The Criteria of Character Four Tests of True Character.

The Criteria of Character

Four Tests of True Character

1.How Do We Deal With Failure

2.How Do We Deal With Criticism

3.How Do We Deal With Trials

4.How Do We Deal With “No”

• Dealing with failure is essential to living a godly life

• Failure may lead us to depression, anxiety, anger and bitterness

• True conversion can only occur when we recognize and correct our failures

How Do you deal with failure?

Will I use this failure to drive myself to become a better _______ and thus a better servant of God?

How Do you deal with failure?

How Did Paul deal with failure?How Did Paul deal with failure?

55 circumcised the eighth day, circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a of Hebrews; as to the Law, a

Pharisee; Pharisee; 66 as to zeal, a as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless. in the Law, found blameless. 77

But whatever things were But whatever things were gain to me, those things I gain to me, those things I

have counted as loss for the have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.sake of Christ.

Philippians 3:4–7 (NASB95)Philippians 3:4–7 (NASB95)

• His entire life’s goal was His entire life’s goal was built on a misconception built on a misconception that led to ultimate that led to ultimate failurefailure

- He put his confidence in He put his confidence in the “flesh”the “flesh”

- Excelled in the teachings Excelled in the teachings of the strictest sect of of the strictest sect of the Jewsthe Jews

- Acted with great zealActed with great zeal


1414 For we know that For we know that the Law is spiritual, the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage sold into bondage

to sin. to sin. Romans 7:14 Romans 7:14

(NASB95)(NASB95)

• Paul’s failure was in his Paul’s failure was in his core understanding of core understanding of how to relate to Godhow to relate to God

• ““flesh” - he put his trust flesh” - he put his trust in being a Jew rather in being a Jew rather than grace through the than grace through the GospelGospel


1818 For I know that nothing For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the is present in me, but the

doing of the good is not. doing of the good is not. 1919 For the good that I want, I For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice do not do, but I practice

the very evil that I do not the very evil that I do not want.Romans 7:18–19 want.Romans 7:18–19

(NASB95)(NASB95)

• Due to his false concept Due to his false concept his efforts at his efforts at righteousness failedrighteousness failed


4242 Nevertheless many Nevertheless many even of the rulers even of the rulers

believed in Him, but believed in Him, but because of the because of the

Pharisees they were not Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear confessing Him, for fear that they would be put that they would be put

out of the out of the synagogue;John 12:42 synagogue;John 12:42

(NASB95)(NASB95)


• Many of the Jews Many of the Jews struggled with this same struggled with this same failurefailure


2222 But at these words he But at these words he was saddened, and he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for went away grieving, for he was one who owned he was one who owned

much property.Mark much property.Mark 10:22 (NASB95)10:22 (NASB95)




88 More than that, I count More than that, I count all things to be loss in all things to be loss in view of the surpassing view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss I have suffered the loss of all things, and count of all things, and count

them but rubbish so them but rubbish so that I may gain that I may gain

Christ,Philippians 3:8 Christ,Philippians 3:8 (NASB95)(NASB95)



• Paul took the approach Paul took the approach of repentanceof repentance

•Will we stubbornly hold onto failed thinking?

•Will we forget “what lies behind”?

What will you do with your failures?

•Dealing with criticism is essential to maintaining a strong faith

•Some criticism will be just•Some criticism will be unjust

How Do You Deal With Criticism?

How Did Paul deal with How Did Paul deal with unjust criticism?unjust criticism?

