INTRODUCTION
• PC VIDEO
• SLIDE #1
• As we continue with our Learning to Lead series, I want to remind all of us that we are all leaders, that we all in some fashion lead other people, we do not have to be Generals and CEO’s to be leaders.
• Last week we examined how important the concept of investment is. WE need to invest in ourselves, then others, and we need to encourage our investments to grow!
• This week, we ask the question, “Are you worth following? If no one is following you, you are simply walking alone.
• This is an important question for us to consider. I am worthy of beginning followed by anyone?
• What is one quality that makes one worthy of following? Is it rank or position? Is it knowledge of the field?
• Those things can play into one’s worthiness of being followed.
• In a scene prior to our video clip, Javier was asked by the boss if he was given the promotion if he would fudge some numbers for him.
• Then in our scene Javier gave the answer. It was NO!
• Javier was rewarded for his INTEGRITY!
• Integrity is defined as follows, “the quality of being honest, and having strong moral principles, moral uprightness.”
• Leaders without integrity are not leaders, they are not worthy of being followed.
• The late Chuck Colson stated concerning integrity, ““We must be the same person in private and in public. Only the Christian worldview gives us the basis for this kind of integrity. http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/bible-verses-about-integrity-20-important-scripture-quotes/#ixzz3o11CfHDx
• Without personal integrity, who could trust you? Leaders to be effective need to be trustworthy. They will ask people to do some difficult things at times and those following them need to know that their leader is looking out for them and the team.
• We have all worked for folks at some point that lacked integrity, you could never trust their word, promises or decisions. You knew that when things got tough, they would not have your back.
• Today we will examine a few verses to help us grasp the importance of possessing personal integrity. Let us begin by looking at Psalm 101:1-3
• SLIDE #2
• Psalm 101:1–3 (HCSB) — 1 I will sing of faithful love and justice; I will sing praise to You, Lord. 2 I will pay attention to the way of integrity. When will You come to me? I will live with a heart of integrity in my house. 3 I will not set anything worthless before my eyes. I hate the practice of transgression; it will not cling to me.
• The first issue we need to understand when it comes to personal integrity is…
• SLIDE #3
SERMON
I. God calls us to pursue personal integrity.
• This passage was most likely written by David, and it was probably used during a coronation ceremony.
• The King was going to lead the people, the Psalmist said he would sing about faithful love and justice.
• He did not stop there.
• Let’s talk about today, 2015 for a moment. It is so easy to sing praises to God; it is awesome to lift up your hands to the Lord.
• David says he will sing of faithful love and justice and that he would sing praise to the Lord.
• Know this is David, the adulterer, the murderer, the man who was a man after God’s own heart.
• A man who was far from perfect, yet when he would stumble, he would get back on track. He did not continue on the wrong path.
• We are not perfect, we struggle, we too can get on the right track. But here is something that David knew that we need to understand.
• Praising God and His attributes entails more than just singing and lifting our hands, it is about bringing your life in harmony with God’s.
• David knew God desired him to pursue personal integrity.
• Look at verse 2 again.
• SLIDE #4
• I will pay attention to the way of integrity. When will You come to me? I will live with a heart of integrity in my house.
• He says he will pay attention to the way of integrity. He will live with a heart of integrity.
• Another part of the definition of integrity states, the state of being whole, entire, or undiminished: LIKE to preserve the integrity of the empire. sound, unimpaired, or perfect condition. LIKE the integrity of a building structure.
• David seeks to live with a purity of heart. That his life lines up the best it can with the praise he offers to God.
• SLIDE #5
• Hosea 6:6 (HCSB) For I desire loyalty and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
• During Hosea’s day, people were offering external worship ceremonies, but their heart were far from God.
• Integrity means that our actions and our heart match up, and to be honest, they usually do.
• Our conduct flows out of our character, and our character is shaped by our ultimate commitments. Psalm 101 challenges us at the level of commitment. It challenges us to commit to being people of godly character in ourselves and in our relations with others. Cornerstone Biblical Commentary - Cornerstone Biblical Commentary – Volume 7: The Book of Psalms, The Book of Proverbs.
• David closes out these verses in verse three by saying, I will not set anything worthless before my eyes. I hate the practice of transgression; it will not cling to me.
• He had an attitude that he was not going to let anything take him off track because he knew his personal integrity was important to God.
