WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:06.480 The word for pure in heart. Today is the word integrity. Integrity. Now, 2 00:00:06.480 --> 00:00:08.519 the Bible uses the word integrity a lot, but it 3 00:00:08.560 --> 00:00:09.279 actually even. 4 00:00:09.160 --> 00:00:11.359 Uses the word blameless. More. 5 00:00:12.080 --> 00:00:15.400 Now, what does it mean to have integrity? Because if 6 00:00:15.400 --> 00:00:18.079 God says I bless those who have integrity, what does 7 00:00:18.120 --> 00:00:19.679 it mean to have integrity? 8 00:00:20.039 --> 00:00:20.239 Well? 9 00:00:20.280 --> 00:00:24.960 In Psalm chapter fifteen, the fifteenth Psalm, David gives us 10 00:00:25.199 --> 00:00:28.440 eight characteristics of what it means to walk or live 11 00:00:28.600 --> 00:00:32.280 with integrity. Let me read it to you, Lord, who 12 00:00:32.320 --> 00:00:37.159 may stand in your sanctuary and who may live on 13 00:00:37.200 --> 00:00:38.640 your holy mountain? 14 00:00:38.759 --> 00:00:40.000 And what's he talking about here? 15 00:00:40.119 --> 00:00:43.159 This is a metaphor, he said, God, who gets to 16 00:00:43.200 --> 00:00:47.719 be close to you? Here's the answer, the one who 17 00:00:47.799 --> 00:00:53.600 walks with integrity? Circle that walks with integrity. And then 18 00:00:53.960 --> 00:00:58.840 he gives us eight characteristics of a man who has 19 00:00:58.880 --> 00:01:01.560 integrity or a woman who has integrity. Here's what they are. 20 00:01:01.679 --> 00:01:05.439 Number one, he speaks the truth from his heart. You 21 00:01:05.519 --> 00:01:10.079 don't lie when you have integrity. He refuses to slander 22 00:01:10.239 --> 00:01:14.640 others with his tongue. He won't listen to gossip. Oh 23 00:01:14.840 --> 00:01:20.120 now we're meddling, says, if you listen, not not share it. 24 00:01:20.200 --> 00:01:22.040 But even if you just listen, to it, you've lost 25 00:01:22.079 --> 00:01:26.599 your integrity. He will not cast a slur on his 26 00:01:26.760 --> 00:01:32.200 fellow man. Instead, he honors those who fear the Lord, 27 00:01:33.040 --> 00:01:37.840 and he keeps his promises even when it hurts. He 28 00:01:37.920 --> 00:01:41.159 lends his money freely without charging interest. In other words, 29 00:01:41.200 --> 00:01:44.120 he's very, very generous. That's a mark of integrity, and 30 00:01:44.159 --> 00:01:50.480 he cannot be bribed by money. Whoever does these things, 31 00:01:50.599 --> 00:01:55.519 these things will never be shaken. You won't have security 32 00:01:55.519 --> 00:01:57.239 in your life. You want to get rid of all 33 00:01:57.280 --> 00:01:58.959 the insecurity in your life. 34 00:01:59.480 --> 00:02:00.840 Get into in your life. 35 00:02:01.200 --> 00:02:03.319 You want to have stability in your life, Get integered 36 00:02:03.359 --> 00:02:05.359 in your life. You want to have the confidence Tom 37 00:02:05.480 --> 00:02:07.480 was talking about. Then you've got to get integered in 38 00:02:07.519 --> 00:02:12.199 your life. When you lack integrity, you go through life insecure. 39 00:02:13.400 --> 00:02:17.840 The Bible says, the man of integrity walks securely. And 40 00:02:18.039 --> 00:02:21.439 the whole reason you don't have security, the whole reason 41 00:02:21.479 --> 00:02:28.120 you feel insecure so much time, is because you lack integrity, wholeness, authenticity, 42 00:02:28.479 --> 00:02:32.840 and an unmixed motivation. What I want to do now 43 00:02:33.360 --> 00:02:36.439 is give you a little checklist. It's a pretty quick checklist. 44 00:02:36.439 --> 00:02:37.599 It's not going to take a lot of time for 45 00:02:37.680 --> 00:02:39.520 me to explain it. In fact, I don't have to 46 00:02:39.560 --> 00:02:42.719 illustrate it, because once I say these things, you'll understand it. 47 00:02:43.159 --> 00:02:47.360 Integrity demands that every area of your life is treated 48 00:02:47.400 --> 00:02:50.479 with the same intensity that you say. I'm going to 49 00:02:50.520 --> 00:02:53.879 have the same commitment to excellence in my marriage as 50 00:02:53.919 --> 00:02:58.000 I have in my career. I'm gonna have the same 51 00:02:58.039 --> 00:03:01.719 commitment to excellence in my my ministry and in my 52 00:03:01.960 --> 00:03:06.280 parenting as I do in making money. I'm going to 53 00:03:06.360 --> 00:03:09.199 have as much commitment to the right motivation as I 54 00:03:09.319 --> 00:03:12.840 do and too doing the right thing. So let me 55 00:03:12.919 --> 00:03:15.479 just give you six of the common ways you can 56 00:03:15.520 --> 00:03:18.120 work on these this week from the Bible. Number one, 57 00:03:18.960 --> 00:03:23.120 you become a person of integrity by keeping your promises. 