GOD BLESSES A HEART OF INTEGRITY

GOD BLESSES A HEART OF INTEGRITY

The Keys to a Blessed Life (8 Beatitudes) 

Rick Warren

July 12-13, 2014

“Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7b (NIV)

God doesn't care about your appearance, achievements, accomplishments or acquistions or your image.

He cares about your soul, the real YOU!

“God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.” 

Matthew 5:8 (NLT)

God is more interested in your attitude than your action. 

 INTEGRITY:
BLESSINGS BROUGHT BY INTEGRITY
None of these great men were perfect: David, Noah, Moses, Abraham, Peter, etc.
But they had integrity and sought after God.

Integrity = Wholeness
Life is not compartmentalized, it is integrated not segregated.   
People who compartmentalize or segregate their life they do not have integrity: Secret life, Family Life, Career Life, etc. 

Integrity = Authenticity
Not fake, you are real always and in all ways with everybody.
Wearing masks is being 2 faced/hypocrite
Integrity is what you are and do when nobody is looking.

Integrity = Un-mixed motivation
Pure in heart, no ulterior motives.
Integrity is who you really are at your core.

“People with integrity have a firm footing, but those who follow 

crooked paths will slip and fall.” Proverbs 10:9 (NLT)

“The integrity of the honest keeps them on track.” 

Proverbs 11:3 (Mes)

Blessings of integrity:

• Confidence
• Personal stability & security
• People enjoy being around you
• Trustworthy
• Can relax
• Keeps you on track
• Integrity is a lasting legacy of blessings to future generations
• Eternal rewards
• Forgiven

“A righteous person lives on the basis of his integrity. Blessed 

are his children after he is gone.” Proverbs 20:7 (GW)

“If you pray to God and seek the favor of the Almighty, if you are 

pure and live with complete integrity, God will rise up and restore 

your happy home. And though you started with little, you will end

with much.” Job 8:5-7 (NLT)

 [God will say] “Well done! You are a good and trusted servant!

Because you were faithful with small things, I’ll now put you in 

charge of much greater things. Come and share your M aster’s 

happiness!” Matthew25:21 (NCV)

“Lord, who may stay in your sanctuary and live on your holy 

mountain? The one who WALKS WITH INTEGRITY . . . he speaks 

the truth from his heart. He refuses to slander others with his 

tongue, won’t listen to gossip, and will not cast a slur on his 

fellowman . . . [instead] he honors those who fear the Lord, and 

keeps his promises even when it hurts. He lends his money freely

without charging interest and cannot be bribed by money. 

Whoever does these things will never be shaken!” 

Psalm 15:1-5 (NIV/GW/TEV)

Treat every area of your life with the same intensity of excellence:

Your marriage

Your family

Your friends

Your career

Your community

Your church

SOME WAYS TO DEVELOP INTEGRITY

By Keeping Your Promises. Keep your word, Be reliable.
“People who promise things they never give are like clouds and 
wind that bring no rain.” Proverbs 25:14 (TEV)

Broken promises are the number one cause of bitterness in children.

Insecurity comes from a lack of integrity.

By Paying Your Debts. Financial Integrity. Don't live beyond your means. Don't defraud others or cheat on your taxes.

“The wicked man borrows and never pays back . . .”
Psalm 37:21 (TEV)

“. . . the authorities are working for God . . . Pay what you owe them; 
pay your personal and property taxes . . .”
Romans 13:6-7 (TEV)

By refusing to gossip.   Keep things confidential.

“A gossip can’t be trusted with a secret, but someone of integrity 
won’t violate a confidence.” Proverbs 11:13 (Mes)

Real friends walk in your life when others walk out.
They don't rub it in, they help rub it out.

By faithfully tithing. Trust God with your finances and putting Him first.
Wherever you put your money first, shows what is important to you.

“Is it right for a person to cheat God? Of course not! Yet you are 
robbing me, says the Lord. ‘How?’ you ask. By withholding your 
full tithe and offerings. . . Bring to me the full amount of your tithe 
to my House . . . Put me to the test and you’ll see that I will open 
the windows of heaven and pour out so much blessing on you 
that you won’t have enough room to receive it all!” 
Malachi 3:8-10 (TEV)  This is a test with a promise.

By doing your best at work.
“Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you 
were working for the Lord rather than for people.”
Colossians 3:23 (NLT)

"A lazy employee is as destructive as a saboteur."
Proverbs 18:9

Ephesians 6:6 , Colossians 3:22-23
It is God's will that you work hard with gladness as unto the Lord. He sees everything.
Don't just do the minimum, do your best. 

By being real and authentic and genuine with others.

“We refuse to wear masks and play games. We don’t maneuver 
and manipulate behind the scenes. And we don’t twist God’s 
Word to suit ourselves. Rather, we keep everything we do and 
say out in the open . . .” 2 Corinthians4:2 (Mes)

Care more about what God thinks than what others think. Stay in His Word!

“How can I keep my way pure? By living according to your Word.”
Psalm 119:9 (NIV)

The first step is: Ask God to show you areas you need to clean up.
Admit: "Confession of bad works, is the beginning of good works." Saint Augustine

The Titanic Myth:
It was supposed to be the first unsinkable ship because it was the first compartmentalized segmented hull.
However a hole can sink you and take you down no matter what.
Excuses: "It's my life, I can handle it, it is none of your business, everybody else is doing it, what they don't know won't hurt them, etc."
Sin will always effect others and will find you out.

This is why we need a Savior and grace and forgiveness.
None of us are perfect and always does what is right.
We have all failed and sinned.
You will never be sinless... but you can sin less.
It is a choice of integrity!
I don't always do the right thing... but I want to do my best... offer it as prayer to God.