Walking in Integrity Part 2

How to live with singleness of heart

How do we live with integrity?

Firstly, we must know God’s word, this is His righteous standard for our lives. Often our own ideas and thought have been shaped by the world and it is only reading and obeying God’s word that our minds are renewed and transformed.

We also need to be sensitive to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Most of us believers at one time have had a check in our spirit when proposing to take a certain course of action. It is important to acknowledge this and take another look at the proposed course of action. Sometimes it is not as dramatic but as this, but you lose your peace over the matter, maybe tossing and turning in your bed at night. Again we need to take heed of any loss of peace.

Pray through any major decision that might compromise your integrity. Another time to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit is when we take communion. Paul says let a man examine himself before partaking. We need to ask God regularly if we are missing it or displeasing Him in any area of our lives.

Sometimes when I do this I see a face or situation come before me and I know that I need to repent before I partake of the Lord’s table.

There will be times when we need to take Godly counsel. Psalm 1 says ‘how blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly’. Only take counsel from a brother or sister who is trying live a life of integrity before God.

If something is doubtful then do not do it!

Hindrances to integrity

Fear of man and respect of persons.

James 2:1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?

When we show preferential treatment to people based on their ouitward apprearance then we are not walking in integrity.

As you know God looks at each person's heart not their clothing.

God commands us to love Him with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength. For us to be able to do this we must adopt a uniform approach to our life. That is we must put His way, His word and His will as our first priority. If our choice is to please ourselves, our relatives, friends, or God , then integrity of heart and singleness of life demands that we please God .

What about you today, are you a man-pleaser or a God-pleaser?

Matthew 12:46 While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.

47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.

48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?

49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

Jesus counted those people who obeyed God's will as much as his close family.

Backlash

When we walk in integrity of heart there often is a backlash, people attack you and your stand but who are you going to please? Remember the disciples after being beaten and forbidden to preach in Jesus name any more. They asked should we obey man or God, what about you?

The backlash sometimes comes from within the church, Satan sometimes inspires jealousy or mistrust in us to get us to persecute the person who is refusing to compromise.

All that live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution!

The backlash is to try to stop you showing integrity the next time a similar situation arises.

Conclusions

Integrity of our heart demands that we apply the same righteous standard of life and conduct consistently to every situation irrespective of who or what is involved.

We must know God’s word to know what His will is in any particular situation. As we read and meditate on the word we are being trained to walk in integrity.

As we pray and fellowship with God, we become more sensitive to the voice and prompting of the Holy Spirit.

We must search out suitable sources of godly counsel when we need it. Then we must walk in the light of the truth that we have at that time.

We can then begin to lead a daily life of refusing to compromise but with humility.

Integrity of heart and life is God’s will for each one of His children and when we walk in the integrity and singleness of our hearts we will touch many lives inside and outside the church.

Amen

Personal Prayer