Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Integrity : Deciding to integrate my__________________values into my _________________actions.
* Out of the abundance of the heart does the mouth speak. Mt. 12:34
* Watch what you say & do...It reveals your heart !
God places a high value on integrity :
Proverbs 28:6 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity, Than he who is crooked though he be rich.
** Integrity is more important than materialism.
1 Chron. 29:17 " I know, O my God, that Thou triest the heart and delightest in uprightness,
in the integrity of my heart... * Integrity makes GOD smile.
Integrity has the power to build______________________________________.
Trust is what fuels a______________________________________________.
See Romans 7... what I want to do -vs- what I actually do.
Integrity provides . . .
______________________________- less fear.
Psalm 25:21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, For I wait for Thee.
______________________________- greater confidence.
Proverbs 10:9 He who walks in integrity walks securely, But he who perverts his ways will be found out.
______________________________- better decisions.
Proverbs 11:3 The integrity of the upright will guide them,
How to practice integrity . . . at home :
1. Speak____________________________________________________.
Proverbs 20:7 A righteous man who walks in his integrity--How blessed are his sons after him.
Integrity molds our families...not position, possessions, accomplishments.
Ephes. 4:15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him...
When you tell the truth...you don't have to remember anything. Mark Twain
2. Confess__________________________________________________.
When you are wrong admit it . . . when you are right shut up.
James 5:16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed.
Matthew 5:23-24 "If therefore you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, [24] leave your offering there before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. * * * Go get things right....Then come talk to Me !
3. Live______________________________________________________.
a. In our_____________________life as well as our___________________life.
Being the same at home...as well as at work.
Integrity - It's who you are when no one is watching.
John Maxwell's definition of success : Having those closest to me love and respect me most.
It's sad when those closest to us respect us the least.
b._____________________&______________________match. Walk what you Talk ! ! !
4. Commit_____________________________________________________.
Fulfill your commitments. Do what you say. Let your word be your bond.
Isaiah 45:19 "I have not spoken in secret, In some dark land; I did not say to the offspring of Jacob, 'Seek Me in a waste place'; I, the LORD, speak righteousness...Declaring things that are upright.
Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved;
Psalm 101:2 I will give heed to the blameless way. When wilt Thou come to me?
I will walk within my house in the integrity of my heart.
SOME QUOTES AND THOUGHTS ON GOODNESS . . .
Goodness - the character that is energized to display an active good. This is goodness that "does good" toward others and in relationship to others. It is the strength of our character. Goodness involves an intentional act. Goodness is love in action, love with its hand to the plow, love with a burden on its back. It is following the footsteps of HIM who went about continually doing good. Since water does not rise above its source, we believe that the human manifestations of goodness are to be explained only by a Divine Creator in whom are the springs of goodness.
Goodness is measured not by the good work that is done...but, by the motive in which it is done.
We explain evil as the absence or perversion of good as we explain darkness as the absence of light. It is somewhat impossible to account for goodness without a good-giving GOD.
Wesley's Rule . . .
Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can. John Wesley
The whole meaning of life is that man discovers GOD for himself. It is not sin that keeps us away from JESUS, but our own goodness. To experience the loss of my own goodness is the only way to enter into
communion with GOD in CHRIST. C.S. Lewis
I act good...when I think good. I think good...when I think according to GOD"S ways...not my ways. TC |
