WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.159 --> 00:00:04.120 Hi, everybody. I'm Pastor Rick, and today we're going to continue in 2 00:00:04.160 --> 00:00:08.400 our study through the Book of James called the Faith that Works when Life doesn't, 3 00:00:08.919 --> 00:00:12.119 and we're looking at principles for living through a pandemic. We didn't think 4 00:00:12.119 --> 00:00:15.320 the series was going to go this long, but the pandemic keeps going, 5 00:00:15.359 --> 00:00:19.079 so we do too. Specifically, we're going to look today at what James 6 00:00:19.079 --> 00:00:25.160 says about how to have a faith known for integrity, how to have a 7 00:00:25.280 --> 00:00:30.960 faith known for integrity? And we're in James chapter five, and I want 8 00:00:31.039 --> 00:00:33.840 us to consider the implications of just one verse. We're just going to look 9 00:00:33.880 --> 00:00:38.119 at one verse out of the Book of James today, James five, verse 10 00:00:38.479 --> 00:00:42.079 twelve. But before we look at that verse, I want to explain something 11 00:00:42.079 --> 00:00:47.039 that gives a little bit of context to this theme of having a faith known 12 00:00:47.119 --> 00:00:52.079 for integrity. You know, for right or wrong reasons, you may have 13 00:00:52.159 --> 00:00:58.799 certain stereotypes or images in your mind about different religions. Okay. For instance, 14 00:00:58.840 --> 00:01:00.759 you might think of one kind of religion or one kind of faith as 15 00:01:00.880 --> 00:01:06.439 rigid and legalistic, and you might think of another faith as being passive and 16 00:01:06.879 --> 00:01:11.079 otherworldly. Maybe another faith that you think of might think make you think of 17 00:01:11.159 --> 00:01:17.959 terrorism and other faiths might bring to mind hypocrisy or selfishness, or being out 18 00:01:17.959 --> 00:01:22.480 of touch with today's world. When I know that that's true of all of 19 00:01:22.560 --> 00:01:27.000 us, that makes me wonder what do people think who know me? What 20 00:01:27.079 --> 00:01:34.400 do they think about Christianity? What are they people who know you think about 21 00:01:34.519 --> 00:01:38.200 Christianity? If you're the only Bible they ever read? What do they think 22 00:01:38.239 --> 00:01:44.840 about our faith? What is our faith known for most today? If you 23 00:01:44.879 --> 00:01:48.000 ask the typical person, what do you think of when I say the word 24 00:01:48.079 --> 00:01:53.239 Christian these days? Is what we're known for? Accurate? Is what we're 25 00:01:53.319 --> 00:01:57.799 known for in society today? Negative? Does it match what Jesus wants us 26 00:01:57.879 --> 00:02:02.920 to be known for? Or have we gotten off course? You know, 27 00:02:02.920 --> 00:02:08.000 if I were to ask the non believers who know you, what do they 28 00:02:08.120 --> 00:02:13.680 think of the Christian faith? Knowing you, what do you think they would 29 00:02:13.719 --> 00:02:17.719 say? Knowing you? You know, you don't have to read very much 30 00:02:17.759 --> 00:02:24.159 of the Bible to figure out pretty quickly that God cares deeply about his reputation, 31 00:02:24.919 --> 00:02:30.960 and all throughout scripture the phrase for my glory is used over and over 32 00:02:30.120 --> 00:02:36.520 and over. But God doesn't just care about his reputation. He also cares 33 00:02:36.560 --> 00:02:43.719 deeply about your reputation. Did you know that because you are his child, 34 00:02:43.879 --> 00:02:46.759 He's your heavenly father, and you're in the family of God. The Church 35 00:02:46.840 --> 00:02:49.960 is the family of God. You're a part of his family. And like 36 00:02:50.039 --> 00:02:57.919 all good fathers, your heavenly Father wants his family to be respected. He 37 00:02:57.960 --> 00:03:00.599 wants his church, his family to be respected. He didn't want any of 38 00:03:00.639 --> 00:03:06.520 his children, that's you and that's me, given his family a bad name 39 00:03:07.759 --> 00:03:12.360 because the way we speak or act. He doesn't want our lives to bring 40 00:03:12.520 --> 00:03:19.680 him dishonor Now, this theme that I'm talking about this weekend, protecting God's 41 00:03:19.680 --> 00:03:25.000 glory and reputation and also protecting his family's reputation. The church's reputation is literally 42 00:03:25.000 --> 00:03:30.319 taught all through the Bible. God wants you to realize that you represent him. 43 00:03:30.439 --> 00:03:35.879 If you call yourself Christian, you're a little Christ. You represent Him 44 00:03:36.120 --> 00:03:38.840 here on earth. And He wants us to realize that any of us, 45 00:03:39.199 --> 00:03:46.560 me I can do this. We can bring shame to his name when we 46 00:03:46.639 --> 00:03:52.520 don't act in christ Like ways to the people and to the events around us. 47 00:03:53.240 --> 00:03:54.840 Now, I've said many times, if you've been at Saddleback, you 48 00:03:54.919 --> 00:04:00.719 know that I've said this many times that there are two big reasons that unbelievers 49 00:04:00.759 --> 00:04:04.680 reject Jesus Christ. The first one is they've never become a friend of a 50 00:04:04.759 --> 00:04:10.080 Christian, so I don't really know any Christians. And the second reason that 51 00:04:10.120 --> 00:04:15.840 they have is that they have met a Christian and they were turned off by 52 00:04:15.919 --> 00:04:20.040 our attitudes or by our actions, or by our hypocrisy or whatever. We 53 00:04:20.160 --> 00:04:27.120 have to realize that the way we respond to all that's happening around us, 54 00:04:28.240 --> 00:04:34.160 the pandemic, the politics, the fires, the floods, the unease in 55 00:04:34.279 --> 00:04:40.759 society, all of the way we respond to what's happening around us racial inequality. 56 00:04:41.439 --> 00:04:46.800 That has eternal implications because people's eternal destinies are in the balance. You 57 00:04:46.839 --> 00:04:53.360 see, we're either a good witness and a good testimony for the loving grace 58 00:04:53.399 --> 00:04:58.920 of God. We're a bad one. We can be a stepping stone to 59 00:04:59.040 --> 00:05:04.000 Jesus Christ and salvation, or we can be a stumbling block and we can 60 00:05:04.040 --> 00:05:08.639 actually be a barrier to people. You don't want to be that. I 61 00:05:08.639 --> 00:05:12.759 don't want to be that. You don't want people to reject Jesus Christ. 