58 00:03:24.639 --> 00:03:27.800 By keeping your promises. 59 00:03:28.639 --> 00:03:32.479 People of integrity keep their word. If they say they'll 60 00:03:32.520 --> 00:03:34.560 do it, they'll do it. If they say they'll be there, 61 00:03:34.639 --> 00:03:36.800 they'll be there. They say you can count on it, 62 00:03:36.919 --> 00:03:40.639 you can count on it. People of integrity keep their promises. 63 00:03:40.879 --> 00:03:45.120 This is verbal integrity, and the Bible says in Proverbs 64 00:03:45.159 --> 00:03:49.080 twenty five, verse fourteen, people who promise things that they 65 00:03:49.120 --> 00:03:53.080 never give. He says, they're like clouds and wind that 66 00:03:53.120 --> 00:03:55.240 bring no rain. He said, they're worthless. There's been a 67 00:03:55.280 --> 00:03:58.599 hot bunch of hot air. This is vapor. There's nothing 68 00:03:58.639 --> 00:04:00.960 to them. They don't bring wind, they don't bring rain, 69 00:04:01.000 --> 00:04:02.280 they don't bring any benefit. 70 00:04:02.479 --> 00:04:04.439 They're just all smoking mirrors. 71 00:04:05.199 --> 00:04:08.599 So my question to you is this, what promises have 72 00:04:08.680 --> 00:04:12.240 you made that you have not kept? And you need 73 00:04:12.280 --> 00:04:14.800 to keep them? Before integrity saying, have you made some 74 00:04:14.800 --> 00:04:18.439 promises your kids? Broken promises are the number one cause 75 00:04:18.439 --> 00:04:19.560 of bitterness in children. 76 00:04:21.199 --> 00:04:22.639 The number one cause of bitterness. 77 00:04:22.639 --> 00:04:26.160 Broken promises that parents said, I set up, Mom, you said, Dad, 78 00:04:26.199 --> 00:04:29.800 you said, they break promise. Have you made a promise 79 00:04:29.879 --> 00:04:33.519 to your spouse about something you're going to change and 80 00:04:33.560 --> 00:04:34.560 you haven't done it? 81 00:04:34.560 --> 00:04:35.600 It's a broken promise. 82 00:04:35.920 --> 00:04:39.160 Have you made a promise to God, a spiritual promise, 83 00:04:39.199 --> 00:04:42.120 a vow and you haven't kept it? That is a 84 00:04:42.240 --> 00:04:47.560 lack of integrity. Now I know that what happens is 85 00:04:47.600 --> 00:04:51.879 we say, well, the circumstances have changed, doesn't matter. If 86 00:04:51.879 --> 00:04:53.639 you made a promise, you got to keep your word, 87 00:04:53.839 --> 00:04:57.040 even if it is not beneficial to you. Do you 88 00:04:57.079 --> 00:04:59.319 remember that Psalm fifteen we just read let me look 89 00:04:59.319 --> 00:05:02.079 at it again here on screen, So I'm fifteen verse four, 90 00:05:02.319 --> 00:05:05.560 God blesses the one who walks with integrity, who keeps 91 00:05:05.879 --> 00:05:11.439 his promises even when it hurts, even when it. 92 00:05:11.360 --> 00:05:11.839 Costs you more. 93 00:05:11.879 --> 00:05:13.360 And you thought I was gonna cost you, you keep 94 00:05:13.399 --> 00:05:14.879 your promise, I said, I sult to you for that. 95 00:05:14.879 --> 00:05:16.800 I'm gonna sell it to you for that, even though 96 00:05:16.959 --> 00:05:19.800 it's worth a whole lot more or whatever. You keep 97 00:05:19.800 --> 00:05:25.120 your promises even when it hurts. Number two, you become 98 00:05:25.120 --> 00:05:29.560 a person of integrity by paying your bills. Now you 99 00:05:29.600 --> 00:05:31.480 may not think this is a big deal, but it's 100 00:05:31.480 --> 00:05:36.160 a big deal to God. This is financial integrity. And 101 00:05:36.199 --> 00:05:38.839 the Bible says over and over and over and over 102 00:05:38.920 --> 00:05:41.560 again that the way you use your money is a 103 00:05:41.600 --> 