1313 But Ananias But Ananias answered, “Lord, I answered, “Lord, I have heard from have heard from

many about this man, many about this man, how much harm he how much harm he did to Your saints at did to Your saints at Jerusalem;Acts 9:13 Jerusalem;Acts 9:13

(NASB95)(NASB95)

• He never let criticism He never let criticism prevent him from prevent him from servingserving


2323 But I call God as witness to But I call God as witness to my soul, that to spare you I my soul, that to spare you I

did not come again to did not come again to Corinth. Corinth. 2424 Not that we lord it Not that we lord it

over your faith, but are over your faith, but are workers with you for your workers with you for your

joy; for in your faith you are joy; for in your faith you are standing firm.2 Corinthians standing firm.2 Corinthians

1:23–24 (NASB95)1:23–24 (NASB95)


• He never allowed himself He never allowed himself to forget the true focus to forget the true focus of his lifeof his life


11 I wish that you would bear I wish that you would bear with me in a little with me in a little

foolishness; but indeed you foolishness; but indeed you are bearing with me. are bearing with me. 22 For I For I am jealous for you with a am jealous for you with a

godly jealousy; for I godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one betrothed you to one

husband, so that to Christ I husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure might present you as a pure virgin.2 Corinthians 11:1–2 virgin.2 Corinthians 11:1–2

(NASB95)(NASB95)


• He never allowed himself He never allowed himself to forget the true focus to forget the true focus of his lifeof his life

• Rather than descend to Rather than descend to the mire he encouraged the mire he encouraged the faith if his criticsthe faith if his critics

• Will you use unjust criticism as an opportunity to demonstrate love?

• Will you use unjust criticism as an opportunity to encourage?

• Will you use unjust criticism as an opportunity to teach?

How Do You Deal With Criticism?

• Like criticism trials have a way of changing our focus

• Often when in trials we become selfish

• Such an attitude destroys relationships and eventually faith

How Do You Deal With Trials?

How Did Paul deal with How Did Paul deal with Trials?Trials?

2828 Apart from such Apart from such external things, there external things, there

is the daily pressure on is the daily pressure on me of concern for all me of concern for all

the churches.2 the churches.2 Corinthians 11:28 Corinthians 11:28

(NASB95)(NASB95)

• Paul suffered Paul suffered unimaginable trials unimaginable trials throughout his life as a throughout his life as a ChristianChristian

• Rather than allow these Rather than allow these sufferings to destroy his sufferings to destroy his faith he used them to faith he used them to strengthen his faithstrengthen his faith

• He was able to be so He was able to be so strong by intentionally strong by intentionally not focussing on selfnot focussing on self

• Like criticism trials have a way of changing our focus

• Often when in trials we become selfish

• Such an attitude destroys relationships and eventually faith

How Do You Deal With Trials?

• Descend into self-absorbed pity?

• Allow close relationships and faith to be destroyed?

• Focus on and serve the Lord even in difficulty?

What will you do with your trials?

How Did Paul deal with How Did Paul deal with “NO”?“NO”?

77 ...to keep me from exalting ...to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a myself, there was given me a

thorn in the flesh, a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to messenger of Satan to

torment me—to keep me from torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! exalting myself! 88 Concerning Concerning this I implored the Lord three this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. times that it might leave me. 99

And He has said to me, “My And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for grace is sufficient for you, for

power is perfected in power is perfected in weakness”...2 Corinthians weakness”...2 Corinthians

12:7–9 (NASB95)12:7–9 (NASB95)

• Paul was given a “thorn Paul was given a “thorn in the flesh” as a means in the flesh” as a means of defeating prideof defeating pride

• He plead with God to He plead with God to remove this remove this suffering...but God said suffering...but God said NONO

How Did Paul deal with How Did Paul deal with “NO”?“NO”?

99 And He has said to me, And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for “My grace is sufficient for

you, for power is you, for power is perfected in weakness.” perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about will rather boast about

my weaknesses, so that my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may the power of Christ may

dwell in me.2 Corinthians dwell in me.2 Corinthians 12:9 (NASB95)12:9 (NASB95)

• Paul was given a “thorn Paul was given a “thorn in the flesh” as a means in the flesh” as a means of defeating prideof defeating pride

• He plead with God to He plead with God to remove this remove this suffering...but God said suffering...but God said NONO

• He chose to humble He chose to humble himself and submit!himself and submit!

The Criteria of Character Four Tests of True Character.

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