Deeper Life Bible Church, Aberdeen Sunday Message 18-07-2010 THE GRACIOUS CHARACTER OF A TRUE DISCIPLE Acts 6:1-3; 1 Peter 2:12; Philippians 2:5-8; Hebrews 12:14; Acts 7:55,56; 6:3,5,8,10,15

7 Gracious Characters of a True Disciple are; Honesty – 1 Peter 2:12 Humility – Philippians 2:5-8 Holiness – Hebrews 12:14 Holy Ghost – Acts 6:5 Honour – Acts 6:15 Heavenly-wisdom – Acts 6:10 Heavenward look – Acts 7:55,56

3 Points 1. THE FOUNDATION OF HIS CHARACTER IN CHRIST 2. THE FACT OF HIS CONFORMITY TO CHRIST 3. THE FOUNTAIN OF HIS COURAGE THROUGH CHRIST

THE FOUNDATION OF HIS CHARACTER IN CHRIST Acts 6:5,8; 15:9; Proverbs 4:23; 1 Peter 1:3-5; 1 Timothy 2:15; Galatians 2:20. Faith – the very Foundation, we must be; Saved by Faith – Ephesians 2:8 Sanctified by Faith – Acts 15:9 Live by Faith – Romans 1:17 Full of Faith – Acts 6:5 Continue in Faith – 1 Timothy 2:15 Praying in Faith – James 5:15 Die in Faith – Hebrews 11:22

THE FACT OF HIS CONFORMITY TO CHRIST Acts 7:60; Luke 23:34; John 13:15; 1 Peter 2:21-23; Romans 12:14,17,18; 1 John 2:6; Hebrews 12:2. Our C-O-N-F-O-R-M-I-T-Y to Christ entails; C – Compassionate – Matthew 9:36-38 O – Obedient – Exodus 19:5 N – New Nature – 2 Corinthians 5:17 F – Forgiveness – Acts 7:60 O – Openness – John 14:30 R – Righteous – Hebrews 7:26 M – Meekness – Matthew 11:29 I – Innocence – Daniel 6:22 T – Truthfulness – Joshua 24:14 Y – Yieldedness – Matthew 26:39,42

THE FOUNTAIN OF HIS COURAGE THROUGH CHRIST Acts 6:5; Jude 19; Acts 7:55; Mark 13:9-11; 2 Timothy 1:7; Romans 8:1,2,5,9-11,13-16,29,37-39 Courage will make us to be; Bold for the Truth Blameless in Truth Burdened for the Truth Brave for the Truth Behaving in Truth Boundless in Truth Beheaded for the Truth

Conclusion 7 Gleans from the life of Stephen, he was; Saved Sanctified Spirit-filled Saturated with Scriptures Sound in Spiritual & Scriptural Wisdom Strong in faith Steadfast till the very end!

The Lord knows them that are his by name, but we must know them by their character. – Matthew Henry A man’s strength is shown by what he stands for.  A man’s weakness is shown by what he falls for. – Unknown Spirit filled souls are ablaze for God. They love with a love that glows. They serve with a faith that kindles. They serve with a devotion that consumes. They hate sin with fierceness that burns. They rejoice with a joy that radiates. Love is perfected in the fire of God. – Samuel Chadwick Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny. And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost …… And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake – Acts 6:5,8,10