00:05:45.680 test of your integrity. Do you spend more money than 104 00:05:45.720 --> 00:05:48.879 you make That is a lack of integrity. Do you 105 00:05:48.920 --> 00:05:51.680 get yourself in debt to things that you can't pay off, 106 00:05:51.959 --> 00:05:56.160 That is a lack of integrity. The Bible says, people 107 00:05:56.199 --> 00:06:02.959 of integrity pay their bills. It's like keeping your promises financially. Now, 108 00:06:03.079 --> 00:06:04.680 I'm not going to go into all the different ways, 109 00:06:04.680 --> 00:06:04.959 but let. 110 00:06:04.959 --> 00:06:06.839 Me just give you a couple. Here's a couple verses. 111 00:06:07.079 --> 00:06:10.519 First, you don't default on loans, and you pay off 112 00:06:10.560 --> 00:06:13.519 your credit card Psalm thirty seven to twenty one says 113 00:06:13.920 --> 00:06:19.639 the wicked man borrows and never pays back. And not 114 00:06:19.680 --> 00:06:21.920 only that, this one's really meddling. Some of these are 115 00:06:21.920 --> 00:06:24.319 going to get a little personal here. You don't defraud 116 00:06:24.360 --> 00:06:28.959 the government of taxes. The Bible says in Romans thirteen, 117 00:06:29.040 --> 00:06:33.120 verse six and seven, the authorities working are working for God. 118 00:06:33.560 --> 00:06:38.120 Pay what you owe them. Pay your personal and property taxes. 119 00:06:38.399 --> 00:06:41.600 You say, but Rick, the government is wasting my money. 120 00:06:41.639 --> 00:06:46.879 Of course, I know that, okay, and they don't. The 121 00:06:46.920 --> 00:06:50.639 government lacks integrity because they're spending far more than they 122 00:06:50.639 --> 00:06:54.199 take in. Okay, and they're doing deficit spending. But you 123 00:06:54.319 --> 00:06:57.759 don't get to do that if you have integrity. What 124 00:06:57.839 --> 00:07:00.800 they do with my taxes going to be accountable to 125 00:07:00.839 --> 00:07:03.920 God for But I am accountable to God to pay 126 00:07:04.000 --> 00:07:07.120 my taxes that do not cheat on them, because if 127 00:07:07.160 --> 00:07:08.879 I do, I lack integrity. 128 00:07:08.920 --> 00:07:10.720 The Bible says, to do that. Okay. 129 00:07:10.800 --> 00:07:14.439 Number three, you become a person of integrity by keeping 130 00:07:14.480 --> 00:07:16.839 your promises, paying your bills. And number three, this one's 131 00:07:16.879 --> 00:07:22.000 really meddling. By refusing to gossip. That's what the Bible says. 132 00:07:22.360 --> 00:07:27.959 This is relational integrity, and that is you don't talk 133 00:07:28.040 --> 00:07:30.000 one way with one group of people and then go 134 00:07:30.040 --> 00:07:34.279 talk about them behind their back. If you flatter somebody 135 00:07:34.319 --> 00:07:36.279 and you butter them up and you act like they're 136 00:07:36.279 --> 00:07:38.839 best friends, and then behind them you cut them off 137 00:07:38.839 --> 00:07:40.800 at the knees and you say one. 138 00:07:40.639 --> 00:07:42.360 Thing here and one thing there. 139 00:07:42.160 --> 00:07:46.959 And you gossip, the Bible says, you lack integrity. 140 00:07:47.480 --> 00:07:48.800 You don't have it, and you're. 141 00:07:48.720 --> 00:07:50.680 Not gonna have God's blessing on your life if you 142 00:07:50.800 --> 00:07:54.079 keep on gossiping like that. And the Bible says, if 143 00:07:54.079 --> 00:07:57.480 you listen to it, did you know that accepting stolen 144 00:07:57.519 --> 00:08:03.319 goods gets the same criminal indictment as stealing it, and 145 00:08:03.399 --> 00:08:07.120 so accepting gossip is the same thing as offering it up. 146 00:08:07.639 --> 00:08:12.240 It's a wrong thing. Every time you gossip, you lose integrity. 147 00:08:12.399 --> 00:08:16.040 Do you talk about other people behind their back? Can 148 00:08:16.120 --> 00:08:20.639 you keep a secret? The Bible says this in Proverbs eleven, 149 00:08:20.720 --> 00:08:25.800 verse thirteen. A gossip can't be trusted with a secret, 150 00:08:26.959 --> 00:08:31.240 But somewhat of integrity won't violate a confidence. 151 00:08:31.560 --> 00:08:32.799 You know what we need today? 