wants us to grow up to be mature like Jesus Christ!

How do we do this?
BIBLE STUDIES, GODLY PEOPLE, AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

Rom. 12:2(NIV) “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is---his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

God uses the good, the bad, & the ugly to build our character.

Rom. 5:3(NIV) “…rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”

Don’t ask why me, but rather why not me,
so I may be like Jesus Christ!

Our goal in life is to be is CHARACTER, like a muscle developed in our troubles!

God is far more interested in who you are,
than in what you are doing!

God uses TEMPTATION to teach us to OBEY, and to GROW us.
CHARACTER builds good CHOICES in our lives.

Matt.4:1(NIV) “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.”

We will never out grow temptation,
But God will turn it around for our good!

Focus your mind on GOOD thoughts, guarding your mind from bad thoughts!

Who do we love more comfort, or God!
If you love God, you will obey him!

Gal 5:22(NIV) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithness, gentlesness and self-control. Againist such things there is no law.”

God uses trespasses to teach us to forgive others.

Luke 23:34(NIV) Jesus said, “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

God hates evil but, but will bring the good out of bad!

Gen.50:20(NCV) “you meant to hurt me, but God turned evil into good to save the lives of many people, which is being done.”

Remember God has forgiven me,
therefore I must forgive others!

Eph. 4:32(CEV) “Forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ.”

To be like Christ we have to be hurt!

Rom. 8:17(MSG) “We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with Him, them we’re certainly going to go through the good times with Him.”

Suffering gives us an opportunity to display God’s work!
Quote from book: Where is God when It Hurts?

Phil. 2:5(NIV) “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.”

God will take us thru our own wilderness experiences!

Eccl. 4:9-10(CEV) You’re better off to have a friend than to be all alone...
if you fall, your friend can help you up.”

Your greatest testimony ---Is what we do when we are hurt