Molding the clay before it

hardens

what you are is what You

will most likely be
Critical Principles about character
 Character defined
•Even the thoughts must be brought into
subjection to the will of God, and the feelings
under the control of reason and religion. Our
imagination was not given us to be allowed to
run riot and have its own way, without any
effort at restraint and discipline. If the
thoughts are wrong, the feelings will be wrong;
and the thoughts and feelings combined
make up the moral character. {HP 164.2}
 Character
•Through the senses
• Eyes
• Ears
• Taste
• Feeling
• Thoughts
 Imaginations
•Pro 23:7 For as he thinketh in his
heart, so is he: ..
• 2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down
imaginations, and every high thing
that exalteth itself against the
knowledge of God, and bringing into
captivity every thought to the
obedience of Christ
•Dan 12:9 And he said, Go thy way,
Daniel: for the words are closed up
and sealed till the time of the end.

•Dan 12:10 Many shall be purified, and

made white, and tried; but the wicked
shall do wickedly: and none of the
wicked shall understand; but the wise
shall understand.
•2Th 2:11 And for this cause God
shall send them strong delusion,
that they should believe a lie:
•2Th 2:12 That they all might be
damned who believed not the
truth, but had pleasure in
unrighteousness.
• 2Tim 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall
wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being
deceived.
• 2Tim 3:14 But continue thou in the things
which thou hast learned and hast been
assured of, knowing of whom thou hast
learned them;
• 2Tim 3:15 And that from a child thou hast
known the holy scriptures, which are able
to make thee wise unto salvation through
faith which is in Christ Jesus.
 Each day we are
immortalizing our
character for good or evil
 It is in childhood when
the character is imprinted
on the soul that will drive
the rest of the life

What about those who know Jesus when they are old?
•Pro 22:6 Train up a child in the
way he should go: and when he is
old, he will not depart from it.
• The curse of God will surely rest upon unfaithful
parents. Not only are they planting thorns which
will wound them here, but they must meet their
own unfaithfulness when the judgment shall sit.
Many children will rise up in judgment and
condemn their parents for not restraining them,
and charge upon them their destruction. The false
sympathy and blind love of parents causes them to
excuse the faults of their children and pass them
by without correction, and their children are lost in
consequence, and the blood of their souls will rest
upon the unfaithful parents. {1T 219.1}
•Children who are thus brought up
undisciplined, have everything to learn
when they profess to be Christ's followers.
Their whole religious experience is
affected by their bringing up in childhood.
The same self-will often appears; there is
the same lack of self-denial, the same
impatience under reproof, the same love of
self and unwillingness to seek counsel of
others, or to be influenced by others'
judgment, the same indolence, shunning of
burdens, lack of bearing responsibilities.
•All this is seen in their relation to the
church. It is possible for such to overcome;
but how hard the battle! how severe the
conflict! How hard to pass through the
course of thorough discipline which is
necessary for them to reach the elevation of
Christian character! Yet if they overcome at
last, they will be permitted to see, before
they are translated, how near the precipice
of eternal destruction they came, because of
the lack of right training in youth, the
failure to learn submission in childhood.
• No work ever undertaken by man requires
greater care and skill than the proper
training and education of youth and
children. There are no influences so
potent as those which surround us in our
early years. Says the wise man, "Train up
a child in the way he should go: and when
he is old, he will not depart from it."
The nature of man is threefold, and the
training enjoined by Solomon comprehends
the right development of the physical,
intellectual, and moral powers.
• To perform this work aright, parents
and teachers must themselves
understand "the way the child should
go." This embraces more than a
knowledge of books or the learning of
the schools. It comprehends the
practice of temperance, brotherly
kindness, and godliness; the discharge
of our duty to ourselves, to our
neighbors, and to God. {FE 57.1}
• I was shown some of the dangers of the
young. Satan is controlling the minds of the
youth and leading their inexperienced feet
astray. They are ignorant of his devices,
and in these perilous times parents should
be awake and work with perseverance and
industry to shut out the first approach of
the foe. They should instruct their children
when they go out and when they come in, when
they rise up, and when they sit down, giving
line upon line, precept upon precept, here a
little and there a little. {1T 390.1}
•The entire religious experience of the
children is influenced by the
instructions given, and the character
formed, in childhood. If the will is
not then subdued and made to yield to
the will of the parents, it will be a
difficult task to learn the lesson in
after years. What a severe struggle,
what a conflict, to yield that will
which never was subdued, to the
requirements of God! {1T 390.2}
To grow and develop
with the character of
God must be intentional
•Satan tempts children to be reserved with their
parents and to choose as their confidants their
young and inexperienced companions, such as
cannot help them, but will give them bad advice.
Girls and boys get together and chat, and laugh,
and joke, and drive Christ out of their hearts,
and angels from their presence, by their foolish
nonsense. Unprofitable conversation upon the
acts of others, small talk about this young man
or that girl, withers noble, devotional thoughts
and feelings, and drives good and holy desires
from the heart, leaving it cold and destitute of
true love for God and His truth. {1T 391.3}
• Children would be saved from many evils if they would
be more familiar with their parents. Parents should
encourage in their children a disposition to be open
and frank with them, to come to them with their
difficulties, and when they are perplexed as to what
course is right, to lay the matter just as they view it
before the parents and ask their advice. Who are so
well calculated to see and point out their dangers as
godly parents? Who can understand the peculiar
temperaments of their own children as well as they? The
mother who has watched every turn of the mind from
infancy, and is thus acquainted with the natural
disposition, is best prepared to counsel her children.
Who can tell as well what traits of character to check
and restrain, as the mother, aided by the father? {1T
392.1}
 Habits build our
character
•The whole of their future life will
be shaped by the habits and
practices of their childhood. {CG
107.1}
•Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not
mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth,
that shall he also reap.