152 00:08:33.159 --> 00:08:36.440 We need men and women of integrity who know how 153 00:08:36.480 --> 00:08:40.159 to keep a secret and not put it on Facebook 154 00:08:40.679 --> 00:08:43.240 or blab it on Twitter. Or pass it around on 155 00:08:43.279 --> 00:08:45.879 social media. You know, one of the rules of our 156 00:08:45.919 --> 00:08:48.440 small groups is what's said in the group stays in 157 00:08:48.480 --> 00:08:51.879 the group. Why because everybody needs a safe place of 158 00:08:51.919 --> 00:08:53.919 a few friends where you can be real and be 159 00:08:54.039 --> 00:08:56.919 yourself and have not other everybody go publish it about you. 160 00:08:58.399 --> 00:09:01.480 Real friends walk in to your life when everybody else 161 00:09:01.519 --> 00:09:04.679 walks out. And when you mess up and you really 162 00:09:04.720 --> 00:09:06.759 blow it, you need a few friends in your life. 163 00:09:06.799 --> 00:09:10.679 You don't rub it in, they rub it out. And 164 00:09:10.720 --> 00:09:13.240 that's the purpose of a small group, one of the purposes. 165 00:09:13.840 --> 00:09:15.759 And so what said in the group stays in the group. 166 00:09:15.840 --> 00:09:18.360 Can you keep a confidence? Or as soon as somebody 167 00:09:18.399 --> 00:09:20.559 says now, I've never told this to anybody, you immediately 168 00:09:20.559 --> 00:09:26.679 go tell somebody else. If you do, you lack integrity. 169 00:09:26.919 --> 00:09:29.480 The Bible says this there on the screen Proverbs ten eighteen. 170 00:09:30.000 --> 00:09:35.120 Anyone who spreads gossip, God says you're a fool. Anyone 171 00:09:35.159 --> 00:09:39.120 who spreads gossip is a fool. It's a foolish, destructive 172 00:09:39.200 --> 00:09:42.120 thing to do, all right. Number four, I'm just going 173 00:09:42.120 --> 00:09:47.960 through these pretty quickly. Integrity is developed by keeping your promises, 174 00:09:47.960 --> 00:09:52.000 paying your bills, refusing the gossip. Number four, by faithfully tithing. 175 00:09:53.679 --> 00:09:56.480 Did you know that the Bible says that tithing is 176 00:09:56.519 --> 00:10:00.759 a test of integrity. One of the ways God tests 177 00:10:00.799 --> 00:10:04.000 my integrity is through tithing. Do I trust Him with 178 00:10:04.039 --> 00:10:09.320 my finances? Do I put him first? Whatever? Wherever you 179 00:10:09.399 --> 00:10:12.039 put your money first is what's most important to you. 180 00:10:13.279 --> 00:10:16.000 Let me say it again, Wherever you put your money 181 00:10:16.039 --> 00:10:19.840 first is what's most important to you. And the Bible 182 00:10:19.879 --> 00:10:23.159 says that tithing is a test of integrity because Jesus said, 183 00:10:23.399 --> 00:10:27.440 wherever your heart is, wherever your treasure is, that's where 184 00:10:27.480 --> 00:10:29.200 your heart's going to be. So you can always know 185 00:10:29.320 --> 00:10:30.960 what's important people by looking at it and where they 186 00:10:31.000 --> 00:10:34.000 spend their money. And here's what God says about this 187 00:10:34.120 --> 00:10:35.879 Malachi chapter three. 188 00:10:36.840 --> 00:10:41.679 Is it right for a person to cheat God? Of 189 00:10:41.720 --> 00:10:43.720 course not. Yet. 190 00:10:43.759 --> 00:10:49.519 You are robbing me, says the Lord. How yes, you're 191 00:10:49.559 --> 00:10:53.799 spending my money by withholding your full tithe and offerings. 192 00:10:54.759 --> 00:10:58.159 Bring to me the full amount of your tithe to 193 00:10:58.279 --> 00:11:02.320 my house, me to the test, and you'll see that 194 00:11:02.480 --> 00:11:05.679 I will open the windows of heaven and pour out 195 00:11:05.960 --> 00:11:10.320 so much blessing on you that you won't even have 196 00:11:10.440 --> 00:11:11.879 enough room to receive it. 197 00:11:11.919 --> 00:11:12.159 All. 198 00:11:12.440 --> 00:11:14.960 This is a test, and this is a promise. It's 199 00:11:14.960 --> 00:11:18.679 the Pepsi challenge verse. Jesus God says, I dare you 200 00:11:18.720 --> 00:11:19.720 to trust me on this? 201 00:11:20.600 --> 00:11:22.159 How dare you to trust me? 202 00:11:22.399 --> 00:11:24.840 Do you have the integrity to put me first in 203 00:11:24.879 --> 00:11:36.559 your finances? Hi? Everybody, this is pastor Rick. Because of 204 00:11:36.600 --> 00:11:39.399 the Genders support of many of you Daily Hope listeners, 205 00:11:39.960 --> 00:11:44.080 we're able to offer daily Hope devotionals for free worldwide. 