Understanding Integrity

Integrity is probably the most abused Christian virtue in this generation. This is so bad that in every 10 people, you hardly even find just one person of integrity.

It's now so difficult to find someone you can trust and unreservedly depend on. Everybody's selfishly looking out for his or her own interest only.

So you find all forms of compromising fake people everywhere.
The most devastating of all is the fact that you find more of this kind of people amongst Christians.

What is integrity?
It is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles.

What does it mean to have integrity?
Having integrity means that you live in accordance to your deepest values, you're honest with everyone, and you always keep your word.

Integrity is a highly valued trait, especially in leaders.
When you live with integrity, you're more likely to be considered for important promotions and leadership positions.
I've come across uncountable numbers of people, who are without integrity - People you cannot even hold by their WORDS.
God seeks to raise an army of men and women with reputable integrity in this generation.

Attributes of integrity
1. Gracious - kind and warmly courteous
2. Respectful
3. Honest - Integrity requires honesty
4. Trustworthy - dependable and a person of your word
5. Hardworking
6. Responsible
7. Helpful
8. Patient
9. Sincere

Biblical example of integrity
#Job

1. God publicly boasted about Job because of his integrity

Job  2:3  "And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his *integrity*, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause."

- No matter how advance the vocabulary of your Spiritual tongues, or anointing, if you're without integrity, you are NOTHING to God.
- Do you wonder how that Job, who wasn't a pastor or prophet (Just a businessman), was the ONLY person in the whole Bible that God boasted to the devil about??
- Integrity means so much to God folks!!!

2. Job didn't mind being alone, so long his integrity was intact

Job  2:
9. Thensaid his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.

10. But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

- Job called his wife a foolish woman, and didn't care if she left or stayed with him
- How many people can place integrity above family relationships today?
- Some people even compromise to impress their parents or spouses
- My Spiritual Father; David Ibiyeomie once said something very inspiring - "Do u know that in the whole Bible, only JOB married ONE wife?"
- No wonder he was the ONLY one God boasted to the devil about.

3. Job preferred death than compromise his integrity

Job 27:5 .....till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.

- Integrity is a very serious matter!
- You cannot afford to sleep and wake up everyday in a fake and dishonest lifestyle
- Some of us, very little disappointments makes us become reckless and without integrity
- I've seen fake people who speak in tongues more than anything else
- Come on, that's not Christianity!
- Let people know you for exactly who you're!
- And who should you be?? A Person of integrity!!!

Traits of integrity
1. Authentic: Authentic people are humble, approachable and genuine, but the opposite is the case for fake people
- Once you've got any form of a fake life, you don't have integrity, simple!

2. People of integrity know that other people's Time Has Value.
- In other words, value for time is a very important trait of integrity.

3. People of integrity know how to appreciate and acknowledge others

- Knowing when to say something nice in acknowledgement of someone's good deeds says a lot

4. Humility
- Proud people are not people of integrity
- Pride has a way of making you display traits of someone without integrity

5. Quick to apologize and accept one's wrong

- People who don't have integrity always have an excuse to make for their actions and inactions, even when there are wrong

6. Integrity will make one unable to side with lies and wrong deeds

- If you are comfortable around deception and wrong associations, you most definitely do not have integrity

NB;
- You need Integrity to succeed as a Christian
- Your limitation hitherto might just be that compromising attitude you have
- Anything acquired by fraudulent and deceptive ways will never add value to you, neither will it last
- The lack of integrity will always embarrass you at some point
- But integrity will naturally open doors of blessings and favours to you
- Because once people discover that you are honest, dependable, trustworthy and sincere, nothing will be to big for them to give you

The benefits of Obedience

This may sound simple, but trust me, it isn't. Obedience is probably the greatest Christian virtue every Christian should have. As a matter of fact, knowing what the Lord requires of us, and doing exactly that is secret to a blissful earthly existence.
Any loss or great failure you ever suffered was because you disobeyed as instruction - check it closely and you'll see how true.
Remember what Mary the mother of our Lord told His disciples?

John  2:5 "His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it."

Until you come to a point where you can do WHATSOEVER He tells you, a successful life will be difficult!
He has been telling you so much all these while, but you haven't done anyone, that's why you're still struggling.
Every Sunday you go to church, you here HIM speak to you, yet you don't listen, talk more of obeying - that's the problem.

Disobedience places a limitation on your life. Absolute obedience and submission to God's WORD and WILL respectively, is where your victorious Christian life will begin.

God called me into Ministry on the 26th of March, 2013, shortly after I was 18years old.

But before then, I always wanted to be a paediatric Doctor.

This made me an addicted follower of renowned Neurosurgeon Ben Carson - I read all of Ben Carson's books and watched every documentary I could find about Him.

So after the call, it took me years to come to terms with it, simply because I didn't understand how to synchronise the two conflicting passions.

But I can tell you this, one of the best decisions I've made in my entire life, was accepting my call into Ministry and beginning our currently ongoing preparatory services this 2020.

There's nothing more fulfilling than obeying God's WILL for your life.
It may appear foolish, but if God said it, then simply OBEY.

God's marriage strategy for your life, won't be exactly what you had imagined, trust me!
But when it all plays out, you'll be grateful it did.
It's also important for us to understand that; "God won't give you a NEW instruction, until you obey the previous".

