What is INTEGRITY!

The subject of integrity came up on the recent Christian gathering. This questions our honesty and truthfulness in God. How are we being able to have truthful living in this world affection and being successful in our business standpoint?

What is really the meaning of integrity in the understanding and knowledge of our Lord? Let us learn from the meaning from our Hebrew text about “Integrity”. The word “Integrity” means “Tom” which being completeness, perfect compliance, innocence and upright in the eyes of the string of act purpose and intention to morally obedience. While the Greek expression is “Aphtharsia” manifest as forever incorrupt with sincere genuine representation of purity in our being.

The question is that Christians has far more serve the purpose of compliance to the decree and commandment of God whom they worshipped. When this subject of integrity being questions and debates amongst the Christians we will be able to see many opinion and decision based on their life learning’s and experiences. Some are morally inclined to the way of their business industry practice and ethic, while others think the way of integrity is far more than just following the mandate of God. Others may project it as a layout for continued existence and survival in this immensity of this richly earth. Wisdom counts some persist, bla…bla…and bla… the reasoning goes on!

By contrasting this justification about the “integrity” in life there will never be an infinite decision and conclusive truth into the fundamental of “survival and fitting” ourselves to this fraction of this sophisticated attachment and in alignment to the said spiritual aspect.

That is why numerous examples given by our Lord Jesus Christ shown that in most occurrences let those of the World be in the world, whereas those of the Spirit is of the spirit.

He concluded, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” (Matt 22:21). Therefore the integrity of the spiritual aspect is being truly explained earlier to Nicodemus when Lord Jesus was being inquired about question onto the path to enter the Kingdom of God. Jesus said, “ … no on can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit…… flesh gives birth to flesh but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.” (John 3:5-6)

We must choose our adherence and master to our perfect self in our integrity to grow more perfectly in manner and enter into the salvation and kingdom of God. “No one can serve two masters; for either … serve God or mammon” (Matt 6:24) and a Christian can only decide eventually “’Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ ‘No’” (Matt 5:37) in all his foreclosure decision and path into spirituality in God charge. That’s why the Lord has warned and sends us out as a peculiar people (1Pet 2:9) belong to Him in the World to face him of the world. He retaliates, “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues”. (Matt 10:16-17)

Therefore let us be wise and save guard our salvation of integrity less us not loss it in our direction and governing in our daily encounter and conflict within our cognizant and circle of Christian living and adaption into the world. Remember we are in the world and we have sacrificed our sinful desire and integrity of our worldly proclamation to the Lord’s salvation in trade for our sinful remorse and iniquity. For that reason we are building a kingdom of integrity within us, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares [us,] and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us (the race of integrity)… looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of [our] faith,….” (Heb 12:1-2)

Paul also concludes in the essence of incorruptible integrity; “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God nor does corruption inherit incorruption (Aphtharsia). Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible (Aphtharsia) and we shall be changed.” (1 Cor 15:50-52)

Hence we are running a pursuit an immortality race of integrity in all our life from beginning birth until to the very death end until the mansion of the Lord has prepared for us in New Jerusalem. It is only we can persevere light of integrity and shining brightly within us we will conquer the race of integrity and immortality inside us.

“… but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and bought life and immortality (Aphtharsia) to light through the gospel,..” (1Tim 1:10)

Remember Lord Jesus has given this purity and genuine integrity via the Holy Spirit. (Matt 3:11) What are we as Christians going to do with this “integrity” in our daily decisions and affairs of our precious life?

The race goes on in every individual striving perfection and complete restoration! And conclude on Paul finale, “… know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? ……… . And every one competes [for the prize] is temperate in all things. Now they [do it] to obtain a perishable crown, but we [for] an imperishable (Aphthartos) [crown]

TRUE Leaders Accountability!

“True the elders are accountable but they are not accountable for sheep that do not obey.”  – Anonymous leader

It alarms me that this statement comes out from one of the promising leader in the congregation. In the headship order and flow of leadership in a body that organism this fraction will certainly show a proportion of overall relationship and sentiment of that church direction. It is scary to understand that this group will only accountable and associate with an individual God children when you only obey to them. These leaders tend to misconstrue ‘obey’ as explained, ‘hopakouo’ (G5219) rather than the actual ‘peitho’ (G3982) as describe in the book of Hebrews 13:17.

(Heb 13:17 KJV) OBEY them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

 It is understood Greek, ‘hopakouo’ literally mean ‘to listen, to place attention to a command or to compliance and submit to obey’. On different description, ‘peitho’ refer to ‘persuade or be persuaded to have faith, induce to believe by relationship and winnable favor or trusting and be confident to yield, listen and thereafter comply’!

