Following Jesus (4) ‘CHARACTER’ – To Be Like Jesus

CHARACTER: TO BE LIKE JESUS
(Mark 3:13-19)
A Message by Rev Dr Vincent Leoh on 12 October 2008

Disciples are to be Fashioned BY Christ to BE LIKE Christ. “Follow Me and I will make you (become)…” (Mark 1:17). Following Christ means Change. Jesus taught character transformation. He taught His disciples what to be like, not what to do.

Character Defined – The moral constitution or pattern of behavior found in an individual. Character is who you are when no one is looking.

Next to knowing Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, nothing is more important than having a godly
Christ-like character.

FACTS ABOUT CHARACTER
1. Character is more than Talk.
2. Character is what you are, not what you appear to be.
3. Character is about who you are at the Core.
4. Character is about what you do – Consistently.
5. Character is a Choice.
6. Character brings lasting success with people.
7. People cannot rise above the limitations of their character.
8. Character is about what you are becoming.

Mark 3:14a, 16-17 Then He appointed twelve … Simon, to whom He gave the name Peter, James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is “Sons of Thunder.”

NEW NAME AND CHARACTER CHANGE
To three apostles Jesus adds new names: Simon (v16), James and John (v17). It’s more than a name change. It is reflective of God’s work in their life, their character change and their role in God’s kingdom.

I. JAMES AND JOHN: SONS OF THUNDER (Mark 3:17; Luke 9:46-56)

Boanerges – anger, rage, violent

JAMES: Thundering Character Gives way to Apostle of Passion (Luke 9:46-48; Acts 12:2)

JOHN: Thundering Character Gives way to Apostle of Love (Luke 9:49-50; John 18:15; 19:25-27; 1 John 3:11, 16; 4:7-12)

II. SIMON PETER: THE ROCK (Matthew 16:13-16; Luke 22:55-62; Acts 2:14-40)

Simon – “to hear” / Peter – “a stone or rock”

PETER ON CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT (2 Peter 1:2-8)

RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
1. FAITH (v5) – Decision to Believe and Trust God
2. GOODNESS / VIRTUE (v5) – Determination to do Right
3. KNOWLEDGE (v5) – Discernment of God’s Will

RELATIONSHIP WITH THE WORLD
4. SELF-CONTROL / TEMPERANCE (v6) – Discipline to say No to the desires of the flesh
5. PERSEVERANCE / PATIENCE (v6) – Durability during adversity
6. GODLINESS (v6) – Dedication to God

RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHERS
7. BROTHERLY KINDNESS (v7) – Deference towards the Brethren
8. LOVE / CHARITY (v7) – Deeds of Love towards Others

III. THE PATH OF CHRISTIAN CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT

1. THE REQUIREMENT OF DILIGENCE (v. 5).
God calls us to become more like Jesus! It is my eternal destiny. It is my daily pursuit! – 1 Jn 3:2; Romans 8:28-29

2. RELY ON GOD’S POWER AND PROMISES (2 Pet. 1:3, 4)
God has given us ALL things pertaining to life and godliness!

3. “PUT ON” CHARACTER (Col. 3:12-17; cf. Gal. 5:22)
If we compare that list with the one Paul makes in Galatians as the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, and peace. patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control we see the same sort of character because it’s the character of Jesus Christ Himself.

4. CHANGE OF THINKING / RENEWAL OF THE MIND WITH THE WORD OF GOD (Rom. 12:2)Transformation comes when you renew your mind. “Our character and our behavior will change, when our thinking changes. Change always starts in the mind.
The Bible called this ‘change of mind’ REPENTANCE– metanoia. Life change happens only AFTER you change your thinking. And the thinking can only be changed by the Word of God, when applied to us by the Holy Spirit.

GOD CAN MAKE YOU THE PERSON HE WANTS YOU TO BE

When Jesus looks at us, Jesus sees what others can’t … Jesus sees the heart. And when He looks at the heart He doesn’t see what you are …He sees what you can become. Jesus doesn’t let who we are get in the way of what He is able to make us be.