Pastor Jack on Integrity
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Integrity will preserve you. And I'm concerned about you because I know that the Bible says there is going to come a day when I not only need to give an accounting of my own life before the Lord Jesus, but the Scripture says I will have to give an accounting for the souls of all of those that are under my shepherd care. Someday I'll stand beside the Lord Jesus not as a Judge, but as a responsible shepherd--an under-shepherd under the Great Shepherd--and I will answer to him for the things to which he's called me to account. I'll stand there and, as you come, I'll have to answer to Jesus as to whether I was responsible for not telling you or not feeding you or not showing you or not demonstrating to you.
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And so I'm talking to you about your integrity, and telling you that you have heard and that you have no security outside of integrity of heart. Being part of an alive congregation, being baptized in the Holy Spirit, being a serious student of the Bible, being an intercessor, speaking with tongues, functioning in gifts, knowing how to teach and exercise faith does not answer to it. For Jesus said, "On that day many will stand before me and say, 'Lord, Lord, have I not in you name done...?'" And they'll begin to recite marvelous works. But Jesus will say: I never knew you. Leave.
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God knows us at the heart, not in our works (even though he does know our works). He knows us at the heart, not in our prayers (even though he does hear our prayers). He knows us at the heart, not in our studies (but he does call us to study). He knows us at the heart: "For man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." I'm calling you to be sure that you're protected by living your life in front of Jesus.
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And the Bible says, "If we walk in the light as he is in the light, then we have fellowship one with another." And here's a beautiful thing that happens when integrity is present: communion happens between brothers and sisters--real communion, not the superficial slosh of people that are in the same charismatic club. I will not give you one plug nickel of that kind of junk.
.
As your pastor, I'm required one thing--to answer for people's lives before God. And the way to ensure that you're maintained in the Lord's way is to walk in integrity of heart, with the peace of God ruling in your heart. Not because you're sinless or perfect, not because you've overcome every weakness, but because you answer in your heart to the summons of the Savior and say: "Yes, Lord. I'll say yes, Lord."
\\ Jack Hayford
For the rest of this article click here.
Integrity will preserve you. And I'm concerned about you because I know that the Bible says there is going to come a day when I not only need to give an accounting of my own life before the Lord Jesus, but the Scripture says I will have to give an accounting for the souls of all of those that are under my shepherd care. Someday I'll stand beside the Lord Jesus not as a Judge, but as a responsible shepherd--an under-shepherd under the Great Shepherd--and I will answer to him for the things to which he's called me to account. I'll stand there and, as you come, I'll have to answer to Jesus as to whether I was responsible for not telling you or not feeding you or not showing you or not demonstrating to you.
.
And so I'm talking to you about your integrity, and telling you that you have heard and that you have no security outside of integrity of heart. Being part of an alive congregation, being baptized in the Holy Spirit, being a serious student of the Bible, being an intercessor, speaking with tongues, functioning in gifts, knowing how to teach and exercise faith does not answer to it. For Jesus said, "On that day many will stand before me and say, 'Lord, Lord, have I not in you name done...?'" And they'll begin to recite marvelous works. But Jesus will say: I never knew you. Leave.
.
God knows us at the heart, not in our works (even though he does know our works). He knows us at the heart, not in our prayers (even though he does hear our prayers). He knows us at the heart, not in our studies (but he does call us to study). He knows us at the heart: "For man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." I'm calling you to be sure that you're protected by living your life in front of Jesus.
.
And the Bible says, "If we walk in the light as he is in the light, then we have fellowship one with another." And here's a beautiful thing that happens when integrity is present: communion happens between brothers and sisters--real communion, not the superficial slosh of people that are in the same charismatic club. I will not give you one plug nickel of that kind of junk.
.
As your pastor, I'm required one thing--to answer for people's lives before God. And the way to ensure that you're maintained in the Lord's way is to walk in integrity of heart, with the peace of God ruling in your heart. Not because you're sinless or perfect, not because you've overcome every weakness, but because you answer in your heart to the summons of the Savior and say: "Yes, Lord. I'll say yes, Lord."
\\ Jack Hayford
For the rest of this article click here.
posted by Tristan @ 9:31 AM
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