62 00:05:13.000 --> 00:05:15.120 You don't want people to reject God's offer of salvation because they don't want to 63 00:05:15.160 --> 00:05:20.040 be like you. No, So let me show you just a couple of 64 00:05:20.079 --> 00:05:25.680 scriptures where God talks about this theme that we're looking at this weekend. You 65 00:05:25.720 --> 00:05:30.920 know that NJB Translation as an interesting translation of Proverbs twenty seven to twenty one. 66 00:05:30.959 --> 00:05:35.560 It says this a person's worth a person is worth, what is reputation 67 00:05:35.959 --> 00:05:43.759 is worth? Whoa a person is worth? What is reputation is worth? 68 00:05:43.800 --> 00:05:46.759 That's in the Bible. Now this verse isn't talking about your worth to God. 69 00:05:47.120 --> 00:05:50.680 Now you're priceless to God. That's why Christ died for you on the 70 00:05:50.720 --> 00:05:56.720 cross. What is talking about is what other people think of you. That 71 00:05:56.839 --> 00:06:01.279 a person's worth is what is reputation is what your reputation is talking about what 72 00:06:01.319 --> 00:06:05.120 other people think of you. And it's saying that your self worth is far 73 00:06:05.240 --> 00:06:12.160 more important than your net worth. Now your value and your valuables are not 74 00:06:12.319 --> 00:06:17.120 the same. Here's another verse. Ecclesiastes seven, verse one says a good 75 00:06:17.199 --> 00:06:26.040 reputation is more valuable than the most expensive perfume. You know, just for 76 00:06:26.079 --> 00:06:30.279 fun this week, I decided to find out what's the most expensive perfume in 77 00:06:30.279 --> 00:06:31.720 the world. So I looked it up. You know what it is. 78 00:06:31.800 --> 00:06:35.720 It's made in to buy, and it costs one point eight million dollars a 79 00:06:35.759 --> 00:06:42.680 bottle. Hello, can you imagine any perfume costing one point eight million dollars 80 00:06:42.720 --> 00:06:46.120 a bottle? So now you know what to get your you know friend who 81 00:06:46.199 --> 00:06:50.000 has everything this Christmas? All right? Now again, God says this Proverbs 82 00:06:50.040 --> 00:06:58.360 twenty two, verse one, choose a good reputation over great riches. So 83 00:06:58.399 --> 00:07:02.519 if you have to choose a lot money and a good reputation to choose, 84 00:07:02.519 --> 00:07:09.720 the reputation being held in high esteem is far better, far better than having 85 00:07:09.720 --> 00:07:13.480 a pile of silver of gold. Now you may be thinking, Rick, 86 00:07:14.600 --> 00:07:18.639 Okay, should I be concerned at all about my reputation? I mean, 87 00:07:18.879 --> 00:07:23.040 I'm a Christian, I'm saved by grace. Should I be concerned about my 88 00:07:23.360 --> 00:07:29.839 reputation as a Christian? The answer is definitely yes, you should be tewod. 89 00:07:29.879 --> 00:07:34.519 Corinthians chapter eight tells us eight verse twenty one the message paraphrase. Paul 90 00:07:34.560 --> 00:07:41.519 says this, You know, we are being as careful in our reputation with 91 00:07:41.600 --> 00:07:46.680 the public. We're being as careful with our reputation with the public as we 92 00:07:46.720 --> 00:07:54.560 are in our reputation with God. Wow. You know this matters, he 93 00:07:54.600 --> 00:07:59.279 said. In fact, God says that one of the qualifications that you must 94 00:07:59.319 --> 00:08:03.240 have to be a lead in the church, either as an elder or as 95 00:08:03.279 --> 00:08:09.360 a deacon, is that you must have quote a good reputation not just with 96 00:08:09.480 --> 00:08:13.519 believers, listen, but with unbelievers too. You're not supposed to be an 97 00:08:13.519 --> 00:08:18.800 elder or a deacon in a church unless you have a good reputation, not 98 00:08:18.879 --> 00:08:22.439 just with the church, but with unbelievers. Let me show you a couple 99 00:08:22.519 --> 00:08:26.439 verses one Timothy chapter three, verses two and seven says this, an elder 100 00:08:28.560 --> 00:08:35.919 must be a man whose life cannot be spoken against. Whoa an elder must 101 00:08:35.960 --> 00:08:39.039 be a man whose life cannot be spoken against. He must be faithful to 102 00:08:39.080 --> 00:08:45.440 his wife. He must exhibit self control, he must live wisely. He 103 00:08:45.559 --> 00:08:52.279 must have a good reputation. That's talking about with believers. Then down in 104 00:08:52.320 --> 00:08:56.120 the next verse he says, also he must have a good reputation with people 105 00:08:56.200 --> 00:09:01.919 outside the church who speak well of his so that he can't be disgraced and 106 00:09:03.000 --> 00:09:05.360 trapped by Satan. Then Paul says, if you want to be a deacon, 107 00:09:07.120 --> 00:09:09.120 you have to be have the same requirement. By the way, what's 108 00:09:09.120 --> 00:09:13.000 a deacon anyway, because we don't use that term so much at Saddleback. 109 00:09:13.360 --> 00:09:18.720 Deacon is just the Greek word for minister. It's the Greek word for servant. 110 00:09:18.000 --> 00:09:22.320 Diakonos means servant or minister. To be a deacon is to be a 111 00:09:22.360 --> 00:09:26.080 servant. To be a deacon is to be a minister. If you serve 112 00:09:26.159 --> 00:09:30.399 in any capacity in ministry at Saddleback Church, you're involved in any ministry. 113 00:09:30.399 --> 00:09:33.399 Guess what. You may not realize that you're a deacon. Okay, you're 114 00:09:33.440 --> 00:09:37.240 a deacon. You're a minister. You're a servant of Christ. Maybe you 115 00:09:37.279 --> 00:09:41.039 didn't know that, but here's what the Bible says about you serving in ministry 116 00:09:41.039 --> 00:09:46.120 one Timothy three, Verse Satan ten, New Living Translation. In the same 117 00:09:46.200 --> 00:09:54.120 way, deacons must be people who are respected and have integrity. Have integrity. 