•Gal 6:8 For he that soweth to his

flesh shall of the flesh reap
corruption; but he that soweth to the
Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life
everlasting.
The Bible imprints
the right character
•No man, woman, or youth can attain to
Christian perfection and neglect the
study of the word of God. By carefully
and closely searching His word we shall
obey the injunction of Christ, "Search
the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye
have eternal life: and they are they
which testify of Me." This search enables
the student to observe closely the divine
Model, for they testify of Christ. The
Pattern must be inspected often and
closely in order to imitate it. ...
•As one becomes acquainted with the
history of the Redeemer, he discovers in
himself defects of character; his
unlikeness to Christ is so great that he
sees he cannot be a follower without a
very great change in his life. Still he
studies, with a desire to be like his
great Exemplar; he catches the looks, the
spirit, of his beloved Master; by
beholding he becomes changed. "Looking
unto Jesus, the author and finisher of
our faith." ... {CSW 17.1}
•The word of God, spoken to the heart, has an
animating power, and those who will frame
any excuse for neglecting to become
acquainted with it will neglect the claims
of God in many respects. The character will
be deformed, the words and acts a reproach
to the truth. The apostle tells us, "All
Scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,
for correction, for instruction in
righteousness, that the man of God may be
perfect, throughly furnished unto all good
works."
• One of the prophets of God exclaims, "While I was
musing the fire burned." If Christians would
earnestly search the Scriptures, more hearts would
burn with the vivid truths therein revealed. Their
hopes would brighten with the precious promises
strown like pearls all through the Sacred
Writings. In contemplating the history of the
patriarchs, the prophets, the men who loved and
feared God and walked with Him, hearts will glow
with the spirit which animated these worthies. As
the mind dwells upon the virtue and piety of holy
men of old, the spirit which inspired them will
kindle a flame of love and holy fervor in the
hearts of those who would be like them in
character. {CSW 17.2}
 God molds our character through
providences of life
Learn from past examples
•1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened
unto them for ensamples: and they are
written for our admonition, upon whom
the ends of the world are come.
•1Co 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh
he standeth take heed lest he fall.
 Perfection of character is “the
ultimate reason we are living for
which will be out fitting for
Heaven

•This is required of all if they

are to be translated to
heaven
•2Pe 3:14 Wherefore, beloved,
seeing that ye look for such
things, be diligent that ye may
be found of him in peace,
without spot, and blameless.
• When Christ shall come, our vile
bodies are to be changed, and made
like His glorious body; but the vile
character will not be made holy then.
The transformation of character must
take place before His coming. Our
natures must be pure and holy; we must
have the mind of Christ, that He may
behold with pleasure His image
reflected upon our souls. . . . {OHC
278.3}
The sealing we all wait
for is actually a
perfection of character
Rev 7:1-4
•-it is not any seal or mark that can be
seen, but a settling into the truth,
both intellectually and spiritually, so
they cannot be moved--just as soon as
God's people are sealed and prepared
for the shaking, it will come. Indeed,
it has begun already; the judgments of
God are now upon the land, . . . that
we may know what is coming.

{FLB 287.7}
• It is possible to be a formal, partial believer, and
yet be found wanting, and lose eternal life. It is
possible to practice some of the Bible injunctions,
and be regarded as a Christian, and yet perish because
you are lacking in essential qualifications that
constitute Christian character. If the warnings which
God has given are neglected or regarded with
indifference, if you cherish or excuse sin, you are
sealing your soul's destiny; you will be weighed in
the balances and found wanting. Grace, peace, and
pardon will be withdrawn forever; Jesus will have
passed by, never again to come within the reach of
your prayers and entreaties. While mercy still
lingers, while Jesus is making intercession for us,
let us make thorough work for eternity. {HM, November
1, 1893 par. 17}
The influence of friends is more
subtle and powerful than any
other

• Amos 3:3
Watch for tale-tale signs of a bad
character

• Math 7:20, 1 john 2:15-17, 1 thes 5:22

• Desires (feelings) of
• Pride
• Exposing nakedness
• Fashion and cosmetics
• Fading spiritual desires
• Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are
manifest, which are these; Adultery,
fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
• Gal 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred,
variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions,
heresies,
• Gal 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness,
revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you
before, as I have also told you in time past, that
they which do such things shall not inherit the
kingdom of God.
Signs of Holy spirit’s work

•Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit

is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith,
•Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance:
against such there is no law.
 Golden rule for a
victorious life
•Gal 5:16 This I say then,
Walk in the Spirit, and ye
shall not fulfil the lust of the
flesh.
Life will not always
flow as you wish
Allow God’s leading
• The Lord disciplines His workers, that they may be
prepared to fill the places appointed them. He desires
to fit them to do more acceptable service. There are
those who wish to be a ruling power, and who need
the sanctification of submission. God brings about a
change in their lives. Perhaps He places before them
duties that they would not choose. If they are willing
to be guided by Him, He will give them grace and
strength to perform these duties in a spirit of
submission and helpfulness. Thus they are being
qualified to fill places where their disciplined
abilities will make them of great service. {GW 269.1}
• Some God trains by bringing to them
disappointment and apparent failure. It is His
purpose that they shall learn to master difficulties.
He inspires them with a determination to prove
every apparent failure a success. Often men pray
and weep because of the perplexities and
obstacles that confront them. But if they will hold
the beginning of their confidence steadfast unto
the end, God will make their way clear. Success
will come as they struggle against apparently
insurmountable difficulties and with success will
come the greatest joy. {GW 269.2}
Proverbs 3:5-6