Series: Life

This is what will happen when you seek after walking uprightly – fulfilling what Jesus said in Matthew 6:33.

Matthew 6:33 | AMP (33) But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.

We need to learn God’s ways, more than we need to learn God’s rules.

Psalms 81:13 | NKJV (13) “Oh, that My people would listen to Me, That Israel would walk in My ways!

Ways – a road, a course of life, mode of action, method of operation.

An ignorance of God’s ways will keep us out of God’s highest and best for our lives.

What does a foundation or uprightness look like?

Psalms 15:1-5 | NKJV (1) A Psalm of David. LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? (2) He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart; (3) He who does not backbite with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend; (4) In whose eyes a vile person is despised, But he honors those who fear the LORD; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change; (5) He who does not put out his money at usury, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.

This is not a salvation Psalm. This Psalm is God’s plan for how to succeed, and have His blessing, prosperity and advancement in life as a believer.

There is a phrase in verse 4 that I want to look at in this lesson:

Psalms 15:4 | NKJV (4) In whose eyes a vile person is despised, But he honors those who fear the LORD; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change;

Psalms 15:4 | GNB (4) They despise those whom God rejects, but honor those who obey the LORD. They always do what they promise, no matter how much it may cost.

What we are really talking about here in this phrase is walking in integrity.

Integrity – (Hebrew) perfection, uprightness, simplicity and moral innocence.

Webster’s – implies trustworthiness and incorruptibility to a degree that one is incapable of being false to a responsibility or pledge. It is an absolute refusal to lie or steal in any way.

Integrity is who you are when no one else is around or watching you.

Integrity is the line where your public life and your personal life are congruent or the same.

There is a connection between the integrity of your heart and the mercy of God.

Faith does obtain the answer every time but there are days when our faith is not quite there and we must rely on the mercy of God, so we must have a right heart before God in order for that mercy to show up in our lives.

Statistics – the average person “shades” the truth at least 200 times a day. Perhaps the stats in the Church are better.

The world desensitizes us to falsehoods. We prepare for people to not keep their word i.e. contracts, alarm systems, TV cameras locks, etc.

Ephesians 6:14 | AMPC (14) Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God,

The piece of spiritual armor that protects the heart is the breastplate of integrity. This breastplate protects the ground or repository of the Word of God.

Mark 4:15 | NKJV (15) And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.

Satan comes immediately to steal the word but we can protect the heart by integrity so the Word will produce and accomplish what God has purposed for it to do.

Mark 4:18-19 | NKJV (18) Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, (19) and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

God’s supernatural weed control – Integrity

You better do what you say you are going to do – in spite of whether the situation has changed or not. Keep your word.

Psalms 119:100-104 | NKJV (100) I understand more than the ancients, Because I keep Your precepts. (101) I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Your word. (102) I have not departed from Your judgments, For You Yourself have taught me. (103) How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth! (104) Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.

For you to place a premium on integrity, you must have a holy hatred for deceit.

Integrity is birthed in a person’s heart by gaining understanding from the Word of God of the realities of life and what God says are important.

Truth has to be in place in order to have a truth to hold to.

To have a life of integrity, you must be a person of the Word. Gain truth and understanding from the Word of God and that will begin to produce a holy hatred for falsehoods.

Realize that deceit is done based upon a habit of long practice, a habitual pattern of behavior.

Some tell the truth only when it is convenient and use deceit in whatever form as necessary to meet our own best interests.

Consistency or patience (James 2:4)

We must change our patterns of behavior by practicing the law of consistency.

Without integrity, the mercy of God will forever escape you.

Measure everything we do by the law of integrity, the standard of integrity. Learn to operate in the truth habit.

What you compromise to keep, you ultimately lose.

Proverbs 11:3 | TPT (3) Integrity will lead you to success and happiness, but treachery will destroy your dreams.