118 00:09:54.159 --> 00:09:58.840 First, they must be evaluated. Then if they have a good reputation, 119 00:09:58.960 --> 00:10:01.120 there's that phrase again, then they can become a deacon. You have 120 00:10:01.159 --> 00:10:05.399 to have a good reputation, and God wants you to work on your reputation, 121 00:10:05.720 --> 00:10:11.919 particularly with unbelievers. They say, okay, what does God want me 122 00:10:13.000 --> 00:10:15.320 to do? What does he want me to be known for? Well, 123 00:10:15.320 --> 00:10:18.960 did you Notice the little word in that last verse that I just read. 124 00:10:18.320 --> 00:10:26.519 God wants you to have integrity. Integrity. God wants us to have a 125 00:10:26.679 --> 00:10:33.080 faith that is known for integrity. Integrity sums up all the christs like qualities 126 00:10:33.080 --> 00:10:35.279 that God wants you to exhibit in your life. He wants all of the 127 00:10:35.360 --> 00:10:39.919 qualities love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, 128 00:10:39.039 --> 00:10:43.480 meetness, self control, all the fruit of spirit. He wants all these 129 00:10:43.559 --> 00:10:48.879 qualities to be integrated into a hole in your life that's called integrity. He 130 00:10:48.919 --> 00:10:54.159 wants the inside of your character to be exactly the same as the outside of 131 00:10:54.240 --> 00:11:01.639 your conduct. Now, let me be clear. Having integrity doesn't mean you're 132 00:11:01.679 --> 00:11:07.440 perfect, because nobody's perfect. Okay, nobody's perfect. Having integrity doesn't mean 133 00:11:07.759 --> 00:11:13.240 you never mess up or you never make a mistake. If that were true, 134 00:11:13.480 --> 00:11:18.240 no one would ever have integrity. No, No, it doesn't mean 135 00:11:18.240 --> 00:11:22.679 you're perfect. Doesn't mean you don't make mistakes. Integrity means more than anything 136 00:11:22.759 --> 00:11:30.759 else. You want your life to be truthful, not deceitful, not wishy 137 00:11:30.960 --> 00:11:35.279 washy. But you treat everybody the exact same way. That's integrity. You 138 00:11:35.279 --> 00:11:39.840 don't treat the Queen of England one way and the bum on the street another 139 00:11:39.879 --> 00:11:43.120 way, and your grandkids another way. No, no, he says, 140 00:11:43.559 --> 00:11:48.600 what you see is what you get. Now, friends, to live with 141 00:11:48.679 --> 00:11:54.080 integrity in this day and in this age and in this culture, well it 142 00:11:54.200 --> 00:11:58.759 just requires a whole lot of special effort, because right now in our culture 143 00:12:00.120 --> 00:12:05.440 are witnessing the death of truth in society. It's everywhere, the death of 144 00:12:05.480 --> 00:12:09.440 truth. There are many people who don't even believe objective truth exists anymore. 145 00:12:11.679 --> 00:12:13.279 What is truth? I don't even believe it exists. The only thing that 146 00:12:13.320 --> 00:12:16.799 matters is what you feel, is what we're told today, and if I 147 00:12:16.840 --> 00:12:20.240 feel it, it's true. And truth is relative for many people. They 148 00:12:20.240 --> 00:12:22.279 say, well, maybe true for you, but it's not true for me, 149 00:12:24.080 --> 00:12:26.559 Or maybe true for me, but it's not true for you, as 150 00:12:26.639 --> 00:12:31.639 if truth is an opinion. We're living in an age where political leaders call 151 00:12:31.840 --> 00:12:37.080 obvious lies that everybody knows is a lie, they call them alternative facts. 152 00:12:39.080 --> 00:12:41.200 Well, the Bible doesn't call them alternative facts. The Bible just calls them 153 00:12:41.240 --> 00:12:46.200 lies. And what matters is to them is not the truth, but it's 154 00:12:46.240 --> 00:12:52.200 whatever I want to believe, even if it's false. So there is a 155 00:12:52.399 --> 00:12:58.519 shortage. There is a crisis of integrity today in our society. There's a 156 00:12:58.559 --> 00:13:03.759 shortage of leaders with integrity in the world today, which makes it even more 157 00:13:03.879 --> 00:13:09.120 and more important that you and I, as followers of Jesus, really are 158 00:13:09.159 --> 00:13:18.600 different. That we have a faith known for integrity. God wants us to 159 00:13:18.639 --> 00:13:24.639 live with such integrity, not perfection, but with such integrity that the world 160 00:13:24.679 --> 00:13:26.519 can say about us. You know, I may not agree with those guys, 161 00:13:26.519 --> 00:13:31.320 those Christians, but they're honest and they're not deceptive, and they're not 162 00:13:31.360 --> 00:13:37.519 deceitful, and their word is good and they keep the promises and they do 163 00:13:37.559 --> 00:13:41.840 what they say they'll do. That's what we need to be in today's world, 164 00:13:43.080 --> 00:13:48.120 a faith that is known for integrity. So you say, okay, 165 00:13:48.720 --> 00:13:54.960 I want that. I want my life to represent Jesus truthfully. So how 166 00:13:56.000 --> 00:14:00.279 do I grow in that area? Well, I'm glad you asked. Let 167 00:14:00.320 --> 00:14:07.840 me show you four ways to work on integrity in your life from scripture. 168 00:14:07.000 --> 00:14:11.279 All right. You might write these down. You can always download the message 169 00:14:11.279 --> 00:14:16.360 notes outline either saddleback dot com or at Daily Hope pastorick dot com. But 170 00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:22.399 let's look at four ways to become known for integrity. All right. Here 171 00:14:22.399 --> 00:14:26.559 they are number one, to be known for integrity, to have the reputation 172 00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:31.639 that's a woman of integrity, that's a man of integrity. Number one. 173 00:14:31.279 --> 00:14:39.039 I must speak the truth plainly. I must speak the truth plainly, not 174 00:14:41.200 --> 00:14:46.279 you know, flowing in all kinds of embellishments and things like that. This 175 00:14:46.320 --> 00:14:50.919 is where we start with the text today from the Book of James. James 176 00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:58.200 is encouraging us to live with integrity when he wrote this in James chapter five, 177 00:14:58.679 --> 00:15:00.879 verse twelve. Let me read it to you, just one verse. 178 00:15:00.879 --> 00:15:05.919 We're looking at James five twelve. He says this. He says, above 179 00:15:05.960 --> 00:15:15.279 all my brothers and sisters, don't swear by heaven or by earth, or 180 00:15:15.320 --> 00:15:20.200 by anything else. Okay, don't swear by heaven or earth or anything else. 181 00:15:20.399 --> 00:15:24.440 Just let your yes be yes, and let you know be no. 182 00:15:24.559 --> 00:15:31.120 Just say what you mean. Do this so you can't be judged and condemned. 183 00:15:33.039 --> 00:15:37.039 Now, let me explain. When James tells us not to swear, 184 00:15:37.440 --> 00:15:41.480 he's not talking about cussing. He's not talking about profanity. He's not talking 185 00:15:41.519 --> 00:15:46.240 about potty mouth or vulgar talk, you know, our obscenities. That's not 186 00:15:46.399 --> 00:15:52.759 the kind of swearing. He's talking about he's talking about making an oath by 187 00:15:52.799 --> 00:15:58.159 referring to something else, as if you don't have enough integrity in yourself to 188 00:15:58.240 --> 00:16:00.639 keep your own word, you have to promise on a stack of Bibles or 189 00:16:00.679 --> 00:16:07.240 whatever. He staying, don't say things like I swear to God. It's 190 00:16:07.240 --> 00:16:11.679 the truth. You should never say I swear to God. The Bible says, 191 00:16:11.720 --> 00:16:14.679 don't do that. It's taking God's name in vain. I swear to 192 00:16:14.720 --> 00:16:18.399 God on a stack of Bibles, or I swear on my mother's grave. 