Raise The Standard

February 15, 2024

Value Of Integrity (Ep.2) Pastor Apollo Kaggwa

<p>How can we manifest integrity?</p> <p>But how is integrity practiced on a daily basis? Where do people watch us most closely? Peter</p> <p>answers that question. He identifies several arenas where integrity is put to the test with the</p> <p>watching world observing our reaction. He also provides some practical solutions to take in</p> <p>those arenas so that our integrity will stay in tact.</p> <p>1. In tempting circumstances, stay away</p> <p>&quot;Dear friends, I urge you as aliens and temporary residents to abstain from fleshly desires that</p> <p>war against you&quot; (1 Peter 2:11). To abstain means not to get involved with or to keep away</p> <p>from.</p> <p>In tempting situations, we are to flee. To run. Get away. That means avoiding situations where</p> <p>you easily fall to temptation. It may mean having move with a trusted friend when visiting the</p> <p>opposite sex. It may mean never traveling with someone of the opposite sex alone on a</p> <p>business trip. It may mean avoiding certain groups of people where you are easily swayed into</p> <p>destructive behavior.</p> <p>2. In authoritative situations, show respect</p> <p>&quot;Submit to every human institution because of the Lord, whether to the Emperor as the</p> <p>supreme authority, or to governors as those sent out by him to punish those who do evil and</p> <p>to praise those who do good. . . . Honor everyone&quot; (1 Peter 2:13-14, 17).</p> <p>Peter instructs us to respect the government and the ones who enforces the laws for the</p> <p>government. We are to submit, or to yield. He says that we are to yield to authority. Yielding</p> <p>to authority is a mark of a believer. Submission or yielding is not a sign of weakness; it is a sign</p> <p>of self-control. It is saying I don&#39;t have to have my way all the time.</p> <p>Integrity says I may not like the law, but I will obey it. Integrity says I may not like the person</p> <p>in the office, but I will honor the position. Integrity says I may not like direction the nation is</p> <p>going, but I will pray for God&#39;s intervention. Integrity says I will obey God first, even if it means</p> <p>that I suffer the penalty for doing the right thing.</p> <p>3. In the work environment, stand for what is right</p> <p>&quot;Household slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to the good</p> <p>and gentle but also to the cruel&quot; (1 Peter 2:18).</p> <p>Slavery was prevalent in the Roman Empire. Some 60 million people were slaves. They were</p> <p>not considered persons, but rather property of their owners. While we don&#39;t have this form</p> <p>of slavery in our country today, this verse still is applicable. Allow me to change two words.</p> <p>&quot;Employees, submit yourselves to your employers with all respect, not only to those who are</p> <p>good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.&quot;</p> <p>As believers in Christ, our integrity goes to work with us. It manifests itself in the way we treat</p> <p>our boss, our clients, and fellow employees. It, also, manifests itself in the way we respond to</p> <p>the company&#39;s procedures and policies, to difficult and sometimes unjust assignments, and</p> <p>the work place, itself. It further manifests itself in our attitude and convictions and honesty</p> <p>we display at our place of work. Remember, those people are watching.</p> <p>Integrity demands that we stand for what is the right and the upright thing to do at all times.</p> <p>4. In suffering, seek God</p> <p><br></p>

February 15, 2024

Value Of Integrity (Ep.1) Pastor Apollo Kaggwa

<p><strong>series: Values-Based Living</strong></p> <p>Topic: <strong>Integrity</strong></p> <p>Proverbs 10:9 says, “The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will</p> <p>be found out.” The man of integrity has security in his life, whereas the man of crooked paths</p> <p>is going to be uncovered.</p> <p>Integrity defined further</p> <p>Integrity is a high standard of living based on a personal code of morality that doesn&#39;t succumb</p> <p>to the whim of the moment or the dictates of the majority. Integrity is to personal character</p> <p>what health is to the body. Integrity comes from the word integer meaning number.</p> <p>A person of integrity is whole, their lives are put together. People with integrity have nothing</p> <p>to hide and nothing to fear. As the scripture we just read, &quot;The one who lives with integrity</p> <p>lives securely&quot;. Their lives are open books. They say to a watching world, &quot;Go ahead and look.</p> <p>My behavior will match my beliefs. My walk will match my talk. My character will match my</p> <p>confession. Who I am on Sunday will be the same on Monday and every other day of the</p> <p>week.&quot;</p> <p>How Jesus Modeled integrity</p> <p>Without a doubt, Jesus is the supreme model of integrity. His life evidenced his purity and</p> <p>excellent character, that his enemies could only declare, &quot;When they came, they said to Him,</p> <p>&quot;Teacher, we know You are truthful and defer to no one, for You don&#39;t show partiality but</p> <p>teach truthfully the way of God&quot; (Mark 12:14).</p> <p>The New International Version translates it, &quot;Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity.&quot;</p> <p>Even at the conclusion of his life here on earth as he stood before Pilate in the mockery of a</p> <p>trial, the ruler said, &quot;&quot;I find no grounds for charging this man&quot; (Luke 23:4). There was no basis</p> <p>for guilt, no evidence of fault, found in Jesus. In other words, his behavior matched his belief,</p> <p>his walk matched his talk, his character matched his confession.</p> <p>It is for these reasons that Peter instructed all believers: &quot;For you were called to this, because</p> <p>Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in His steps&quot;</p> <p>1Peter 2:21. Peter gives us the example, the model of integrity that we should follow. If the</p> <p>world is watching us, then we should be watching Christ. We should follow his example. We</p> <p>should do as he has done.</p> <p>The same challenge is presented today. Will we walk in Jesus&#39; steps? Will we follow his model?</p> <p>Will we make a pledge that before any major decision to ask, &quot;What would Jesus do?&quot; Will we</p> <p>live a life of integrity?</p>

January 30, 2024

Raise The Standard (Trailer)