Simple Integrity - Matthew 5:33-37
Robert Romero, Calvary Chapel Fremont, Sunday March 22, 2009
SIMPLE INTEGRITY
Intro; Story about when I was in boot camp, and how by telling the truth was going to cost me something. People are looking for those who will talk the truth and walk the truth, men and women of integrity, whom they can follow.
Through out the sermon on the mount Jesus challenges His followers to a life of integrity, simply paying lip service to God with our words isn’t enough. One’s heart and life must be truly dedicated to Christ.
The importance of integrity is often most clearly seen through the keeping of promises and our word.
You see one of the key issues with Jesus is that we live our lives with integrity, honesty, truthfulness, faithfulness in all matters.
Relationships , work & church require that we live a life of honesty. We want people that will tell us the truth.
Integrity is a major issue for our culture. Alan Blooms book “ The Closing of the American mind” states one thing; a university professor can be sure that almost every student entering the university today believes that truth is relative. Meaning there is no certain right or wrong; no absolute truth; truth that is flexible; truth that is fluid; truth that is existential. It could be true one day and than not true another day. Your truth may not be my truth, depending upon our circumstance.
So in a culture where so many have bought into this lie, its no wonder we live in a culture that is void of real truth. We have major truth decay! Mass truth decay! MTD ~ sounds like a disease.
In the book “ The day America told the truth” they state 91 % of Americans lie on a regular basis. The majority of us can’t even go a week without telling a lie . 1 in 5 or 20 % can’t even go a single day without telling a lie.
Because truth is so scarce now in our culture, everyone is now suspect.
Business people, advertisements, news and media, commentators, lawyers, doctors , teachers, professors even preachers and presidents are suspects.
We all want to know who’s telling the truth. Who can we trust ? Who can we depend upon ? Who can we believe ?
Today people misrepresent the truth, distort the truth, shade the truth and people make promises without keeping them. Thus betraying peoples confidence and all this is a part of our everyday living.
We as believers need to rise above the culture by keeping our promises and our word.
Proverbs 6:16-19 talks about 7 things that are an abomination to the Lord , yes that the Lord hates and at the top of the list is a LYING TONGUE !
You see God cannot tell a lie according to Hebrews 6:18. He is the author of the sustainer of truth.
BUT the devil, is the father of lies. John 8:44 says. “He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth”. Because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
Therefore we are never more like the devil then when we speak a lie. That is why Jesus addresses this issue. We don’t represent the devil.
That lie that you came up with , was an influence from the devil. The Bible says we are ambassadors for Christ, meaning we speak on behalf of Christ, not on behalf of the devil.
Illustration : Peter says you ‘re the Son of the living God.
So now what is Jesus commanding of you ?
Number 1 ~ that we as believers or children of the King~ Always speak in the presence of God.
Matthew 23:16 ~
Illustration ~ The Religious Leaders were swearing by the temple.
Therefore when we make an oath or swear in God’s name, we are in effect taking God’s name meaninglessly. Which means we are taking His name in vain.
If we have to make promises or swear by an oath or by God, then it is usually an indication that our words are weightless.
God knows and sees the intent of our heart ,so let your “yes be yes” and your “no be no”.
Illustration: at the jobsite ~ I will be around a lot of construction workers who use a lot of colorful words until they find out I am a Christian.
Often at times, we forget that we are standing and speaking in the presence of God.
Matthew 12:36 ~ “That for every idle word men may speak, they will give an account of it on judgment day”
Luke 12:3 “Therefore what you have spoken in the dark, will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear, in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the house tops”
During Construction, In London, at the St. Paul’s Cathedral , was a sign that said “ You are building a temple, No profanity tolerated”
If you have a problem with what comes out of your mouth, really you have a problem with the heart. “ For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks” Luke 6:45
Secondly, we should always speak with Integrity. The integrity of our speech is vital.
It is vital that we don not speak lies.
You may say “Robert, you may have that problem , but I don’t”
BUT wait, there are different kinds and forms of lies.
For instance;
1.Gossip & slander
Gossip and slander are delightful forms of lying.
18:8 says they are choice morsels
Tearing down peoples reputations based on hear say. I too have been guilty of this sin.
Illustration : I lost my job…
Proverbs 11;13 says that a talebearer reveals secrets . We are NOT in the business of exposing peoples sins or mistakes.
But he who is of a faithful spirit , conceals a matter.
We want to guard peoples reputations, because love covers a multitude of sins.
We are called to build up not tear down.
Before we think about gossiping, we first need to T.H.I.N.K
T – is it True ?
H – is it Helpful ?
I – Is it Important ??