Psalms 112:1-10 | TPT (1) Shout in celebration of praise to the Lord! Everyone who loves the Lord and delights in him will cherish his words and be blessed beyond expectation. (2) Their descendants will be prosperous and influential. Every generation of his godly lovers will experience his favor. (3) Great blessing and wealth fills the house of the wise, for their integrity endures forever. (4) Even if darkness overtakes them, sunrise-brilliance will come bursting through because they are gracious to others, so tender and true. (5) Life is good for the one who is generous and charitable, conducting affairs with honesty and truth. (6) Their circumstances will never shake them and others will never forget their example. (7) They will not live in fear or dread of what may come, for their hearts are firm, ever secure in their faith. (8) Steady and strong, they will not be afraid, but will calmly face their every foe until they all go down in defeat. (9) Never stingy and always generous to those in need, their lives of influence and honor will never be forgotten, for they were full of good deeds. (10) But the wicked take one look at a life lived like this and they grit their teeth in anger, not understanding their bliss. The wicked slink away speechless in the darkness that falls, where hope dies and all their dreams fade away to nothing, nothing at all!

Psalms 15:4 | NKJV (4) In whose eyes a vile person is despised, But he honors those who fear the LORD; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change;

Psalms 15:4 | TLB (4) speaks out against sin, criticizes those committing it, commends the faithful followers of the Lord, keeps a promise even if it ruins him,

Psalms 15:4 | BBE (4) Who gives honour to those who have the fear of the Lord, turning away from him who has not the Lord’s approval. He who takes an oath against himself, and makes no change.

We need to learn to hate what God hates and love what God loves.

God hates sin because of what it has done to humanity and what it does to people. Sin destroys people’s lives and causes great harm.

Psalms 15:5 | NKJV (5) He who does not put out his money at usury, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.

Psalms 15:5 | AMPC (5) [He who] does not put out his money for interest [to one of his own people] and who will not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved. [Exo 22:25-26]

Psalms 15:5 | ERV (5) If they loan money to someone, they do not charge them interest. And they refuse to testify against an innocent person, even if someone offers them money to do it. Whoever lives like this will always stand strong.

Remember, when you get over into the flow of doing things God’s way and you pursue that as a priority, you will experience the bless ing God on your life.

Scriptures about the Upright:

Psalms 7:10 | NKJV (10) My defense is of God, Who saves the upright in heart.

Psalms 32:10-11 | NKJV (10) Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; But he who trusts in the LORD, mercy shall surround him. (11) Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

Psalms 33:1 | NKJV (1) Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful.

Psalms 37:18 | NKJV (18) The LORD knows the days of the upright, And their inheritance shall be forever.

Psalms 64:10 | NKJV (10) The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and trust in Him. And all the upright in heart shall glory.

Psalms 125:4 | NKJV (4) Do good, O LORD, to those who are good, And to those who are upright in their hearts.

Psalms 140:13 | NKJV (13) Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your name; The upright shall dwell in Your presence.

Proverbs 2:7 | NKJV (7) He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly;

Proverbs 3:32 | NKJV (32) For the perverse person is an abomination to the LORD, But His secret counsel is with the upright.

Proverbs 10:29 | NKJV (29) The way of the LORD is strength for the upright, But destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.

Proverbs 12:6 | NKJV (6) The words of the wicked are, “Lie in wait for blood,” But the mouth of the upright will deliver them.

Proverbs 14:9 | NKJV (9) Fools mock at sin, But among the upright there is favor.

Proverbs 15:19 | NKJV (19) The way of the lazy man is like a hedge of thorns, But the way of the upright is a highway.

Proverbs 21:29 | NKJV (29) A wicked man hardens his face, But as for the upright, he establishes his way.

Scriptures about God’s Ways:

Deuteronomy 10:12-13 | NKJV (12) “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, (13) and to keep the commandments of the LORD and His statutes which I command you today for your good?

Deuteronomy 28:8-9 | NKJV (8) “The LORD will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you. (9) “The LORD will establish you as a holy people to Himself, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in His ways.

Psalms 103:7 | NKJV (7) He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.

Psalms 128:1 | NKJV (1) A Song of Ascents. Blessed is every one who fears the LORD, Who walks in His ways.

This is what will happen when you seek after walking uprightly – fulfilling what Jesus said in Matthew 6:33.

Matthew 6:33 | AMP (33) But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.

We need to learn God’s ways, more than we need to learn God’s rules.

Psalms 81:13 | NKJV (13) “Oh, that My people would listen to Me, That Israel would walk in My ways!

