Integrity the Basis of Hope and Trust

We hear the word integrity used frequently and we value those who have it. Above all other people on this earth Christians should have this quality. It is the basis of trust and hope and positive interaction with those around us.

Webster defines the word as “having a firm adherence to a code especially moral or artistic values.”  We live in a world where we wonder if we can trust what others say and struggle to give them the benefit of doubt in their actions. The problem is often a lack of integrity. Consider the importance of this word in our lives.

None can question the integrity of God. Three times the Bible uses the expression “God is faithful” (1 Cor. 1:9; 10:13; 2 Cor. 1:18). He is trustworthy and Paul talks about his confidence he had in God. “I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that day” (2 Tim. 1:12). Our relationship with God is based on His integrity to always do the right thing.

The problem comes when we have an expectation of others to have integrity—that firm adherence to a moral code of behavior. Paul wrote to Timothy about two teachers who once proclaimed the truth, but they no longer had integrity and now were denying the resurrection. After describing how the lives of Hymenaeus and Philetus had destroyed the faith of some, Paul said, “Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands” (2 Tim. 1:19). We must never let the absence of integrity of men weaken our trust in God.

Think about the importance of integrity in every relationship you have. As Christians we must have an unwavering devotion to our code of righteousness so that others can have confidence in trusting us. Destroy that integrity and the trust and hope others have in us is gone.

Children must see parents as having integrity. We must do more than simply verbally embracing devotion to honesty, purity, godliness and to the church. We must live it before them. This does not mean we never can make mistakes, for we all will, but it does mean they see how we handle these mistakes with the code of morality we have embraced in our lives.

Husbands and wives must treasure the integrity they bring to the marriage. Deception, lying, and deceit in dealing with our mates will bring ruin to the marriage. When they can have confidence in our unwavering devotion to the code of morality, the marriage is assured of happiness.

God help us to be as trustworthy as He is!

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Naked While Wearing Clothes

I thought that today I would let you look over my shoulder in a letter I wrote to a young Christian lady. Her identity is not important, but the thoughts in this letter need to be considered by everyone.

“Dear ________,

“I am so thankful for the fact that you are my sister and my friend. It is because of this mutual love that I am writing this to you about the way you dress.

“You see, the Bible does have a lot to say about this topic, but so few seem to notice it. Adam and Eve, clothed in fig leaves, sensed that they were still naked! God made them more suitable clothing and then regulated the dress of His people and upheld modest dress throughout the rest of the Bible. Far too many do not see that the presence of skimpy clothing is called nakedness by God. Think about this!

“I am sorry that the way you dress is not determined by what the Bible calls shamefacedness in 1 Timothy 2. When you were little, your parents taught you about covering parts of your body. You were ashamed to let others see you. Now that you are almost grown your body still needs to be covered. Though you might not have been aware of it back then, you covered your body because it was yours and not to be displayed to others. I am so amazed that today people display their body with the intent to encourage people to look at them. There is no sense of shame (the ability to blush) anymore. Please think about this as you decide what to wear.

“The matter I really want you to think carefully about is what the Bible says about lasciviousness. Read Galatians 5 where God says that no one who is lascivious can enter heaven. It is a rarely used word which everyone must understand. It means behavior that is lewd and that which creates lustful thoughts in others. This is why young men and young ladies need to be careful about how they touch each other. It is also why I am writing this letter to you because the way you dress, in my opinion, is lascivious. When undue emphasis and exposure of the sexual parts of our bodies are displayed they do create lustful thoughts.

“_________, I am not your judge. Only God has that right, but as your older brother I want you to be aware that God will judge you about lasciviousness. He is the judge! But, please do not ignore what He says. You cannot go to heaven when you have dressed lasciviously on this earth. Will you pray about this? I want you to know I am praying about it. I love you.

Your older brother, Dan”

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Withdrawal of Fellowship is God’s Plan for Restoration

Last Sunday was a day which many at Palm Beach Lakes will never forget. It will not be because of the sermons, but because of the visible manifestation of the power of the word of God to transform lives. It was an emotional day with tears of joy because we were reminded again that the word of God is living, active and cuts to the heart.

It was two weeks ago that the elders came before the church and asked the church to help bring about the restoration of three members who had left the Lord. The elders had worked diligently to bring them back, and so they stood before the church asking for all who had any influence on them to give an even more concerted effort to bring them back home. On Sunday, it was so thrilling to be part of  an assembly where two of those who are loved so much returned. Let me share some thoughts about this matter.

Withdrawing from those who have already left the church does work. There are some who think that if one has already stopped attending, we should not withdraw from them. Such is not the case! What if our elders had just ignored these wayward members saying, “Well, just take them off the role, for we have nothing left to withdraw from them”? This past Sunday we saw the folly of such reasoning. God knows how to do His work, and I am thankful our elders lead us in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake! That day ended with families rejoicing, with the church loving those who had returned, with angels rejoicing and with joy on the throne because of what had happened. Even before the final announcement of withdrawal was made, one responded. Then on Sunday night, after the final announcement had been made, another came home. What if we had not withdrawn from those who had already withdrawn from us!