206 00:11:44.799 --> 00:11:48.000 In fact, today I have a note from Paul in 207 00:11:48.159 --> 00:11:52.000 Kenya that shows how God does at work through the 208 00:11:52.159 --> 00:11:55.759 Daily Hope devotionals. Paul wrote me. He said, I'd like 209 00:11:55.799 --> 00:11:58.519 to sincerely thank you with the free gift of your 210 00:11:58.600 --> 00:12:02.679 daily Hope devotionals. May God receive all the glory. For 211 00:12:02.799 --> 00:12:06.559 some time now, you're inspiring and encouraging messages, along with 212 00:12:06.600 --> 00:12:10.440 scripture references, have helped me push through some really tough 213 00:12:10.480 --> 00:12:14.840 times and get closer to God. However, Paul writes, the 214 00:12:14.879 --> 00:12:18.200 best part is that my faith in God has now 215 00:12:18.240 --> 00:12:20.200 grown to the point that He recently gave me the 216 00:12:20.240 --> 00:12:23.440 strength and wisdom to accept His free, undeserved gifts to 217 00:12:23.519 --> 00:12:28.559 grace and salvation. By accepting and confessing Jesus Christ as 218 00:12:28.600 --> 00:12:31.799 my Lord and Savior, I feel like a new being, 219 00:12:32.320 --> 00:12:35.080 and I yearn to keep growing more and more in 220 00:12:35.200 --> 00:12:38.399 God's word and in wisdom, surrendering my life to His 221 00:12:38.519 --> 00:12:42.720 will alone. So please hold my hand in this journey 222 00:12:43.080 --> 00:12:47.480 to the glory and honor of God to Christ Jesus. Paul, 223 00:12:48.480 --> 00:12:51.679 without a doubt, I will hold your hand as you 224 00:12:51.759 --> 00:12:55.519 journey with Jesus. There is no greater decision that you 225 00:12:55.559 --> 00:12:58.879 could have made than believing and receiving Jesus Christ. 226 00:12:59.200 --> 00:13:02.440 So can congratulations. You're my brother in Christ. 227 00:13:02.360 --> 00:13:04.039 And I want to encourage you to be on the 228 00:13:04.080 --> 00:13:07.480 lookout every day to see how God guides you, how 229 00:13:07.519 --> 00:13:10.639 God directs you. It's an exciting journey. And by the way, 230 00:13:10.720 --> 00:13:13.919 keep studying His word every day. Get a Bible and 231 00:13:14.000 --> 00:13:16.440 read it every day. I'm so thankful that Daily Hope 232 00:13:16.440 --> 00:13:20.360 devotional is helping you to do just that now. The 233 00:13:20.440 --> 00:13:24.159 Daily Hope Devotional is helping many, many people just like Paul, 234 00:13:24.600 --> 00:13:27.120 all around the world to grow closer to God. 235 00:13:27.240 --> 00:13:28.000 And it's free. 236 00:13:28.080 --> 00:13:29.960 If you're not getting it, I want to encourage you 237 00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:38.120 to go to Daily hopetv dot com and sign up today. 238 00:13:38.480 --> 00:13:43.159 You become a person of integrity, keeping your promises, paying 239 00:13:43.200 --> 00:13:46.799 your bills, refusing the gossip, faithfully tithing by doing. 240 00:13:46.639 --> 00:13:49.120 Your best at work. 241 00:13:50.080 --> 00:13:55.840 By doing your best at work, this is business integrity 242 00:13:56.120 --> 00:14:03.200 or vocational spiritual integrity. Tithing and relational integrity, not gossiping 243 00:14:03.240 --> 00:14:07.440 and financial integrity paying your bills. This is vocational integrity 244 00:14:07.759 --> 00:14:11.480 of having integrity where you work. Do you do your 245 00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:14.440 best at work? Are you to just slough off when 246 00:14:14.519 --> 00:14:18.399 the boss isn't watching? See, some people only work hard 247 00:14:19.679 --> 00:14:22.919 when the boss is around, when the supervisor's around, and 248 00:14:22.960 --> 00:14:23.559 the rest. 249 00:14:23.320 --> 00:14:24.919 Of the time they're goofing off. 250 00:14:25.919 --> 00:14:30.759 They're playing around, they're standing in the water coolor gossiping. 251 00:14:31.440 --> 00:14:35.360 They're playing solitaire on the computer or reading some online magazine. 