Ways – a road, a course of life, mode of action, method of operation.

An ignorance of God’s ways will keep us out of God’s highest and best for our lives.

What does a foundation or uprightness look like?

Psalms 15:1-5 | NKJV (1) A Psalm of David. LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? (2) He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart; (3) He who does not backbite with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend; (4) In whose eyes a vile person is despised, But he honors those who fear the LORD; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change; (5) He who does not put out his money at usury, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved. This is not a salvation Psalm. This Psalm is God’s plan for how to succeed, and have His blessing, prosperity and advancement in life as a believer.

Three Things To Do:

Psalms 15:2 NKJV (2) He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart;

1. Walking upright means simply do not sin.

Again, Jesus did not die just to save us from sins but to also to save us from sinning.

2. The next thing in verse two we see is the works of righteousness.
3. He speaks the truth from his heart.

When we are speaking about our walk, our works and our words, that is pretty much the sum total of our lives. God wants us to walk uprightly in all of these areas.

Three Things NOT To DO:

Psalms 15:3 NKJV (3) He who does not backbite with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend;

1. Does not backbite with his tongue
2. Does not do evil to his neighbor.
3. Does not take up a reproach against his neighbor.

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There is a phrase in verse 4 that I want to look at in this lesson:

Psalms 15:4 | NKJV (4) In whose eyes a vile person is despised, But he honors those who fear the LORD; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change;

Psalms 15:4 | GNB (4) They despise those whom God rejects, but honor those who obey the LORD. They always do what they promise, no matter how much it may cost.

What we are really talking about here in this phrase is walking in integrity.

God’s expectation for us as believers is that we will make the decision to do what we promise or fulfill our word no matter how much it may cost us.

One of the main reasons for this is that your character is only as strong as your word is strong.

This is what makes God character so strong is that He will not compromise anything where His Word is concerned.

You see it is God’s character that makes His Name powerful. It is not simply the amount of power that He possesses.

It is our character that makes our name powerful or to carry weight to it where it can work on your behalf.

Integrity is more than just telling the truth.

Integrity – (Hebrew) perfection, uprightness, simplicity and moral innocence.

Webster’s – implies trustworthiness and incorruptibility to a degree that one is incapable of being false to a responsibility or pledge. It is an absolute refusal to lie or steal in any way.

Integrity is who you are when no one else is around or watching you.

Who are you behind the scenes?

Integrity is the line where your public life and your personal life are congruent or the same.

When you tell someone, you are going to do something, then you must swear to your own heart and do what you said.

A life of integrity is a life that is completely open, no hidden motives, refuses to compromise the standards of truth that God says are necessary, a life that refuses to deceive or manipulate no matter whether it is in your benefit or not, a life that cannot be corrupted by money or fame.

Integrity is the way that we appropriate the mercy of God in our lives.

Some people come out smelling like a rose in spite of the mistakes they may make in their lives because of the integrity of their own heart.

Psalms 26:1 | NKJV (1) A Psalm of David. Vindicate me, O LORD, For I have walked in my integrity. I have also trusted in the LORD; I shall not slip.

Psalms 26:11 | NKJV (11) But as for me, I will walk in my integrity; Redeem me and be merciful to me.

Psalms 41:10-13 | NKJV (10) But You, O LORD, be merciful to me, and raise me up, That I may repay them. (11) By this I know that You are well pleased with me, Because my enemy does not triumph over me. (12) As for me, You uphold me in my integrity, And set me before Your face forever. (13) Blessed be the LORD God of Israel From everlasting to everlasting! Amen and Amen.

Example of Abimelech:

Genesis 20:1-8 | NKJV (1) And Abraham journeyed from there to the South, and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur, and stayed in Gerar. (2) Now Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. (3) But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, “Indeed you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.” (4) But Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, “Lord, will You slay a righteous nation also? (5) Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she, even she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands I have done this.” (6) And God said to him in a dream, “Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart. For I also withheld you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her. (7) Now therefore, restore the man’s wife; for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.” (8) So Abimelech rose early in the morning, called all his servants, and told all these things in their hearing; and the men were very much afraid.

Even when we totally blow it and you are in a situation that could cost you your life, God will preserve you and keep you out of sin against Him.

