DEFENDING YOUR INTEGRITY

 

We live in a time like no other, or do we? Every day we see or hear people smearing

other people with all kinds of slander and even lies. The news is smeared with people

accusing others of all sorts of things they do not like. The character of many is being

torn down by the lies and hatred of so many in the world right now. Unfortunately,

there are ministry leaders who are also being slandered and far too many in the

Church tend to believe the slander without checking the source. Apostle Paul was

slandered in his day also and he did not remain silent, he defended his integrity.

Apostle Paul faced opposition from those who hated the gospel of the Kingdom and

wanted to pervert its proclamation for their own purposes. Most of this opposition

came from a group of false teachers in Corinth.

They accused him of being incompetent, unsophisticated, unappealing and

impersonal. Paul was obliged, much against his normal preferences, to defend himself

and his ministry. He did not seek to glorify himself, but he knew that the gospel of the

Kingdom and the name of the Lord had to be defended from those who sought to

DESTROY THE TRUTH!

It soon became clear to the false teachers that if they were going to be successful in

redirecting the Corinthian believers toward error and a false gospel, they would have

to DESTROY PAUL’S INTEGRITY…Since he had established and taught the church at

Corinth, the false teachers would have to undermine the church’s confidence in Paul if

they were going to replace his teaching with their own.

If his opponents could destroy his integrity, they could also do away with Paul’s

usefulness, fruitfulness and ability to serve the Lord. Therefore, Paul had to maintain

his integrity.

Please stop here and read chapter 4 of 2 Corinthians, paying attention to verses

7-11, which I include here:

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness

of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every

way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not

forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body

the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so

that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.”

If we understand why we are being slandered, we will respond in the right spirit and

not play into their tactics.

Any spiritual leader, or anyone who is preaching the gospel of the Kingdom, must do

so by gaining the people’s trust through genuine integrity. Their conduct must be

trustworthy and consistent with their words. Once a person has proven to be

hypocritical in any area of ministry, no matter how seemingly insignificant, they have

lost everything they have labored for and see their credibility destroyed.

This is what Paul feared as he confronted the rumors and lies of the false teachers.

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one

may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done,

whether good or bad. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade

men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest

also in your consciences. We are not again commending ourselves to you but

are giving you an occasion to be proud of us, so that you will have an answer

for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart.”

(2 Corinthians 5:10-12)

LOOK AT THE REASONS PAUL USED FOR THE CORINTHIANS’ REASSURANCE

REGARDING HIS INTEGRITY…

#1. Fear of the Lord (worship & reverence)

“So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace,

being built up; and, going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the

Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.” (Acts 9:31)

“Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all

defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

(2 Corinthians 7:1)

• Having the fear of the Lord means holding God in such awe that you are

wholeheartedly motivated to pursue His holiness and His service.

• Paul’s intense reverence for God was a powerful incentive for him to convince

others of his integrity.

In other words, its not what false accusations do to me, it is the affect it has on

others I am ministering to.

Apostle Paul’s life was summed up in the exhortation he gave to the Roman

christians: “I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present

your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual

service of worship.” (Romans 12:1)

#2 REASON…His love for the truth!

As we see in Acts 26:22-25, “So, having obtained help from God, I stand to this

day testifying both to small and great, stating nothing but what the prophets

and Moses said was going to take place; that the Christ was to suffer, and that

by reason of His resurrection from the dead He would be the first to proclaim

light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”

While Paul was saying this in his defense, Festus *said in a loud voice, “Paul,

you are out of your mind! Your great learning is driving you mad.” But Paul

*said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I utter words of

sober truth.”

#3 REASON…His gratitude for Christ’s love

In 2 Corinthians 5:14, he says, “For the love of Christ controls us, having

concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died…”

Def: “Controls” = “Pressure that causes action”

• It was the gratitude Paul had for Christ’s love for him that exerted great

pressure on him to offer his life and ministry to the Lord.

REF: ROMANS 5:6-8: If Christ did not die for us, then we would have to

die for our sins!

*That certainly should be motivation enough for all of us to strive for integrity in our

ministries and all aspects of our lives.

Finally, 1 Corinthians 10:31-33 says, “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever

you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to

the church of God; just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own

profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved.”

Please do not take this scripture as license to compromise as many have done.

Pleasing all men does not mean compromising the Word of God in order to build

larger congregations or a larger youth group. An in-depth study of this passage will

show you the true meaning.

Apostle Richard Wright

 

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