252 00:14:36.679 --> 00:14:40.240 They're they're taking supplies home to their house, ripping off 253 00:14:40.440 --> 00:14:43.960 the office. They're you know, taking breaks, coming in late. 254 00:14:44.759 --> 00:14:47.960 As long as they're not being noticed. You may have 255 00:14:48.120 --> 00:14:52.320 never realized what a serious sin God considers it for 256 00:14:52.360 --> 00:14:55.039 you to give a full day's work when you're paid 257 00:14:55.080 --> 00:14:58.519 a full day's wage. You don't have the right to 258 00:14:58.600 --> 00:15:01.159 goof off. He said, Well, everybodybody else is slacking off. 259 00:15:01.240 --> 00:15:04.159 Nobody else works hard in my office. Well, so what, 260 00:15:04.440 --> 00:15:08.279 They're not a follower of Christ, and maybe they don't 261 00:15:08.360 --> 00:15:11.039 care about integrity. And maybe they don't care about leaving 262 00:15:11.039 --> 00:15:16.240 a legacy rewards fraternity and personal stability, but you do. 263 00:15:17.480 --> 00:15:20.679 And so whether they work hard and well or not 264 00:15:21.159 --> 00:15:23.240 is irrelevant. Let me show you some just a few 265 00:15:23.320 --> 00:15:24.000 verses about this. 266 00:15:24.200 --> 00:15:24.879 Here in the screen. 267 00:15:25.360 --> 00:15:31.120 Proverbs eighteen, verse nine says this, slack habits and sloppy 268 00:15:31.240 --> 00:15:34.799 work are as bad as vandalism. 269 00:15:35.080 --> 00:15:36.720 That's what God says about it. 270 00:15:36.799 --> 00:15:39.039 He says, you know, if you're just goofing off and 271 00:15:39.080 --> 00:15:41.559 you do poor work and you don't really that's good 272 00:15:41.679 --> 00:15:44.159 enough for this. You know, nobody's gonna even notice. He said, 273 00:15:44.200 --> 00:15:47.039 that's like vandalism. Let me show you in the Living Bible. 274 00:15:47.039 --> 00:15:51.320 The Bible says this, a lazy employee is as destructive 275 00:15:51.559 --> 00:15:52.559 as a saboteur. 276 00:15:53.840 --> 00:15:56.200 Oh, now we're really getting deep here. 277 00:15:56.960 --> 00:15:59.759 He's saying that if I am not given a full 278 00:15:59.840 --> 00:16:03.559 day work for a full day's wage, I may hate 279 00:16:03.600 --> 00:16:05.559 my job. It doesn't matter if I hate it or not. 280 00:16:06.360 --> 00:16:11.559 I am actually vandalizing and I'm sabotaging somebody else's business 281 00:16:12.879 --> 00:16:16.480 if I'm not giving it my best. If I don't 282 00:16:16.480 --> 00:16:21.080 give it my best, then I lack integrity. Let me 283 00:16:21.080 --> 00:16:23.240 show you a couple of The verses Ephesians six six 284 00:16:23.320 --> 00:16:29.039 says this, don't work hard only when your master, that's 285 00:16:29.039 --> 00:16:33.559 your supervisor, is watching. And then sure when he isn't looking, 286 00:16:34.639 --> 00:16:39.480 work hard and work with gladness, and that's enthusiasm all 287 00:16:39.960 --> 00:16:43.480 the time, even if you hate your job, as though 288 00:16:43.559 --> 00:16:48.320 working for Christ, doing the will of God with all 289 00:16:48.360 --> 00:16:51.639 your heart. It is God's will that you work hard 290 00:16:51.759 --> 00:16:54.399 and with gladness all the time, as if you are 291 00:16:54.440 --> 00:16:58.159 working for Christ. You see, if you're a believer, your 292 00:16:58.159 --> 00:17:02.360 boss is your boss. Your real boss is God. And 293 00:17:02.399 --> 00:17:04.839 whether anybody else sees it or not, you said, nobody's 294 00:17:04.839 --> 00:17:06.160 going to see whether I worked or not. 295 00:17:06.440 --> 00:17:09.079 God does and he's your boss. 296 00:17:09.319 --> 00:17:11.680 Your boss isn't watching you all the time, but God 297 00:17:11.720 --> 00:17:14.839 is watching you all the time. And this is a test, 298 00:17:15.359 --> 00:17:20.160 it's a test of integrity. And as God's will that 299 00:17:20.240 --> 00:17:22.960 I not waste the time and the money and the 300 00:17:23.000 --> 00:17:26.359 resources of the owner of the business or my employer. 