This sermon outline addresses the subject of integrity and character! Every child of God could benefit from this. May it serve to be a reminder of the great need of integrity in our lives!
Title: “Guardrails Of The Christian Life!”
(Proverbs 11:3) “The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.” (KJV)
Introduction:
• Recently, in a study I was involved in, I came across the subject of integrity in relation to this verse and it helped me immensely. I thought it would help us tonight!
• Integrity according to Webster’s Dictionary: “The entire, unimpaired state of anything, particularly of the mind; moral soundness or purity; incorruptness; uprightness; honesty. Integrity comprehends the whole moral character, but has special reference to uprightness in mutual dealings, transfers of property, and agencies for others.”
V. Gilbert Beers stated, “A person of integrity is one who has established a system of values against which all of life is judged.”
• One man stated that “integrity is the parent of character; there is no character without integrity!”
• Essentially, in our text verse, we find that integrity acts as guardrails for the believer!
• I want to speak about these guardrails in this message!
Image via WikipediaTransition:
• The Bible teaches us that David had integrity. This is recorded as God gave a conditional promise to Solomon and instructed him to be like his father David!
(1 Kings 9:4) “And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments:” (KJV)
• Job is said to have had 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.” (KJV)
• Listen to these verses:
(Psalms 25:21) “Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.” (KJV)
• The Bible teaches us that children are blessed because of parent with integrity!
(Proverbs 20:7) “The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.” (KJV)
Proposition: There are three things I want us to consider about the guardrails of our life.
I. Notice That Integrity Implies A Standard!
A. If there is integrity, then there has to be a standard by which to judge the same.
B. This standard is certainly that of the Word of God.
C. Any so-called leader of people, and every Christian should derive his/her standards and principles from the Bible.
D. One man stated that integrity is “the integration of man and the standard until they are one.” – John Pearson
E. It is assumed, but not always correct to say that every spiritual leader and child of God uses the precepts of the Law of God for their standard.
F. The man of God, according to the Apostle Paul under divine inspiration, is said that he could be “throughly furnished unto all good works” as a result of the maturation process of the Word of God.
(2 Timothy 3:16-17) “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (KJV)
G. Many spiritual leaders of today are languishing in carnality because we do not digest the milk and meat of the precious words of God.
II. Notice That Integrity Exposes Itself!
A. The famine of God’s Word and the spiritual anorexics in our churches are a direct result of a false sense of integrity.
B. The hurricanes of Hell, the storms of demonic spirits along with the tornadoes of trouble all hurl themselves against our lives, and we many times do not “ring true” to the test of integrity.
C. Likewise, we have few persons of integrity because people derive their maxims, values, principles, and precepts for life from that which is not according to, or is a deviation from, or is in direct opposition to God’s infallible truth!
D. Every child of God has some form of “integrity”. Whether is it substandard or not is yet to be seen until the trials of our faith come.
E. God sends and allows the storms to come into our life to act as a catalyst in the crucible of suffering.
F. As we are put to the fire, we are refined and our integrity is seen for what it is.
G. God means for us to make changes, if needed, so when the next trial comes we can pass the test.
H. God’s testing are sent for the purpose of showing that we CAN pass the test. Satan tries to entice us and get us to yield to him with the idea in mind that we will fail.
III. Notice That Integrity Needs Daily Maintenance!
A. As you travel along the highway you see crews repairing guardrails where someone has had an accident.
B. Sometimes you see them installing new railing to prevent accidents!
C. New roadways are built and the guardrails are in place before people can travel, because it is paramount that people have the safety net in place!
D. Such is the Christian life! We need to build and maintain the necessary guardrails of our life if we expect to have any chance of having character becoming of a blood bought child of God!
E. Each day that we face, we have to make the decision to do right.
F. If we do not work on our integrity we will get away from God, loose our testimony and invite the judgment of God on our lives! We WILL be a stumbling block to those around us!
Conclusion:
To The Sinner:
• Repent and believe the gospel!
To The Christian:
• The integrity or guardrails of the child of God will guide us.
• Spiritual leader, do you have your guardrails in good operating condition?
• Are they as sure as you can make them or can you improve?
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