Transforming Character Through Will and Spiritual Surrender

 

Summary

In our journey through spiritual formation, we delve into the transformation of the will, spirit, and character, drawing insights from Dallas Willard's work. The essence of who we are, our character, is infinitely more important than our physical appearance or feelings. Character is the internal structure of the self, revealed through our long-term patterns of behavior. It is not readily visible and often requires reflection and self-examination to understand. Our actions, largely automatic, stem from our character, which is shaped by our choices. This is why character is crucial; it is the foundation upon which our actions are built.

In today's world, the significance of character is often overshadowed by superficial attributes. However, at the core of our being lies the will, the ability to originate actions and decisions. This capacity for choice is what makes us unique and reflects our likeness to God. Our will is the control center of our lives, where we decide how to respond to the world around us. It is through our will that we can choose to align our actions with God's will, leading to the formation of a character that honors God and benefits the world.

The choices we make, whether to say "yes" or "no," shape our character over time. This process of spiritual formation is about developing a character that reflects God's love and grace. It is a journey of surrendering our will to God, allowing His guidance to shape our actions and decisions. As we cultivate a character rooted in God's love, we become a testament to His presence in the world. Our character, not our physical attributes, is what will be remembered and celebrated when we are gone.

Key Takeaways:

1. Character as the Core of Self: Our character is the internal structure of our being, revealed through our long-term behavior patterns. It is not immediately visible and requires self-reflection to understand. This internal structure is more significant than our physical appearance or feelings, as it forms the basis of our actions. [01:18]

2. The Role of Choice in Character Formation: While nature and nurture influence us, it is our choices that play a crucial role in shaping our character. Every decision we make contributes to the development of our character, highlighting the importance of intentional and thoughtful choices. [04:11]

3. The Will as a Unique Gift: Our will is the ability to originate actions and decisions, making us unique and reflecting our likeness to God. It is the control center of our lives, where we decide how to respond to the world. This capacity for choice is a precious gift that defines our individuality. [07:00]

4. Surrendering the Will to God: The ultimate purpose of our will is to align it with God's will. By surrendering our will to God, we allow His guidance to shape our actions and decisions, leading to the formation of a character that honors Him and benefits the world. [11:14]

5. The Eternal Significance of Character: At the end of our lives, it is our character, not our physical attributes, that will be remembered and celebrated. A character rooted in God's love and grace becomes a testament to His presence in the world, leaving a lasting impact on those around us. [12:03]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:32] - Importance of Character
- [00:41] - Transformation of Will and Spirit
- [01:18] - Definition of Character
- [02:10] - Structure of the Self
- [03:16] - Actions and Habits
- [03:45] - The Hidden Reality of Character
- [04:11] - The Role of Choice
- [05:30] - Character vs. Personality
- [06:10] - Spiritual Formation
- [07:00] - The Gift of Will
- [08:48] - Freely Chosen Character
- [09:38] - Dignity and Worth
- [10:28] - Awareness of Will
- [11:14] - Surrendering to God
- [12:03] - Legacy of Character

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Romans 12:2 - "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
2. Galatians 5:22-23 - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
3. Matthew 7:16-20 - "By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them."

Observation Questions:
1. According to the sermon, how is character defined and why is it considered more important than physical appearance or feelings? [01:18]
2. What role does choice play in the formation of our character, as discussed in the sermon? [04:11]
3. How does the sermon describe the will, and why is it considered a unique gift that reflects our likeness to God? [07:00]
4. What is the ultimate purpose of our will according to the sermon, and how does it relate to our character formation? [11:14]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Romans 12:2 relate to the idea of character being the internal structure of the self that requires transformation and renewal?
2. In what ways do the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 reflect the character that the sermon encourages us to develop?
3. How does the metaphor of trees and fruit in Matthew 7:16-20 help us understand the importance of character as discussed in the sermon?
4. The sermon mentions the significance of surrendering our will to God. How does this concept align with the biblical call to live according to God's will? [11:14]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent decision you made. How did your character influence that decision, and what does it reveal about your internal structure? [01:18]
2. Identify a habitual action in your life. How does this habit reflect your character, and what steps can you take to align it more closely with God's will? [03:16]
3. Consider a situation where you struggled to make a choice. How can you use your will as a control center to make decisions that honor God? [10:16]
4. Think of a time when you felt your character was tested. How did you respond, and what did you learn about the role of choice in character formation? [04:11]
5. How can you actively surrender your will to God in your daily life, and what impact do you hope this will have on your character? [11:14]
6. Reflect on the legacy you want to leave behind. What steps can you take now to ensure your character is remembered and celebrated for its alignment with God's love and grace? [12:03]
7. Choose one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit to focus on this week. What specific action can you take to cultivate it in your interactions with others?

Devotional

Day 1: Character as the Foundation of Our Actions
Our character is the internal structure of our being, revealed through our long-term behavior patterns. It is not immediately visible and requires self-reflection to understand. This internal structure is more significant than our physical appearance or feelings, as it forms the basis of our actions. Our character is the essence of who we are, and it is through our character that our true selves are expressed. By understanding and nurturing our character, we can align our actions with our values and beliefs, leading to a more authentic and fulfilling life. [01:18]

"For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7b, ESV)

Reflection: Consider a recent situation where your actions did not align with your values. What does this reveal about your character, and how can you work on aligning your actions with your true self?


