INTEGRITY PSALM 41:12;78:72 PROVERBS 10:9;11:3;13:6 PROVERBS 10:9;11:3;13:6

A life that changed a Nation ….

In my integrity you uphold me and set me in your presence forever. PSALM 41:12 And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he lead them. PSALM 78:72

The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out. PROV. 10:9 The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity. PROV. 11:3

Righteousness guards the man of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner. PROV. 13:6

INTEGRITY IS A DYING QUALITY IN OUR SOCIETY TODAY

INTEGRITY IS A PRODUCT OF OUR CHARACTER

CHARACTER IS WHAT WE DO WHEN NO ONE IS LOOKING CHARACTER IS WHAT WE DO WHEN NO ONE IS LOOKING IT’S WHO WE ARE… AND WHO WE ARE DETERMINES WHAT WE DO

WHAT IS INTEGRITY? A firm adherence to the code of moral values. The state of being complete or unified. Root word is “intact”-When a person have integrity, his words and deeds match up. It is not divided, it has no hidden agenda

WORDS RELATED TO INTEGRITY -Ethics -Morals -Honesty -Values -Trust -Duty -Virtue -Truth -Decency -Courage -Prudence -Loyalty -Honor -Goodness -Conscience

PEOPLE OF INTEGRITY HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE AND NOTHING TO FEAR!!! We are who we are, irregardless of where we are and who we’re with.

…the value we place on ourselves. It’s our ability to make and keep commitments to ourselves, to “walk our talk”…Your discipline comes from within; it is a function of your independent will. You are a disciple, a follower of your deep values and their source. And you have the will, the integrity to subordinate your feelings, your impulses, your moods to those values. Stephen Covey

TWO CRITICAL REALMS OF TESTING: 1. ADVERSITY – JOB 5:7; PROV. 24:10 2. PROSPERITY –

WE STRUGGLE DAILY WITH SITUATION THAT DEMANDS DECISION BETWEEN: 1.WHAT WE WANT TO DO and 2. WHAT WE OUGHT TO DO.

INTEGRITY DETERMINES WHAT WE CHOSE. INTEGRITY DETERMINES WHAT WE CHOSE.

INTEGRITY WILL NOT ALLOW OUR LIPS TO VIOLATE OUR HEARTS…

WHAT INTEGRITY DOES? OR THE VALUE OF INTEGRITY

1. INTEGRITY BUILDS TRUST

2. INTEGRITY HAS HIGH INFLUENCE VALUE.

3. INTEGRITY FACILITATES HIGH STANDARDS.

4.INTEGRITY RESULTS IN A SOLID REPUTATION NOT JUST IMAGE.

“THE MEASURE OF A MAN’S REAL CHARACTER IS WHAT HE WOULD DO IF HE WOULD NEVER BE FOUND OUT.” Macauley

5. INTEGRITY MEANS LIVING IT MYSELF FIRST BEFORE LEADING OTHERS.

6.INTEGRITY HELPS A LEADER TO BE CREDIBLE NOT JUST CLEVER

7.INTEGRITY IS A HARD-WON; HARD-EARNED ACHIEVEMENT.

CONSTANTLY STRIVE TO KEEP OUR INTEGRITY INTACT.

“WHEN WEALTH IS LOST, NOTHING IS LOST; WHEN HEALTH IS LOST, SOMETHING IS LOST; BUT WHEN CHARACTER IS LOST, ALL IS LOST.”

YOU WILL ONLY BECOME WHAT YOU ARE BECOMING RIGHT NOW…

INTEGRITY IN WORD The person of God must be a person of his word. His holiness, love, and integrity must be evident in his speech.

But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." Matthew 12:36-37

INTEGRITY IN WORD 1. Say nothing for which you are not willing to accept full responsibility. Say nothing about an absent person which you would be unwilling to repeat in his presence.

