How can we manifest integrity?

But how is integrity practiced on a daily basis? Where do people watch us most closely? Peter

answers that question. He identifies several arenas where integrity is put to the test with the

watching world observing our reaction. He also provides some practical solutions to take in

those arenas so that our integrity will stay in tact.

1. In tempting circumstances, stay away

"Dear friends, I urge you as aliens and temporary residents to abstain from fleshly desires that

war against you" (1 Peter 2:11). To abstain means not to get involved with or to keep away

from.

In tempting situations, we are to flee. To run. Get away. That means avoiding situations where

you easily fall to temptation. It may mean having move with a trusted friend when visiting the

opposite sex. It may mean never traveling with someone of the opposite sex alone on a

business trip. It may mean avoiding certain groups of people where you are easily swayed into

destructive behavior.

2. In authoritative situations, show respect

"Submit to every human institution because of the Lord, whether to the Emperor as the

supreme authority, or to governors as those sent out by him to punish those who do evil and

to praise those who do good. . . . Honor everyone" (1 Peter 2:13-14, 17).

Peter instructs us to respect the government and the ones who enforces the laws for the

government. We are to submit, or to yield. He says that we are to yield to authority. Yielding

to authority is a mark of a believer. Submission or yielding is not a sign of weakness; it is a sign

of self-control. It is saying I don't have to have my way all the time.

Integrity says I may not like the law, but I will obey it. Integrity says I may not like the person

in the office, but I will honor the position. Integrity says I may not like direction the nation is

going, but I will pray for God's intervention. Integrity says I will obey God first, even if it means

that I suffer the penalty for doing the right thing.

3. In the work environment, stand for what is right

"Household slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to the good

and gentle but also to the cruel" (1 Peter 2:18).

Slavery was prevalent in the Roman Empire. Some 60 million people were slaves. They were

not considered persons, but rather property of their owners. While we don't have this form

of slavery in our country today, this verse still is applicable. Allow me to change two words.

"Employees, submit yourselves to your employers with all respect, not only to those who are

good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh."

As believers in Christ, our integrity goes to work with us. It manifests itself in the way we treat

our boss, our clients, and fellow employees. It, also, manifests itself in the way we respond to

the company's procedures and policies, to difficult and sometimes unjust assignments, and

the work place, itself. It further manifests itself in our attitude and convictions and honesty

we display at our place of work. Remember, those people are watching.

Integrity demands that we stand for what is the right and the upright thing to do at all times.

4. In suffering, seek God

series: Values-Based Living

Topic: Integrity

Proverbs 10:9 says, “The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will

be found out.” The man of integrity has security in his life, whereas the man of crooked paths

is going to be uncovered.

Integrity defined further

Integrity is a high standard of living based on a personal code of morality that doesn't succumb

to the whim of the moment or the dictates of the majority. Integrity is to personal character

what health is to the body. Integrity comes from the word integer meaning number.

A person of integrity is whole, their lives are put together. People with integrity have nothing

to hide and nothing to fear. As the scripture we just read, "The one who lives with integrity

lives securely". Their lives are open books. They say to a watching world, "Go ahead and look.

My behavior will match my beliefs. My walk will match my talk. My character will match my

confession. Who I am on Sunday will be the same on Monday and every other day of the

week."

How Jesus Modeled integrity

Without a doubt, Jesus is the supreme model of integrity. His life evidenced his purity and

excellent character, that his enemies could only declare, "When they came, they said to Him,

"Teacher, we know You are truthful and defer to no one, for You don't show partiality but

teach truthfully the way of God" (Mark 12:14).

The New International Version translates it, "Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity."

Even at the conclusion of his life here on earth as he stood before Pilate in the mockery of a

trial, the ruler said, ""I find no grounds for charging this man" (Luke 23:4). There was no basis

for guilt, no evidence of fault, found in Jesus. In other words, his behavior matched his belief,

his walk matched his talk, his character matched his confession.

It is for these reasons that Peter instructed all believers: "For you were called to this, because

Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in His steps"

1Peter 2:21. Peter gives us the example, the model of integrity that we should follow. If the

world is watching us, then we should be watching Christ. We should follow his example. We

should do as he has done.

The same challenge is presented today. Will we walk in Jesus' steps? Will we follow his model?

Will we make a pledge that before any major decision to ask, "What would Jesus do?" Will we

live a life of integrity?

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How do I embrace the new standard? 

