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Integrity

TEXTPsa. 26

INTRODUCTION:

A.      A WORD RARELY USED – MISUNDERSTOOD.

B.      INTEGRITY IS NOT IMPORTANT TO MANY.

tom ; completeness; figuratively, prosperity; usually (morally) innocence: (Strong's Greek-Hebrew Dictionary.)

Tamam sometimes expresses moral and ethical "soundness" (Vine's Dictionary)

          integrity, completeness  ( Brown Driver & Briggs Hebrew Lexicon.)

Integrity:  “The quality or state of being of sound moral principle;  uprightness, honesty,

          and sincerity” (Webster) –implies an incorruptible soundness of moral character,

          esp. as displayed in fulfilling trusts [elect men of integrity].

C.      MORAL INNOCENCE, MORAL AND ETHICAL SOUNDNESS COMPLETENESS.

          1.       Uprightness – righteousness.

          2.       Honesty, - sincerity implies consistency of life with beliefs and profession.

          3.       Hypocrisy is in opposition – so is moral weakness.

D.      OUR PSALM HAS A LOT TO SAY ABOUT INTEGRITY.

INTEGRITY INVOLVES:

I.     TRUST WITHOUT WAVERING (vs. 1).

A.      OUR RELIGION IS “FAITH-BASED.”

          1.       Hebrews 11:6 è Belief that he is and he is a rewarder (2 Tim. 2:11-13).

          2.       Our motivation (2 Cor. 5:7 è vs. 1).

B.      WHAT IS BELIEVED IS AS IMPORTANT AS BELIEVING IT.

          1.       Salvation is in belief of the truth (2 Thess. 2:13).

          2.       Our doctrine is called “the faith” (Jude 3).

C.      INTEGRITY DEMANDS THAT WE DO NOT WAVER IN OUR FAITH:

          1.       By disbelief.

                   a.       There is plenty of evidence (Rom. 10:17;  John 20:30-31).

                   b.       But there is plenty of distraction (Matt. 13:22).

          2.       By acting inconsistently with what we believe (Phil. 1:27;  Prov. 23:23).

II.    OPENNESS TO JUDGMENT (vs. 2).

A.      GOD WILL JUDGE US IN THE END (2 Cor. 5:10).

          1.       Judgment will determine destiny (Matt. 25:46).

          2.       Jesus will be the standard (Acts 17:30-31).

B.      GOD KNOWS OUR HEARTS NOW.

          1.       We want God to see the innocence of our hearts (Psa. 139:23-24).

          2.       We need to examine ourselves (2 Cor. 13:5).

III.   OBEDIENCE TO THE TRUTH (vs. 3).

A.      HE KNOWS THE GIFT OF MERCY GOD GIVES.

          1.       Every good gift – constant true (James 1:17).

          2.       Salvation (Rom. 5:8;  1 John 4:9-10).

B.      THAT KNOWLEDGE COMPELLS HIM TO WALK IN GOD’S TRUTH.

          1.       Truth is the summation of God’s word (Psa. 119:142, 151, 160).

          2.       Walking involves the way we live – obedience (Rom. 2:4;  2 Cor. 5:14-15).

IV.   NO FELLOWSHIP WITH EVILDOERS (vs. 4-5).

A.      DAVID IS ESPECIALLY CONSCIOUS OF THE DANGER AND SHAME INVOLVED

          IN FELLOWSHIPPING EVIL AND ERROR (Psa. 1:1-2)

B.      BEWARE THE LEAVEN OF THE PHARISEES! (Matt. 16:11-12;  Gal. 5:7-9).

C.      WE MUST DISAPPROVE OF AND DISAVOW SIN AND FALSEHOOD

          (Psa. 119:104;  Eph. 5:11;  Rom. 16:17-18).

V.    VALUE OF THINGS HOLY (vs. 6-8).

A.      I LOVE THE HABITATION OF THY HOUSE (vs. 8;  Matt. 6:19-21, 33;  13:44-46).

B.      I WILL WASH MY HANDS (vs. 6).

          1.       I am going to clean up my life (2 Cor. 7:1;  1 John 1:6-7).

          2.       I will prepare myself for service (2 Tim. 2:19-21;  Heb. 12:28-29).

C.      ONLY SO CAN WE BE A LIGHT TO OTHERS (vs. 7Matt. 5:14-16;  1 Pet. 2:11-12).

VI.  A DESIRE FOR JUSTIFICATION (vs. 9-10).

A.      IT IS A FEARFUL THING (Heb. 10:21;  Matt. 10:28).

B.      DAVID HUNGERED FOR JUSTIFICATION (Matt. 5:6;  Psa. 51:7-12).

C.      THERE IS BLESSEDNESS IN FORGIVENESS (Psa. 32:1-2;  Rom. 6:21).

VII.  DETERMINATION TO DO RIGHT (vs. 11).

A.      BEING RIGHT WITH GOD REQUIRES COMMITMENT

          1.       Jesus as an example (1 Pet. 2:21-23;  4:19)

          2.       He won’t guard that which is not committed (2 Tim. 1:12).

B.      RIGHT IS FOUND IN GOD’S WORD

          (John 8:12;  Psa. 19:9;  119:105, 137-138, 142, 144).

C.      2 Tim. 3:16-17.

CONCLUSION:

A.      AN EVEN PLACE – LEVEL GROUND WHERE ONE MIGHT STAND

          CONFIDENTLY.

B.      HE WILL PROCLAIM HIS GRATITUDE IN PRAISE OF THE FATHER.