N- Is it Necessary ?
K- is it Kind?
T- is it true or truthful. Is everything they are saying factual ?
One of the best ways to stop gossip when someone comes to you with a story is to tell them that you would like to check out the facts for yourself and wondered if you can use their name!
H- is it helpful ? is what you are saying somehow going to help this person.
I -Is it interesting? NO ! Is it important?
N- Is it necessary ?
K – is it kind ?
Illustration about the 4 ministers who went fishing.
You see gossip isn’t so funny or interesting when its happening to you.
Have you been the victim of gossip and slander or lies ? have your children? As parents we get angry.
You see gossip and slander and lies is what nailed Jesus to the cross. Why do you think God hates it so much ?
So its very important that we so live our lives with such integrity, that when someone passes on a juicy or salacious story, about us, those that hear it , won’t believe it .
Our character and our class will back up our conduct when it is in question.
Listen ~ Satan speaks lies to us. Then he speaks lies for us. Then he speaks lies about us. (Beth Moore)
But GOD speaks truth to us, speaks truth for us and then speaks truth about us!
There are other forms of lies;
2. Carelessness~
We are often inaccurate in our speech.
1. We tell people “I’ll be there tomorrow at this time” Then we don’t show up or we’re not on time.
2. Or we say “I’ll pray for you” and then we see that person and we are reminded that we said we were going to pray for them. Then you offer up a quick prayer for them and tell them “I prayed for you”. Does this happen to anyone or just Joaquin ??? lol
3. What about the promises you make your children and then don’t follow through ? Illustration about Joey/tennis ball launcher.
3. Insinuation ?? We say something like “ Tim and Fran are getting along better these days” Or “So and so is almost finished with her recovery “
4 . Over exaggeration ? The older I get, the better I was. Stretching the truth , exaggeration our skills, our experiences, our stories. Expressing something on a resume or in an interview or on your taxes.
5. Flattery . Telling someone to their face something you wouldn’t say behind their back . So somehow it could benefit you or Kissing up to the boss. I’m trying to build them up for my advantage.
The Effects of lies:
My point is this; Lying is an abomination to God. He utterly hates it because ;
1. It defiles Character
2. It destroys relationships. Interject a lie into a relationship and it will never be the same.
3. It divides churches
4. It devastates children
5. If it becomes a habit , it can damn the soul. Revelations 21;8 says “ But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexual immoral, socerers, Idolaters and all liars shall have their part in the lake that burns of fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
6. We must not only talk but we must walk with integrity.
1 John 1:6 says “ That if we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth”.
The idea that you can have fellowship with God without turning away from a life of sin, is a LIE!
Real fellowship with God changes us from within. It changes our desires , our passions, our purity and our purposes.
If our inward man is not being changed that our outward actions will follow. We can’t help but change, if we allow the Holy Spirit to work in us.
Illustration; A brother told me that he began disciplining a young man at his work. They are reading the Bible together. This is what its all about; investing time and energy into peoples lives through the prompting of the Holy Spirit. He wasn’t doing this before.
How do we change the course of this lifestyle ?
Seven quick ways!
1. We need to read the truth Its where revelation comes from
2. We need to believe the truth. (Faith and Fruit) John 14:2 says
“ Most assuredly I say to you, He who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also: and greater works than these will he do”
3. We need to speak the truth, whether in confession and encouragement being in aggreeance with God. Psalm 17:3 I have purposed with my mouth.
4. We need to walk in truth, character. 3 john 4 “I have no greater joy than to hear my children are walking in the truth.”
5. We need to teach the truth ~ discipleship
6. We need to love the truth.
7. We need to stand for truth.
So let your yes be yes and your no be no !
We need truth in the church
We need truth in our marriages
We need to keep our promises, our vows
And we need truth in our own hearts
Because one of the major problems is people lying to themselves. We have become so accustomed to truth how we perceive it or how we practice it that we no longer know the difference between a lie and the truth.
But JESUS said in Matthew 7:22 “ many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, cast out demons in your name, and done wonders in your name? And then I will declare to them, I never knew you, depart from me you who practice lawlessness”.
It is a scary thought to think that your whole life you’ve been living a lie.
Thinking that you’re going to heaven when in fact you don’t know Jesus in a personal way.
There are so many people who profess Christ but don’t possess Christ.
Be honest with yourself and ask . “ Am I living the life I profess?”
If not , the answer is, coming to jesus. Making him the center of your life.
But it may call for a drastic change in your lifestyle.
As my eyes have been open to my own sin, I have drastically changed things within my home.
Do you desire pleasure over purity? Pride over humility ? Money over the Messiah ?