“OBEY them” in that verse does not come by ‘hopakouo’ forcing to listen and comply with that leadership norms, rules and expectations. But being in ‘peitho’ persuaded or yield a conviction of trust and believe the leader have the charisma and confident to be rule over by them. In explanation those leaders are given to appointment does not instinctive empower in leadership but by means of earning those reverence and capability as their chosen leader.

That’s why by means of not meeting up to those abusive leader standards you will be identified and viewed as defiance and he testify not to be held accountable to you as a sheepfold to Christ.

These truly are a shocking intention and bring insult to our Lord himself as he proclaimed his commandment of sacrifice for us free to the lost and disobedient sheep’s to win them back to the salvation of Jesus Christ. Whether the sheep believe, disobey and distrust in their faith to the Lord we must not abandon them on hope into God’s calling and accountability to Jesus Christ charged. Salvation belong to God (Rev 7:10) not at accredit reason of doing good and reciprocal something in exchange to accountability and association. (Luke 6:35) We must exercise ‘peitho’,  persuade them by the grace of God to obey towards the righteous calling instead of practicing ‘hopakouo’ command and impose people to obey and articulate house conformity or else be cast away and be unaccountable for by the congregation as a measure of chastisement. Jesus endlessly called us to be a Good Shepherd to guide by exemplary in God’s love and servant hood to our neighbor as ourselves. He knew along this is where the basis of Christianity Leadership and the fruit of his chosen and anointed one is selected. (Matt 22:40)

“Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.” Jesus Christ proclaimed. (Matt 11:6 NIV) He knew that many will reject and abuse his teaching and instruction by leading his sheep’s into a heap of confusion and astray to death. He knew that at the end times many Christians will not hold accountable to him the same desert his words. Those leaders will manipulate his pure words in an egocentric approach with corrupt order of submission to men in pretext and masquerade as wolves in sheep clothing.

As learned from biblical account as wickedness persist the people will rise up against the abusive leader and the saga will relented with the obedience of God as priority rather than men understanding (Act 5:29) in our vow of obedience into His righteousness way.

Take note of God mission is about His own people it is not an acquisitive mean to achieve his cause but rather a direct and simple straight approach in setting his love and relationship across boundaries on an uncharted course to save mankind.

It is right at this point know where our adventure and answerability began!

WHAT HAS Actually Becoming Of THIS LAND!

As we go down the street, walking in the belittle lane across the junction of the road and neighborhood and through that tiny observation we find most horrifying discovery.

In the Mall shopping and the joy of lavishing food in the restaurant we will spot a peculiar phenomenon and reasoning that is embarking. Wanting to grow and influence.

Within the building whether religious and righteous in application in cross room, that hall and meeting place we are shrouded by what we see. Mostly antagonize and exasperate on those conduct and reverence that was misapply.

We become aware of malevolence, idolatry, suppression, unappreciative, selfish ambition and self-interest remains within the proximity of our presence. This negativity and lack of love has influence to this dying humanity and annihilation of this faith has gone berserk. We see the little and juvenile children learning the unhealthy way and absorb their adult parents’ ill-responsible attitude. This is erroneous!

Even within the religious bigotry and practice we saw a great hypocrisy and deceit of the enemy of our soul operating and soothing the self-centered and bigheaded that harbors our righteousness and spotlessness in us.

“For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.” – Jas 3:16 NIV

“Turn my heart toward your statues and not toward selfish gain” – Psa 119:36 NIV

The society is focusing in all about “me, myself and I” first hypothesis that harm the very core and nature of God reaching out to his people foremost before channeling those necessity back to us in abundant manner. We forgot that loving God is about reaching our care and apprehension to our fellow being within this earth venturing it through our heart of spiritual might to the great power of love vested and taught by God himself through His beloved Son Jesus Christ.

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus” – Phi 2:3-5 NIV

We see people hurt in the street we decline to knock into the circumstances as a Good Samaritan to offer help. We saw poverty and a lady who left with few shilling within her palm and thwart by disassociation her presence. We saw gifted and talented personality but we refuse fellowship because we feel that he might outshine our competence and intelligence. We saw people in trouble and in need for a financial help but we recognize and reject to donate because we do not want to land our self with other people problem.

Jesus saw that need in the Samaritan woman by the well and takes much effort and concern to minister to her need and problem. (Joh. 4:7) How many of us would take after Jesus love and inconvenient to minister to our fellow rejected neighbor and welcome them to the arm of God in unconditional acceptance from their current condition and situation that our neighbor faced?

