Core Values - Integrity
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Integrity
Integrity
3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,
4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Integrity
A pastor preached a sermon on honesty one Sunday. On Monday morning he took the bus to get to his office. He paid the fare, and the bus driver gave him back too much change. During the rest of the journey, the pastor was rationalizing how God had provided him with some extra money he needed for the week. But he just could not live with himself, and before he got off the bus he said to the driver, “You have made a mistake. You’ve given me too much change.” And he proceeded to give him back the extra money. The driver smiled and said, “There was no mistake. I was at your church yesterday and heard you preach on honesty. So I decided to put you to a test this morning.”
Core values for any christian, any minister, any ministry: Integrity, Compassion, Generosity.
Core values for any christian, any minister, any ministry: Integrity, Compassion, Generosity.
Three characteristics we find in the very nature of God, in the life of Jesus and in the examples of scripture. The Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives enables all three.
No circumstance, trial of life or tragedy prohibits me displaying these three qualities. scripture
Job’s integrity is on par with the greats in the OT. Joseph. Daniel. We dont see the character flaw of Abraham, Moses or David. Job’s integrity starts with his attitude toward sin.
Sin - turn away from it!
His integrity was not an accident. It was on purpose.
1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.
Job 1
We often talk about ‘struggling’ with sin. Are we struggling against sin? The sign of truly struggling is that we ‘turn away from’.
Perfection, integrity or blamelessness refer to the absence of sin. He was not ‘NT perfect’.
The people around him were convinced he was wrong. His wife that he was wrong for holding on to God and his integrity. His friends that his suffering was a result of his sinfulness.
Look at how he responded to his wife: you speak as one of the foolish women would speak.
I can almost hear the echo that says ‘I know you are not one of those women. You are talking out of frustration and grief. We can make it through this if we just hold on to God’.
His friends were convinced he was wrong. Assumptions of Job’s private life were made.
Suffering is proof of wrongdoing.
The good prosper in this life. If his prosperity was removed, he must not be good.
Job was resisting God (further sinning) by not repenting.
The many chapters of argument by Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar a built on the same accusation the accuser had made: Job is not what God thinks he is. But we can go ahead and dismiss their argument. God has spoken. He has declared Job to be upright and blameless.
Do you know who else God has already spoken about? You!
5 Far be it from me to say that you are right; till I die I will not put away my integrity from me.
6 I hold fast my righteousness and will not let it go; my heart does not reproach me for any of my days.
Sin no longer has a hold on me!
Perfection, integrity or blamelessness refer to the absence of sin. He was not ‘NT perfect’.
The people around him were convinced he was wrong. His wife that he was wrong for holding on to God and his integrity. His friends that his suffering was a result of his sinfulness.
Suffering - punishment vs tool, consequences or life. Let’s acknowledge Job had decided what he would do with sin before the suffering ever got started.
2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.
The adversary shows up in the story. Satan. The Satan. Sons of God. God’s presence.
1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.
9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.
God makes it clear that we dont always see the whole story (or battle). There are things which affect our lives we dont see. But scripture helps us know “He will fight for us”. Exodus and Deuteronomy.
The Accuser’s answer to God’ question is shifty. Everywhere in general and nowhere in particular.
Have you considered my servant Job? Have you set your heart on my servant Job?
Servant is a great compliment: Moses, David, Isaiah.
It looks like God not only loves Job, but He is proud of him as well!
Does Job fear God for nothing!? Suffering becomes the testing-stone for this question.
It could have been success. Often is. But suffering would be the fire designed to prove the metal of Job’s integrity.
People of integrity do suffer innocently. Jesus.
Success - available to all who call on the name of the Lord
“Be more concerned with your character than with your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” John Wooden
When God tests us, He always sets us up to prove we are His! Never sets us up for failure. Always success.
Job came to know God in ways he never would have before his loss. His success can be seen in Job 40-42:6
Job 40