A Call For Character
Foundation Statement: Before there is ever
going to be an operation of God’s power, there’s going to be a call for
character
I.
Jesus character is being
tested (Matthew 4:1)
A. Tempted – test,
examine, prove, try; for the purpose of ascertaining how he will behave
himself; to try or test one’s character in order to prove his character and the
steadfastness of his faith
II. Jesus did not walk in the power of God b/c he was the son of
God; He had to qualify with character
A. Jesus did not walk in
character because he was the son of God
B. It was not any more easy
for him to resist than it is for you to resist (Hebrews 2:17)
C. Jesus emptied himself of
his divinity & did what he did as a man (Phil 2:6, Acts 10:38)
D. The anointing has just
come on Jesus and Satan shows up to stop the anointing. His method is can he get Jesus to
violate character because if he does there will be no operation of power.
(Matthew 3:19)
III. Without proving and qualification of character there will be
no operation of power
A. Jesus did no miracles up
until this point
B. Jesus character response:
It is written or this is what’s right
C. Luke 4:14-Jesus passed
the character test & qualified himself for this power (30,32,38-40,5:7)
D. Character preceded power
even in the case of Jesus