What Kind of person Do You Really Want to Be?

What Kind of person Do You Really Want to Be?

What Kind of a Person
Do You Really Want to Be?
Fifteen Qualities Worth Spending a Lifetime to Achieve

By Pastor Dan Kennedy
© November 18, 2012
www.pastorkennedy.com

This week there was a tragic news story of the three pilots who were flying only 25 miles to an FAA Aviation Safety Conference, when the plane’s engine began sputtering and the three experienced aviators plunged to their death, with no ability to reverse their course.

They knew all the right things to do, they had plenty of experience, and they were going to a aviator’s safety conference, but all of their knowledge, experience, and good intentions could not prevent the tragedy of their flight.

We can know all the things we are suppose to know about the Bible. We can look great in church and any spiritual event we may attend. We can share our story of personal conversion. But when it comes to living out our faith in daily life, are we living a carnal life? Is the Spirit of the Living God transforming our daily lives? Is our faith living and vital? Or, are we deceitfully living a corrupt life behind a façade of that which looks good to those at Church?

What does Belief in Christ mean when it comes to living our life after we claim to be Christians? Does “living our life” reveal the truth about our faith?

Are our lives revealing the truth about our faith in God? Are our lives evidencing the Fruit of the Spirit?

We may have all the right information and experience, but will the reality of our unbelief be revealed when we face our Creator?

Psalm 112 gives us a visual of a life that is pleasing to God.

Psalm 112

David begins this Psalm, as he did many, with an attitude of Praise

1Praise the Lord. (Psalm 112:1a)
Qualities that Children of God should Evidence in their Daily Lives

Fifteen Qualities Worth Spending a Lifetime to Achieve

1. They always have a healthy fear of God

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, (Psalm 112:1b)

Proverbs 1:7
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
2. They Love God’s Word

…who finds great delight in his commands. (Psalm 112:1c)
3. They Teach their Children to be Honorable to God and to become honorable and wise citizens of their country

2 His children will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed. (Psalm 112:2)

4. They Focus on Wealth that has Eternal Values

3 Wealth and riches are in his house,
and his righteousness endures forever. (Psalm 112:3)

5. Strength from God and His Word gives them the ability to endure the most difficult and troubling times of life

4 Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, (Psalm 112:4)

6. They are gracious, compassionate and righteous

…for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man. (Psalm 112:4b)

7. They are generous people

5 Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, (Psalm 112:5)

8. They are just and honorable in their dealings with others

…who conducts his affairs with justice. (Psalm 112:5b)

The following passage is from “the Song of Moses”… a song given to teach Israel to follow God, after Moses’ death (see Deut. 31-32)

Deuteronomy 32:3–5
3 I will proclaim the name of the Lord.
Oh, praise the greatness of our God!
4 He is the Rock, his works are perfect,
and all his ways are just.
A faithful God who does no wrong,
upright and just is he.
5 They have acted corruptly toward him;
to their shame they are no longer his children,
but a warped and crooked generation.

The reign of King David was exemplified by justice and equity

2 Samuel 8:15
15 So David reigned over all Israel. And David administered justice and equity to all his people.

Young King Solomon gained respect with the Nation of Israel because of the wisdom God had given him to administer justice

1 Kings 3:28
28 When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice.

Job’s Honorable Life

Job 29:12–17
12 …I rescued the poor who cried for help,
and the fatherless who had none to assist him.
13 The man who was dying blessed me;
I made the widow’s heart sing.
14 I put on righteousness as my clothing;
justice was my robe and my turban.
15 I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame.
16 I was a father to the needy;
I took up the case of the stranger.
17 I broke the fangs of the wicked
and snatched the victims from their teeth.
Injustice is known and distained by all who see it.
All who are not wicked admire true justice.

The LORD Loves Justice (Ps. 37:28) His Throne Governs with Justice

Psalm 9:7–8
7 The Lord reigns forever;
he has established his throne for judgment.
8 He will judge the world in righteousness;
he will govern the peoples with justice.

Honorable Justice is of Highest Priority with God.

9. Biblical Principles and Godly Faith give their life great stability

6 Surely he will never be shaken; (Psalm 112:6)

10. God will not let the Righteous be forgotten – they are those who will make up God’s Eternal Kingdom – with eternal benefit

…a righteous man will be remembered forever. (Psalm 112:6b)

Proverbs 11:1–10 reveals qualities of a righteous person

1 The Lord abhors dishonest scales,
but accurate weights are his delight.
2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with humility comes wisdom.
3 The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.
4 Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath,
but righteousness delivers from death.
5 The righteousness of the blameless makes a straight way for them,
but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.
7 When a wicked man dies, his hope perishes;
all he expected from his power comes to nothing.
8 The righteous man is rescued from trouble,
and it comes on the wicked instead.
9 With his mouth the godless destroys his neighbor,
but through knowledge the righteous escape.
10 When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices;
when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.

Daniel 12:2–3
2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.

11. They are not afraid of bad news because they have steadfast trust in the LORD their God

7 He will have no fear of bad news;
his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
8 His heart is secure, he will have no fear; (Psalm 112:7-8a)

12. By faith they look beyond to see the final outcome,
in the midst of what, at the moment, may be
very painful circumstances surrounding them

…in the end he will look in triumph on his foes. (Psalm 112:8b)

13. They have true compassion on the hurting, less fortunate and needy around them

9 He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor,
his righteousness endures forever; (Psalm 112:9a)

14. They look for reward from God who gives eternal blessing

…his horn will be lifted high in honor. (Psalm 112:9b)

15. They will never be consumed with the shame, which will certainly overtake the wicked.

10 The wicked man will see and be vexed,
he will gnash his teeth and waste away;
the longings of the wicked will come to nothing. (Psalm 112:10)

Conclusion

God’s Righteousness should be evident in the lives of His Children.

In Psalm 112, we have looked at Fifteen Qualities Worth Spending a Lifetime to Achieve!

We should strive, among all of these qualities,
to be Gracious,
Just, Compassionate,
Righteous, Faithful, Generous,
Discerning, and Wise Men and Women of Faith,
who have a healthy fear of God
and a deep love for His Word!

Looking forward to and hastening the Coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!