The Integrity Crisis

Eze 22:24. Son of man, say unto her, thou art the land that is not cleansed, nor rained upon in the day of indignation.
25. There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof.
26. Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my Sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.
27. Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.
28. And her prophets have daubed them with untempered mortar, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord God, when the Lord hath not spoken.
29. The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully.
30. And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.

Conspiracy of prophets, treachery, violating the law, priests profaning the holy, placing no difference between the clean and the unclean, violating the sabbath
Her princes(leaders)in the midst thereof ravening the prey, destroying souls, taken the treasure and precious things

Ez 22:26 Finally in exaspiration God says I(God)am profaned among them.

A crisis of integrity !!!!!!!! You bet!!!!!!!!!

When God himself is profaned by his leadership "Integrity Crisis In Gargantuan Way"

Question: How are integrity crisis created in the church?

Answer: Integrity crisis are created in the church by uncaring, insensitive, and brutal leaders who seek their own well being at the expense of the well being of God's flock.

Question: Who can assist in dispelling the integrity crisis?

Answer: You, as a Godly leader, can.

If you will consent to becoming one of those whom God is calling upon to stand in the "integrity gap and to make up the "integrity hedge"

Yes, Yes I am saying "Integrity Gap and Integrity Hedge"

We have in the church of conspiring prophets, treacherous leaders, violators of God's laws, priests who are profaning the holy, those who have taken the treasure and precious things, ministers who place no disorientation between the clean and the unclean, leaders who are shedding blood and destroying souls, leaders who get dishonest gain. How cane we have anything but a catastrophic in crisis of integrity? See 1Sa 1 Observe the behavior of the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas

I think I am putting it mildly when I say that the conduct of many of our present day ministers is creating a catastrophic integrity crisis which is resulting in a volcanic explosion of resentment against the ministry and against the church

Eze 22:30. And I(God)sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.

I sought for a man among them. Among whom among those conspiring prophets, treacherous leaders, the violators of God's laws, the profaning priest who cannot discern between the holy and the unholy, the ministers who place no difference between the clean and the unclean, the leaders who shed blood and destroy souls.

Seeking a man of integrity to fill the gap and make up the hedge among those ruthless leaders was a task that even God himself could not accomplish.

God is once again calling upon the ministry to step forth and to stand in the
"Integrity Gap and to make up the Integrity Hedge". If you and I are not willing to stand in "Integrity Gap and to make up the Integrity Hedge" then we like the proverbial ostrich need to stick our heads in the sand and get out of God's way.

1Sa 17:22-51 This scriptural passage is one of the most amazing stories of the dedication and power of a Godly Shepherd in the word of God. David was only a shepherd boy but he live by the shepherd principle which was to offer himself for the sheep(the people of God) He was more than willing to put his life on the line at any given moment for the sheep.

1Sa 17:48. And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came, and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.
49. And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.

1Sa 17:40 And he (David)took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling (means of delivery) was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.

David:

A. David: Chose 5 smooth stones well rounded and balanced) See Eph 4:11 5 ministerial gifting for the perfecting of his sheep (God's people)
B. David: Placed the stones in his shepherds bag (not his warriors bag) Again I reference Eph 4:11 the 5 ministerial gifting are the weapons of deliverance in the Shepherd's bag to defend and protect the sheep (God's People)
C. David: Took his sling (means of delivery) For the third time I reference Eph 4:11 the 5 ministerial gifts are the means of delivering the death blow to the enemy of the sheep (God's People)

If we desire to be on of Davids 5 smooth stones in the "The Good Shepherd's bag" and commit ourselves to standing in the "Integrity Gap and Making up the integrity Hedge" we need to understand and manifest the principle of integrity.

Integrity is best defined as the ability to influence. Another word that helps define integrity is believability. A person who has influence and believability is a person of integrity. Integrity requires that you do and say nothing that deceives others.

2Co 4:1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

2Co 6:3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: (AV)
4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God,

Our ministry gift is given to us by God. It is our God given responsibility to live a life of integrity in order to preserve the Character an the nature of the gift.

A man of Integrity will act in the following manner:

A. he will renounced the hidden things of dishonesty
B. he will not walk in craftiness
C. he will not handle the word of God deceitfully
D. he will manifest the truth
E. he will not violate the conscience of others
F. he will not offend in any thing so that the ministry is not blame ed

A person of integrity is one who takes his call to the ministry seriously. When an individual fails in the ministry his failure is past on to the entire ministry of the Body of Christ and all ministers are blamed for his failure.

LVD Eph.4:15. Instead, we will lovingly follow the truth at all times--speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly --and so become more and more in every way like Christ who is the Head of his body, the Church. Under his direction the whole body is fitted together perfectly, and each part in its own special way helps the other parts, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

There are three absolute principles that every minister is obligated to make sure that he adheres to regardless of his life situations.

A man of Integrity will commit to the following principles:

First: A man of integrity who cars about the sheep and his ministry gift that God has entrusted to will seek to lovingly follow the truth at all times. Our credibility will be much less suspect if we focus our efforts on speaking truly. Not only must we be committed to speaking the truth, we must make absolutely sure that we saturate and inundate our words with love for those to whom we are speaking.

