BY DR. PAUL ENENCHE
DATE: TUESDAY, 13TH JANUARY, 2026
SCRIPTURE: “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13)
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Your preaching becomes effortless if your character is spotless.
I. THE ONTOLOGY OF CHARACTER EVANGELISM
In the kingdom of God, character is not merely a moral accessory; it is a spiritual infrastructure. As we navigate the year 2026, we must realize that the world is increasingly weary of “religious noise.” People are bombarded with thousands of hours of content, sermons, and theological debates. However, there is one weapon of soul-winning that remains invincible: The power of a transformed life.
“Character Evangelism” is a situation where your lifestyle preaches with a volume that your vocal cords could never achieve. It is a state where your presence becomes a “spiritual magnetic field” that draws men toward God. When the Bible says in Acts 4:13 that the authorities “took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus,” it wasn’t because the disciples were wearing “I Love Jesus” t-shirts. It was because the very “fragrance” of Christ’s boldness, wisdom, and integrity was radiating from their countenances. They didn’t just have a message; they were the message.
II. THE CONVICTING POWER OF A SPOTLESS LIFE
Your lifestyle possesses a “forensic weight.” When you live an exemplary life, you don’t always need to point out people’s sins; your purity acts as a mirror that reveals their stains.
1. The Presence that Rebukes
I recall my days as a student on campus. There was a specific aura that the Holy Spirit cultivated around my life through the discipline of character. There were certain conversations that would immediately stop when I walked into a room. There were unethical acts that students could not even consider in my presence. I didn’t need to shout; the “standard” of Christ in me acted as a silent rebuke to iniquity.
2. The Bible the World Reads
It has been famously said that “Unbelievers don’t have Bibles, and even if they do, they don’t read them. Born-again Christians are the only Bibles the world reads.” Every time you walk down the street, every time you handle a financial transaction, and every time you respond to an insult, you are “turning a page” of that Bible for the world to see. If the “page” of your life shows anger, greed, or compromise, the world will “close the book” on your God. But if the page shows love, integrity, and peace, they will want to know the Author.
III. INTERNAL FORTIFICATION VS. EXTERNAL ORNAMENTATION
The Apostle Peter gives a profound instruction to wives—and by extension, to all believers—in 1 Peter 3:1-4. He speaks of winning people “without the word.” How? Through “chaste conversation” (lifestyle).
A. The Content and the Container
The world focuses on the “ornamental”—the outward plaiting of hair, the wearing of gold, the expensive apparel. But the Kingdom focuses on the “internal”—the hidden man of the heart. We must focus more on Internal Fortification than External Ornamentation.
- Ornamentation is what you put on.
- Fortification is what you are built of.
When your “content” is the meek and quiet spirit which is of “great price” in the sight of God, you become a priceless influence on earth. Your preaching becomes effortless when there is a “matching character” behind the microphone of your life.
IV. THE LIGHT UPON THE HILL: MATTHEW 5:14-16
Jesus called us the “Light of the world.” Light doesn’t make a sound, yet it is the most dominant force in a room. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden because its “character” (its position and light) is evident to all.
Your good works are the “batteries” of your light. When people see your good works—your honesty when you could have cheated, your kindness when you could have been cruel, your stability in the face of a crisis—they “glorify your Father which is in heaven.” They don’t just admire you; they are led to your Source.
V. CONCLUSION: THE ANTI-GRAVITY OF INTEGRITY
In 2026, let your character be your primary sermon. If you find yourself having to “explain” your Christianity too much, it might be because your character isn’t speaking clearly enough. When your character is spotless, you experience a “spiritual anti-gravity”—you rise above the criticisms of the world and become a beacon of hope.
ASSIGNMENTS
Reflective Audit: Ask yourself: “When was the last time my behavior convinced someone that God is real?”
The Silent Strategy: Today, look for an opportunity to preach the Word without using a single word. Let your patience or your excellence be the sermon.
Internal Focus: Spend more time today praying for your “hidden man” than you do grooming your “outward man.”
PRAYER
Father, I thank You for the privilege of representing You. I ask today for the grace of a spotless character. Help me to be a “living Bible” that the world can read and find life. Let my life be a source of joy to You and a source of conviction to the world. Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me, in Jesus’ Name. Amen!
FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: KINDS OF EVANGELISM BY DR. PAUL ENENCHE
DAILY BIBLE READING: Exodus 11-15
QUOTE: “Sinners should look at your life and be reminded of their sins so they can repent from them.” — Culled from ESSENCE OF CHRISTIANITY.
AMAZING FACT: An octopus has nine brains and blue blood. Just as an octopus changes its texture for camouflage, you must ensure your “spiritual texture” is always consistent with the Word, not camouflaged by the world!
PROPHETIC DECLARATION: I decree that every negative character trait trying to hold you back is shattered today! Receive the grace to reflect the Image of Christ in Jesus’ Name!