301 00:17:26.799 --> 00:17:27.680 I'll show you another one. 302 00:17:27.799 --> 00:17:31.200 Colossums three twenty two says this, and don't just do 303 00:17:31.359 --> 00:17:35.759 the minimum that will get you by, do your best. 304 00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:38.680 That's integrity. Are you doing your best at work? If not, 305 00:17:38.960 --> 00:17:42.880 you need to change. You need to what's called repent. 306 00:17:43.680 --> 00:17:45.440 I need to not just do the minimum. I need 307 00:17:45.480 --> 00:17:47.400 to give it my best shot, do your best. In fact, 308 00:17:47.440 --> 00:17:49.680 the next verse Colossums three twenty three, it's on your 309 00:17:49.680 --> 00:17:52.920 outline says this, work hard and cheerfully is whatever you 310 00:17:52.960 --> 00:17:57.880 do as though you're working for the Lord rather than people. 311 00:17:58.640 --> 00:18:03.160 That is a mark of integrity. What kind of witness 312 00:18:03.160 --> 00:18:05.359 would we have in the world if we were all 313 00:18:05.400 --> 00:18:09.799 like that? Let me give you one more, anyone, you 314 00:18:09.880 --> 00:18:13.960 become a person of integrity by being real with others. 315 00:18:15.440 --> 00:18:20.119 You become a person of integrity by being real with others. 316 00:18:20.279 --> 00:18:23.519 You don't fake it. You are yourself. You don't pretend. 317 00:18:23.839 --> 00:18:26.599 It's what we were talking about earlier. You're authentic, you're genuine. 318 00:18:26.640 --> 00:18:29.400 You're not a hoop of crete dose. You don't wear 319 00:18:29.440 --> 00:18:31.839 a mask and talk a certain way with this group 320 00:18:31.880 --> 00:18:33.920 and then go over here and wear another mask and 321 00:18:33.960 --> 00:18:36.160 act a certain way with this group. And you don't 322 00:18:36.200 --> 00:18:38.079 act one way in church and one way at work, 323 00:18:38.119 --> 00:18:40.440 and then another way in the golf course or when 324 00:18:40.440 --> 00:18:44.240 you're playing shooting some hoops or whatever. No, you're always 325 00:18:44.319 --> 00:18:50.000 the same. You're not perfect, you're not sinless. It's not 326 00:18:50.079 --> 00:18:52.920 that you don't make mistakes. You do make mistakes, but 327 00:18:52.960 --> 00:18:57.079 your heart's in the right direction, and you are real 328 00:18:57.359 --> 00:19:00.640 with other people. You're not a phony, not a fake. 329 00:19:00.640 --> 00:19:03.200 You're not trying to be something that you're not really. 330 00:19:04.279 --> 00:19:09.079 Two Corinthians four to two says this. We refuse to 331 00:19:09.160 --> 00:19:15.079 wear masks, we refuse to play games. We don't maneuver 332 00:19:15.480 --> 00:19:20.200 and manipulate behind the scenes, and we don't twist God's 333 00:19:20.240 --> 00:19:23.079 word to suit ourselves. In other words, we say, well, 334 00:19:23.119 --> 00:19:25.079 I think this means this when we just don't like 335 00:19:25.119 --> 00:19:28.960 what it says. Rather, we keep everything we do and 336 00:19:29.160 --> 00:19:33.279 say out in the open. Your life is an open book. 337 00:19:33.359 --> 00:19:36.839 You're authentic. What you see is what you get. You 338 00:19:36.880 --> 00:19:41.079 are not a phony, You're not a fake. You're into integrity, 339 00:19:41.319 --> 00:19:45.279 not into image. How in the world do you keep 340 00:19:45.319 --> 00:19:51.720 it real? There's only one way. It's only one way. 341 00:19:51.839 --> 00:19:54.759 You got to care more about God's approval than the 342 00:19:54.759 --> 00:19:58.960 approval of other people. That's the only way you'll ever 343 00:19:59.000 --> 00:20:02.319 become a man of integrity. That's the only way you'll 344 00:20:02.359 --> 00:20:05.440 ever come become a woman of integrity, because if you 345 00:20:05.519 --> 00:20:08.440 care about what God thinks, then you're going to do 346 00:20:08.519 --> 00:20:11.160 the right thing. If you care about what other people 347 00:20:11.160 --> 00:20:13.559 think you're going to typically often do the wrong thing 348 00:20:15.359 --> 00:20:18.960 because what God thinks is sometimes I'm popular, sometimes it's difficult. 