4th Saturday Leadership

The Power Of Integrity & Character

Genesis 20:1–18 (KJV)

1 And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.

2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.

3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man’s wife.

4 But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?

5 Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.

6 And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.

7 Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.

8 Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid.

9 Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done.

10 And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing?

11 And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife’s sake.

12 And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.

13 And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt shew unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.

14 And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife.

15 And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee.

16 And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved.

17 So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.

18 For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham’s wife.

Often We We read the Bible We Tend to Only Look for the good in our heroes, But This story does the opposite: Abimelech is the example.

I want to pull several kingdom jewels we need to pat attention to as the Lord works on perfecting our Integrity.

And if you say brother, my integrity in tact so i don’t need this, this teaching is definitely for you.

I would even dare to say that if you haven’t knowingly failed at being ethical in your journey as a Christian. Your failing now.

When I was a young Elder (district meeting)

When you fail get permission from you leader to operate in your ministry gift that they cover you in.

There is a chink in your armour ( Do i have your attention) Amen

Integrity: jewel #1

Genesis 20:3 KJV

3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man’s wife.

God spoke to him in his dream & rebuked him.

Abimelech was in a posture with God where he knew who he was, and could be corrected.

Jewel #2

Genesis 20:4 KJV

4 But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?

The Lord never denied that his nation wasn’t Righteous.

Proverbs 14:34 KJV

34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

John 10:16 TPT

16 “And I have other sheep that I will gather which are not of this Jewish flock. And I, their shepherd, must lead them too, and they will follow me and listen to my voice. And I will join them all into one flock with one shepherd.

So we have to put in context that this was a God fearing nation.

Jewel #3

Genesis 20:5 (KJV)

5 Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.

This is what Abimelech confessed to God,

Genesis 20:6 (KJV)

6 And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.

So we see this is a righteous man serving a righteous God & had no intentions on doing anything ungodly.

therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.

Jewel #4 (It’s time for Restoration)

Genesis 20:7 KJV

7 Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.

Genesis 20:8 KJV

8 Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid.

When We walk in integrity, we are more worried about pleasing God then what others will think about us.

Biblical Counseling Keys on Ethics & Integrity The Five Systems of Ethics

THE FIVE SYSTEMS OF ETHICS5

#1. Cultural ethics Morals are determined by popular opinion.

#2. Situation ethics Morals are determined by what appears to be most loving.

#3. Emotive ethics Morals do not exist; judgments of right or wrong are not valid because feelings are neither right nor wrong.

#4. Behavioral ethics Morals do not exist; all human conduct is the result of genetic makeup or environment.

#5. Biblical ethics Morals are determined by the Bible, the unchanging Word of God.

“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.”

(Colossians 2:8)

be careful when your when God’s leader corrects you, And you feel you didn’t do anything wrong.

God Said Restore him back what you took even though he lied......

Jewel #5

Genesis 20:9–11 NLT

9 Then Abimelech called for Abraham. “What have you done to us?” he demanded. “What crime have I committed that deserves treatment like this, making me and my kingdom guilty of this great sin? No one should ever do what you have done! 10 Whatever possessed you to do such a thing?” 11 Abraham replied, “I thought, ‘This is a godless place. They will want my wife and will kill me to get her.’

Sometimes believer’s lack discernment and if your not careful you can think your dealing with an unbeliever and they Got God on there side too.

Ask you brother or sister next 2 you do you Got God..

And your answer should be i got um.

Jewel #6

Gen 20 14,15 & 16

took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife. And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee.

16 And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved.

This man’s Integrity was so upright he restored what he took and gave much more , and offered his land to dwell in rent free.

When you don’t feel wronged for doing right, your hart will always be in restoring posture and have a giving spirit..

Biblical Counseling Keys on Ethics & Integrity The Integrity Interrogation

THE INTEGRITY INTERROGATION

Before you act on your decisions, check your motives by asking yourself these questions.

• Am I choosing to do this in order to look good in the eyes of others?

Galatians 1:10

• Am I doing this only to receive financial gain?

Proverbs 15:16

• Am I willing to do this even if I don’t get the credit?

Luke 14:11

• Am I doing something unethical because I know I will not be found out?

Hebrews 4:13

“All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the LORD.”

(Proverbs 16:2)

Got Questions? Bible Questions Answered What Does the Bible Say about Integrity?

The dictionary defines integrity as “a firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values, or incorruptibility; incapable of being bribed or morally corrupted.” In the Bible, the Hebrew word translated “integrity” in the Old Testament means “the condition of being without blemish, completeness, perfection, sincerity, soundness, uprightness, wholeness.” Integrity in the New Testament means “honesty and adherence to a pattern of good works.”

Got Questions? Bible Questions Answered What Does the Bible Say about Integrity?

The Bible also describes integrity as the truth. What is the truth? Jesus is the only real truth and the only way to attain eternal life. Nobody comes to the Father unless he goes through Jesus who is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). Many times, Jesus prefaced His words by saying, “Truly, I say to you,” which, in essence, means “I tell you the truth.” Jesus never lied, and His actions defined integrity. Once we come to Christ in faith and repentance, He gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit who assists us in developing our incorruptible integrity. It is impossible to have real integrity without Jesus as our Lord and Savior. May the Lord give us strong integrity that becomes incorruptible through the power of the Holy Spirit.