There is a connection between the integrity of your heart and the mercy of God.

Faith does obtain the answer every time but there are days when our faith is not quite there and we must rely on the mercy of God, so we must have a right heart before God in order for that mercy to show up in our lives.

Statistics – the average person “shades” the truth at least 200 times a day. Perhaps the stats in the Church are better.

The world desensitizes us to falsehoods. We prepare for people to not keep their word i.e. contracts, alarm systems, TV cameras locks, etc.

Ephesians 6:14 | AMPC (14) Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God,

The piece of spiritual armor that protects the heart is the breastplate of integrity. This breastplate protects the ground or repository of the Word of God.

Mark 4:15 | NKJV (15) And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.

Satan comes immediately to steal the word but we can protect the heart by integrity so the Word will produce and accomplish what God has purposed for it to do.

Mark 4:18-19 | NKJV (18) Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, (19) and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

God’s supernatural weed control – Integrity

You better do what you say you are going to do – in spite of whether the situation has changed or not. Keep your word.

Psalms 119:100-104 | NKJV (100) I understand more than the ancients, Because I keep Your precepts. (101) I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Your word. (102) I have not departed from Your judgments, For You Yourself have taught me. (103) How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth! (104) Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.

For you to place a premium on integrity, you must have a holy hatred for deceit.

Integrity is birthed in a person’s heart by gaining understanding from the Word of God of the realities of life and what God says are important.

Truth has to be in place in order to have a truth to hold to.

To have a life of integrity, you must be a person of the Word. Gain truth and understanding from the Word of God and that will begin to produce a holy hatred for falsehoods.

Realize that deceit is done based upon a habit of long practice, a habitual pattern of behavior.

Some tell the truth only when it is convenient and use deceit in whatever form as necessary to meet our own best interests.

Consistency or patience (James 2:4)

We must change our patterns of behavior by practicing the law of consistency.

Without integrity, the mercy of God will forever escape you.

Measure everything we do by the law of integrity, the standard of integrity. Learn to operate in the truth habit.

What you compromise to keep, you ultimately lose.

Proverbs 11:3 | TPT (3) Integrity will lead you to success and happiness, but treachery will destroy your dreams.

Psalms 112:1-10 | TPT (1) Shout in celebration of praise to the Lord! Everyone who loves the Lord and delights in him will cherish his words and be blessed beyond expectation. (2) Their descendants will be prosperous and influential. Every generation of his godly lovers will experience his favor. (3) Great blessing and wealth fills the house of the wise, for their integrity endures forever. (4) Even if darkness overtakes them, sunrise-brilliance will come bursting through because they are gracious to others, so tender and true. (5) Life is good for the one who is generous and charitable, conducting affairs with honesty and truth. (6) Their circumstances will never shake them and others will never forget their example. (7) They will not live in fear or dread of what may come, for their hearts are firm, ever secure in their faith. (8) Steady and strong, they will not be afraid, but will calmly face their every foe until they all go down in defeat. (9) Never stingy and always generous to those in need, their lives of influence and honor will never be forgotten, for they were full of good deeds. (10) But the wicked take one look at a life lived like this and they grit their teeth in anger, not understanding their bliss. The wicked slink away speechless in the darkness that falls, where hope dies and all their dreams fade away to nothing, nothing at all!

This is what will happen when you seek after walking uprightly – fulfilling what Jesus said in Matthew 6:33.

Matthew 6:33 | NKJV (33) But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Matthew 6:33 | AMP (33) But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.

We need to learn God’s ways, more than we need to learn God’s rules.

Psalms 81:13 | NKJV (13) “Oh, that My people would listen to Me, That Israel would walk in My ways!

Ways – a road, a course of life, mode of action, method of operation.

An ignorance of God’s ways will keep us out of God’s highest and best for our lives.

What does a foundation or uprightness look like?

Psalms 15:1-5 | NKJV (1) A Psalm of David. LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? (2) He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart; (3) He who does not backbite with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend; (4) In whose eyes a vile person is despised, But he honors those who fear the LORD; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change; (5) He who does not put out his money at usury, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.

This is not a salvation Psalm. This Psalm is God’s plan for how to succeed, and have His blessing, prosperity and advancement in life as a believer.