Be honest with yourself and God !
David says “ He desires truth in the inward part “
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SIMPLE INTEGRITY
Intro; Story about when I was in boot camp, and how by telling the truth was going to cost me something. People are looking for those who will talk the truth and walk the truth, men and women of integrity, whom they can follow.
Through out the sermon on the mount Jesus challenges His followers to a life of integrity, simply paying lip service to God with our words isn’t enough. One’s heart and life must be truly dedicated to Christ.
The importance of integrity is often most clearly seen through the keeping of promises and our word.
You see one of the key issues with Jesus is that we live our lives with integrity, honesty, truthfulness, faithfulness in all matters.
Relationships , work & church require that we live a life of honesty. We want people that will tell us the truth.
Integrity is a major issue for our culture. Alan Blooms book “ The Closing of the American mind” states one thing; a university professor can be sure that almost every student entering the university today believes that truth is relative. Meaning there is no certain right or wrong; no absolute truth; truth that is flexible; truth that is fluid; truth that is existential. It could be true one day and than not true another day. Your truth may not be my truth, depending upon our circumstance.
So in a culture where so many have bought into this lie, its no wonder we live in a culture that is void of real truth. We have major truth decay! Mass truth decay! MTD ~ sounds like a disease.
In the book “ The day America told the truth” they state 91 % of Americans lie on a regular basis. The majority of us can’t even go a week without telling a lie . 1 in 5 or 20 % can’t even go a single day without telling a lie.
Because truth is so scarce now in our culture, everyone is now suspect.
Business people, advertisements, news and media, commentators, lawyers, doctors , teachers, professors even preachers and presidents are suspects.
We all want to know who’s telling the truth. Who can we trust ? Who can we depend upon ? Who can we believe ?
Today people misrepresent the truth, distort the truth, shade the truth and people make promises without keeping them. Thus betraying peoples confidence and all this is a part of our everyday living.
We as believers need to rise above the culture by keeping our promises and our word.
Proverbs 6:16-19 talks about 7 things that are an abomination to the Lord , yes that the Lord hates and at the top of the list is a LYING TONGUE !
You see God cannot tell a lie according to Hebrews 6:18. He is the author of the sustainer of truth.
BUT the devil, is the father of lies. John 8:44 says. “He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth”. Because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
Therefore we are never more like the devil then when we speak a lie. That is why Jesus addresses this issue. We don’t represent the devil.
That lie that you came up with , was an influence from the devil. The Bible says we are ambassadors for Christ, meaning we speak on behalf of Christ, not on behalf of the devil.
Illustration : Peter says you ‘re the Son of the living God.
So now what is Jesus commanding of you ?
Number 1 ~ that we as believers or children of the King~ Always speak in the presence of God.
Matthew 23:16 ~
Illustration ~ The Religious Leaders were swearing by the temple.
Therefore when we make an oath or swear in God’s name, we are in effect taking God’s name meaninglessly. Which means we are taking His name in vain.
If we have to make promises or swear by an oath or by God, then it is usually an indication that our words are weightless.
God knows and sees the intent of our heart ,so let your “yes be yes” and your “no be no”.
Illustration: at the jobsite ~ I will be around a lot of construction workers who use a lot of colorful words until they find out I am a Christian.
Often at times, we forget that we are standing and speaking in the presence of God.
Matthew 12:36 ~ “That for every idle word men may speak, they will give an account of it on judgment day”
Luke 12:3 “Therefore what you have spoken in the dark, will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear, in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the house tops”
During Construction, In London, at the St. Paul’s Cathedral , was a sign that said “ You are building a temple, No profanity tolerated”
If you have a problem with what comes out of your mouth, really you have a problem with the heart. “ For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks” Luke 6:45
Secondly, we should always speak with Integrity. The integrity of our speech is vital.
It is vital that we don not speak lies.
You may say “Robert, you may have that problem , but I don’t”
BUT wait, there are different kinds and forms of lies.
For instance;
1.Gossip & slander
Gossip and slander are delightful forms of lying.
18:8 says they are choice morsels
Tearing down peoples reputations based on hear say. I too have been guilty of this sin.
Illustration : I lost my job…
Proverbs 11;13 says that a talebearer reveals secrets . We are NOT in the business of exposing peoples sins or mistakes.
But he who is of a faithful spirit , conceals a matter.
We want to guard peoples reputations, because love covers a multitude of sins.
We are called to build up not tear down.
Before we think about gossiping, we first need to T.H.I.N.K
T – is it True ?
H – is it Helpful ?
I – Is it Important ??
N- Is it Necessary ?
K- is it Kind?