• David knew God would be pleased with the pursuit of integrity!
• SLIDE #6
• Psalm 41:12 (HCSB) You supported me because of my integrity and set me in Your presence forever.
• Let’s turn to Titus 2:6-7 for our second observation today.
• SLIDE #7
• Titus 2:6–7 (HCSB) — 6 In the same way, encourage the young men to be self-controlled 7 in everything. Make yourself an example of good works with integrity and dignity in your teaching
• SLIDE #8
II. You should strive to be worthy of following.
• In the context of Titus 2, Paul is encouraging various groups of people to lead other people to grow in their faith. Older men are to conduct themselves in an honorable manner as older women are called to do.
• In verse 4, the older women are asked to teach the younger women to love their husbands. WE ARE HARD TO LOVE!
• In verse 6 the older men are called to encourage the younger to be self-controlled.
• In order to be able to do that the older man needs to possess that attribute himself.
• Look at verse 7 again.
• 7 in everything. Make yourself an example of good works with integrity and dignity in your teaching.
• If you want to be followed, be an example. Be worthy of being followed! This is a practice what you preach mentality.
• Integrity not only affects actions, our motives. We must have purity of motives. When people believe our motives are pure, they will have an easier time following.
• When a wife knows she can trust the integrity of her husband, she will not struggle with submitting to his authority. When a husband can trust the integrity of his wife, he will be able to love her has Christ loved the church!
• As parents are trying to lead their children, they need to be a good example so their children do not see constant inconsistency.
• PERSON WHO HIT MY CAR DURING CUB SCOUT MEETING. WHAT A GOOD EXAMPLE TO HIS CHILD.
• Our integrity should guide us.
• SLIDE #9
• Proverbs 11:3 (HCSB) The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of the treacherous destroys them.
• If we are going to lead people, we must be guided by our integrity.
• Let’s look at Titus 2:8 for a final observation.
• SLIDE #10
• Titus 2:8 (HCSB) Your message is to be sound beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be ashamed, having nothing bad to say about us.
• SLIDE #11
III. The pursuit of personal integrity comes with many blessings.
• Verse 8 tells us that when we walk in integrity and our message is beyond reproach, our opponents have nothing bad to say about us!
• When we are inconsistent with our life, when our integrity is in question, it gives other the opportunity to attack our character.
• WE have seen so many public figures fall, even within the church. When our integrity does not match our words and actions we are open to attack.
• When our integrity is strong, accusations do not stick. When was the last time (or the first time) an accusation was made toward Billy Graham? NONE that I know of?
• Let me give you a freebie today.
• I hear people get upset at other people for judging them. They say the bible says do not judge, which is sort of true. Matthew speaks of hypocritical judgment, not evaluating. I digress.
• When someone complains about being judged, you know what I WANT to say, and that I might start saying, gently?
• DO NOT PUT YOURSELF IN A POSITION TO BE JUDGED AND YOU USUALLY WILL NOT BE JUDGED.
• Usually you stand before a judge when you put yourself in a position or circumstances have occurred that makes you look guilty.
• DO NOT PUT YOURSELF IN A POSITON TO BE JUDGED OR TO LOOK GUILTY AND USUALLY YOU WILL NOT.
• There are things I do in my life to try to protect my integrity and reputation. I TRY not to put myself in a position where someone could judge me.
• So, one of the blessing of integrity is that your reputation is protected.
• We also gain security from our integrity.
• SLIDE #12
• Proverbs 10:9 (HCSB) The one who lives with integrity lives securely, but whoever perverts his ways will be found out.
• When you walk in integrity, you do not have to worry that some secret is going to get you. When I went on business trips, I was told what happens here stay here. I stayed in the motel and away from whatever the others were going to do.
• You never know when your secret will come out. Why live with the intention, pursue integrity!
• The final blessing I want to share is the fact that when you have integrity, God will help protect you!
• SLIDE # 13
• Proverbs 2:6–8 (HCSB) — 6 For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. 7 He stores up success for the upright; He is a shield for those who live with integrity 8 so that He may guard the paths of justice and protect the way of His loyal followers.
• Integrity will protect you and God will shield you!
CONCLUSION
• When you think of the type of person you want to follow, what type of person would you rather follow? One with integrity or one without?
• If you want to be able to be an effective leader, develop your integrity.
