Integrity
Hebrew – upright, perfect, innocent; the dictionary meaning – honesty, sincerity,
singleness of purpose.
Integrity is commanded of God (Deuteronomy 16:18-20) “Judges and officers shall you
make you in all your gates, which the Lord Yahweh your God gives you, throughout
your tribes, and they shall judge the people with just judgment. You shall not twist
judgment; you shall not respect persons, neither take a gift, for a gift does blind the
eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous. That which is altogether just
shall you follow, that you may live, and inherit the land which the Lord Yahweh your
God gives you”. Jesus said “let your communication be, yea, yea; nay, nay; for
whatsoever is more than these comes of evil”. In other words say what you mean and
mean what you say.
Bible examples of people of integrity in the Old Testament, Noah (Genesis 6:9),
Abraham (Genesis 17:1, 18:19). Jacob (Genesis 25:27), David - David was called a
man after God’s own heart. Even though Saul was chasing him to kill him, he kept his
integrity (I Samuel 24:16-22). And even after being confronted with his sin, David
repented (Psalms 51). God told Solomon in I Kings 9:4-5 “if you will walk before Me, as
David your father walked in integrity of heart, and in uprightness to do according to all
that I have commanded you, and will keep My statues and My judgments. Then I will
establish the throne of your kingdom upon Israel forever, as I promised to David your
father, saying. There shall not fail you a man upon the throne of Israel”. Job – Job
retained his integrity, after satan’s attack against him, and would not curse God and die
like his wife suggested to him (Job 2:9) “then said his wife to him, do you still retain your
integrity? Curse God, and die. Jesus called for purity of heart (Matthew 5:8),
singleness of purpose (Matthew 6:22), and purity of motive (Matthew 6:1-6) “take heed
that you do not your alms before men, to be seen of them, otherwise you have no
reward of your Father which is in heaven”, verse 1.
Integrity brings reward (Psalms 18:20) “the Lord Yahweh rewarded me according to my
righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands has He recompensed me”;
(Psalms 24:3-5) “who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord Yahweh? Or who shall stand
in His holy place? He that has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his
soul to vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord
Yahweh, and righteousness from the God of his salvation”; (Proverbs 28:20) “a faithful
man shall abound with blessings, but he that makes haste to be rich shall not be
innocent”.
Integrity provides guidance (Proverbs 11:3) “the integrity of the upright shall guide
them, but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them”; (Proverbs 20:7) “the
just man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him”.
Integrity yields contentment (Proverbs 21:3,15) “to do justice and judgment is more
acceptable to the Lord Yahweh than sacrifice. It is joy to the just to do judgment, but
destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity”.
The lack of integrity in the church causes many people to turn away from God. People
see hypocrisy in the church, and that should not be, James says “therewith bless we
God even the Father, and therewith curse we men, which are made after the likeness
of God. Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing. My brethren these
things ought not so to be. Does a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water
and bitter? Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him show
out of a good conversation his works, with meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter
envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom
descends not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and
strife is there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is
first pure, then peaceable, gentle and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good
fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in
peace of them that make peace” (James 3:9-11, 13-18). Titus 2:8 says “young men
likewise exhort to be sober minded. In all things showing yourself a pattern of good
works in doctrine showing un-corruptness, gravity, sincerity. Sound speech, that
cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no
evil thing to say of you”.
Integrity is the main thing in our conforming into the image of Jesus. The Bible says
“Jesus, the same yesterday, today and forever”. Even when He was on the cross, He
forgave those who mocked Him. We must remember that “we wrestle not against flesh
and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness
of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places”. The devil knows the
importance of integrity in our lives, and he sends people into our lives to offend us and
get us into un-forgiveness (Hebrews 12:14-15) “follow peace with all men, and holiness,
without which no man shall see the Lord. Looking diligently less any man fail of the
grace of God, less any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many
be defiled.
Integrity means perfect and we are told to become perfect (Ephesians 4:13) “that we all
come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect
man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”; (Colossians 4:12)
“Epaphras, who is one of you a servant of Christ, salutes you, always laboring fervently
for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God”. The
Bible tells us that “all scriptures 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, thoroughly furnished in al good works” ( II Timothy 3:16-17). You
see God provided the way for us to have integrity in our lives, by providing the Bible as
our guideline.
