Sermon Notes, January 22, 2012
C.M. Pruitt
Pastor
C.M.’s message was titled “Living with Integrity,” and his text was Proverbs
3:22. He began his sermon with a picture
of the Titanic, a ship that was billed as unsinkable, because it was
built with compartments. Supposedly,
if there was a problem, the compartment could be sealed, making it safe for the
rest of the ship. The problem was that
the captain kept moving forward, allowing water from the iceberg’s gash to get
into more and more compartments, which actually made the ship sink faster than
ever. We sometimes get ourselves into
Titanic problems by compartmentalizing our lives in different areas, thinking
it is safe to live this way. Our
integrity is compromised. What is
integrity? “The quality or state of
being complete or undivided or incorruptible.”
Why does integrity matter?
It
pleases God. “The Lord hates people
with twisted hearts, but He delights in those who have integrity.” (Proverbs
3:22, NLT) God is absolute truth. He wants us to be like Him.
It
affects others. “Good people who
live honest lives will be a blessing to their children.” It’s a wonderful heritage to have an honest
father. Our integrity affects our
family. It also affects other
people. “People who do not believe are
living all around you…so live good lives.
Then they will see the good things you do, and they will give glory to
God.” (1 Peter 2:12, ICB)
It
blesses me. “Moral character makes
for smooth traveling; an evil life is a hard life. Good character is the best insurance.” (Proverbs 11:5-6, Message) The word evil
is live spelled backwards; lots of
people live their lives backwards.
“People with integrity have a firm footing, but those who follow crooked
paths will slip and fall.” (Proverbs 10:9 NLT)
How do I live with integrity?
Always
speak the truth. “The Lord hates
liars, but is pleased with those who keep their word.” (Proverbs 12:22, GN) Do what you say you’re going to do. Don’t make excuses for what you don’t
do. “Let our lives lovingly express the
truth in all things—speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly.” (Ephesians 4:15, Amp) We can lie with silence, or not telling
everything someone needs to know. Tell
the truth in love. “Don’t talk out of
both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip.”
(Proverbs 4:24, Mes) These things betray
our integrity.
Stand
for what’s right. “Our
responsibility is never to oppose the truth, but to stand for the truth at all
times.” (2 Corinthians 13:8, NLT) If
things are wrong, we need to stand up for what’s right. “When a person knows the right thing to do,
but doesn’t do it, then he is sinning.” (James 4:17, ICB) “Love and faithfulness keep a king safe;
through love his throne is made secure.” (Proverbs 20:28, NIV) Sound leadership is love and integrity.
Stay
clean. “You are to live clean,
innocent lives as children of God in a dark world full of crooked and perverse
people. Let your lives shine brightly
before them.” (Philippians 2:15b, NLT)
Noah was the only one in his generation whose life showed what he
believed. Choose the right kind of
friends—bad company corrupts good character.
“It is better to be a poor person who has integrity than to be rich and
double-dealing.” (Proverbs 28:6,
GWT) Value integrity more than image. Our world cares more about how we look than
who we are. “I will lead a life of
integrity in my own home. I will refuse
to look at anything vile and vulgar…”
(Psalm 101:2-3, NLT) Watch what
you watch.
“God’s
divine power gives us everything we need for life and godliness. This power was given to us through knowing
Jesus who called us by His own glory and integrity.” (2 Peter 1:3, GWT) God wants to be proud of us for the way we
conduct our lives. He has the ability to
help us when we fall. Like a proud
earthly parent, He likes to say, “That’s my kid!” when we live with integrity.
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