The Uphold Study Course

It is our wish at RUI Ministries to continue discipling with you. As we have
educated thousands of converts through our Strongholds Study Course,
we have learned that a great many people are lacking the basic character
that other students may have been more fortunate to learn when they were
younger.
Some of these would wonder, “Does this mean I will have a more difficult time
living for the Lord?” The answer is “NO! Not at all.” But, there is only one way
to quickly overcome poor character issues. It is to embrace a Spirit-filled life
that manifests itself in complete submission to the leading of our Lord.
Weakness is the modern English word for the Old English word infirmity.
And Solomon, a wise man with many character issues himself, taught us in
Proverbs 18:14a,“The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity. . .”
Though everyone has some weakness in character, the weakest among us can
become the greatest in the Kingdom of God; for when we are at our weakest,
He is at His strongest. (2 Corinthians 12:10) But, it is not God’s wish that we
remain weak men or women of character. Character is defined by Webster’s
Dictionary as “a peculiar habit impressed on a person to distinguish him from
another.”
In other words, character is nothing more than good habits! It is our bad habits
that brought us to RU. It is Christ Who saved us from our bad habits, and it
is He who wants to assist us in developing the good habits. And good habits
you will have!
But, eventually, those good character qualities may make you “comfortable.”
And now, because you are doing the right thing, and more often than not,
you are doing it the right way, you have a tendency to lose touch with your
developing spirit. I know many Christians who have great character, but their
walk with God is so weak they live a frustrated and self-serving life. Character
coupled with a dormant spirit leads to apathy. This spirit of apathy must be
avoided at all costs!
In the Gaining Remaining Fruit II and III Discipleship Series, we will expose 18
(nine in each book) character qualities that we must gain and retain as good
habits in our lives. Good habits must be a result of the submissive promptings
of the Spirit in order to qualify as a “work of the Lord.”
As a reminder, the fruit of the Spirit produces righteousness. That means the
fruit (or outcome) of the Spirit of God produces nine righteous actions or
reactions to every difficult situation in life.
But just as the Spirit offers a fruit (of righteousness), His righteousness offers
a fruit. The Bible calls it the “fruits of righteousness.” It is actually the outcome
of living righteous. Do you know what that is? It’s good habits. It’s character.
In other words, when we begin to live the Spirit-filled life, we will become
better people who are capable of doing many good things in our own power.
While that is better than doing wrong, it’s not better than being right! Good
will is no substitute for God’s will!
Philippians 1:9-11 explains this beautiful Spirit-filled lifestyle like this: “this I
pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all
judgment. . .” This encouragement is challenging us to abound in love as we
grow in the Lord. His love abounds in us as we gain a more intimate personal
relationship with the Lord (knowledge) and personal discernment in our spirit
(judgment).
If we have that personal relationship and Spirit-led discernment, He goes on
to say that we “may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere
and without offense till the day of Christ.” WOW! That’s some mighty fine
character—sincerity and consistency!
How do we accomplish such a great work? We need a great walk, that’s
how! The end result of this walk is where we find the title for our next two
discipleship courses, “Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are
by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.”
His walk will fill us with His Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit will fill us with the
fruit of righteousness. The fruit of righteousness, which is godly, Christian
character are “by Jesus Christ.” He does the work of Christianity, and He
wants to be the One Who does the work of Christian character. In other words,
He gives characters character! And it is all done for one important reason: “to
the glory and praise of God!”