193 00:16:19.279 --> 00:16:23.759 James says, don't do that. He says, you cheapen your own integrity 194 00:16:25.320 --> 00:16:30.440 when you have to appeal to something besides your own character. I swear based 195 00:16:30.480 --> 00:16:33.720 on you know, something else out there. No, no, don't do 196 00:16:33.840 --> 00:16:36.799 that. Don't say I cross my heart, hope that ies stick a needle 197 00:16:36.840 --> 00:16:41.639 in my eye. Don't use any kind of oath. You don't need it. 198 00:16:41.080 --> 00:16:45.480 You're a follower of Jesus, so your word should stand on his own. 199 00:16:47.240 --> 00:16:51.759 He says. Just let your yes be yes, and let you know 200 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:57.360 be no. Say speak the truth plainly, all right, don't embellish it, 201 00:17:00.080 --> 00:17:06.440 don't shade it, don't twist it. Just speak the truth plainly. 202 00:17:07.079 --> 00:17:08.920 If you mean yes, you say yes. If you mean no, you 203 00:17:08.960 --> 00:17:14.359 say no. You know. Sadly, it just seems today that there are 204 00:17:14.480 --> 00:17:19.000 very few people in the media or in politics who know how to do something 205 00:17:19.000 --> 00:17:23.599 this simple. Did they say yes or no? They always have to shade 206 00:17:23.599 --> 00:17:26.279 it. You get asked the question, you ask no question, and they 207 00:17:26.279 --> 00:17:32.599 answer it with something else. Now, when James brings this up as the 208 00:17:32.680 --> 00:17:37.480 foundation of all integrity, speaking the truth plainly, he's not the first person 209 00:17:37.559 --> 00:17:41.440 to say this. He had a half brother named Jesus Christ, Remember, 210 00:17:42.079 --> 00:17:47.039 and Jesus said it in the Sermon on the Mount, and Paul said it 211 00:17:47.079 --> 00:17:53.720 too. Now listen, anytime God says something three times in scripture, you 212 00:17:53.799 --> 00:17:59.720 better know it's important to God. And so this thing is said three different 213 00:17:59.759 --> 00:18:03.559 times. Here's what Paul said. Second Corinthians, Chapter one, verses seventeen 214 00:18:03.680 --> 00:18:10.079 nineteen. Paul says, am I like the people of the world. Listen, 215 00:18:10.440 --> 00:18:12.319 What are the people of the world like? Am I like the people 216 00:18:12.359 --> 00:18:18.279 of the world who say yes when they really mean no? As surely as 217 00:18:18.400 --> 00:18:25.319 God is true, I am not that sort of person. My yes means 218 00:18:25.440 --> 00:18:32.559 yes because Jesus Christ, the Son of God, never wavers between yes and 219 00:18:32.720 --> 00:18:37.599 no. That's powerful scripture. Jesus never wavers. Paul says, I want 220 00:18:37.640 --> 00:18:42.400 to be counter culture in my integrity. When nobody else has got it, 221 00:18:42.440 --> 00:18:45.759 I want to have it. I don't want to be like unbelievers who never 222 00:18:45.880 --> 00:18:49.119 quite say what they mean, and when they say yes, they really mean 223 00:18:49.200 --> 00:18:53.359 no, and vice versa. He says. And my motivation for my integrity 224 00:18:55.160 --> 00:19:00.400 is because I want to be like Jesus, who never wavers between the yes 225 00:19:00.200 --> 00:19:04.720 and no. So James says, let your yes bs, your no be 226 00:19:04.839 --> 00:19:07.599 no. Paul says, let your yes bs and your no be no. 227 00:19:08.279 --> 00:19:11.839 And now, as I said, Jesus taught this exact same truth in the 228 00:19:11.880 --> 00:19:17.400 Sermon on the Mount, and his brother half brother James just repeats it in 229 00:19:17.440 --> 00:19:19.680 his book in the Sermon on the Mount Matthew five, verse thirty four thirty 230 00:19:19.680 --> 00:19:25.519 seven. Here's what Jesus said, I tell you, here's Jesus. I 231 00:19:25.799 --> 00:19:32.599 tell you to never swear by Heaven, which is God's throne, or by 232 00:19:32.599 --> 00:19:37.559 the earth, which is God's footstool, or by Jerusalem, his great city, 233 00:19:37.279 --> 00:19:41.559 or even by the hair on your head, because you can't turn one 234 00:19:41.799 --> 00:19:45.440 white hair, turn one hair white or black. Well, you can today, 235 00:19:45.680 --> 00:19:48.400 but in those days they didn't have hair color. But he says, 236 00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:52.759 you can't change your hair just by wishing it. Just say, this is 237 00:19:52.839 --> 00:19:57.279 Jesus talking. Just say a simple yes if you mean yes, or no 238 00:19:57.759 --> 00:20:03.920 when you mean no. Your word should be enough. Anything more than that 239 00:20:03.880 --> 00:20:10.759 is from the evil one. That's Jesus Christ talking. So now we've had 240 00:20:11.240 --> 00:20:14.880 James say it, We've had Paul say it, We've had Jesus say same 241 00:20:14.920 --> 00:20:18.759 thing. Said. If you're gonna be my disciple, the disciple of Jesus 242 00:20:18.880 --> 00:20:23.160 Christ, you got to have integrity. And it starts with having a faith 243 00:20:23.839 --> 00:20:29.240 known for integrity. And he says, to have a faith known for integrity, 244 00:20:29.279 --> 00:20:33.240 the first step is it just have to speak the truth plainly. Here's 245 00:20:33.319 --> 00:20:37.680 number two. How to have a faith. How to get a reputation for 246 00:20:37.720 --> 00:20:44.359 integrity? Share the truth completely. I speak it plainly, but I share 247 00:20:44.400 --> 00:20:48.920 it completely. What do you mean by that, Rick? Well? By 248 00:20:48.960 --> 00:20:57.839 definition, lying is an intention to mislead by either falsifying or by concealing. 