D7 men are men of unshakeable integrity
(Unshakeable= solid, constant, unmovable, unwavering)
“A life isn’t significant except for its impact on other lives” – Jackie Robinson
“Can we find anyone else like this man so obviously filled with the spirit of God?” Genesis 41:38 (NLT)
Integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles that you refuse to change. When you have integrity, your words and your deeds match up. You are who you are, no matter where you are or who you are with.
A man with integrity does not have divided loyalties (e.g. God and money, the Church and the world, his wife and other women - that’s duplicity), nor is he pretending (that’s hypocrisy). A man with integrity is a “whole” man; they can be identified by their single-mindedness. A man with integrity has nothing to hide and nothing to fear. If you want to be free you have to make integrity part of who you are. No compromise. D7 men are men of unshakeable integrity; they are who they are no matter what the circumstances are.
A vision will lead you but integrity will keep you. Gifts without integrity are fruitless. Integrity will determine who you are and who you are will determine what you do. Integrity is your best friend and also the best friend that your friends will ever have.
If you’re planning to achieve anything you have to work on your character. If your talent takes you where your character cannot keep you, you will end up:
A vision will lead you but integrity will keep you. Gifts without integrity are fruitless. Integrity will determine who you are and who you are will determine what you do. Integrity is your best friend and also the best friend that your friends will ever have.
If you’re planning to achieve anything you have to work on your character. If your talent takes you where your character cannot keep you, you will end up:
- Hitting a performance ceiling that is much lower than your aptitude.
- Hitting an obstacle or situation that derails you.
- Reaching great success only to self-destruct and lose it all.
Think about the questions below:
- Do your words and your deeds match up?
- Does your environment control who you are? If so how can you overcome that?
- Would the people in your world say that you are a man of integrity? Why?
Image-Building vs. Integrity-Building
An image cannot sustain you because we are all faced with conflicting desires.
For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. Galatians 5:17
No one, no matter how “spiritual”, can avoid this battle. Integrity is the factor that determines which one will prevail. Integrity determines who we are and how we will respond before the conflict even appears. Image is what people think we are. Integrity is what we really are. Consider the following questions and answer Yes or No:
Fighting the lies
You’ve all heard these lies:
No one, no matter how “spiritual”, can avoid this battle. Integrity is the factor that determines which one will prevail. Integrity determines who we are and how we will respond before the conflict even appears. Image is what people think we are. Integrity is what we really are. Consider the following questions and answer Yes or No:
- Are you the same person no matter who you are with?
- Do you make decisions that are best for others when another choice would benefit you?
- Are you quick to recognise others for their efforts and contributions to your success?
Fighting the lies
You’ve all heard these lies:
“You’re cheating, but it is for your family!”
“This is how I was made.”
“I am married but I am not blind!”
“You are a man, aren’t you?”
When trials come (and believe me they will!) to rob you from your integrity remember two things:
1. Man (your boss, the government, your parents, etc) is not your source but God.
So we say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. Hebrews 13:6
2. God has made us with desires. But He has also given us self-control.
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7
The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. 1 Corinthians 10:13
Do you believe or have believed in lies that have had a negative effect on your integrity?
Integrity is about the small things
“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. Luke 16:10
Integrity commits itself to character over personal gain, to people over things, to service over power, to principle over convenience, to the long view over the immediate.
For the time is coming when everything that is covered will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. Matthew 10:26
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. James 5:16
Becoming a Man of Integrity
It is always easy to do what is right when you know ahead of time what you stand for. In the end you can bend your actions to conform to your principles, or you can bend your principles to conform to your actions. But remember: If you cross the line of your values – whether it’s by an inch or by a mile – you are still out of bounds.
Monitor who you are becoming
1) Commit yourself to developing strong character. Take full responsibility for your mistakes. If you have to apologise to someone this is your chance, don’t hold back take this opportunity to allow God to work in you and through you. Unconditionally forgive those who may have hurt you (Remember Jesus did this for you in the first place). Is there anyone in your life that you need to thank? Is there anyone that needs honour? The time to do it is now. Do you see solid, unshakeable integrity in yourself? Make the commitment to change today.
Read the following statement, and then sign the line below:
I commit myself to being a person of character. Truth, reliability, honesty, confidentiality and above all the word of God will be the pillars of my life. I will treat others in the way I expect to be treated. I will live according to the high standards of integrity amid of all of life’s circumstances.
Signature: Date:
2) Do the little things. Spend the next week carefully monitoring your character habits. Make a note to yourself each time you do any of the following:
“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. Luke 16:10
Integrity commits itself to character over personal gain, to people over things, to service over power, to principle over convenience, to the long view over the immediate.
For the time is coming when everything that is covered will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. Matthew 10:26
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. James 5:16
Becoming a Man of Integrity
It is always easy to do what is right when you know ahead of time what you stand for. In the end you can bend your actions to conform to your principles, or you can bend your principles to conform to your actions. But remember: If you cross the line of your values – whether it’s by an inch or by a mile – you are still out of bounds.
Monitor who you are becoming
1) Commit yourself to developing strong character. Take full responsibility for your mistakes. If you have to apologise to someone this is your chance, don’t hold back take this opportunity to allow God to work in you and through you. Unconditionally forgive those who may have hurt you (Remember Jesus did this for you in the first place). Is there anyone in your life that you need to thank? Is there anyone that needs honour? The time to do it is now. Do you see solid, unshakeable integrity in yourself? Make the commitment to change today.
Read the following statement, and then sign the line below:
I commit myself to being a person of character. Truth, reliability, honesty, confidentiality and above all the word of God will be the pillars of my life. I will treat others in the way I expect to be treated. I will live according to the high standards of integrity amid of all of life’s circumstances.
Signature: Date:
2) Do the little things. Spend the next week carefully monitoring your character habits. Make a note to yourself each time you do any of the following:
- Don’t tell the whole truth.
- Neglect to fulfil a commitment, whether it’s promised or implied.
- Leave an assignment uncompleted.
- Talk about something that you might have been expected to keep in confidence.
3) Do what you should do before you do what you want to do. Everyday day this week, find two items on your to-do list that you should do but that you have been putting off. Complete those tasks before doing anything on the list that you enjoy.
4) Study the life of Saul and David. Write down the contrast between these two men. What can you learn from them and what timeless principles can you draw from their lives.
Key Verses:
But this is what you must do: Tell the truth to each other. Render verdicts in your courts that are just and that lead to peace. 17 Don’t scheme against each other. Stop your love of telling lies that you swear are the truth. I hate all these things, says the Lord.” Zechariah 8:16-17 (NLT)
“Can we find anyone else like this man so obviously filled with the spirit of God?” Genesis 41:38 (NLT)
The above is also based on the following:
Integrity
Becoming a person of influence
Developing the leader within you
“Can we find anyone else like this man so obviously filled with the spirit of God?” Genesis 41:38 (NLT)
The above is also based on the following:
Integrity
Becoming a person of influence
Developing the leader within you
No comments:
Post a Comment