349 00:20:19.519 --> 00:20:20.720 The only way you. 350 00:20:20.640 --> 00:20:24.319 Can maintain integrity is to care more about God's approval, 351 00:20:24.559 --> 00:20:28.000 well done, good and faithful servant than to care about 352 00:20:28.160 --> 00:20:32.000 the approval of other people. Psalone nineteen nine says this, 353 00:20:32.400 --> 00:20:36.480 how can I keep my way? Pure? Blessed are the 354 00:20:36.519 --> 00:20:38.680 pure in heart? They get to see God? How can 355 00:20:38.720 --> 00:20:40.839 I keep? How do I live a life of integrity? 356 00:20:41.039 --> 00:20:44.839 By living according to your word? You must stay in 357 00:20:45.160 --> 00:20:48.559 this book. And if you don't stand in this book, 358 00:20:48.759 --> 00:20:51.920 you will not have the strength and the stamina to 359 00:20:52.039 --> 00:20:56.759 live with integrity. Now, this is why, friends, we need 360 00:20:56.799 --> 00:21:00.160 a savior. Okay, what we just talked about today, this 361 00:21:00.200 --> 00:21:03.839 is why you need a savior. This is why we 362 00:21:03.960 --> 00:21:07.160 need the cross. This is why we need grace. This 363 00:21:07.240 --> 00:21:09.799 is why we need forgiveness. Why because none of us 364 00:21:09.920 --> 00:21:14.519 measure up, none of us are perfect. The Bible says, 365 00:21:14.559 --> 00:21:17.400 there's not a just man on the earth who always does. 366 00:21:17.240 --> 00:21:19.480 What is right and never does what is wrong. 367 00:21:19.880 --> 00:21:22.359 The Bible says, we have all sinned, and we have 368 00:21:22.519 --> 00:21:25.319 all fallen short. So each of us have our own 369 00:21:25.440 --> 00:21:32.640 unique falling shorts. You have your falling shorts, and I 370 00:21:32.680 --> 00:21:35.799 have my falling shorts. But thank God he forgives all 371 00:21:35.839 --> 00:21:40.079 our falling shorts, all of sin and fallen short of 372 00:21:40.160 --> 00:21:42.440 the glory of God. This is why you need grace, 373 00:21:42.519 --> 00:21:45.240 You need a savior, because there's no way I can 374 00:21:45.279 --> 00:21:48.359 measure up to God's perfection. There's no way you can't either. 375 00:21:49.119 --> 00:21:53.160 God doesn't expect you to be perfect. He does expect 376 00:21:53.200 --> 00:21:56.200 you to have integrity, which means you own up. 377 00:21:56.400 --> 00:21:58.319 And the starting point to be a man of. 378 00:21:58.279 --> 00:22:01.160 God or a woman of God is to say, I 379 00:22:01.200 --> 00:22:04.799 admit it, I just don't have integrity in some of 380 00:22:04.839 --> 00:22:08.559 these areas. 381 00:22:09.519 --> 00:22:12.240 What really matters is the direction of your heart. 382 00:22:14.079 --> 00:22:16.200 When you come to God and say, God, this is 383 00:22:16.319 --> 00:22:18.920 my heart and I really want it to be in 384 00:22:18.920 --> 00:22:21.799 this direction, then God could say about you like he 385 00:22:21.839 --> 00:22:24.880 did about David. Remember the guy who committed adultery and murder. 386 00:22:25.000 --> 00:22:28.960 There's a guy after my own heart. He looked past 387 00:22:29.240 --> 00:22:31.920 all the mistakes that had been made, and he looked 388 00:22:31.920 --> 00:22:34.279 at the direction of David's sarpsis the guy's got a 389 00:22:34.279 --> 00:22:36.960 good heart. He's going in the right direction. He wants 390 00:22:37.079 --> 00:22:41.480 to do the right thing, and that comes from the 391 00:22:41.559 --> 00:22:50.200 power and the grace of God. Let's power heads. I'm 392 00:22:50.200 --> 00:22:52.000 going to pray a prayer and you can just follow 393 00:22:52.039 --> 00:22:56.640 me in it. Make it your prayer. To God, to 394 00:22:56.839 --> 00:23:01.759 Jesus Christ, I thank you that you were sinless, you 395 00:23:01.839 --> 00:23:06.279 never sinned, You were the ultimate example of integrity, and 396 00:23:06.359 --> 00:23:09.839 so you could pay the price for all my sins. 397 00:23:11.440 --> 00:23:13.240 Thank you for dying on the cross for me. 398 00:23:13.640 --> 00:23:15.240 Just say that in your mind, thank you for dying 399 00:23:15.240 --> 00:23:20.240 on the cross, for paying all my sins. There is 400 00:23:20.279 --> 00:23:22.359 no way God that I could measure up to your 401 00:23:22.400 --> 00:23:27.200