Being a Person of Integrity

Welcome to this edition of PowerPoint with Jack ran a little later in the program tell you that you can get the message seems don't first hears his message being the person that your Bibles and turn once again to Exodus chapter 2050, the 16th verses of Exodus 20 we have the a and nine Commandments and today for the first time we're going to unite these commandments because both of these really speak to the same issue and that issue is the issue of integrity. The eighth commandment found in verse 15 tells us that you shall not steal, and then the ninth commandment.

Verse 16 you shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. So these are relatively straight up. Obviously some right up commandments you shall not steal, and you shall not lie or bear false witness against your neighbor. Now these commandments are culturally connected because we're living in a time in our own society and our own beloved nation in which we have been rocked by scandals of various kinds. Ultimately, these scandals have as their root selfishness agreed, stealing, and fraud and all that goes with it. We're living in a time of moral collapse. There is a war on terror. But there's also a war for the soul of this nation and the only way that we're going to be able to preserve the great freedoms of our nation is to experience a renewed God centered morality, a God centered, Christ centered morality, the 10 Commandments provide us a guideline for living certainly as followers of Christ the lifestyle of the believer is expressed here.

This is why we're calling this series high definition living in the world needs a better picture a brighter picture what it means to be a follower of Christ and why we are not saved by keeping the law. Once we are saved born again. We certainly then live in God's power and his spirit in keeping and in accordance to his commandments. And so the church of the Lord Jesus Christ should be hi dad, so that the world may see him to know him and make him known in the commandments are divided up in our relationship with God to worship him and then the final six commandments that we would walk with him and make him known to the world are you a person of integrity do you tell the truth and live the truth 100% of the time that I may be that we would all slough this commandment off in a sense that we would say, well, everybody lies. Everybody steals a little bit but after all that's just the way it is. Many of us grew up in the 60s where we were taught situational ethics in the University remember situational ethics well a generation grew up and now we're practicing situational ethics, moral relativism and truth and honor and integrity are often put aside in the book the day America told the truth. I read that something like 81, 85% of the people. Why regularly that most people can get through a solid week without lying and that many people can get through a day without lying. And while we think well is that really a big deal. After all, most of these things are our little white lies.

It doesn't matter if it's a black while white lie or lie in Technicolor God who is the father of truth Jesus who is the truth. When he stood before Pilate. Pilate said what is true and truth was standing right in front of descent. I am the way, the truth and the life and you never more like Christ than when you're living and telling the truth when you're living in integrity. You know that the word integrity has to do with wholeness.

The word integer is there that that life is integrated what I am privately is what I am publicly that that what you see is what you get that there is a trustworthiness and a transparency in the life of the Christ follower last. The Bible speaks of people being without guile sounds like an old word that we don't use these days, guile, guileless this but a person without guile is a person who is transparent and authentic and all of their attitudes and actions outwardly as well as inwardly ought to be without guile is to be a person of grace and God has called us to this higher standard of excellence in our luck, I tell you this, it is impossible for God to bless you. The way he wants to bless you. If you are not a person of integrity of truthfulness of faithful, honest, distortion and defrauding and dishonesty in all of its various rods and forms should be dismissed from the believer's life by the power of Christ because these things destroy society. They wrecked homes, split churches, fracture families and poisoned every human relationship, including cauterizing your own soul and condemning your own conscience, truthfulness, honest, being a person of integrity. Are you trustworthy person.

When the Bible says you shall not steal, it obviously affirms the right of personal possession. So what God has given us, blessed us with the lawns. That was the Bible never teaches communism or any form of socialism with the right of personal possession and the right of personal property, but what we do with our property as well as how we get our property is an issue with God and how we gain our possession and as a matter of fact, Jesus told a story you know it is the story of the good Samaritan.

To illustrate this. This way of life. He said a man a certain man was on his way down from Jerusalem to Jericho any fell among thieves and these thieves beating within an inch of his life and he was left bloodied and dying on the side of the road and Jesus said it wasn't long until a couple of religious types came along and and they walk by on the other side of the road they turned their heads. Not my problem. I don't have time should have been here in the wrong place wrong time. Too bad.

And Jesus said these men went on their way and then the Lord said another man, a certain Samaritan came along this interesting incident week call this man the good Samaritan. Jesus never called him the good Samaritan. He was a certain Samaritan Samaritan. He did the basic right thing is is one thing to celebrate goodness.

But it wasn't necessarily that he was such a good man. He was a man. He did the right thing.

He came along, he saw this man broken on the side of the road so he ministered to him yet. He saw him, he had compassion upon him, and he poured oil and wine medicinally to help heal his wounds in the cooking to the hand and said I'll take care of all the expenses. While this man recovers and when I come back through I'll check on things and and if there's more to to the bill. I'll take care of that as well.

