Integrity:  is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles, or moral uprightness. It is a personal choice to hold one's self to consistent standards.

1 Samuel 16:7- Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. 

Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 

Proverbs 11:3 The Integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity. 

Proverbs 10:9 Whoever walks in Integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out. 

What does it mean to have integrity:

- Wholeness

- Authenticity

- Unmixed Motivation

Ways to have Integrity:

1. 1.Have an up-to-date personal walk with God. 

Hebrews 4:12- For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 

Romans 12:2- And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, that you may prove what is good and acceptable and perfect will of God. 

1. 2.Be accountable to someone in authority over your life. 

Hebrews 13:17- “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not grief, for that would be unprofitable to you. 

1. 3.Keep your priorities straight. 

Mark 8:36- For what shall it a profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his soul? 

Matthew 6:33 - But seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

2 John 8 Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward. 

God is rewarder?

Genesis 15:1 “I am your shield and you're exceeding great reward” 

Colossians 3:24 you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. 

2 John… that we may receive a fullreward. 

The promises of God, the blessings of God in your life are not automatic. 

Hebrews 11:6 He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. 

Psalm 19:11 there is a great reward in keeping Gods word 

The level of obedience you walk in, determines the level of reward you walk in.

Honor is a big deal!

Exodus 20:12Honor your father and your mother that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you. 

Mark 6:5 Now he could do no mighty work there except he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them.

Mark 6:5 (AMP) “He was not able to do any mighty work”

Acts 10:38 Jesus went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil;

doing good = bestowing benefits, giving rewards

Mark 6 Jesus went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. 2 And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. 4 And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.”

honor (definition) -  something that is valuable, weighty, precious such as gold.

honor (antonym) - to treat as common, ordinary, to not show respect, to not value 

Luke 5 

Luke 5:17 Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them. 

Luke 5:18 Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to take him inside to Jesus, 19 but they couldn’t reach him because of the crowd. So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus. 20 When He saw their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.”

21 But the Pharisees and teachers of religious law said to themselves, “Who does he think he is? That’s blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!” 22 Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? 23 Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? 24 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” 25 And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped up, picked up his mat, and went home praising God.

26 And they were all amazed 

Matthew 8:6 “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.”&nb

God is not an on-demand God. 

God has called us to walk by faith. 

Hebrews 6:10-12 For God is not evil, that he would disregard your works and your love which you have shown in his name, which you have ministered to the Saints and you do minister. 11 But we desire that each one of you have this diligence for the perfection of your hope until the end, 12 And that you should not lose heart, but that you would be imitators of those who by faith and patience have become heirs of The Promise. 

Faith is not enough to inherit the promise! 

Hebrews 11:6 "without faith it's impossible to please God" 

Psalm 35:27God has pleasure in the prosperity of his children. 

Luke 12:32 It is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

What pleases God is you being blessed. 

endurance and it gives us a formula for how to grow in our endurance. 

Hebrews 12 1:2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us throw off off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

We're in a race and our race requires endurance. 

1. Throw Some Stuff Off

Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us throw off off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up.

 “throw off” - apotithimi - to lay something down while at the same time pushing it far away beyond your reach.

“weight” - a burden or something so heavy and cumbersome that it impedes a runner from running his race as he should.

2. Focus Your Attention On Jesus 

Hebrews 12:2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself,  

Focus your attention on the work of Jesus on the cross. 

Hebrews 12:3 …lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

If God can capture your stare, He can change your circumstances

Hebrews 11:32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us

Judges 13:2 A certain man of Zorah, named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, had a wife who was childless, unable to give birth. 3 The angel of the Lord appeared to her and said, “You are barren and childless, but you are going to become pregnant and give birth to a son. 4 Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean. 5 You will become pregnant and have a son whose head is never to be touched by a razor because the boy is to be a Nazirite, dedicated to God from the womb. He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines.”

Your obedience to walk in the ways of the Lord effects your ability to walk in the power of God for your purpose.

Judges 14:6 The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him so that he tore the lion apart with his bare hands

Judges 14:19 Then the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him. He went down to Ashkelon, and struck down thirty of their men

Judges 15:14 The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him. 15 Finding a fresh jawbone of a donkey, he grabbed it and struck down a thousand men.

Ruwach (Hebrew) - wind or breath of God.

Pneuma (Greek) - wind or breath of God

Matthew 28:19 Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit 

Acts 1:4-5 And being assembled together with them, He  commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit 

Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Pneumatikos - empowered by a breath of wind.

You can chase your cravings or you can chase your calling, but you cannot chase both.

Judges 16:1 One day Samson went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute. He went in to spend the night with her.  

Judges 16:6 “Tell me the secret of your great strength and how you can be tied up and subdued.” 

Judges 16:15  Then she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when you won’t confide in me? This is the third time you have made a fool of me and haven’t told me the secret of your great strength.”16 With such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was sick to death of it.

Judges 16:17 So he told her everything. “No razor has ever been used on my head,” he said, “because I have been a Nazirite dedicated to God from my mother’s womb. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as any other man.”

Judges 17:6 In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

1. I can get away with it 

2. My power is my power 

Judges 16:19  Delilah lulled Samson to sleep with his head in her lap,  and then she called in a man to shave off the seven locks of his hair. In this way she began to bring him down,

1. David knew who he was.

1 Samuel 17:10 (NLT) I defy the armies of Israel today! Send me a man who will fight me!"

9 If he kills me, then we will be your slaves. But if I kill him, you will be our slaves!

1 Samuel 17:26 (NKJV) Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, "What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who [is] this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?"

Romans 2:29 (NLT) No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by God's Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.

Too many Christians identify with the old them. 

David believed the covenant more than his circumstances.

Popeye video here.

Your spinach (God’s Word) is the answer, but you have to PUT IT IN YOUR MOUTH.

Confession: (on screen to read together)

“I may not deserve it, but Jesus, who never sinned,  was made sin for me and I have become the righteousness of God in Christ. 

My standing with God is secure and and because of Jesus I have a right to the promises of God.

Jesus is my peace, and I command the storms in my life; “peace, be still.”

Jesus himself took my sicknesses and carried my infirmities, therefore I believe that I’m healed by His stripes.

I give and it is given to me, therefore I declare all my needs are met according to Jesus riches in heaven. 

I am not alone in my fight, because Jesus promised He would never leave me or forsake me.

I am His sheep, I know his voice and he will lead and direct me in all wisdom and truth.

No evil shall befall me, neither shall any plague come near my home and family, including Oklahoma tornados!

I am the head and not the tail.

I am above only and not beneath.

I am blessed coming in and blessed going out.

And everything I set my hands to will prosper, in Jesus name.”

Bodda Book, Bodda Boom.

2. David knew who He was.

2 Samuel 6:20 (NLT) When David returned home to bless his own family, Michal, the daughter of Saul, came out to meet him. She said in disgust, "How distinguished the king of Israel looked today, shamelessly exposing himself to the servant girls like any vulgar person might do!"

Jesus had to buy His bride with a price. It cost him to purchase you. You belong to Him.

23 So Michal, the daughter of Saul, remained childless throughout her entire life.