Truth can only be found in the word of God. As ministers our verbal conversation must be thoroughly lace with the word of God. By this I do not mean that a minister should be a "bible thumping nut" but his conversational content must have roots in the scriptures. As minister we must be totally committed to speaking the truth in love? If we are not committed to speaking the truth in love we would do well to refrain from speaking.

Pr 6:2 Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.

1. This scripture says that individuals are snared by the words of their mouth therefore those of us who involved in ministry must be acutely aware of what we say. Our words will come back to haunt us. If we fail to bridle our tongues we will be forced to live with the situations we create by using our unbridled tongues.

2. We are also taken by the words of our mouth. What is being said here is that people will hold us accountable for what we say. Have you ever felt like others were casting you words back into your teeth. There could be good reason for why this is happening. We need to check your conversation. Are we lovingly expressing the truth by speaking truly?

Secondly: A man of integrity will be keenly aware of the fact that our actions are continually scrutinised and the the eyes of both the world and the church are always fixed upon us. Men of integrity must learn the responsibility of living the truth. We must never forget that accepting the call to engage ourselves in our ministry gifting dooms us to live in a glass house forever. We can run but here is no place for us to hide.

Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

The human heart(psyche,soul mind,intellect)is desperately wicked and only God can know it. In the following passage of scripture God makes his request for access to our hearts.

Pr 23:26 My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.

Men of integrity are aware that their thoughts must be captivated by the awesome truth that God has ask us to give him full and unreserved access to our hearts. Unreserved access to a heart is the means that God uses to initiate transformation.

Ro 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

The Message Ro 12:2 Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

A transformed mind is a mind acutely aware of the fact that we must be totally dedicated and committed to living truly. Walking in truth is our only option anything else will result in our demise and cause problems for the ministry.

Men of integrity are acutely aware that they must not live in a way that causes offence.

2Co 6:3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: (AV)
4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God,

Finally: Men of integrity must deal truly. When we speaks one way and then act another we bring disgrace upon ourselves and dishonor to the office that we hold. It is our God ordained responsibility to make sure that we will lovingly follow the truth at all times. We must speak truly, deal truly, and live truly. If we commit ourselves to lovingly follow the truth we will be men of integrity. Men who represent the nature and character of Jesus Christ in what we say,in how we live and in how we treat others.

If we have failed in our efforts to lovingly follow the truth and we have not spoken, lived or dealt truly we are not without hope. God's has not abandoned us he is standing by ready to embrace us and to help us renew our life purpose and to seek our destiny. He will do this if we will obey the word of God

Men of Integrity who have failed ( Yes Yes Yes hear me clearly Men of integrity who have failed) can rebuild their integrity that has been compromised and renew their character that has been blemished by transgression against God's commandment's.

In order to have their integrity restored and to regain their Godly character men of integrity who have fallen will initiate the the process of restoration in their lives by initiating the principles of restoration mentioned in Eze 18:31.

Eze 18:31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

Men of Integrity:

A. Cast away from you all your transgressions
B. make you a new heart
C. make you a new spirit

I conjunction with you efforts to regain your integrity and to restore you character
God will act partnership with you in your efforts to be restored.

If we commit to casting away all of our transgressions and make efforts to renew our heart and Spirit Of God will come near and join us in our efforts of transformation.

Men of integrity who are seeking God according to the principles of Eze 18:31 will enjoy the tremendous promise of blessing found in Eze 36:26 A

Eze 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

A. he will give you a new heart
B. he will give you a new spirit
C. he will remove your heart of stone
D. he will give you a heart of flesh

After he has a accomplished his wonderful work of transformation God will work in you to initiate his will.

2Co 3:3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

Your challenge is to allow God to inscribe his divine nature on the tables of Your heart so that you can truly become a man of integrity.

God bless and may the Lord Jesus Christ grant you grace, strength, and the fortitude you meed to become a man who can stand in the integrity gap and make up the integrity hedge.

Shepherds where are your sheep:

Mt 9:36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

Isa 40:11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

Are they scattered abroad and shepardless? Are they wrapped in the arms and drawn close to the bosom of a loving shepherd? It your choice since you are the shepherd.


Danger and Opportunity: the Chinese Expression for "Crisis"

You may have heard people say that the Chinese expression for “crisis consists of two characters, one meaning "danger" the other “opportunity". The two Chinese characters in question are most likely Wei Ji. Wei does have the meaning of danger and Ji implies chance, a pivot, or a crucial point in time. So, the expression seems to signify the dual nature of a crisis - peril and potential.

Shepherds are you forgetting your potential could be locked in the storm of your present peril? Please call a time out and step aside for a moment and realize that your Great God and Savior Jesus Christ will never leave or forsake you regardless of your present peril.

According to the Chinese characters Wei & Ji your opportunity awaits you even in the storm of your crisis. Cease the moment and recapture you destiny. The opportunity is present in the chinese characters Wei & Ji. Your situation has confonted you with both danger and opportunity. Which will you choose? My sincere prayer is that you will choose oportunity.

God bless and may this posting bring encouragement to your heart and restoration to your soul and spirit.

One man's opinion & thought on the integrity gap and the integrity hedge crisis. !!!!!!!!!!

Please feel free to express your thoughts on the issue.