ADD TO YOUR FAITH: INTEGRITY

THUS SAYS THE LORD! By all means, keep your joy! Refuse to be weighed down. It is with joy you draw waters out of the well of salvation. Don’t let 2021 end with complaints in your mouth. Refuse to be irritated by joining the company of those who are complaining. The fact that God has not done what you believe He should have done does not mean God has failed. By all means, keep your JOY.

Meditate on these scriptures to keep your JOY

“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice”! Phil. 4:4

“Then he said to them, go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our LORD. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength”. Neh. 8:10

“For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit”. Rom. 14:17

“Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation”. Is. 12:3

“Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls; Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer's feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills”. Hab.3:17

Summarily, refuse to be deceived, distracted and discouraged.

 “…But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble”. 2 Peter 1:1-10

INTEGRITY

There are many people who profess to be Christians but their life does not match their profession. Many Christians tell lies a lot. We are supposed to look like our Father. If He says something, He means it. God is looking for people He can trust. Sometimes, even the angels get confused by our multiple personalities. It is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to work on yourself. Integrity is much more than not lying.

Your character (Integrity) is one sure way to measure your maturity/growth in Christ.

As Kingdom Distinguished Citizens, we should be seen as people of integrity.

What is Integrity? It means whole, complete. It is soundness, sincerity of heart, having strong moral principles, consistent in your character. Steadfast in keeping to a deep moral code. You are consistent, uncompromising in the principles of God’s word. We ought to be like our Father;

- Our Father does not change.

- God does not lie. Heb. 6:18

- His word does not change.

God expects us to be consistent. God expects that we are the same everywhere we go, who we say we are and more. Can God even count on you? If you have a measure of integrity, work at making it a hundred, work at adding more.

Someone said that a single lie can destroy a whole life of reputation. Integrity is choosing your thoughts and actions based on the values of the kingdom.

What are your motives? Being a person of integrity does not mean you are perfect but you are working at it. It is not judged by what everybody sees but rather on what nobody knows or sees. Just telling the truth is not enough, what is your underlying principle?

Some practical ways we can be persons of integrity

- Be true. “But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil one”. Matt. 5:37. In whatever you are doing, let your intention and action always match.

“In whose eyes a vile person is despised, But he honors those who fear the LORD; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change”. Psalm 15:1

- You say what you mean, you mean what you say. You can do nothing against the truth.

Some Things Integrity Does

- Ps. 25:21. Integrity preserves.

- Prov. 11:3. Integrity will guide

- Prov. 20:7. If you walk as a person of integrity, God Himself will work for you. Dan. 6:1-4.

Integrity is a criterion for promotion.

“Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens”. Exodus 18:21. This scripture gives an insight into what God looks out for when He wants to promote men.

Make up your mind to walk in integrity.

Prayer

LORD, I lift up my hands before you that in You I will stand true and sure 

2021 SCHOOL OF PRAYER

School of prayer is all about prayer. If prayer is ever important, it’s much more important now. Anybody playing with prayer right now is toiling with his eternal destiny. You cannot successfully navigate through this season upon us without being prayerful. It is not your crying that moves God but your faith in God that does. There is nothing you can use to replace prayer.

(Heb. 12:1-3, 1Pet.2:21, Heb.7:25, Mt.24:1-4, 1Pet.4:7, Mk.13:32-33, 14:38)

Jesus came to model a life of prayer to us. The busier you become, the higher you go, the more prayerful you should become. Jesus called His house (The Church) a house of prayer. The Church is the body of Christ and He is the Head of the Church. Praying did not end with Jesus on earth. He is currently at the right hand of the father making intercession and as His body, we ought to be engaged in what He is doing also.

Be serious and watchful in your prayers. The end of all things is at hand. If we will not miss the time and the flight, we must be watchful in prayers. It is the only way to escape the temptations of the times.

These times are meant to cause men to be drawn to prayers rather than be regulated by circumstances and events. This is not the time to sleep or settle for alternatives. A sign that we believe in God is that we will be praying to Him.

There are two things the Lord is saying now;

1. BUILD PRAYER STRUCTURES both at personal and corporate levels. To do this, you have to answer three questions;

When do you pray? (The hour)

Where do you pray? (The place)

What do you pray about? (The kind of prayer)

The least of your commitment to God is that He will have your time in prayer.

2. MAKE PRAYER INVESTMENT – Make prayer DEPOSITS for the days ahead. God is saying we should increase, spend, and put in quality time in prayer. Deliberately make prayer deposits because you will need them in the coming days.