INTEGRITY IN WORD 2. Beware of a compulsion always to comment or say something about matters under discussion. Be willing to delay your comments. You do not need to tell everything you know unless your information is essential to the discussion. Speak when your comments are needed; be silent when they will not be beneficial.

INTEGRITY IN WORD 3. Be positive in as many of your comments as possible. Avoid the reputation for being a negative person.

INTEGRITY IN WORD 4. Beware of flattery and exaggerated praise. These will cause you to lose the respect of those who hear you.

INTEGRITY IN WORD 5. Express full and cordial credit to all those to whom you are indebted for ideas and help.

INTEGRITY IN WORD 6. Avoid plagiarism in speaking or writing. 7. Do not assume the attitude of an authority in areas where your information, experience, and training are incomplete.

INTEGRITY IN WORD 8. Be as careful and understanding in your remarks about others as you would be if it were a member of you own family.

INTEGRITY IN WORD 9. Be slow to give credence to negative reports and continue to believe the best as long as possible. Be specially careful to avoid casting any reflection or aspersion on a fellow- Christian of a Christian leader.

INTEGRITY IN WORD 10. Never criticize the motives of others. You rarely can put yourself in their position and so fully understand their motivation. Always give the benefit of the doubt. Remember, you only hear words and see acts; you do not know the full motives.

INTEGRITY IN WORD 11. Be totally honest in intention in everything you say. Speak to bless, help, and guide.

INTEGRITY IN WORD 12. Be accurate in every detail in reporting statistics and descriptions. Beware of over- generalization, understatement, or exaggeration.

INTEGRITY IN WORD 13. Be faithful in characterization. All statements must be so fair, equitable, and uncolored in description that your comments could be repeated without hesitation regardless of whoever is present.

INTEGRITY IN WORD 14. Avoid statements which can be understood two ways. Avoid all duplicity; let your positions be clear-cut. If you change your position, say so, but beware of appearing to equivocate. Watch lest people feel they cannot depend on what you say.

INTEGRITY IN WORD 15. Daily ask the Holy Spirit to guide or restrain you in your speech.

INTEGRITY IN PERSONAL ETHICS The person of God must maintain such integrity in his personal ethics that others can safely make him their role model. Jesus was constantly setting a pattern for His disciples, establishing the standard of what a Christian life and ministry should be.

INTEGRITY IN PERSONAL ETHICS He illustrated this by His attitude (Phil. 2:5) and His actions (John 13:15; 1 Peter 2:21).

INTEGRITY IN PERSONAL ETHICS Paul was conscientious in setting an example which he could commend to his converts as a role model: You yourselves know how you ought to follow our example 2 Thessalonians 3:7

INTEGRITY IN PERSONAL ETHICS We did this…in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. 2 Thessalonians 3:9

INTEGRITY IN PERSONAL ETHICS 2. In every ethical decision make Scripture the standard for your action. If there is no clear scriptural statement to guide you, base your decision on the general tenor of God’s Word. You can always ask the question, “What would Jesus do? What is the Christian thing to do?

INTEGRITY IN PERSONAL ETHICS I became your father through the gospel. Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 1 Corinthians 4:15-16

INTEGRITY IN PERSONAL ETHICS 1. Be above reproach in all your personal actions and leadership duties. You always represent God and the church. You are a marked person wherever you go. Your priority commitment is to Christ and your ministerial responsibilities.

INTEGRITY IN PERSONAL ETHICS 3. Keep your speech, dress, habits, hobbies, and lifestyles in balance between what is appropriate in your leadership role and that which is appropriate for you as a Christian in a world of great spiritual and physical need.

INTEGRITY IN PERSONAL ETHICS 4. Be an example in your person and home in cleanliness, orderliness, harmony, and godliness.

INTEGRITY IN PERSONAL ETHICS 5. Be an example of consideration, fairness, sensitivity to the feelings and rights of others. Always show respect in all interpersonal relations.

