Character Studies - ElectronicGospel

c. or our sermons are watered down with platitudes so vague that everyone is able to walkaway believing his practice has been upheld4. every Christian is greatly commissioned to take concern for the souls of his brethren andneighbors (James 5:19-20)a. one must polish his own spiritual vision and then be vigilant to aid anyone who seems to bewandering away from grace (cf. Matthew 7:1-5)b. the preacher or brother who loves you the most is the one who will tell you when you arewrongc. it is not the preacher who rebukes that is dangerous, but the one who will not, for he is likea doctor will never diagnose a disease he sees for fear of offending a patient's sense of ignorant blissC. Positive and Negative (Second Timothy 4:1-5)1. the watchful minister must be able to rebuke and reprove as well as exhort2. some of our brethren have bought into the Positive Mental Attitude approach to faith,accentuating the uplifting and eliminating anything that might make a sinner mourn3. they have become part of the heap of ear ticklers and are worse than worthless in the mission ofGod4. true wisdom is preaching the word and accepting the consequences, even if they include perilsof brethren, threats of unemployment or the loss of weak membersIII. Wisdom in FaithfulnessA. A Drink Offering (Second Timothy 4:6-8)1. my Watchtower friends tell me that the hope of heaven Paul had only belonged to him andpeople of his stature; fortunately, Paul disagrees2. that crown of righteousness is for all who love his appearing, that is, those who fight the goodfight against the course of this world and its god, the devil, those who finish the race begun at conversionand completed only with awesome perseverance, those who keep the faith when some around them falter3. Paul was more tempted than any man to give up the faith and go back to the Sanhedrin, but thedevil had nothing in him4. there are men and women of equal conscience here tonight, whom the devil would love to lureback; does he have anything in you? (Romans 8:31-39)B. Steadfast To The End (Hebrews 3:12-19)1. that is why faith must be kept, for history is filled with the carcasses of faithful men whosedisbelief developed over time through complacency and doubt2. we must exhort one another and be available and amenable to exhortation lest we be lost aswell (Hebrews 10:24-25)C. Faithful Unto The End1. Revelation 2:10 demands that we be faithful unto death2. that not only means a willingness to die for Christ but also includes a determination to live forChristConclusionPaul's wisdom is in his humility and determination to be a man of sound conscience.Character Studies! 71