And Jesus gave us the story to tell us to teach us, who is my neighbor commandment says you shall not bear false witness to your neighbor. So who is my neighbor. What do I owe my neighbor and Jesus teaches us this powerful truth that anyone with the need is my neighbor whenever, wherever I find a person who has a need and I am capable of meeting that need in some way that it is my responsibility to give that person what that person needs. The Bible says owe no man anything but love and in the three kinds of people that we meet in the Samaritan story we really have a picture of everyone in society. First, those thieves those thieves who stole from the man took what was not rightfully theirs. They represent those who say what's yours is mine and I'll take that out. Lest you think that you have to be somebody up and bloodied them to steal from them. You of course know there are many ways to steal from another person, you can still there possessions you can steal a person's reputation with gossip and slander and innuendo and insinuation is more than one way to steal. Of course there are the subtle lies in the past that are practice every single day you you can achieve in school, you can cheat in life and in all kinds of ways and why do people steal. Why do people live sometimes it's because of fear. The fear of failure sometimes because of malice like these thieves who stole and with malice and hatred in their heart they took from someone what did not belong to them they that they did it with malice. Some people lie and steal for no reason at all, just because they can. People have money. Most of the time people who shoplift actually have money, get out. Some people just feel because they can. They just lie because they want to is like ghetto golfers are notorious for lying what one golfer was asked is that once you improve your lie on that last hope he's okay. I had a four instead of a five but by lying to me so so so culturally relative, and we eat, we can make it. Situational ourselves so like that saying you know it. If I'm lying and you know that online and I know that you know that I'm lying.

Isn't that the same as telling the truth that is the way we live today we we think we can play hard and fast with the truth. But God is the God of truth says no way listening to PowerPoint with tank ran in today's message being a person of integrity, sexual identity, racism, the sanctity of life. These are some of the hot button topics in our culture that Christians are called to address and in his brand-new series dumpling.

Dr. Graham shows you how to steer down the enemy's lies and stand firm for God's truth as it relates to the current culture dumpling concern. Thanks for your gift today to help boldly proclaim the truth of the gospel so call now to request a copy of dumpling when you get: 800-795-4627 that's 1-800-795-4627.

You can also text the word PowerPoint to 313-1316 PowerPoint to 313131. And don't forget to visit Jack Graham.org shop our E store. Give a gift online or sign up for Dr. Graham's free daily email devotional our website again is Jack Graham.Margie. Now let's get back to today's message being the person saying that is the father of lies.

Satan stole the son of mankind in the garden with a lie as God said, questioning the word of God. Anytime you hear a corporate seal? Put on the veracity of God's word, the authenticity of God's word. You can know exactly where that's coming. As God said, is that really true God is holding out on you, Adam and Eve.

He knows that if you eat of this fruit you will be as he is, so they believe the lie lay die. Their innocence was stolen by a lie.

It was lies and innuendos in whisperings and false accusation and slander that put Jesus on the cross. False witnesses nailed him to the cross, but we were there ourselves with our own lives and our own distortions in our own deceptions, but those thieves are represented there and then not only what's yours is mine and I'll take it. But then there some represented by those religious types that day you walk by on the other side who live by the idea that what is mine is mine and I'll keep it holding on to what we have with everything we've got two kinds of people in life you know who they are. Your one of them givers and takers.

Givers and takers, and some have lived with the idea that what I have is mine and mine alone to enjoy it. I'm never going to give away. The Bible tells us that by stealing that's robbing another person of the opportunity to be blessed to be encouraged to be strengthened. If you have a word to say and you withhold it word of encouragement that is robbing another person of the blessing that God desire to give them an I can illustrate this in so many ways God has given us breath in life and creation every breath we take belongs to God.

We are here because God's breath is and as he breathed into us the breath of life. All of life is a gift and for me to live life my way without giving God back the light that he gave to me without serving and loving and worshiping less thievery if you're a Christian, you are not only God's my creation, but by redemption, which means you are not your own. The Scripture says you are bought with a price. The precious blood of Jesus therefore glorify God with your body which are which is the Lord's, and so we have been paid, bought and paid for by the lifeblood of the Lord Jesus and what we are belongs to him. We are purchased as his own possession and to withhold our lives from him to withhold withhold our gifts from him.

God is given a spiritual gifts in which we are to serve in the minister. And yet, if we sit on the sidelines and not participate in the work of the ministry of Christ on earth in these church. We are withholding from the body of Christ in the work of Christ in, and that is robbery without a weapon. Everything we have possession wise belongs to God and he is called us therefore to signify that by bringing the first hint to him and then the yacht the offerings as he prospers us and yet we have Rob God in the stealing of our ties and our offerings say how so look at Malachi 382 11. Will a man rob God you are robbing me but you say how we rob you in your ties and contributions, you are cursed with a curse for your robbing me. The whole nation of you bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house and thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need and I will rebuke the devour for you so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil and your find in the field shall not fail to bear says the Lord of hosts.

God says all right, here's a test prove me and then see if I will not bless you in ways that are incomprehensible. I will open Kevin's windows and pour you out amazing blessings. I will rebuke the devour those things that are stealing from you, robbing you of life and the blessings life. Test me in this. See me if the 90% with me as your partner will not go farther than 100% on your own without me.