249 00:20:59.279 --> 00:21:04.240 You know, you can by lie falsify or you can lie by concealing, 250 00:21:06.160 --> 00:21:10.759 And that means you deliberately hold back part of the truth you know, you 251 00:21:10.799 --> 00:21:15.079 share half the truth you know half a truth can be a whole lie. 252 00:21:15.279 --> 00:21:19.119 But God says, if you want to have integrity, you don't play games 253 00:21:19.160 --> 00:21:23.799 like that. You be straightforward. You share the truth completely. You speak 254 00:21:23.839 --> 00:21:30.880 it plainly, and you share it. You share it completely. Proverbs ten, 255 00:21:30.960 --> 00:21:38.720 verse ten says this someone who holds back the truth causes trouble. Anybody 256 00:21:38.759 --> 00:21:42.319 want to give a testimony on that when you've held back the truth and it 257 00:21:42.400 --> 00:21:47.279 caused trouble. Now, you know, there are a lot of ways that 258 00:21:47.319 --> 00:21:51.559 we can hold back the truth. Okay, think about this. We can 259 00:21:51.720 --> 00:21:56.079 hold back the truth by not saying what we mean. We can hold back 260 00:21:56.119 --> 00:22:03.599 the truth by by you know, well being silent okay, not saying anything. 261 00:22:03.000 --> 00:22:07.680 We can do it by not meaning what we say. God says, 262 00:22:07.839 --> 00:22:15.640 holding back the truth always causes trouble. What kind of trouble? Resentment? 263 00:22:17.279 --> 00:22:25.640 Mistrust, superficial relationship. Now I want to take this second principle sharing the 264 00:22:25.720 --> 00:22:30.920 truth completely, and I want to apply it in three different ways. First, 265 00:22:30.119 --> 00:22:33.359 let me speak to those of you who are business owners for just a 266 00:22:33.400 --> 00:22:37.920 minute, because one of the areas that we often hesitate to share the full 267 00:22:37.960 --> 00:22:45.119 truth is when somebody is being let go or laid off or being fired, 268 00:22:45.079 --> 00:22:49.880 and you think you're being kind by not telling them the real reason they're being 269 00:22:49.920 --> 00:22:56.759 fired, and you're holding back the truth. Do you know what I've learned 270 00:22:56.799 --> 00:23:00.960 after forty years of leadership? That always backfires? It just doesn't work. 271 00:23:03.119 --> 00:23:07.680 Job thirteen, verse seven says this, why are you lying? Do you 272 00:23:07.759 --> 00:23:14.039 think your lies will benefit God? Do you think your lives will benefit God? 273 00:23:14.519 --> 00:23:18.480 Do you think you're being more loving by lying to them? What I've 274 00:23:18.519 --> 00:23:26.920 found out is this The truth often hurts, but dishonesty leaves lasting scars. 275 00:23:26.440 --> 00:23:33.279 Truth doesn't leave a lasting scar. The truth often hurts, but dishonesty leaves 276 00:23:33.279 --> 00:23:36.680 a lasting scar. And when you don't tell the complete truth, you don't 277 00:23:36.720 --> 00:23:40.960 go that last ten percent. You don't tell somebody why they're really being laid 278 00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:47.400 off, you're creating mistrust and all resentment and all those other things. Proverbs 279 00:23:47.480 --> 00:23:51.839 twenty eight, verse twenty three says this, in the end, people appreciate 280 00:23:51.920 --> 00:23:56.680 frankness more than flattery. It's true, it hurts, but it doesn't leave 281 00:23:56.720 --> 00:24:02.079 scars like dishonesty does. Now, I once you notice the phrase it says 282 00:24:02.240 --> 00:24:06.119 in that verse. Proverbs twenty eight says, in the end, people appreciate 283 00:24:06.160 --> 00:24:11.400 frankness, did you notice that phrase? In the end, speaking the truth 284 00:24:11.440 --> 00:24:18.920 completely can be unpleasant at first, but in the end it's better. See 285 00:24:18.960 --> 00:24:23.240 what am I saying. What I'm saying is that in theory, everybody agrees 286 00:24:23.480 --> 00:24:29.400 honesty is the best policy, but in reality, when faced with potential conflict, 287 00:24:29.440 --> 00:24:33.920 we're just not so sure honesty is the best policy. In other words, 288 00:24:33.960 --> 00:24:37.960 everybody believes in the principle of truth, but we don't always believe in 289 00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:42.200 the practice of it, and that makes us a bad witness to the world. 290 00:24:44.039 --> 00:24:45.400 So one of the areas, as I said, is if you're a 291 00:24:45.440 --> 00:24:51.240 businessman, tell the truth completely. Number two. Second area that you can 292 00:24:51.279 --> 00:24:56.720 apply this idea of sharing the truth completely is in your marriage, because if 293 00:24:56.720 --> 00:25:02.240 you're hiding your true feelings, you are all ready the undermining your marriage. 294 00:25:03.039 --> 00:25:04.640 You need to share the truth complete. You need to go that last ten 295 00:25:04.680 --> 00:25:11.279 percent and deal with what the problem is. Painful, yes, helpful, 296 00:25:11.440 --> 00:25:17.039 yes, healing eventually. Third area I just want to mention is in every 297 00:25:17.119 --> 00:25:21.000 election, and we're getting ready to go into one of those seasons right now. 298 00:25:21.119 --> 00:25:26.039 In every election season, your home will be flooded with advertisements and with 299 00:25:26.200 --> 00:25:32.640 flyers that are filled with half truths. They don't tell the complete thing. 300 00:25:33.240 --> 00:25:37.200 They're only telling you the part of that law or the part of that candidate 301 00:25:37.519 --> 00:25:41.680 they want you to hear. They're not giving you the full story. They 302 00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:45.039 may not be lying, but what they're doing is they're given. They're covering 303 00:25:45.119 --> 00:25:48.680 up all of the facts. And if you listen, as your pastor who 304 00:25:48.680 --> 00:25:53.759 loves you, if you only listen to advertisements for propositions and new laws, 305 00:25:55.599 --> 00:25:59.359 you're going to be confused because you're going to hear ads that say the exact 306 00:25:59.799 --> 00:26:03.279 opposite thing, one rite after the other. What each of them sharing half 307 00:26:03.720 --> 00:26:07.680 of the story. They're not sharing the whole story. You can't rely on 308 00:26:07.799 --> 00:26:12.839 advertising to make your vote count. You have to read the explanations in the 309 00:26:12.839 --> 00:26:18.319 sample ballot, that impartial stuff, and you have to decide based on the 310 00:26:18.359 --> 00:26:23.000 facts. Never base your votes on anything based on advertising. That's not very 311 00:26:23.000 --> 00:26:27.799 smart. So let's go back now. To develop a reputation for integrity, 312 00:26:29.519 --> 00:26:33.400 you got to speak the truth plainly, and then you've got to share the 313 00:26:33.480 --> 00:26:37.240 truth completely, not half truth, but the whole truth. Third, this 314 00:26:37.319 --> 00:26:45.839 is really important. You must use the truth tactfully. Use the truth tactfully. 