Integrity in the Life of a Believer (Psalm 15)
This sermon explores the essential quality of integrity, challenging listeners to consider its presence in their own lives. It delves into why integrity matters deeply to God and how living without it can have profound internal and relational consequences.
This sermon defines integrity as core truthfulness and reliability, emphasizing its critical importance to God and for the believer's inner peace and relationship with Him. It warns against the devastating consequences of compromise and outlines practical steps to cultivate and restore integrity.
Overview
Dr. Charles Stanley opens by challenging listeners to consider if those who truly know them see them as people of integrity, defining it as honesty, truthfulness, uprightness, reliability, and trustworthiness. He contrasts this with a society where truthfulness often seems to not matter, whether in media, politics, or personal interactions. The sermon quickly establishes that integrity is not just about outward appearance or possessions, but is at the core of one's inner being and is profoundly important in God's eyes.
The preacher then turns to Psalm 15 to illustrate who may "abide in Your tent" and "dwell on Your holy hill"—those who walk with integrity, work righteousness, and speak truth in their hearts. He details how integrity is lost through compromising the truth, even subtly, leading to rationalization. The sermon emphasizes that while immediate judgment may not occur, the internal erosion of self-esteem, increasing guilt, confusion, and a loss of peace are significant consequences.
Further consequences include a tendency to boast about integrity when it's lacking, estrangement from God, and ultimately, self-destruction. Dr. Stanley stresses that God desires the best for us, but this requires honesty with ourselves. He concludes by offering practical ways to maintain integrity, such as establishing non-negotiable convictions, submitting to God's will, building relationships with people of integrity, trusting God through challenges, and confessing failures while making amends.
Key points
- Integrity is defined as honesty, truthfulness, uprightness, reliability, and trustworthiness, rooted in one's inner being.
- It is profoundly important to God, as highlighted in Psalm 15, which describes those who can have a close relationship with Him.
- Integrity is lost by compromising the truth through partiality, innuendo, or manipulation, leading to rationalization.
- Consequences of losing integrity include eroded self-esteem, guilt, confusion, lack of peace, estrangement from God, and self-destruction.
- Maintaining integrity involves establishing non-negotiable convictions, submitting to God's will, and building relationships with people of integrity.
- It also requires trusting God in challenging situations and being willing to confess failures and make amends.
In Charles Stanley's words
“Your integrity is at the core of who you are.”
Outline
- I. Introduction: What is Integrity?
- A. Defining Integrity
- 1. Honesty, truthfulness, uprightness, reliability, trustworthiness, sincerity.
- 2. At the core of who you are, not outward appearance.
- B. Societal Observation: A Lack of Truthfulness
- 1. Media, politicians, newspapers.
- 2. Truth is not necessarily what someone says it is.
- C. Integrity is Important to God
- 1. Personally, nationally, in business and relationships.
- 2. Evident in Psalm 15.
- II. Who May Abide with God? (Psalm 15)
- A. Characteristics of a Person of Integrity (Psalm 15:2-5)
- 1. Walks with integrity, works righteousness, speaks truth in his heart.
- 2. Does not slander, do evil to a neighbor, or reproach a friend.
- 3. Honors those who fear the Lord.
- 4. Swears to his own hurt and does not change.
- 5. Does not take interest or bribes against the innocent.
- B. The Promise: "He who does these things will never be shaken."
- III. How We Lose Our Integrity
- A. Compromising the Truth
- 1. Partial truths, innuendos, manipulation.
- B. Rationalizing Our Actions
- IV. Consequences of Losing Integrity
- A. Erosion of Self-Esteem and Core Being
- B. Decreased Capacity to Deal with Life Situations
- C. Guilt and a Dulled Conscience
- D. Confusion and Inability to Deal with Truth
- E. Lack of Peace, Fulfillment, and Contentment (leading to appeasement)
- F. Boasting of Integrity (a cover-up)
- G. Estrangement from God (hindering closeness)
- H. Self-Destruction
- V. How to Maintain Our Integrity
- A. Decide on Non-Negotiable Convictions
- 1. Doctrinal and practical beliefs.
- 2. Things you cannot be talked out of.
- B. Submission to God's Will
- 1. Walking in righteousness.
- C. Build Relationships with People of Integrity
- D. Trust God in Challenging Situations
- E. Confess Failure and Make Amends
- 1. Acknowledge wrongdoing.
- 2. Seek forgiveness and make restitution.
- VI. Conclusion: Integrity is About Who You Are
Scripture references
1 Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;
2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;
Insights
Integrity defines the unseen core of who a person truly is.
A close walk with God is connected to living with integrity.
The erosion of truth begins quietly within one's own self.
Questions & answers
What does the sermon define as integrity?
The sermon defines integrity as a combination of honesty, truthfulness, uprightness, reliability, and trustworthiness. It is described as being at the very core of a person's inner identity and involves saying what you mean and meaning what you say.
Why does the sermon say integrity is important to God?
According to the sermon, integrity is "very important to God" in all aspects of life, from personal to national. Psalm 15 is referenced to show that integrity is a prerequisite for having a close relationship with God.
How does the sermon explain the loss of integrity?
Integrity is lost primarily by compromising the truth, which can involve telling partial truths, using innuendos, or manipulating situations. This often leads to rationalizing one's actions over time.
What are some of the internal consequences of lacking integrity?
Internally, a lack of integrity erodes one's self-esteem and sense of core being, leads to guilt and a dulled conscience, and results in confusion. It also diminishes a person's ability to experience peace, fulfillment, and contentment.
What practical steps does the sermon suggest for maintaining integrity?
To maintain integrity, the sermon advises establishing non-negotiable convictions, submitting to God's will, and cultivating relationships with people who also possess integrity. It also highlights the importance of trusting God through difficult situations and being willing to confess failures and make amends.
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Source
Unofficial AI summary for study purposes. Watch the full sermon on In Touch Ministries. Sermon Insights is not affiliated with or endorsed by the pastor or church.