The Keys to the Kingdom - 6 - Integrity

Introduction

in·teg·ri·ty

inˈteɡrədē/ noun noun: integrity 1. the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness. synonyms:honesty, probity, rectitude, honor, good character, principle(s), ethics, morals, righteousness, morality, virtue, decency, fairness, scrupulousness, sincerity, truthfulness, trustworthiness

Why is integrity a Kingdom Key?

2 Samuel 22:26–27 NLT

26 “To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity. 27 To the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.

2 Samuel 22:26 NLT

26 “To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity.

2 Samuel 2:26 NLT

26 Abner shouted down to Joab, “Must we always be killing each other? Don’t you realize that bitterness is the only result? When will you call off your men from chasing their Israelite brothers?”

2 Samuel 22:26 AMP

26 Toward the loving and loyal You will show Yourself loving and loyal, and with the upright and blameless You will show Yourself upright and blameless.

2 Samuel 22:26 The Message

26 You stick by people who stick with you, you’re straight with people who’re straight with you,

2 Samuel 22:26-27

2 Samuel 22:26–27 AMP

26 Toward the loving and loyal You will show Yourself loving and loyal, and with the upright and blameless You will show Yourself upright and blameless. 27 To the pure You will show Yourself pure, and to the willful You will show Yourself willful.

2 Samuel 22:26–27 The Message

26 You stick by people who stick with you, you’re straight with people who’re straight with you, 27 You’re good to good people, you shrewdly work around the bad ones.

Psalm 18:25 NLT

25 To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity.

Psalm 18:24–27 NLT

24 The Lord rewarded me for doing right. He has seen my innocence. 25 To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity. 26 To the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd. 27 You rescue the humble, but you humiliate the proud.

Psalm 18:25–26 ESV

25 With the merciful you show yourself merciful; with the blameless man you show yourself blameless; 26 with the purified you show yourself pure; and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous.

Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Hebrew (Old Testament) 7349 פָּתַל

7349 פָּתַל (pā·ṯǎl): v.; ≡ Str 6617; TWOT 1857—1. LN 39.1–39.12 (nif) have a struggle, i.e., pertaining to being in a state of social or mental hostility and strife and so oppose another for a position of favor

Proverbs 20:7 NLT

7 The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them.

Proverbs

New Living Translation Chapter 9

So Solomon finished building the Temple of the LORD, as well as the royal palace. He completed everything he had planned to do. 2 Then the LORD appeared to Solomon a second time, as he had done before at Gibeon. 3 The LORD said to him,

“I have heard your prayer and your petition. I have set this Temple apart to be holy—this place you have built where my name will be honored forever. I will always watch over it, for it is dear to my heart.

4 “As for you, if you will follow me with integrity and godliness, as David your father did, obeying all my commands, decrees, and regulations, 5 then I will establish the throne of your dynasty over Israel forever. For I made this promise to your father, David: ‘One of your descendants will always sit on the throne of Israel.’

Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Hebrew (Old Testament) 1504 גָּבַר

1504 גָּבַר (gā·ḇǎr): v.; ≡ Str 1396, 1399; TWOT 310a—1. LN 88.206–88.222 (hitp) show oneself arrogant, vaunt oneself, be overbearing, i.e., have attitudes and actions showing hubris and pride

Integrity is a prerequisite to leadership.

2 Timothy 3:6–10 NLT

6 They are the kind who work their way into people’s homes and win the confidence of vulnerable women who are burdened with the guilt of sin and controlled by various desires. 7 (Such women are forever following new teachings, but they are never able to understand the truth.) 8 These teachers oppose the truth just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses. They have depraved minds and a counterfeit faith. 9 But they won’t get away with this for long. Someday everyone will recognize what fools they are, just as with Jannes and Jambres. 10 But you, Timothy, certainly know what I teach, and how I live, and what my purpose in life is. You know my faith, my patience, my love, and my endurance.

We are blessed have exemplary deacons in this house.

Deacons advisory council.

Titus 2:7–8 NLT

7 And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching. 8 Teach the truth so that your teaching can’t be criticized. Then those who oppose us will be ashamed and have nothing bad to say about us.

Much was tarnished in the charismatic movement by the lack of integrity.

Your word is your bond.

bond / bänd/ noun 1. a thing used to tie something or to fasten things together.

bänd/ noun 1. a thing used to tie something or to fasten things together. "she brushed back a curl that had strayed from its bonds"

1 John 4:20 NLT

20 If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see?

3404. μισέω misĕō, mis-eh´-o; from a prim. μῖσος misŏs (hatred); to detest (espec. to persecute); by extens. to love less:—hate (-ful).

Strong, J. (2009). A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible (Vol. 1, p. 48). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) (electronic ed.). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Revelation 21:8 NLT

8 “But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

Matthew 5:43–48 NLT

43 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. 44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. 46 If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. 47 If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. 48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Matthew

Our Father knows the difference between “weakness” and “wickedness”.

New Living Translation Chapter 9

So Solomon finished building the Temple of the LORD, as well as the royal palace. He completed everything he had planned to do. 2 Then the LORD appeared to Solomon a second time, as he had done before at Gibeon. 3 The LORD said to him,

“I have heard your prayer and your petition. I have set this Temple apart to be holy—this place you have built where my name will be honored forever. I will always watch over it, for it is dear to my heart.

4 “As for you, if you will follow me with integrity and godliness, as David your father did, obeying all my commands, decrees, and regulations, 5 then I will establish the throne of your dynasty over Israel forever. For I made this promise to your father, David: ‘One of your descendants will always sit on the throne of Israel.’

Romans 5:6–11 NLT

6 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. 7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. 10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. 11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.