Three Things To Do:

Psalms 15:2 NKJV (2) He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart;

• Walk uprightly
• Do works of righteousness
• Speak the truth from our heart

The three things that we are TO DO can be said very simply: your walk, your work, and your words.

1. Walking upright means simply do not sin.

The Bible teaches us to flee sin.

Walking in holiness is not nearly as difficult as walking in un-holiness (sin).

Again, Jesus did not die just to save us from sins but to also to save us from sinning.

2. The next thing in verse two we see is the works of righteousness.

Psalms 15:2 NKJV (2) He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart;

Matthew 5:16 | NKJV (16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Works of righteousness come from a giving heart.

3. He speaks the truth from his heart.

Psalms 15:2 NKJV (2) He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart;

You are speaking from a heart that is filled with the Word of God.

There are two kinds of truth that we speak from:

• • • Truth from the Word of God
    • Truth that is not a lie.

Psalms 34:12-13 | NLT (12) Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous? (13) Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies!

Ephesians 4:25 | TPT (25) So discard every form of dishonesty and lying so that you will be known as one who always speaks the truth, for we all belong to one another.

The moment that your words leave the truth, they become a lie. Don’t stretch or shade the truth.

When we are speaking about our walk, our works and our words, that is pretty much the sum total of our lives. God wants us to walk uprightly in all of these areas.

Three Things NOT To DO:

Psalms 15:3 NKJV (3) He who does not backbite with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend;

• Backbite with our tongue
• Do evil against our neighbor
• Take up a reproach against our neighbor.

The person that God blesses is the one that does not do these three things:

1. Does not backbite with his tongue

Someone who backbites with their tongue is someone who says one thing to your face and something else behind your back.

Proverbs 6:19 | NKJV (19) A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.

Backbiting is an abomination to God. God hates this.

Although this happens to all of us, we have to come to the place where we understand that God will protect us and if necessary, vindicate us.

Jesus did not say for us to go into the world and try to defend ourselves. We have to let God handle that. We have much more important things that we need to be doing.

The more that you walk and live in a sanctified life, you can rest assured people will not like it.

Leave the revenge up to God.

We are always better off if we extend mercy and grace to someone and walk in forgiveness than try and expose the wrongs of everyone especially other Christians.

Remember, always overcome evil with good. You will always come out on top that way because that way God is able to cover and protect you and then deal with the other people.

Getting even should be left in the hands of God.

You will never make your candle burn brighter by blowing someone else’s out.

2. Does not do evil to his neighbor.

Our “neighbors” are those we encounter throughout our day to day lives. Not our family; but those perhaps we work with or are literally our neighbors.

We should always go over and above to be good to people, even when they do not reciprocate.

Proverbs 3:29-30 | NKJV (29) Do not devise evil against your neighbor, For he dwells by you for safety’s sake. (30) Do not strive with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm.

Proverbs 3:29 | TPT (29) Why would you hold a grudge in your heart toward your neighbor who lives right next door?

3. Does not take up a reproach against his neighbor.

Reproach – to find fault with, to disgrace, to shame, blame, or censure.

In short, it is your attitude towards an offence.

Offence is usually a surprise and contradicts your perception of a person and challenges your confidence in them.

What is the answer to an offence? Sit down and talk about and work it out between you and them. This is scriptural.

What we need to do is just cut each other some slack.

Offence not dealt with will fester and grow and then shape your total perception of that person or the environment where they are. It is like a pair of glasses that you are looking through.

When you take up an offence, you become self-righteous and critical and then began to create a world of your own suffering.

Romans 12:16-18 | AMPC (16) Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty (snobbish, high-minded, exclusive), but readily adjust yourself to [people, things] and give yourselves to humble tasks. Never overestimate yourself or be wise in your own conceits. [Prov. 3:7.] (17) Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is honest and proper and noble [aiming to be above reproach] in the sight of everyone. [Prov. 20:22.] (18) If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

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There is a phrase in verse 4 that I want to look at in this lesson:

Psalms 15:4 | NKJV (4) In whose eyes a vile person is despised, But he honors those who fear the LORD; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change;

Psalms 15:4 | GNB (4) They despise those whom God rejects, but honor those who obey the LORD. They always do what they promise, no matter how much it may cost.