315 00:26:45.839 --> 00:26:48.519 In other words, in love, there is no place in scripture. 316 00:26:48.519 --> 00:26:52.480 There's no place in this book where God wants you to use the truth as 317 00:26:52.519 --> 00:26:56.519 a club to beat people on the head. He didn't want you to beat 318 00:26:56.519 --> 00:27:02.319 people up theologically. He didn't want you to beat people up politically. He 319 00:27:02.359 --> 00:27:04.880 doesn't want you to beat people up personally. He never wants you to use 320 00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:10.000 truth as a club. In fact, Ephesians four point fifteen says, speak 321 00:27:10.039 --> 00:27:15.799 the truth in a spirit of love. Now, that's a big one. 322 00:27:15.400 --> 00:27:19.559 Speak the truth in a spirit of love. I want you to think of 323 00:27:19.599 --> 00:27:25.640 somebody right now, okay, wherever you're seated or listening to this, maybe 324 00:27:25.640 --> 00:27:30.480 even in your car. I want you to think of somebody that you would 325 00:27:30.480 --> 00:27:33.359 really like to help make a change. You know, they really need to 326 00:27:33.359 --> 00:27:37.200 make a change, and I bet I could help them. Okay. Now, 327 00:27:37.240 --> 00:27:45.599 I want you to realize that people change faster and people change easier when 328 00:27:45.599 --> 00:27:48.720 the truth is wrapped in love. You got to wrap it in love. 329 00:27:49.640 --> 00:27:56.519 Truth without love is always seen as an attack. If you don't love somebody 330 00:27:56.559 --> 00:28:03.480 and you're telling them the truth, don't even tell because the Bible says without 331 00:28:03.519 --> 00:28:06.039 love, I'm nothing, I'm a sounding brass. And Tinkling said, well, 332 00:28:06.039 --> 00:28:10.240 it doesn't work. Any truth shared without love is seen as an attack. 333 00:28:10.359 --> 00:28:15.039 It is resisted. And if you say something offensively, guess what it's 334 00:28:15.079 --> 00:28:21.839 going to be received defensively. That's why God tells us to always speak the 335 00:28:21.880 --> 00:28:26.640 truth in love. Let me say, well, Rick, how do I 336 00:28:26.799 --> 00:28:30.960 know when I'm speaking the truth in love? Well, it's really quite simple. 337 00:28:32.240 --> 00:28:34.880 Who are you trying to benefit with what you're saying? For? Whose 338 00:28:34.960 --> 00:28:40.440 benefit are you saying this. If you're saying it for your benefit, it's 339 00:28:40.480 --> 00:28:45.559 not in love. If you're speaking the truth for their benefit, well then 340 00:28:45.640 --> 00:28:49.440 it's a different issue. Ephesians four twenty nine. Speak only listen to this. 341 00:28:49.599 --> 00:28:53.359 Only speak only. This is the only thing you should speak. Speak 342 00:28:53.519 --> 00:28:57.920 only what is helpful. Okay, is it helpful? It's not helpful. 343 00:28:57.960 --> 00:29:03.119 Don't speak it. Speak only what is helpful for building others up. Now 344 00:29:03.160 --> 00:29:07.160 yourself up, others up. Speak only what is helpful for building others up, 345 00:29:07.319 --> 00:29:10.160 according to their needs, not according to my need. According to their 346 00:29:10.200 --> 00:29:15.119 need. That it may benefit those who listen, not my benefit. But 347 00:29:15.240 --> 00:29:17.839 then, if you want to just get something off your chest, don't call 348 00:29:17.880 --> 00:29:21.000 it speaking the truth in love. If you want to put somebody down and 349 00:29:21.000 --> 00:29:22.720 club somebody with the truth. Don't call it speaking the truth and love. 350 00:29:22.920 --> 00:29:27.119 You speak only what is helpful for building them up according to their needs that 351 00:29:27.160 --> 00:29:32.200 it benefits them. Those are the four qualifications of speaking the truth and love. 352 00:29:33.960 --> 00:29:37.720 Now, just because you're ready to share the truth doesn't mean they're ready 353 00:29:37.759 --> 00:29:42.519 to hear it either. You need to ask yourself, are they ready to 354 00:29:42.599 --> 00:29:48.799 receive this truth? That's part of love too, Okay, that's part is 355 00:29:48.839 --> 00:29:52.359 that you use the proper timing. You need to remember this next verse Proverbs 356 00:29:52.400 --> 00:29:59.759 twelve fourteen. They're on your outline. Thoughtless words can wound as deeply as 357 00:29:59.759 --> 00:30:07.240 any sword, but wisely spoken words can heal. So you want a wound, 358 00:30:07.240 --> 00:30:08.400 you want to heal. You want to help, You want to hurt. 359 00:30:10.200 --> 00:30:14.960 The solution if you're in a conflict right now with somebody, the solution, 360 00:30:15.200 --> 00:30:18.960 because you're having a conflict, The solution is not deception, but tacked 361 00:30:21.480 --> 00:30:25.400 tact. You might want to write that down. The solution to my conflict 362 00:30:25.680 --> 00:30:30.839 is not deception, it's tact. You have a choice to either hurt or 363 00:30:30.920 --> 00:30:33.720 heal. You have a choice to either make a point or make an enemy. 364 00:30:34.039 --> 00:30:37.640 A lot of people when they go out witnessing they're more interested in proving 365 00:30:37.640 --> 00:30:41.359 a point than winning somebody to Christ, do you want to make a point 366 00:30:42.039 --> 00:30:45.440 or do you want to make it and make an enemy? Or do you 367 00:30:45.440 --> 00:30:49.559 want to make a friend and a convert? What are you more interested in? 368 00:30:51.559 --> 00:30:53.680 Now? What I want to recommend is that if you've got a conflict 369 00:30:53.680 --> 00:30:57.920 going in with somebody, here's what integrity. Does. You plan your presentation, 370 00:30:59.440 --> 00:31:03.839 okay, especially your introduction. Okay, you know there's something between you 371 00:31:03.880 --> 00:31:07.599 and somebody else, you plan out what you're going to say, and then 372 00:31:07.680 --> 00:31:11.759 you choose the right time that's best for them, Not when they're tired, 373 00:31:11.359 --> 00:31:18.279 not when they're pressured, not when they're hurried. Proverbs sixteen twenty three says, 374 00:31:18.640 --> 00:31:25.240 intelligent people think before they speak. That's another verse our leaders need to 375 00:31:25.319 --> 00:31:29.880 learn. Intelligence people think before they speak. You don't just run off at 376 00:31:29.920 --> 00:31:33.640 the mouth. Now, this