How many of us would give up our self to enlighten the spiritual path of others through that “problem” and “inconvenient” of our daily chaos and survival providence?

We definitely need and cultivate the word of God in us. Surprisingly we definitely need his spiritual being in us to transform us into his abiding and uncorrupted nature of our dirty self in display. Most of all we need Jesus Christ in us.

For Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever in future to come. (Heb. 13:8)

How many of us like Jesus today? Which able to display his servant-hood commitment? (Joh. 13:5)

The LEADER that cannot be REACHED!

Have you ever experience in your congregation, your leader, elder and even Pastor that cannot be connected? If yes, then the next step is to observes and relates to whom that they have always kindred and associates themselves within the vastness of the assembly.

Through fine observation and study you will notice a series of behavior patterns and cognitive associations to the person and sex that they normally acquaintance with. This will also drive a conclusion and data to whom and person that our leader will link to. 

If you notice that this manner is of recurrent and rampaging you are most of the time being stage after by those delegated sub-leader that have given responsibility to mend after Pastor’s flock. A distortion of our elder has been influence and blend into the principle of commercialize in Christianity.

Take note that if you unable to reach your Pastor and have:

• To queue in for a phantom expectation time to drink and fellowship,
• Unable to accommodate his time resource with you more than just expected,
• Always brushing you off with the excuse of busy and unavailability,
• Does not visit your home, well-being and connect this brotherly Christian relationship,
• More concentrate on the “church affair” rather that you as an important individual,
• Project church as essential ‘materialization purpose’ to reach out to the community and need ‘monetary sustenance’ to operate.
• When you have an emergency and he has to make arrangement for an appointment to meet up,
• Stress more of acceptance of offering rather that freely giving in return,
• Your spiritual opinion are suggestion rather than sharing to God purpose and will for you,
• He distance himself because you are not a member to that church community,
• Did not trust mostly and believe in your conviction and faith,
• He keep quiet didn’t reciprocal relationship in all the sms/email opinion you sent to him,
• Have to respect him as an elder and leader to that governing church authority,
• Making use of you only for voluntary work and helping him where nobody wants to assist.
• He steal on your loyalty for himself and church rather than in the principles and decree of the God allegiance,
• Call you only when you are related to church functions and activities,
• And e.t.c.

You will also realize that even from that line up of this control and governing all will be obligatory starting from the top down to very down in this commercialize concept in managing a church affairs. Rather that sustaining the church orientation and survival based on the words of God and love towards mankind, many have resort to sustain the commercial value of that church existence in commerce principles and trade participations.

Exploitation of the sheep and community is damagingly taking account of each department financial statement as the sole contribution and area center of attention rather than focusing on the motive of spiritual growth and anointing entity of that delight person salvation. Number count instruction and attendance is the preeminence of great consequence. This has subversive and contravening the rules of the Lord Jesus Christ by forsaking those one person at the expense of affluent society and membership. These have placed those ministers to exploit financial gain from the brand name of Christianity.

The more they exploit, the community-God people will suffer dryness in their spiritual growth and thus drawn out the life breath of the Spirit of God from those anointing person that Lord Jesus Christ spread towards the diversity of gifts, talents and activities yield. Cronyism and nepotism will flaunt widely within this church community and approval to serve and service to God will have to be determined and fancy of those relation caretaker and norm of that governing society. You will only be accepted when you meet those standard, way and directive of their purpose.

They have place themselves on the higher ground liken associates to Moses the rebuke that Jesus Christ stress on those corruptible Pharisee and leader of the laws that wind up those Judaism in the purpose of so called God’s directive and commandment.

“Why are you still in the ‘church’?” The still diminutive and gentle voice pose. I believe you need to seek God boldness and instruction for his expectations venture in your future undertaking to His will!

His duty is to guide and direct your forthcoming path. . .  .

Unwilling OBEDIENCE!

There is a same preview on the example of Abraham and Isaac [Genesis 22] in comparison to the Rich Ruler [Luke 18] in the Gospel. Both have a similar value of pleasing God. Unfortunately only one is willing to go to those extend by departing with that valuable entity [a son or wealth] in obedience to God.  While the righteous are willing to give up his son life as a sacrifice another are not willing to depart away from his wealth and riches and the things that in it. When Jesus challenge him to sacrifice his earthly wealth and distribute to the poor and in exchange to God’s treasure and follow Jesus he walk away sadly because he is very rich and wealthy .

Sad to said many of us like the rich ruler we may kept many of God’s commandment but when we need to sacrifice more than our mean we will definitely walk away retaliated sadly un-compliance.