INTEGRITY IN PERSONAL ETHICS 6. Be an example of gentleness and maturity in your reactions to the thoughtlessness, affronts, insults, opposition, and hostility of others. All must be responded to with forgiveness and prayerful Christian love.

INTEGRITY IN PERSONAL ETHICS 7. Be an example in circumspection and discretion in all relations with the opposite sex. Be particularly watchful of the latent snares in your role as a spiritual counselor. Be vigilant to keep your thought life pure as in the sight of God.

INTEGRITY IN FINANCE The person of God must maintain total integrity in his stewardship of possessions and finance – in his handling and accounting for personal finances and ministry finances that pass through his control.

INTEGRITY IN FINANCE 1. Be an example in maintaining a comparatively simple lifestyle in accord with a deep commitment to the need for the extension of Christ’s kingdom worldwide and for the meeting of human need.

INTEGRITY IN FINANCE 2. Exercise all appropriate economy in your personal expenditures and of all funds entrusted to your use. Don’t get a reputation for free- spending.

INTEGRITY IN FINANCE 3. Be faithful in expending funds according to the request of those who gave them.

INTEGRITY IN FINANCE 4. Be accurate in all your reporting. Financial reports must have adequate detail, be prompt, and meticulously correct. Reporting of what is accomplished through funds donated must be regular, detailed, and strictly factual.

INTEGRITY IN FINANCE 5. Pray your bills on time. Do not leave unpaid bills behind when you leave to take up a new ministry. 6. Keep free of debt and keep your ministry free of debt.

INTEGRITY IN MINISTERIAL ETHICS A person of God must maintain the highest level of integrity in all aspects of his ministry and leadership.

INTEGRITY IN MINISTERIAL ETHICS 1. Be more careful, more courteous and kind, and more professional in your duties than any other professional person could be expected to be. The name of Christ and His church is at stake in all you do.

INTEGRITY IN MINISTERIAL ETHICS 2. Recognize that you are always on call to represent God and to meet the needs of your people.

INTEGRITY IN MINISTERIAL ETHICS 3. Give full time to your leadership and ministry. The only exception is when you have the agreement of your board or superintendent. Beware of a reputation for indolence and dawdling waste of time. You will repeatedly be requested to accept other responsibilities, all praiseworthy, but which can erode your primary calling.

INTEGRITY IN MINISTERIAL ETHICS 4. Be loyal to your church or organization and its doctrine and heritage.

INTEGRITY IN MINISTERIAL ETHICS 5. Guard the reputation of Christ’s church and your fellow Christian workers. The good name of all must be safe in your hands.

INTEGRITY IN MINISTERIAL ETHICS 6. Avoid all unwholesome competition with other churches, ministries, or Christian leaders.

INTEGRITY IN MINISTERIAL ETHICS 7. Respect the leadership of other Christian leaders and do not serve their members except in emergencies or with the consent of the other leader.

INTEGRITY IN MINISTERIAL ETHICS 8. Endeavor constantly to strengthen the unity of the Spirit within your group and among Christians in general. Avoid being a part of any divisive group or church clique.

INTEGRITY IN MINISTERIAL ETHICS 9. While seeking to please your people, keep your final priority on pleasing God. 10. Model and build loyal respect for government and active Christian citizenship.

INTEGRITY IN MINISTERIAL ETHICS 11. Regard your service as primary and remuneration for service or financial advancement as secondary.

Always remember that even when you are not in a leadership role, you are always perceived as a Christian leader. You have a right to private relaxation and personal and family time. But even then you are a representative of Christ and His church. You are never off duty as a person of God. Maintain your integrity in all that you do and wherever you go. Then God’s seal can continue to rest upon you and His power can continue to clothe you.

THOUGH YOU CANNOT GO BACK AND MAKE A BRAND NEW START, MY FRIEND. ANYONE CAN START FROM NOW AND MAKE A BRAND NEW END…