What we are really talking about here in this phrase is walking in integrity.

God’s expectation for us as believers is that we will make the decision to do what we promise or fulfill our word no matter how much it may cost us.

One of the main reasons for this is that your character is only as strong as your word is strong.

This is what makes God character so strong is that He will not compromise anything where His Word is concerned.

Psalms 138:2 | NKJV (2) I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.

Psalms 119:89 | NKJV (89) Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven.

Psalms 119:160 | NKJV (160) The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.

You see it is God’s character that makes His Name powerful. It is not simply the amount of power that He possesses.

It is our character that makes our name powerful or to carry weight to it where it can work on your behalf.

Integrity is more than just telling the truth.

Integrity – (Hebrew) perfection, uprightness, simplicity and moral innocence.

Webster’s – implies trustworthiness and incorruptibility to a degree that one is incapable of being false to a responsibility or pledge. It is an absolute refusal to lie or steal in any way.

When you tell someone you are going to do something, then you must swear to your own heart and do what you said.

A life of integrity is a life that is completely open, no hidden motives, refuses to compromise the standards of truth that God says are necessary, a life that refuses to deceive or manipulate no matter whether it is in your benefit or not, a life that cannot be corrupted by money or fame.

Integrity is the way that we appropriate the mercy of God in our lives.

Some people that come out smelling like a rose in spite of what they may do in their lives because of the condition of their own heart.

Psalms 26:1 | NKJV (1) A Psalm of David. Vindicate me, O LORD, For I have walked in my integrity. I have also trusted in the LORD; I shall not slip.

Psalms 26:11 | NKJV (11) But as for me, I will walk in my integrity; Redeem me and be merciful to me.

Psalms 41:10-13 | NKJV (10) But You, O LORD, be merciful to me, and raise me up, That I may repay them. (11) By this I know that You are well pleased with me, Because my enemy does not triumph over me. (12) As for me, You uphold me in my integrity, And set me before Your face forever. (13) Blessed be the LORD God of Israel From everlasting to everlasting! Amen and Amen.

Genesis 20:1-8 | NKJV (1) And Abraham journeyed from there to the South, and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur, and stayed in Gerar. (2) Now Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. (3) But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, “Indeed you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.” (4) But Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, “Lord, will You slay a righteous nation also? (5) Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she, even she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands I have done this.” (6) And God said to him in a dream, “Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart. For I also withheld you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her. (7) Now therefore, restore the man’s wife; for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.” (8) So Abimelech rose early in the morning, called all his servants, and told all these things in their hearing; and the men were very much afraid.

Even when we totally blow it and you are in a situation that could cost you your life, God will preserve you and keep you out of sin against Him.

There is a connection between the integrity of your heart and the mercy of God.

Faith does obtain the answer every time but there are days when our faith is not quite there and we must rely on the mercy of God, so we must have a right heart before God in order for that mercy to show up in our lives.

Statistics – the average person “shades” the truth at least 200 times a day. Perhaps the stats in the Church are better.

The world desensitizes us to falsehoods. We prepare for people to not keep their word i.e. contracts, alarm systems, TV cameras locks, etc.

Ephesians 6:14 | AMPC (14) Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God,

The piece of spiritual armor that protects the heart is the breastplate of integrity. This breastplate protects the ground or repository of the Word of God.

Satan comes immediately to steal the word (Mark 4) but we can protect the heart by integrity so the Word will produce and accomplish what God has purposed for it to do.

God’s supernatural weed control – Integrity

You better do what you say you are going to do – in spite of whether the situation has changed or not. Keep your word.

Psalms 119:100-104 | NKJV (100) I understand more than the ancients, Because I keep Your precepts. (101) I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Your word. (102) I have not departed from Your judgments, For You Yourself have taught me. (103) How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth! (104) Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.

In order for you to place a premium on integrity, you must have a holy hatred for deceit.

Integrity is birthed in a person’s heart by gaining understanding from the Word of God of the realities of life and what God says are important.

Truth has to be in place in order to have a truth to hold to.