Day 2: The Power of Choice in Shaping Character
While nature and nurture influence us, it is our choices that play a crucial role in shaping our character. Every decision we make contributes to the development of our character, highlighting the importance of intentional and thoughtful choices. Our choices are the building blocks of our character, and through them, we have the power to shape who we become. By making conscious and deliberate choices, we can cultivate a character that reflects our deepest values and aspirations. [04:11]

"Choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a choice you made recently that had a significant impact on your life. How did this choice shape your character, and what can you learn from it for future decisions?


Day 3: The Will as a Divine Gift
Our will is the ability to originate actions and decisions, making us unique and reflecting our likeness to God. It is the control center of our lives, where we decide how to respond to the world. This capacity for choice is a precious gift that defines our individuality. By recognizing the power of our will, we can take responsibility for our actions and decisions, and use our will to create a life that honors God and reflects His love. [07:00]

"And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, 'You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.'" (Genesis 2:16-17, ESV)

Reflection: Think about a decision you are currently facing. How can you use your will to make a choice that aligns with God's will and reflects His love in your life?


Day 4: Surrendering Our Will to God
The ultimate purpose of our will is to align it with God's will. By surrendering our will to God, we allow His guidance to shape our actions and decisions, leading to the formation of a character that honors Him and benefits the world. Surrendering our will is an act of trust and faith, acknowledging that God's wisdom and love are greater than our own. Through this surrender, we open ourselves to the transformative power of God's grace, allowing Him to work in and through us. [11:14]

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: Identify an area of your life where you struggle to surrender to God. What steps can you take today to begin trusting Him more fully in this area?


Day 5: The Lasting Impact of a Godly Character
At the end of our lives, it is our character, not our physical attributes, that will be remembered and celebrated. A character rooted in God's love and grace becomes a testament to His presence in the world, leaving a lasting impact on those around us. Our legacy is not defined by our achievements or possessions, but by the love and grace we have shown to others. By cultivating a character that reflects God's love, we can leave a legacy that honors Him and inspires others. [12:03]

"The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot." (Proverbs 10:7, ESV)

Reflection: Consider the legacy you want to leave behind. How can you begin to cultivate a character today that will have a lasting impact on those around you?

Quotes


what matters most about you what you will take into eternity what is infinitely more important than how your body looks or feels is your character and so on this lengthened journey as we go through renovation of the heart dallas willard's book we turn to the chapter on the transformation of the will spirit of heart and character [00:00:25]

our character is that internal overall structure of the self that is revealed by our long-term patterns of behavior and from which our actions more or less automatically arise i want to pause there one of the remarkable aspects of dallas party was so helpful is he's read everything from homer on down about the human condition and worked very hard to try to get clarity on it [00:01:18]

character is internal overall structure of the self just like your body has a structure it's got a skeleton you've got limbs uh the self your inner unseen person has a kind of structure there are certain beliefs that accord to you the mental map about how you think things are certain desires certain values that are central to you [00:02:10]

notice character has to be revealed that's because it's not readily apparent to me i can be very self-deceived about the nature of my character my eyebrows you can look at right now if you want to but my character i can't even see myself it has to be revealed it will require reflection and self-examination [00:02:47]

very often when we read particularly in social sciences uh articles about what makes people the way they are it's all thought to boil down to nature versus nurture your genes or your environment family and so on and of course what's neglected is the great third force that is at work in our formation that is choice [00:03:58]

it's nature and nurture but then we make choices all the time every day and those choices to become part of our character now one huge problem very often historically for the church is what might be called moralism and that's where we don't pay attention to the impact that somebody's genes had or somebody's environment had on who they are [00:04:19]

will is the ability to originate or refrain from originating something an act or a thing it brings things into existence sticks and stones do not have the ability will is the capacity for radical and underrivative that is not derived not caused by some other force origination of events and things therefore it is the core of who and what we are as individuals [00:06:50]

the centrality of will to personhood is what makes it immediately and strongly precious and gives the person dignity one more definition dignity is a worth so great it disallows exchanging a person for anything else the great worth of the person explains why jesus christ would die for the sake of individual human beings and be satisfied with the outcome [00:09:05]

and then over time the choices that we make in our will get solidified get embodied and become our habits and become our character and that matters more than anything else spiritual formation is the formation of character so now today celebrate the fact that you have a will you can say no you can say mine you can also say yes you can also say yours [00:09:52]

this is the great purpose of the will surrender it to god god your will be done god would you guide my fingers while i type this email jesus would you be in my mouth right now while i say this words these words into this camera your will be done [00:11:15]

and then a great and glorious character that internal unseen structure of the self that reveals itself in our mostly automatic patterns of behavior and which determines most of our actions the character can become a glorious and god honoring thing and a benefit to the earth so that when you die and it's time for your funeral people will not talk about your teeth or your tongue or your skin [00:11:36]

but what a fabulous thing it is that god's love was once made manifest in the world through your character i'll see you next time [00:12:03]

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Transcript
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