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We're in a world where words are added to words to convey sincerity. Often we say things to come across as more genuine than we are. There are levels and loopholes to the commitments we make. Imagine a world without dishonesty, manipulation and deception. This is Jesus vision for a new humanity - where a "yes" is a "yes", and a "no" is a "no".
Message Notes 28/07/2024
- Integrity:
- the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles.
- the state of being whole and undivided.
Don't you just hate it when people are manipulative and deceitful, where there is a lack of integrity?
Yet, we all have the potential to white lie, be dishonest, to make ourselves look better, try to get out of trouble.
Could you imagine what it might be like to live in a world where no one lied, broke promises, manipulated?
This is the vision Jesus has for humanity!
33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ 34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one." Matthew 5:33-37
1/ Jesus seems to be referring to a few OT passages here:
Leviticus 19:12 Deuteronomy 23:21-23
2/ Jesus is likely not forbidding vows but he is addressing the heart behind it: The idea of making oaths with varying degrees of commitment and where the value of item determined the sincerity of the pledge - LEVELS AND LOOPHOLES
16 “Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath.’ 17 You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? 18 You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by that oath.’ 19 You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 Therefore, anyone who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21 And anyone who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. 22 And anyone who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it. Matthew 23:16-22
Why do we do this? Could it be linked to the 4 idols of the heart...
APPEARANCES (APPROVAL)
ESCAPE CLAUSE (POWER)
MANIPULATION (CONTROL)
AVOIDING CONFLICT (COMFORT)
The 3 battlefields we all face:
1/ World system (CULTURE)
"With Integrity, nothing else matters. Without Integrity nothing else matters". Craig Groeshel
2/ FLESH - HEART
Jesus is addressing the manipulation, deception, dishonesty that is so easily found in our hearts are deceitful..
34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. 35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:34-37
Guard your heart!
3/ SPIRIT - SOURCE:
A contrast
When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life." John 14:6
The more you believe the Father in heaven rather than the Father of lies, the more the truth will be in your heart, and the more integrity you will have!
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