Integrity's Influence

Daniel 6:1–11 NLT

Darius the Mede decided to divide the kingdom into 120 provinces, and he appointed a high officer to rule over each province. The king also chose Daniel and two others as administrators to supervise the high officers and protect the king’s interests. Daniel soon proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and high officers. Because of Daniel’s great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire. Then the other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling government affairs, but they couldn’t find anything to criticize or condemn. He was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy. So they concluded, “Our only chance of finding grounds for accusing Daniel will be in connection with the rules of his religion.” So the administrators and high officers went to the king and said, “Long live King Darius! We are all in agreement—we administrators, officials, high officers, advisers, and governors—that the king should make a law that will be strictly enforced. Give orders that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions. And now, Your Majesty, issue and sign this law so it cannot be changed, an official law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked.” So King Darius signed the law. But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God. Then the officials went together to Daniel’s house and found him praying and asking for God’s help.

Introduction: The time I remember my General Manager asking me to fly out overnight to a competing company to research undercover their business practices. The carrot given to me was, "What an opportunity for a Young Man to Spring Board His career."

The philosophy of Chief Operating Officer - Winning at all costs.

Well it was no surprise that I found myself having to give do interviews with SEC auditors and being deposed for an SEC lawsuit.

Political Ambition Can Lead to Moral Compromise.

Watergate Story.

- Russian Election Interference

- Hunter Biden's Laptop

https://www.teenvogue.com/story/most-popular-conspiracy-theories

Daniel’s walk with God led him to incredible favor, which also won him a lot of jealous enemies (vv. 1–4).

- His colleagues become very jealous of him, so they try to find a way to conspire against him, and take him out of his position. They knew his strength was his relationship with God, so they so they made a law stating no one could pray to anyone but the king and set the penalty as death by lions (vv. 6–7).

Conspiracy Theories - As theories they need to be tested. Don't just believe any theory, but Don't believe that Conspiracies don't happen. They do, and sometimes they come to light.

So how do we live in a World that Conspires?

Integrity to Our Identity Is Our Influence.

1. Don't get caught up in Conspiracy Theories - Integrity does not base actions on what might be, but on what is.

Definition of Integrity - Doing what is right, even when no one is watching.

The root of the word for Integrity is Integrated - Integrity then is being consistent with who you are an integration where your actions match your identity.

In a small town, there was a bakery known for its delicious treats. The baker, Mr. Johnson, was famous for integrating real fruit into his desserts, which made them popular. One day, he decided to cut costs by using artificial flavors instead. While the desserts looked the same, the flavors fell flat and customers noticed. Mr. Johnson realized that by straying from his identity of using real ingredients, he lost his influence and customers. Sometimes, it’s the small choices that define who we are and impact those around us.

Daniel did not get caught up in the Conspiracies, but stayed consistent to who he was.

Daniel was not specifically protesting the law, he was just doing what he always does. Prays three times a day.

from last week - because God is His source for everything. - He recognizes all his favor, and all of his success comes from God. His ability to see and interpret Dreams is from God.

Prayer is how he aligns himself to God and his will - Praising God and asking for guidance in this situation.

He does not seem to care if anyone knows - Windows Open -

A right relationship with God is the key to a powerful prayer life. Mike Bickle writes, “I have met those who imagine that if they pray and fast more, they can walk in a little immorality or be dishonest in their finances or slander the people who cause pressure in their lives. They think that being extra zealous in the spiritual disciplines will balance out areas of persistent compromise. But praying more does not compensate for unrepented sins that we deliberately continue to commit, as this verse from Isaiah makes clear: ‘Your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear’ (Isa. 59:2)” (Mike Bickle, “Characteristics of Effective Prayer,” International House of Prayer, March 3, 2016, <http://www.ihopkc.org/resources/blog/characteristics-of-effective-prayer/>).

- So just praying as a routine does not produce integrity, but praying as a result of a relationship with Jesus does. Where you genuinely want to hear from him, be guided by him, share your concerns and praises with Him.

- “The things in your house work because of electricity. Electricity is an invisible power that gives you visible privileges. It turns the lights on, turns the TV on, turns the toaster on, and turns the oven on; all that stuff is working in your house because you’ve got one invisible power shooting through there called electricity. But none of those things work even though they have access to electricity until you flip on a switch. You’ve got to make a connection before the stuff that’s there works. Every believer in Jesus Christ has stuff that works,” (Tony Evans, Tony Evans’ Book of Illustrations [Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2009], 203). Prayer is like electricity because it empowers us by connecting us to the source of that power.

- Paul persecuted Christian. He was transformed in his identity from a persecutor to an Apostle of Jesus. By being true to his newfound identity in Christ, he influenced countless lives. This story reminds us that integrity to our identity reveals the power of transformation and how we can inspire others by choosing to live authentically.

How does this Apply to Us?

What Integrity Looks In our times.

When it comes to the election -

a. Register, Pray, Vote

b. Vote with as much integrity as you can. No candidate is perfect, but do your best to vote in a way that aligns best with the Kingdom of God. So vote for personal integrity - not “Just to Win.”

c. Vote for people of Integrity. - This can be extremely difficult to know. Because it seems like the whole point of politics is to conspire against the other candidates and spread mis-information about them.

Have the integrity to see articles and claims, and research the sources before you believe them.

As side from elections -

Be a person of integrity - Live out your identity in Christ.

The pressure might mount. You may feel you will not get ahead, or pass this class, or lose your friends, or not get that promotion unless you compromise by doing X,Y, or Z. to cheat, conspire, or tear down someone else to get to the top.

But remember, there is a power in integrity, where no one can hold something against you.

We never grow out of the necessity to read the Bible and pray. And it is never too early to start.

Conclusion:

Will you decide now to walk in integrity?