In order to have a life of integrity, you must be a person of the Word. Gain understanding from the Word of God and that will begin to produce a holy hatred for falsehoods.

Realize that deceit is done based upon a habit of long practice, a habitual pattern of behavior.

Most of us tell the truth only when it is convenient and use deceit in whatever form as necessary to meet our own best interests.

Consistency or patience (James 2:4)

We must change our patterns of behavior by practicing the law of consistency.

Without integrity, the mercy of God will forever escape you.

Measure everything we do by the law of integrity, standard of integrity.

Learn to operate in the truth habit.

Proverbs 11:3 | TPT (3) Integrity will lead you to success and happiness, but treachery will destroy your dreams.

This is what will happen when you seek after walking uprightly – fulfilling what Jesus said in Matthew 6:33.

Matthew 6:33 | NKJV (33) But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Matthew 6:33 | AMP (33) But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.

We need to learn God’s ways, more than we need to learn God’s rules.

Psalms 81:13 | NKJV (13) “Oh, that My people would listen to Me, That Israel would walk in My ways!

Ways – a road, a course of life, mode of action, method of operation.

An ignorance of God’s ways will keep us out of God’s highest and best for our lives.

What does a foundation or uprightness look like?

Psalms 15:1-5 | NKJV (1) A Psalm of David. LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? (2) He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart; (3) He who does not backbite with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend; (4) In whose eyes a vile person is despised, But he honors those who fear the LORD; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change; (5) He who does not put out his money at usury, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.

This is not a salvation Psalm. This Psalm is God’s plan for how to succeed, and have His blessing, prosperity and advancement in life as a believer.

The world can bring happiness, success and advancement but there will always be some type of sorrow with it. When God brings these things to your life there will be no sorrow with it.

Proverbs 10:22 | NKJV (22) The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it.

When the world brings prosperity, it will not last. When God brings prosperity, it lasts.

Proverbs 8:18 | NKJV (18) Riches and honor are with me, Enduring riches and righteousness.

Durable – Hebrew: antique, valued.

The devil will try and tell you, “I can make you rich and it will not be as slow as God.”

Psalms 15:5 | NKJV (5) He who does not put out his money at usury, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.

Notice the end of the Psalm talks about you can arrive at place of not being moved.

What we see in verse 5 is that God is endeavoring to get us to a place where we will not be shaken. This simply means a place of stability in our life.

In verse 1 of this Psalm, abide and dwell mean to stay on a permanent basis.

Psalms 91:1 | NKJV (1) He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

Three Things To Do:

Psalms 15:2 NKJV (2) He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart;

• Walk uprightly
• Do works of righteousness
• Speak the truth from our heart

The three things that we are TO DO can be said very simply: your walk, your work, and your words.

1. Walking upright means simply do not sin.

The Bible teaches us to flee sin.

Walking in holiness is not nearly as difficult as walking in un-holiness (sin).

The Bible says the way of the sinner is hard.

Proverbs 13:15 | NKJV (15) Good understanding gains favor, But the way of the unfaithful is hard.

This is our witness to non-believers around us. They want to see that you can live free from sin. They want to see that it is possible to walk free from sin.

Psalms 4:4 | KJV (4) Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

Psalms 119:11 | NKJV (11) Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.

1 John 2:1 | NKJV (1) My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

1 Corinthians 15:34 | NKJV (34) Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.

We must depend on the greater One on the inside of us to live free from sin. The power of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God are available to help us live free from sin.

Again, Jesus did not die just to save us from sins but to also to save us from sinning.

It is not trying to live separately from the world (people) that keeps you from sinning because you can live in a commune by yourself somewhere and still sin.

Witnessing is not telling the world to be holy; it is telling them that Jesus came to set us free from sin and its results.

2. The next thing in verse two we see is the works of righteousness.

Psalms 15:2 NKJV (2) He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart;

Ephesians 2:10 | NKJV (10) For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Remember, our goal as Christians is not just to go to heaven. It should be to do those good (God) works which further God’s plans here, now.

Matthew 5:16 | NKJV (16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Works of righteousness come from a giving heart.

2 Corinthians 9:8 | NKJV (8) And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

Colossians 1:10 | NKJV (10) that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Our fruit is not for ourselves. A tree does not consume its own fruit. It is for the passersby.