You must make a commitment to follow God foolishly, that's the secret.
Many may mock you initially, but believe me, there will all look for you shortly.

Think of it, when God called Father Abraham, people mocked him, how about Noah, Moses and every one of them??
Even Jesus Christ Himself was mocked initially, but OBEDIENCE distinguished HIM, and today He's our SAVIOUR.

You must start obeying God after TODAY!!!
Look at what the Bible says;

Philippians  2:
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became OBEDIENT unto death, even the death of the cross. 
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The MIND of Christ is an OBEDIENT one.
Disobedience will ruin your destiny I assure you!
Obedience is so important, especially in seemingly Minor things.....

What then are the BENEFITS of Obedience?
1. Security
Psalms  91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
- God will only secure those who obediently dwell in HIS secret place

2. Supernatural supplies
Philippians  4:19  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

3. Supernatural open doors
Psalms  119:105  Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Proverbs  4:18  But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
- Obedience will make our life a progressive one, till our days on earth are over; no stagnation

4. Our Faith is built
Proverbs  14:26  In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.
- This means, when we fear (or OBEY the Lord) our Faith (or confidence) in Him is boosted!

NB:
- God requires prompt Obedience from US
- Delayed Obedience is disobedience
- No matter how difficult, we must continually confess our insufficiencies and confess to HIM that "Lord, not my will, but your WILL"
- Never outrightly disobey God and His Word, it's risky
- And when you realise any trace of disobedience, be quick to repentance.

Understanding the beauty of God's Grace

So many people in church today live very ugly lives because they have failed to understand GRACE.

No matter who you're, if you don't live conscious of God's Grace, you will ABUSE Christianity in so many ways. Believe me folks, this Grace dispensation of the Holy Spirit has changed everything!
But we don't know, so you find people living funny lifestyles.

What is Grace?
Grace is defined as divine kindness and favour from God unmerited.
Grace is also defined as supernatural empowerment and enablement of the Holy Spirit.

In other words, Grace is divine compassion towards mankind

I promise you Precious one, God's dealings with you will only answer to Grace.

Can I tell you the truth???
The reason why things are still tight for you, is because you believe so much in "Power & Might".
Trust me, Human strength and expertise is limited!
When I look at the vast majority of Christians in church today, I see "Power and Might" people everywhere. All kinds of religion and eye-service; come on, that's a limited way to live your life!
No matter who you're, if you've not made up your mind to be sustained daily by God's Grace, you won't go far.

Exodus  33:
16. For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.
17. And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.

The Grace of God is what makes the difference!

Psalms  45:2 Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.

I've repeatedly told God this everyday; "there's nothing that has happened in my life, that I can say if I were not there Lord - you've been the one, you're still the one, and you'll forever be the one".
You must find a way of continuously keeping yourself conscious of God's Grace.
The day you take off your eyes from Grace, you'll begin to crash! As a matter of fact, the Supernatural as well as everything pertaining to the celestial is dependent on Grace.

God's Grace is the foundation upon which everything builds.

Psalms  84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

What then is the beauty of God's Grace?

1. The devil will only respect God's Grace IN and UPON your life.

Zechariah  4:7 Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace grace unto it.

The mountain before you will only become a plain by Grace, and not your shouting.

Zechariah  12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

Jesus Christ's earthly ministry, that subdued the devil, was sustained by Grace.

John  1:
14. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.  16. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

2. Being an embodiment of Grace is what will distinguish a life.

Acts  4:33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

God's Power will be impotent in your life if you're not living conscious of Grace.

3. The WORD of His Grace in the mouth of a Christian cannot fail.

Acts  14:3 Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

The reason why God's WORD in your mouth doesn't produce, is because it's not Grace POWERED.

Acts  20
24. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.  

32. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

4. God's Grace operational IN and UPON your life will reflect in every area.

Romans  11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

2 Corinthians  9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

Ephesians  2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

You don't fake Grace; you're either engrace or not.
You don't ACT Grace either!
If the Grace of God is operational IN and UPON you, it will easily reproduce after it's kind.

Please Understand this;

Grace is a SPIRIT!
And by effect a PERSON.
Who? Very simple; the Holy Spirit!

Hebrews  10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

Capital letter "S" in the above scripture refers to the Person of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit Himself is the Spirit of Grace!
You cannot effectively live a Spirit filled life, without recognising the place of God's Grace!
The Holy Spirit is the MANIFOLD GRACE of God.
To live a life of Grace, we must be able to live a Spirit filled life.

1 Peter  4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
1 Peter  5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

Also, God's Grace increases progressively.

2 Peter  3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

The greater our growth in Grace, the better our earthly existence.

Finally Grace MUST not be abused!
Because abusing Grace is Spiritual sacrilege. Grace is the Holy Spirit Himself, and when we abuse GRACE, we grief HIM directly.

Jude  1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Read my lips if you can; STOP ABUSING GRACE, it's dangerous! Maximize HIM...

The Grace of God is not room for misbehaviour and profanity!
Rather, God's Grace is to keep us away from those things....

Jude  1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

Grace abuse can result in faith shipwreck.

Romans  4:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,