Sunday Morning Worship
June 10, 2012
Series: “Broken”
Today: “Broken Integrity”
Scripture: John 8:42-47 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”
Intro: Today is about broken integrity !
* The cousin to broken integrity is justification and denial .
Ephesians 4:22-28 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. 25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.
I. TELL THE TRUTH WITH YOUR WORDS.
A. “Speak truthfully” –Ephesians 4:25
B. How to repair this brokenness:
1. Admit you are a liar .
2. Repent and confess this to God.
3. Seek forgiveness and correct the lie to the people you’ve lied to unless it brings more hurt and damage to them.
II. TELL THE TRUTH WITHOUT YOUR WORDS .
A. “Put off falsehood” reminds us that just because we didn’t actually say it doesn’t mean we didn’t ___deceive___ someone.
B. Ask yourself these tough questions:
1. Am I remaining quiet to help myself or the other person?
2. If I remain quiet, will I cause a harmful behavior ?
3. When I remained quiet, did I feel at peace or did I feel convicted by the Holy Spirit?
III. LIVING A LIE BY TAKING WHAT IS NOT YOURS.
* Stealing is another obvious symptom of broken integrity.
Conclusion: Matthew 5:29-30 If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.