MURDERING JESUS!

“The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree.  – Act 5:30 NKJV

Have you murder Jesus in daily basis? The word of God that is Jesus is living within our soul. A dwelling place of the Spiritual essence of God in all fellow Christian. He has left the cross and have live in us via the Holy Spirit. By forsaking those that need to reprise the principal of God send and disallowed another godly believer passion to invest and serve to his purpose in God will. This is against God purpose. This is totally obstruction! By that division of harassing and managing partiality within the kingdom of God on legalism and strict rules of favoritism in associate as an “earthly membership” is therefore tantamount to hanging Jesus in the cross. It Is like creating another sect from the source of Christianity. Why I say that because we favored and divided among ourselves in God principles. Since we are from Christ we as an elder or ruler is not to rule over the flock with an iron scepter but with much more godly and fatherly example with humility.

Yes, Jesus has to die again, saving us from the damnation and the clutches of offenses that was abuse within the corner of his church and association. Depravity and proudness of the governing entity role on. But the wrath of  God come upon those that was offended and mistreated in frequent ground of continuous abuse and neglect by the shepherd that was solely responsible for their well-being in church. God saw this bad and ill-responsive treatment. Since Holy Spirit that dwell within is that operating as “god” in us (John 10:34-35), this has transform us and impregnated Jesus Christ feeling and character in us. So when those Christian who does not mandate Jesus Christ teaching and commandments are equal to mistreated Christ in and within themselves.

With that day to day offenses and abuses that was accumulated and the root of truth and freedom that is forgotten covet by the tradition of life. We have stealthily cover up godly principle replacing it to the principles of the world and legalism of men. Not knowing that some sway from the truth of God but continue to justify His ways in oracle of own righteousness. This is why Jesus has sternly rebuke those Pharisee and teacher of laws over such self-righteousness and misbehaved.

Murdering Christ is like mistreated our neighbours. How our reaction and personality causing favoritism and practise partiality to our Christians brother next door. How we taken out the context of the words focusing part of the truth and shread away another of the bigger portion of God’s decree. Evading and manipulating certain roles and responsibilities of the sow spiritual predestined direction into each people destinated will of God. God is watching from above within the side and ultimately in our soul. He breath in and thru us. We have forgotten that He has the capability to hear everything, because God in us feeling and searching our heart constantly. He heard our flesh whispering, whinning and internally reasoning amongst us in the dawn of our thought. That why He is omniscient!

We built building like Solomon’s Temple forgotting that those where just a small fraction of truth in God about evangelism. Justifying His purpose as our own work in the Lord’s Kingdom and controlling the accumulate resources both time and valuable to meet our obligation. Remember God purpose is to ask us prayed to the Lord of Harvest for the harvesting of the great field as God himself will sent and finalize the reward and mandate of that ripeness to that field.

Again we murder the people of God with that deception of commercialization and marketing on large scale forsaking the right and weightier thing (Matt 23:23) of God to be more personal and friendly as a Pastor in charge. We treat person as a merchandise fruits and items. Investing and targeting those that have riches and resources but forsake those that poor and limited. We murder those rich by allowing them pride of responsibility and killed those poor and lest fortunate by stripping them off their inheritance to God Kingdom to serve in the field that God has chosen. Nope we continue invest in the same proprietor of candidate and evolving out a sect and cult from such favoritism and selection.

The  one leadership from the top calling is not always matched with the same commitment and conviction. In order to grow big rather that grow submission into godly relationship the management of the church hired and delegated a shepherd to mend over the flock. That why when the “wolves” came and vulture the pasture the shepherd just ran away. (John 10:12-13) They ran away by not actualize love. They do not pay attention to the care and need of the people. They do not visit and get close to the people. They practise “let just pray” and leaves the need of the people to themselves and by themselves. They practice 20/80 concept of humility, an wisdom. Go for the blemished sheep and forsake the tainted sheep in the church congregation. It is fine some that leaves because they are of no value and usage to the church.

God would have disapproved on such a practice in His house because His son Jesus Christ willing to die for his church, that’s all of us on the cross. So every time when we act or exercise anything against His precious one. We, in our own chosen generation of God will rise up as Jesus Spirit in us. the Spirit of Christ will go against the evil and contaminate principles.

We have forgotten that thru the generation of mankind many mighty man of God that have fallen and sway from the truth. Some repented and come back while other end up beguiled and cursed with domination of death for altering the faith and path of the will of God by being too selfish, stubborn and self righteous.

It is concluded,

“For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and [from] the things which are written in this book.”  – Rev 22:18-19 NKJV