Commissioned to Serve: Integrity (Lesson 5)

Commissioned to Serve: Integrity

Intro Text and Introduction

1 Cor 7:21-22 “Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant.”

NRSV - Were you a slave when called? Do not be concerned about it. Even if you can gain your freedom, make use of your present condition now more than ever. For whoever was called in the Lord as a slave is a freed person belonging to the Lord, just as whoever was free when called is a slave of Christ.

2 Cor 3:17 “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”

Last Wednesday we completed our two-part lesson serving with love. We learned of:

Humility

Humility is what keeps us founded in grace according to James 4:6; Rom 12:3, 6

Further, we must attend church in order to increase our faith according to Rom 10:17-21

Service

When serving others, we are doing unto them as we would do unto Christ

We can serve and also be served

The ministerial leadership and congregation has to take on a servant’s heart in order to lead this city to Christ

We will need to become radically submitted to the Holy Ghost in serving others - service can be composite of smaller things outside of the church as well.

Servant Leadership Requires Integrity

I’ve stated this earlier on in our series, but we are called into leadership by Christ. Let us look at what Peter stated to the Jewish Christians scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia -

1 Pet 2:9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”

In the OT, royalty was separated from the priesthood.

Herod was part of the Hasmonean Dynasty, which claimed the rights to both the thrown and high priest. This was a perversion of the Law…further it was a grab for power.

GETS PEOPLE IN TROUBLE WITH GOD

Priests, according to Exodus, were to only be Levites - Herod was not

Herod took what was not rightfully his, but Jesus gives us access to both royalty and priesthood through the death, burial, and resurrection.

WITH ALL THAT BEING SAID, INTEGRITY IS VITAL WHEN IT COMES TO LEADERSHIP…ESPECIALLY, SINCE YOU ARE ALL LEADERS IN GOD’S KINGDOM!

“Many people equate integrity with being an honest and ethical person. While this is true and a part of integrity, it also encompasses moral uprightness. The very definition of integrity is not only the quality of being honest, but also of being whole, undivided, and having strong moral principles. “ - The Three Chords of Apostolic Leadership

For the sake of time tonight, we are going to focus on two key aspects of Integrity: Honesty and Authentic Leadership (However, AL might be next week)

Honesty

Have you ever met someone who acts like something or someone they’re not? The answer to that question is most likely. I think we can all think of someone who fits that description; however, we should ask the question, “where did they go wrong?”

The first step to leading from a servant’s heart is being honest with one’s self. For instance, if I’m not called to do something in the church, I better be honest with myself and realize that’s not my calling.

It’s okay to not be called to something…further, it doesn’t mean that God can’t move you into that role down the road. Ultimately, we give God that ability to move us where he’d like us…this is the painful part of sacrifice. However, when something dies, it usually resurrects into something greater than what we could ever imagine!!!!

Prov 12:22 “Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: But they that deal truly are his delight.”

You’ve probably heard the old term “liars are friers”. Indeed this is the case. Let us turn to Colossians 3:9

“Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;”

In other words, my Holy Ghost should help keep me from lying. Part of our daily battle is crucifying the old man and taking in the light of Christ.

Try going a day without breathing…this is what it is like when we fail to read the word (breath in) and pray (breath out) - Oxygen and C02

Let’s take a deeper look at Colossians 3 -

The New Revised Standard Version The New Life in Christ

5 Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient.b 7 These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life.c 8 But now you must get rid of all such things—anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusived language from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices 10 and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator

Col 3:5-9 NRSV

Part of being an honest leader within the church is developing your moral compass. We cannot ever take on leadership roles if our moral principles are lacking. Morality is an outcome of genuine holiness…it does not mean perfection. However, as we grow closer and closer to God, certain fruits of the Spirit should become more evident; thus, showing in how we uphold ourselves in difficult situations.

WWJD

Authenticity in Faith

Okay, first off, I’m going to use a Scripture you’ve all heard a million times before. James 1:8

“A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”

Now, we’ve heard this passage preached and taught many times on unstable mindsets, but James 1:8 is talking specifically of the faithful mindset and the doubter’s mindset.

Often people pray for something, but this passage seems to articulate that if you’re going to pray with doubt, you mize well not pray at all!

James 1:6-7 “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.”

Returning back to how we grow in faith…Rom 10:17

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

We must be in the Word

We must be at church in order to allow for the intake of the preached Word of God

We may not be able to see Jesus in person yet, but we can see His Spirit manifest within our services.

We can see him outside our service, but if you have no faith, you’re prayers will do absolutely nothing according to James!!!!

Our Faith plays into being honest with ourselves and others. If we are who we say we are, then we should be able to pray for needs without doubting! If God says do it, do it without doubting Him!

(easier said than done right) - trust Him, it is worth it!

Apostolic Authenticity in Leadership

Let me return to the thought of being honest with one’s self. We are not cookie cutter Christians.

Last Sunday - God makes us better version of our self.

C.S. Lewis stated, please not that I’m paraphrasing, that everything that enters in heaven will first have to die out to itself. Not one thing that dies out to Christ will not be resurrected.