T- is it true or truthful. Is everything they are saying factual ?
One of the best ways to stop gossip when someone comes to you with a story is to tell them that you would like to check out the facts for yourself and wondered if you can use their name!
H- is it helpful ? is what you are saying somehow going to help this person.
I -Is it interesting? NO ! Is it important?
N- Is it necessary ?
K – is it kind ?
Illustration about the 4 ministers who went fishing.
You see gossip isn’t so funny or interesting when its happening to you.
Have you been the victim of gossip and slander or lies ? have your children? As parents we get angry.
You see gossip and slander and lies is what nailed Jesus to the cross. Why do you think God hates it so much ?
So its very important that we so live our lives with such integrity, that when someone passes on a juicy or salacious story, about us, those that hear it , won’t believe it .
Our character and our class will back up our conduct when it is in question.
Listen ~ Satan speaks lies to us. Then he speaks lies for us. Then he speaks lies about us. (Beth Moore)
But GOD speaks truth to us, speaks truth for us and then speaks truth about us!
There are other forms of lies;
2. Carelessness~
We are often inaccurate in our speech.
1. We tell people “I’ll be there tomorrow at this time” Then we don’t show up or we’re not on time.
2. Or we say “I’ll pray for you” and then we see that person and we are reminded that we said we were going to pray for them. Then you offer up a quick prayer for them and tell them “I prayed for you”. Does this happen to anyone or just Joaquin ??? lol
3. What about the promises you make your children and then don’t follow through ? Illustration about Joey/tennis ball launcher.
3. Insinuation ?? We say something like “ Tim and Fran are getting along better these days” Or “So and so is almost finished with her recovery “
4 . Over exaggeration ? The older I get, the better I was. Stretching the truth , exaggeration our skills, our experiences, our stories. Expressing something on a resume or in an interview or on your taxes.
5. Flattery . Telling someone to their face something you wouldn’t say behind their back . So somehow it could benefit you or Kissing up to the boss. I’m trying to build them up for my advantage.
The Effects of lies:
My point is this; Lying is an abomination to God. He utterly hates it because ;
1. It defiles Character
2. It destroys relationships. Interject a lie into a relationship and it will never be the same.
3. It divides churches
4. It devastates children
5. If it becomes a habit , it can damn the soul. Revelations 21;8 says “ But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexual immoral, socerers, Idolaters and all liars shall have their part in the lake that burns of fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
6. We must not only talk but we must walk with integrity.
1 John 1:6 says “ That if we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth”.
The idea that you can have fellowship with God without turning away from a life of sin, is a LIE!
Real fellowship with God changes us from within. It changes our desires , our passions, our purity and our purposes.
If our inward man is not being changed that our outward actions will follow. We can’t help but change, if we allow the Holy Spirit to work in us.
Illustration; A brother told me that he began disciplining a young man at his work. They are reading the Bible together. This is what its all about; investing time and energy into peoples lives through the prompting of the Holy Spirit. He wasn’t doing this before.
How do we change the course of this lifestyle ?
Seven quick ways!
1. We need to read the truth Its where revelation comes from
2. We need to believe the truth. (Faith and Fruit) John 14:2 says
“ Most assuredly I say to you, He who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also: and greater works than these will he do”
3. We need to speak the truth, whether in confession and encouragement being in aggreeance with God. Psalm 17:3 I have purposed with my mouth.
4. We need to walk in truth, character. 3 john 4 “I have no greater joy than to hear my children are walking in the truth.”
5. We need to teach the truth ~ discipleship
6. We need to love the truth.
7. We need to stand for truth.
So let your yes be yes and your no be no !
We need truth in the church
We need truth in our marriages
We need to keep our promises, our vows
And we need truth in our own hearts
Because one of the major problems is people lying to themselves. We have become so accustomed to truth how we perceive it or how we practice it that we no longer know the difference between a lie and the truth.
But JESUS said in Matthew 7:22 “ many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, cast out demons in your name, and done wonders in your name? And then I will declare to them, I never knew you, depart from me you who practice lawlessness”.
It is a scary thought to think that your whole life you’ve been living a lie.
Thinking that you’re going to heaven when in fact you don’t know Jesus in a personal way.
There are so many people who profess Christ but don’t possess Christ.
Be honest with yourself and ask . “ Am I living the life I profess?”
If not , the answer is, coming to jesus. Making him the center of your life.
But it may call for a drastic change in your lifestyle.
As my eyes have been open to my own sin, I have drastically changed things within my home.
Do you desire pleasure over purity? Pride over humility ? Money over the Messiah ?
Be honest with yourself and God !
David says “ He desires truth in the inward part “
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