1.     Renew your mind- it’s in your mind that standards are received and kept- as a man thinketh in his heart so is he- proverbs 23:7

2.     Be confident of whom you believed- Daniel 3:17 

3.     Have faith in his Word- Isaiah 43:1-3 The three guys trusted the lord no matter what

4.     Move with people who have the same mind like yours- these three guys believed in the standards of God than the standards of men. 

5.     Be excellent in your faith- because of their excellence in belief, their faith became the new norm in Babylon. 

6.     Be determined- Daniel 1: 3 

To raise the standard is to stay above the norm. To stay above what others have embraced as normal. It’s to operate above average- a pursuit of excellence. May your enemies fail to find fault with you. May they die in their own evil schemes. 

Daniel 6: 4

7.     Pray Vs 7

Why raise the standard?

Our God deserves all the praise 

Daniel 4: 34 and Daniel 6:25

This year as you pursue new standards for your life, people are going to praise God on your behalf. It’s going to be a year of praise. It’s going to be a year for those who been serving God in a cover to be recognized. Your style is going to become a new norm for many. Your accusers will be accused by God. Don’t fight for yourself, let God fight for you. 

Just like king Nebuchadnezzar saw a fourth person in the fire, People are about to wonder why you are joyful in sorrow? And you will tell them- Katonda yali mweno ensonga. They will think emyaaka gikuyiseeko and little do they know that you are moving on God’s timing not their timing. The lord is going to ashame your enemies. 

Raise your spiritual standard, if you have not been praying- pray like you mean it. Don’t’ just be a talker, act. The three guys didn’t just threaten to enter fire, they actually entered the fire. 

Its s a year of the fearless- fear no fire, fear no lions. He who started a good work in you will accomplish it. 

Raise the standard- sermon for 31st December 2023

Daniel 3- Entire chapter 

King Nebuchadnezzar had set the standard of worship and way of life. He was like the king of the world; his word became law- the way of life. 

The golden statue represents rebellion against a living God, human wisdom, glory devoid of the Spirit etc. There are so many statues being made around us and we are forced to worship them. 

Some statues were created or in inherited from our parents and we keep bowing down to them because there is no other way to live besides that which is set for us. 

Just like Nebuchadnezzar, he thought no one can defy Him, no one could dismantle his standard, but there are young men- Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego who set us a better standard. 

Listen 2023 forced standards on you and you had no choice but to obey- you didn’t choose sorrow, you didn’t choose brokenness, you didn’t choose scarcity, you didn’t choose to be single etc. 

I am here to speak to you and let you know that the lord who protected the three young men in the furnace has gone ahead of you. He is giving you a new standard to follow next year. 

If your standard was weakness he says, let the weak say I am strong, if it was sickness, he says; let the sick say I am healed, if it was poverty he says your new standard is wealth. If it was death, he says shout for joy for he will feel you with Life. 

You know Nebuchadnezzar meant death for the three guys, but God is above the decrees of man. He sets a new standard. Their defiance set a new standard of worship in the king’s territory. 

This year God is looking for people who are willing to defy the status quo so that he can Glorify Himself upon them. There are things you must defy- defy poverty by starting a business, defy un holy sex, defy gossip, defy bad company, defy stinginess, defy being a slave. etc.  

So [as the result of the Messiah’s intervention] they shall [reverently] fear the name of the Lord from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him and put him to flight [for He will come like a rushing stream which the breath of the Lord drives].

This 2024 God is lifting a standard where your enemies won’t reach you. When they put you in the fire be sure about the new standard God is bringing.  You know standards are there to be broken- the Bible says 

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

How do I embrace the new standard? 

1.     Renew your mind- it’s in your mind that standards are received and kept- as a man thinketh in his heart so is he- proverbs 23:7

2.     Be confident of whom you believed- Daniel 3:17 

3.     Have faith in his Word- Isaiah 43:1-3 The three guys trusted the lord no matter what

4.     Move with people who have the same mind like yours- these three guys believed in the standards of God than the standards of men. 

5.     Be excellent in your faith- because of their excellence in belief, their faith became the new norm in Babylon. 

6.     Be determined- Daniel 1: 3 

To raise the standard is to stay above the norm. To stay above what others have embraced as normal. It’s to operate above average- a pursuit of excellence. May your enemies fail to find fault with you. May they die in their own evil schemes. 

Daniel 6: 4

7.     Pray Vs 7

Why raise the standard?

Our God deserves all the praise 

Daniel 4: 34 and Daniel 6:25

This year as you pursue new standards for your life, people are going to praise God on your behalf. It’s going to be a year of praise.

COURAGE