Winning it All

Lesson 9 B

Understanding God's way of Sanctification

Repetition: Nature isn't character

• Born by the Holy Spirit results in having the nature of GOD (DNA markers)�
• 2 Peter 1�And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world's corruption caused by human desires.

1. What is Christian character?

What is Christian Character?

By Dr. Richard J. Krejcir

Character is what you are in the dark."

D.L. Moody

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Our commitment to Christ matters

Do you really know what Christian Character is all about? Real, authentic Christian character is formed by our commitment to Christ.

• Surrender to Christ and allow His piercing work to grow and enrich you, so that the Spirit flows.

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• Next...

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Our commitment to Christ ... cont

• Be spiritual disciplined, obedient, and perseve in faith - these are main keys
• All it takes is to be in love with Christ.
• Seek His presence, grow in your discipleship and be persistent in your prayers and in so doing you will be building His Character in your life.

Again: What is Christian character?

What is Christian Character?

By Dr. Richard J. Krejcir

Character is what you are in the dark."

D.L. Moody

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2. Understand darkness

GOD is committed to your Sanctification. He surely will achieve it- if you let Him have His way.�Darkness is one of the "hard ways" to achieve His goal.

• The most difficult times in your lives produce the greatest results
• GOD always comes in to answer our �cries: Beware: He is always late, very late
• At the end of every test: More Flying skills.

Watching GOD's people

Those who have experienced GOD's ways in their desperate times have learned to rejoice in it

• The Apostle Paul glorified in His infirmities Read: 2 Cor. 12, 9+10
• The Apostle James said: Count it all for joy. Read: James 1, 2-4
• Even Joseph (OT) knew: GOD worked all things for good. Genesis 45, 4-8

Giving Glory to the Master- despite...

• What about you? Can you give glory to GOD in the heat of afflictions, when disaster strikes?
• GOD will never stop developing this attitude in your life- unless you got it.
• He is developing wings of Faith. He provides the wings. But it up to us: Using it to fly.

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A Passion for GOD is needed

Pre-condition for becoming like Jesus is a passion for GOD and a heart that want to please HIM

• Paul wrote. in 1 Thess. 4, 1�Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.

3. Absolutly needed: A GOD pleaser

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• Being a GOD-pleaser is necessary for our sanctification.
• Our devotion to HIM is at the heart of becoming more like Jesus.

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Whom are you trying to please?

For what do you spend much money and time?

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• Yourself, your outfit?
• Your spouse, you No. 1 in life?
• Your Family, how well caring you are?
• Your neighbors, always ahead of them?

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• Ask yourself this important question.. Be honest.�

Follow the footsteps of JESUS

Read John 8, 29

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And the one who sent me is with me—he has not deserted me. For I always do what pleases him."

4. Difficulties of Transformation

Paul knew full well the struggles. He had a passion for GOD, yet he wrestled :

Read Galatians 5, 17

For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want

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A war was raging inside Paul

Romans 7 , 18-19

His desire was to be more like Jesus, yet he found himself failing in his pursuit of Christ

I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.

For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do- this I keep on doing.

GOD: Why don't you make it easier?

Once we have become a believer in Jesus we may wonder

• why GOD does not make it easier to gain power over our old sinful nature.
• There is no quick answer. It is a secret of GOD.

Facing battles- become a victor

It's one of many secrets of GOD:

• No battles - no victors. The OT speaks about�this very fact again and again
• To be victors, we will have to face battles

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Becoming a victor cont

• GOD is teaching us all our life long how to become VICTORS.
• Our lives are battlegrounds. Satan always stands ready to fight the life of GOD inside you.
• Resist him, fight him, win battles, one after the other