verse you've seen many times for Ecclesiastes eight nine, 377 00:31:33.799 --> 00:31:38.400 there's the right time and the right way to do everything. So Love 378 00:31:38.599 --> 00:31:41.880 says, I'm going to do it at the right time and the right way. 379 00:31:41.559 --> 00:31:48.960 Now, let's review to develop a reputation for integrity. You speak the 380 00:31:49.000 --> 00:31:52.880 truth plainly. You'll let your yes b yes and your no be no, 381 00:31:52.160 --> 00:31:56.400 and you don't go swearing on a stack of Bibles and having to call other 382 00:31:56.440 --> 00:32:00.480 people, and you just let your own character be the witness. You speak 383 00:32:00.480 --> 00:32:05.519 the truth plainly, you share the truth completely, you use the truth tactfully 384 00:32:05.920 --> 00:32:13.720 and lovingly. And here's number four. Live the truth consistently. Oh my 385 00:32:13.799 --> 00:32:16.000 goodness, that's the one we all need to work on. Live in the 386 00:32:16.039 --> 00:32:22.279 truth consistently. How different would people think of Christianity if we all live the 387 00:32:22.319 --> 00:32:28.079 truth consistently? See being honest eighty percent of the time, that's not integrity. 388 00:32:28.640 --> 00:32:31.559 It's like faithfulness ninety percent of the time. Isn't faithfulness? So honey, 389 00:32:31.599 --> 00:32:35.960 I'll be faithful you all, but one day a month that's partial. 390 00:32:36.000 --> 00:32:43.880 Faithfulness is unfaithfulness. Partial honesty is dishonesty. Being honest is all the time 391 00:32:44.000 --> 00:32:52.400 integrity. Phesians four fifteen says this, let our lives lovingly express the truth. 392 00:32:52.960 --> 00:32:55.960 Okay, this is living the truth. Let our lives lovingly express the 393 00:32:57.000 --> 00:33:04.279 truth in all things, speaking truly, feeling truly, living truly. If 394 00:33:04.279 --> 00:33:07.000 we would do that as Christians, if people like what they saw, they 395 00:33:07.000 --> 00:33:15.079 would listen to what we say. You see when you live without integrity, 396 00:33:15.319 --> 00:33:20.920 you're only hurting yourself. Proverbs eleven three says this. People who can't be 397 00:33:21.000 --> 00:33:25.920 trusted are destroyed by their own dishonesty. People who can't be trusted are destroyed 398 00:33:25.920 --> 00:33:30.400 by their own dishonesty. Now, I mentioned earlier that integrity is a requirement 399 00:33:30.480 --> 00:33:35.240 for leadership. In other words, in scripture, in order to be a 400 00:33:35.319 --> 00:33:42.440 leader, you are required to have integrity. Why because all leadership is based 401 00:33:42.440 --> 00:33:45.960 on trust. People don't trust you, you can't lead them. If you 402 00:33:45.960 --> 00:33:51.480 don't trust me, I can't lead you. People must have trust in the 403 00:33:51.559 --> 00:33:55.680 leader in order to be led, and all trust is built on truth. 404 00:33:57.359 --> 00:34:01.200 If you don't tell people the truth, I'm gonna trust Now. The Bible 405 00:34:01.240 --> 00:34:08.239 says this about one of the greatest leaders in history in Psalm seventy seventy eight. 406 00:34:09.199 --> 00:34:12.920 It was about David the King. Psalm seventy eight. This is one 407 00:34:12.960 --> 00:34:20.320 of my life Verses seventy eight seventy two says this, David shepherded the people 408 00:34:21.280 --> 00:34:28.480 with integrity of heart, and with skillful hands he led them. He shepherded 409 00:34:28.519 --> 00:34:32.679 the people with integrity of heart, and with skillful hands he led them. 410 00:34:34.000 --> 00:34:39.079 This verse tells us the two reasons David was an effective leader. Character and 411 00:34:39.159 --> 00:34:47.679 competence. Character and combinists. He shepherded them, okay, with a pure 412 00:34:47.719 --> 00:34:52.320 heart, integrity of heart, and with skillful hands. He led them. 413 00:34:52.599 --> 00:34:58.760 Character and combetists. Both are absolutely essential to leadership. One without the other 414 00:34:59.079 --> 00:35:04.480 disasters be a good person still be an incompetent leader. On the other hand, 415 00:35:04.840 --> 00:35:07.159 you can have really great gifts and skills and not have good character, 416 00:35:07.400 --> 00:35:14.880 and you suck. David had both. David had both. He shepherded them. 417 00:35:14.960 --> 00:35:19.480 That means he cared for them. That word shepherd's word pastor he pastored 418 00:35:19.519 --> 00:35:23.760 them with integrity of heart. That's character, and he led them with skillful 419 00:35:23.800 --> 00:35:29.119 hands. That's competence. So let me just say this, since we're getting 420 00:35:29.119 --> 00:35:31.800 close to election. Anytime you vote for a leader, these are the two 421 00:35:31.840 --> 00:35:36.960 things you need to look keep in mind. Who's got the best character and 422 00:35:36.960 --> 00:35:43.320 who's the most competent Who's got the best character and competence combination. By the 423 00:35:43.360 --> 00:35:47.000 way, personally, I'd like to ask you to pray for me that these 424 00:35:47.000 --> 00:35:52.199 two qualities will be true in my life as I seek to lead you through 425 00:35:52.239 --> 00:35:57.280 this pandemic or in anything else. I want to lead you with integrity of 426 00:35:57.360 --> 00:36:01.679 heart, and I want to sheperd for you with integrity of heart and lead 427 00:36:01.760 --> 00:36:07.360 you with skillful hands. Why was David so effective in competence and character because 428 00:36:07.440 --> 00:36:14.519 of his commitment to personal integrity. In fact, he wrote down his commitment. 429 00:36:14.880 --> 00:36:15.880 He wrote it down and put it in a psalm. It's called Psalm 430 00:36:15.920 --> 00:36:21.320 one oh one. And I want to encourage you to make Psalm one oh 431 00:36:21.360 --> 00:36:30.559 one your personal covenant to live a faith that is known for integrity. I'm 432 00:36:30.559 --> 00:36:32.480 gonna read it to you, Psalm one oh one, Verses one to seven. 