1 Timothy 6:18 | NKJV (18) Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,

1 Timothy 6:18 | MSG (18) to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous.

3. He speaks the truth from his heart.

Psalms 15:2 NKJV (2) He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart;

You are speaking from a heart that is filled with the Word of God.

There are two kinds of truth that we speak from:

• • • Truth from the Word of God
    • Truth that is not a lie.

Psalms 34:12-13 | NLT (12) Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous? (13) Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies!

Ephesians 4:25 | TPT (25) So discard every form of dishonesty and lying so that you will be known as one who always speaks the truth, for we all belong to one another.

The moment that your words leave the truth, they become a lie. Don’t stretch or shade the truth.

When we are speaking about our walk, our works and our words, that is pretty much the sum total of our lives. God wants us to walk uprightly in all of these areas.

Three Things NOT To DO:

Psalms 15:3 NKJV (3) He who does not backbite with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend;

• Backbite with our tongue
• Do evil against our neighbor
• Take up a reproach against our neighbor.

The person that God blesses is the one that does not do these three things:

1. Does not backbite with his tongue

Someone who backbites with their tongue is someone who says one thing to your face and something else behind your back.

Proverbs 6:19 | NKJV (19) A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.

Backbiting is an abomination to God. God hates this.

Although this happens to all of us, we have to come to the place where we understand that God will protect us and if necessary, vindicate us.

Psalms 101:5 | NKJV (5) Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, Him I will destroy; The one who has a haughty look and a proud heart, Him I will not endure.

What we need to do is forgive and let it go and let God handle the payback part.

Jesus did not say for us to go into the world and try to defend ourselves. We have to let God handle that. We have much more important things that we need to be doing.

Isaiah 54:17 | NKJV (17) No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the LORD.

God has promised that He would watch over us and one day at His doing you will be able to condemn the tongue that rises against you.

Notice that this verse says that the weapon may be formed but it will not prosper. (to succeed or be victorious)

We do not have to worry about the weapon formed and let God handle it. NO weapon formed against you will prosper.

Job 5:21 | NKJV (21) You shall be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, And you shall not be afraid of destruction when it comes.

Understand that this is all part of human nature and that you have to let God handle this.

The more that you walk and live in a sanctified life, you can rest assured people will not like it.

Leave the revenge up to God.

2. Does not do evil to his neighbor.

This goes a step further than just gossip or backbiting. It is trying to expose your neighbor for what you believe him to be.

Again, you are going about trying to handle God’s business.

Romans 12:19-21 | NKJV (19) Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord. (20) Therefore “IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM; IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP COALS OF FIRE ON HIS HEAD.” (21) Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

The thing that you and I must always remember is that we do not have all the facts. We are better off to let God, Who does know everything to handle it and expose them, if He so chooses.

We are always better off if we extend mercy and grace to someone and walk in forgiveness than try and expose the wrongs of everyone especially other Christians.

Remember, always overcome evil with good. You will always come out on top that way because that way God is able to cover and protect you and then deal with the other people.

Getting even should be left in the hands of God.

You will never make your candle burn brighter by blowing someone else’s out.

3. Does not take up a reproach against his neighbor.

Reproach – to find fault with, to shame, blame, or censure.

In short, it is your attitude towards an offence.

Offence is usually a surprise and contradicts your perception of a person and challenges your confidence in them.

What is the answer to an offence? Sit down and talk about and work it out between you and them. This is scriptural.

What we need to do with each other is just give each other a break.

Offence not dealt with will fester and grow and then shape your total perception of that person or the environment where they are. It is like a pair of glasses that you are looking through.

When you take up an offence, you become self-righteous and critical and then began to create a world of your own suffering.

Proverbs 20:3 | NKJV (3) It is honorable for a man to stop striving, Since any fool can start a quarrel.

Romans 12:16-18 | AMPC (16) Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty (snobbish, high-minded, exclusive), but readily adjust yourself to [people, things] and give yourselves to humble tasks. Never overestimate yourself or be wise in your own conceits. [Prov. 3:7.] (17) Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is honest and proper and noble [aiming to be above reproach] in the sight of everyone. [Prov. 20:22.] (18) If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.