Test me in this God's I want to be a God. Rob and yet when I take the position that that religion. Those religious types that describes the Pharisees that the Levi's became bile the other side and look at this man and said you know I don't care what this man is going through. I don't care what the people need Jesus.

I don't care what bile the other side. I'm living by the credo that what is mine is mine. I'll keep it but the Samaritan who ministered Saul who had compassion who ministered love to him. He lives by the commandments that were talking about today and that is what is mine is yours and I will give it to be giving away our lives. Jesus say we find our lives. Why do we live why we steal when we just tell the truth and be people of integrity, all kinds of reasons, but ultimately because we were born July. This is why we must get honest with God.

This is why it's good to have accountability of rude people that will keep you honest, I have a few people in my life that no one-on-one slogan when I'm not to keep me accountable and everyone should have people like that in their lot. We need accountability so that we would live honestly and genuinely and with authenticity. That is what the commandment here is talking about living your testimony is a vivid expression hi definition of truth because let me tell you why God knows when relying he also knows we were telling the truth.

That's a good thing he knows the integrity of our hearts. He knows that when we tell the truth, even a personal cost, and while it may go poorly with the world goes really good with God. That's what matters the most. God knows when we stand up for what is right or stand up for that person and do the right thing. I always tell my children and their growing up years is always right to do rights never like to do wrong, never wrong to do right is always right to do what is right and be prepared, be prepared to make the right decision.

The good decision before you get to that decision.

You do that by series of right choices. It may be hard to tell a lie for the first time it gets easier and easier to tell never notice that because it becomes addictive.

It becomes habitual, habit-forming, and even if it's just a little white lie just a little thing or an insinuation or if I just get what about all those people that take office supplies home with them in and steal from there their job or you know make personal calls on your bosses time so those are those things those little things they add up and they subtract from our live.

I heard about a man who was on the fast track to the top of his corporation. But one day he was in the company cafeteria and someone one of his bosses saw him in line.

Take a 2% pat of butter and stick it under his role we would pay for and when his boss all that he said if I can't trust that guy with a two cent pat of butter. How can I trust him with this corporation. This guy lost his opportunity to advance over a two cent pat of butter Jesus talked about that he said how can I trust you with great things.

If I can't trust you with little things he that is faithful in that which is least will be faithful and that which is much so if I tell the truth about little things as well as big things. If I am honest in my possessions and and and what I earn what I keep what I take in the little things, God will honor that and reward that in bless you live a life of excellence in all things and all things to the glory of God. You shall not lie. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor is that it interesting that we often lied to the people we love the most bear false witness to your neighbor, the people that are closest to that we like our husbands and wives.

We lie to our kids. We light our parents. We light our friends at church.

We light our neighbors. We lie the most the people we care about the month sometimes says protect yourself Pro inhibit yourself from living a lifestyle of lying and taking and stealing greed and selfish little life on the line for an honest trust flesh made the way I elevate strengthening. Listening to PowerPoint and tank ran in today's message chaos, Inc. in spiritual darkness when it needs to see his old faith from followers of Christ. That's why Dr. Graham wants to send you his new five message series template.

This series tackle some of the most pressing issues. Our culture is facing today and shows how the Bible offers the answers our world so desperately needs. Don't blink, as our special thanks for your gift to help boldly proclaim God's word, PowerPoint and request a copy when you call today: 800 795 67 that's one 800-7956 27 can also text to it, 313-1316 PowerPoint 31312.

Don't forget to visit Jack Graham.org shop our E store. Give a gift online or sign up for Dr. Graham's free daily email devotion a website again is Jack Graham.Margie Pastor what is your PowerPoint for today. So are you a or a taker. Now that's an important question when it comes to your relationship with God, and that's really the essence of this commandment, that we talked about today in your relationship with people.

Are you a giver or are you a taker. Are you investing in people's lives are.

Are you training people's lives.

Think about your actions. Are you helping or hurting in relationships and what you do are you willing to give of yourself. The Bible says do not withhold good from those to whom it is due when it is in your power to do it. Are you living that verse in your life and when it comes to your relationship with God. Be a giver. Give your life back to God because your life already belongs to him you have been purchased and possessed by his spirit so to live for Jesus and let me say one other word, make sure that you're a giver not a taker in your church, your church needs you to be a faithful follower of Christ and a giving loving servant of Christ. Find a ministry in your church where you can serve God, be a faithful tither and giver as you commit to the kingdom of God and the work of your church on earth don't rob God. Don't steal from God what rightfully belongs to him and that is today's however, remember when you give a gift to PowerPoint Cindy Dr. Graham's brand-new five message series.

Don't blink. Thanks. Phone one 800-7954 627-1800 79546 also text the word PowerPoint 31 text PowerPoint 3131 going to see you next time. Dr. Graham brings a message about God is the only source your satisfaction is next time on PowerPoint with Jack PowerPoint with Jack Graham is sponsored by PowerPoint ministries