The loving contact made with the wayward helps them come home. Many in this church, over the past two weeks, had used many avenues to let those who had left know we longed for their return. These very thoughts were expressed to me and others. Withdrawal is designed to bring prodigals home.

I grieve that some missed Sunday night worship. You failed to see how much this church loves the lost. You failed to be able to encourage the one who returned. He needed you. You failed to rejoice with families reunited in the Lord. You failed to hear the emotional experience of the confession of wrong which was made. You failed to see visibly that the gospel does work. You failed to have your faith in His working in this church built up. I grieve for you, because I think you failed!

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Paul’s Description of Ungodly Preachers

The apostle Paul says more about preaching than the rest of the Bible combined. When he wrote his first letter to the church at Thessalonica he described two kinds of preachers. A close study of them in the second chapter of this book provides a vivid contrast between them. Most of us have seen both kinds, and as we read this passage, memories of those we have known come to mind. Look at his description of ungodly preachers.

Their exhortation has little regard for the difference between truth and error. Paul said, “Our exhortation did not come from error” (v. 3). His view of preaching was that he had been “entrusted with the gospel” (v. 4). The apostle Peter also described the responsibility every teacher has to the truth. “If anyone speaks let have him speak as the oracles of God” (1 Peter 4:11). The implication is that if one ignores what God said then he should not speak at all!

Their lives did not reflect their devotion to righteousness. The apostle said, “Our exhortation did not come from . . . uncleanness” (2:3). There is nothing which destroys the power of the message of the gospel more than unholiness in the lives of the messenger.

Their exhortation was characterized by flattering words and sought to please men and not God. Look again at the words in this epistle. “Neither at any time did we use flattering words” (v. 5). The eternal souls of those in the audience are far too precious for teachers to hide the message of God in such a way that pleasing men keeps sin from being addressed. Think about the fact that we have far too many who generically preach against sin, but rarely preach against sins!

Their teaching was motivated by a love of money which they received. Paul said, “Neither at any time did we use . . . a cloak for covetousness” (v. 5). Preachers should never preach so that they might receive a salary! Johnny Ramsey, a preacher who greatly impacted my life, once said, “You should love preaching so much that you never preach to be paid, but love it so much that you would even pay for the chance to preach.” “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (1 Tim. 6:10), and it is often the root of preaching which does not honor God.

Their preaching sought glory from men. Paul’s last description of the ungodly is, “Nor did we seek glory from men” (v. 6). The pulpit is not a stage to be used to bring praise from the audience. The only audience which matters is not the one before the preacher, but the one above him!

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Paul’s Description of Godly Preachers

In the second chapter of Paul’s first letter to Thessalonica, there is a startling contrast between two kinds of preachers. There are those whose motives, methods and message bring havoc to the church. Then there are those who bring joy to heaven as lives are changed by the proclamation of the story of the cross. Because preaching plays such a vital role in God’s design of the church, it is imperative that we know the kind of preaching God wants.

Godly preachers see that God has entrusted them with gospel. The apostle Paul said, “We have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel…” (v. 4). The greatest story ever told has been placed in the hands of mortals, and these men of God never preach without a constant realization that the Creator has confidence in them that they will deliver His message.

Godly preachers are gentle in dealing with others. The word of God is a mighty sword which can be used to destroy those who hear. However, God’s plan is not to slay the enemy of the cross but to use that sword to do a heart transplant! Two illustrations are used to describe this relationship between the teacher and those who are taught. First, there is the one of a nursing mother and the affection she shows as she deals with her child. Paul said, “We were gentle among you…” (v. 7). The second is of a father as he directs his children to change their lives (v. 11). There are cruel mothers and harsh fathers, but these are not the kind Paul has in mind. Think about the kindness of Jesus in dealing with those He taught. He is the master teacher.

Godly preachers are not afraid of work. Preachers can be lazy and the church has far too many of them, but Paul talks of laboring night and day to accomplish his goal (v. 8). The motivation behind this is summed up in his words “because you were dear to us.” The work is far too serious for any preacher not to give his all to accomplish it.

Godly preachers are concerned about their lives reflecting their devotion to righteousness as they live among those taught. Think about Paul’s words, “You are witnesses . . . How devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you” (v. 10). Preachers should strive to live so that they can say, as did Paul, “Imitate me just as I imitate Christ.” The harshest words Jesus ever spoke were against Jewish “preachers” who failed to honor righteousness in their lives. Nothing destroys one’s preaching more than the ungodly life of the preacher. Nothing empowers it more than the preacher’s godly life!

Thank God for godly preachers!

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