433 00:36:32.679 --> 00:36:38.000 This is David's personal commitment to integrity, and I would encourage you to 434 00:36:38.039 --> 00:36:44.280 make Psalm one O one one to seven your personal inory covenant. Here's what 435 00:36:44.360 --> 00:36:51.519 he says, Psalm one oh one. This is my song of commitment to 436 00:36:51.679 --> 00:36:55.480 your love and justice. Oh Lord. First you start with commitment to love 437 00:36:55.519 --> 00:36:59.719 in the world and justice in the world. Will you commit to those two 438 00:36:59.760 --> 00:37:01.400 things. I want to see love in the world and I want to see 439 00:37:01.559 --> 00:37:06.320 justice in the world. Okay, he says, this is my song of 440 00:37:06.400 --> 00:37:08.880 commitment to your love and justice. O Lord. And here's what he says. 441 00:37:08.920 --> 00:37:12.599 And I listen to all these things, I will lead a life of 442 00:37:12.639 --> 00:37:16.519 integrity in my own home. Well, that's where it starts, and that's 443 00:37:16.519 --> 00:37:20.760 where it's hardest. I'll lead a life of integrity in my own home. 444 00:37:21.320 --> 00:37:24.880 I will refuse number two. I will refuse to look at anything degrading or 445 00:37:24.920 --> 00:37:30.280 demeaning. Now you probably thinking, oh, that's pornography. Yeah, it 446 00:37:30.320 --> 00:37:32.199 includes pornography. But let me tell you what else. It is a lot 447 00:37:32.239 --> 00:37:37.960 of social media that are degrading and demeaning of other people, and other racists 448 00:37:38.360 --> 00:37:44.400 and other religions. I will refuse to look at anything degrading or demeaning. 449 00:37:45.119 --> 00:37:49.480 That's a lot. Are you getting your vision from God or you getting your 450 00:37:49.519 --> 00:37:52.400 vision from television? If you're spending more time on television than in God's vision, 451 00:37:52.760 --> 00:37:58.719 I know where you're getting your worldview. I will refuse to support anything 452 00:37:58.840 --> 00:38:05.760 shameful or corrupt. Wow. I will not be dishonest, and I will 453 00:38:05.800 --> 00:38:10.119 have nothing to do with anything evil. This is Psalm one on one. 454 00:38:10.320 --> 00:38:19.519 I will silence anyone who spreads gossip and slander about others. This is David 455 00:38:19.559 --> 00:38:23.000 talking Psalm one on one. This is his covenant of integrity. I will 456 00:38:23.039 --> 00:38:30.119 silence anyone who spreads gossip and slander about others. And I will not tolerate 457 00:38:30.280 --> 00:38:36.599 anyone who looks down on others. Instead, he says, I'll keep my 458 00:38:36.800 --> 00:38:43.320 eyes on the godly of the land, and they will be my heroes. 459 00:38:45.000 --> 00:38:51.039 Only those with integrity shall minister to me. David is the King, He's 460 00:38:51.039 --> 00:38:54.280 don't nobody's going to serve in my court who doesn't have integrity. Only those 461 00:38:54.320 --> 00:38:59.880 with integrity shall minister to me. No one who cheats or lies will ever 462 00:39:00.159 --> 00:39:07.719 have a position in my royal court. That was written easily twenty five hundred 463 00:39:07.760 --> 00:39:13.480 years ago, but it is relevant today as a newspaper. In fact, 464 00:39:13.519 --> 00:39:17.079 it's more relevant. I want to challenge you to get this outline, get 465 00:39:17.119 --> 00:39:22.599 that verse on one on one, and make it your covenant of integrity. 466 00:39:23.320 --> 00:39:29.719 All right, that's a power for prayer. Father. I want to thank 467 00:39:29.800 --> 00:39:32.880 you for your word that it's piercing of our hearts, and it discerns all 468 00:39:32.920 --> 00:39:38.119 of our motives and our mixed motivations. And Lord, we don't want to 469 00:39:38.159 --> 00:39:44.400 be a bad reputation for your family. We don't want our name to bring 470 00:39:44.480 --> 00:39:49.880 shame to your name. We don't want people to reject you because they reject 471 00:39:49.960 --> 00:39:54.159 us. Help us to live with integrity. Now, you pray, say 472 00:39:54.199 --> 00:40:00.039 God, help me, help me Lord, to speak the truth plainly, 473 00:40:01.159 --> 00:40:06.800 to let my yes be yes and my no be no. To not say 474 00:40:06.840 --> 00:40:09.559 I swear on a stack of Bibles, or I swear to God or anything 475 00:40:09.599 --> 00:40:15.920 else, but to just let my own character be enough to say yep or 476 00:40:15.960 --> 00:40:22.119 no. May we be known for that kind of integrity. And then say, 477 00:40:22.159 --> 00:40:29.360 Lord, help me to share the truth completely, Do not do the 478 00:40:29.400 --> 00:40:36.480 half truths, to have the courage the fortitude to go the last ten percent, 479 00:40:37.559 --> 00:40:42.320 realizing that it may be painful, but what's more painful of the scars 480 00:40:42.400 --> 00:40:50.280 of deception and deceit. Help me to speak the truth in love. Help 481 00:40:50.320 --> 00:41:00.239 me to share not only completely, but to use the truth tactfully. Give 482 00:41:00.239 --> 00:41:05.239 me for the times I've clubbed people with the truth and that I have not 483 00:41:05.360 --> 00:41:08.440 been loving. Help me to be tactful, to look at when they need 484 00:41:08.480 --> 00:41:14.480 to hear it, to only speak, only speak those words that build up, 485 00:41:15.119 --> 00:41:19.159 that benefit those who listen, that meet their needs, not what I 486 00:41:19.239 --> 00:41:23.679 need, but what they need. And then Lord, help me to live 487 00:41:25.199 --> 00:41:30.400 with integrity, that I speak and I live, and I think and I 488 00:41:30.559 --> 00:41:35.400 act, and I realize that no matter what I say or do, whether 489 00:41:35.440 --> 00:41:38.719 it's on social media, or whether it's in a business deal or in anything 490 00:41:38.760 --> 00:41:45.760 else that I represent. You, May you raise up leaders in our church 491 00:41:46.880 --> 00:41:52.000 in a world that's filled with leaders without integrity. I pray you raise up 492 00:41:52.039 --> 00:42:01.119 a new generation of leaders that are committed to speaking, living the truth in 493 00:42:01.199 --> 00:42:07.719 love. If you've never opened your life to Jesus Christ, he will give 494 00:42:07.719 --> 00:42:09.960 you the power to do this. And you can say, right now, 495 00:42:10.119 --> 00:42:14.559 Jesus Christ, I don't understand it all, but I want to become a 496 00:42:14.559 --> 00:42:19.320 person of integrity and I can't do it on my own without you. You 497 00:42:19.440 --> 00:42:22.559 to say, Jesus, come into my life. Oh, I open myself 498 00:42:22.679 --> 00:42:27.599 to you. I don't want to be a deceitful person. I want to 499 00:42:27.639 --> 00:42:31.840 be a woman of integrity, a man of integrity. I want to stand 500 00:42:31.920 --> 00:42:37.480 with the truth, but I want to share it in love. So accept 501 00:42:37.480 --> 00:42:45.360 me into your family and teach me what I need to do. I humbly 502 00:42:45.440 --> 00:42:47.039 ast this in your name, Amen,