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: August 24, 2007
Hebrew – upright, perfect, innocent; the dictionary meaning – honesty, sincerity,
singleness of purpose.
Integrity is commanded of God (Deuteronomy 16:18-20) “Judges and officers shall you
make you in all your gates, which the Lord Yahweh your God gives you, throughout
your tribes, and they shall judge the people with just judgment. You shall not twist
judgment; you shall not respect persons, neither take a gift, for a gift does blind the
eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous. That which is altogether just
shall you follow, that you may live, and inherit the land which the Lord Yahweh your
God gives you”. Jesus said “let your communication be, yea, yea; nay, nay; for
whatsoever is more than these comes of evil”. In other words say what you mean and
mean what you say.
Bible examples of people of integrity in the Old Testament, Noah (Genesis 6:9),
Abraham (Genesis 17:1, 18:19). Jacob (Genesis 25:27), David - David was called a
man after God’s own heart. Even though Saul was chasing him to kill him, he kept his
integrity (I Samuel 24:16-22). And even after being confronted with his sin, David
repented (Psalms 51). God told Solomon in I Kings 9:4-5 “if you will walk before Me, as
David your father walked in integrity of heart, and in uprightness to do according to all
that I have commanded you, and will keep My statues and My judgments. Then I will
establish the throne of your kingdom upon Israel forever, as I promised to David your
father, saying. There shall not fail you a man upon the throne of Israel”. Job – Job
retained his integrity, after satan’s attack against him, and would not curse God and die
like his wife suggested to him (Job 2:9) “then said his wife to him, do you still retain your
integrity? Curse God, and die. Jesus called for purity of heart (Matthew 5:8),
singleness of purpose (Matthew 6:22), and purity of motive (Matthew 6:1-6) “take heed
that you do not your alms before men, to be seen of them, otherwise you have no
reward of your Father which is in heaven”, verse 1.
Integrity brings reward (Psalms 18:20) “the Lord Yahweh rewarded me according to my
righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands has He recompensed me”;
(Psalms 24:3-5) “who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord Yahweh? Or who shall stand
in His holy place? He that has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his
soul to vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord
Yahweh, and righteousness from the God of his salvation”; (Proverbs 28:20) “a faithful
man shall abound with blessings, but he that makes haste to be rich shall not be
innocent”.
Integrity provides guidance (Proverbs 11:3) “the integrity of the upright shall guide
them, but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them”; (Proverbs 20:7) “the
just man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him”.
Integrity yields contentment (Proverbs 21:3,15) “to do justice and judgment is more
acceptable to the Lord Yahweh than sacrifice. It is joy to the just to do judgment, but
destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity”.
The lack of integrity in the church causes many people to turn away from God. People
see hypocrisy in the church, and that should not be, James says “therewith bless we
God even the Father, and therewith curse we men, which are made after the likeness
of God. Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing. My brethren these
things ought not so to be. Does a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water
and bitter? Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him show
out of a good conversation his works, with meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter
envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom
descends not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and
strife is there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is
first pure, then peaceable, gentle and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good
fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in
peace of them that make peace” (James 3:9-11, 13-18). Titus 2:8 says “young men
likewise exhort to be sober minded. In all things showing yourself a pattern of good
works in doctrine showing un-corruptness, gravity, sincerity. Sound speech, that
cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no
evil thing to say of you”.
Integrity is the main thing in our conforming into the image of Jesus. The Bible says
“Jesus, the same yesterday, today and forever”. Even when He was on the cross, He
forgave those who mocked Him. We must remember that “we wrestle not against flesh
and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness
of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places”. The devil knows the
importance of integrity in our lives, and he sends people into our lives to offend us and
get us into un-forgiveness (Hebrews 12:14-15) “follow peace with all men, and holiness,
without which no man shall see the Lord. Looking diligently less any man fail of the
grace of God, less any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many
be defiled.
Integrity means perfect and we are told to become perfect (Ephesians 4:13) “that we all
come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect
man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”; (Colossians 4:12)
“Epaphras, who is one of you a servant of Christ, salutes you, always laboring fervently
for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God”. The
Bible tells us that “all scriptures 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, thoroughly furnished in al good works” ( II Timothy 3:16-17). You
see God provided the way for us to have integrity in our lives, by providing the Bible as
our guideline.
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: August 24, 2007
