Spiritual Integrity

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1 Peter 2:19-21

19

For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.

20

But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.

21

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

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Integrìty is defined in human terms as the quality of being honest, having strong principles; and uprightness. Spiritual integrity is a service that honors God, instead of yourself. Carrying the sufferance of what you feel you should do, and instead then doing what your service to God requires. Spiritual integrity is not understood by the world or it's children.

The difference is whom your acts honor.

When a worldly person acts with worldly integrity, they are following a worldly code of ethics or social morality. These standards of ethics and moral sense change from generation to generation. Those who have this integrity, believe their actions form a goodness, and they carry esteem for themselves for standing up for these sensibilities. They are honored by those who are witness to it, and they become example of rightness to those who also would act with integrity.

When a believer of Christ, who carries the Spirit of Truth in them, suffers for their acts, we can have confidence they have brought honor to God. They are not acting on behalf of themselves or others, they are serving God's will because it is Him that they love. What comes from these acts is true goodness, and the authority behind these acts does not change, has not changed, nor will it ever change. Those who carry this spiritual integrity are in the service of master. They realize they are not worthy of honor for doing what is holy. Instead, they allow this holiness to do what they are incapable of doing on their own.

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1 Peter 1:14-16

14

As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.

15

But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;

16

for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.

The humility of a believer is a consequence of their fear of the Lord. They are acting on faith, speaking by faith. They remain open to the truth they carry, and they fear nothing in front of them, because they realize what is within them is the foundation of everything. The fear they carry, is that they are witness to true authority, and they serve it out of love for their master.

So when a circumstance arises, where a person of worldly integrity and a person who serves God with integrity - conflict, this is where suffering occurs. And this is very much the work of the enemy of truth. This is where the battleground becomes real.

The world grows towards unity that reconciles all mankind, while the works of Christ grow towards reconciliation to the Father. The sword of division that separates mankind is placed there by the Holy Authority. We are not meant to reconcile ourselves to one another, nor are we meant to judge one another. A love of the Father is meant to bring us into a love of all he created. The difference is one honors God and one honor ourselves.

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2 Corinthians 5:18,19

18

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:

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that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

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When we are accepting of each other, without having the integrity to bring about understanding that is righteous, we are serving what is seen, instead of standing up for the unseen qualities of God. To be loving of one another because we love the Father, is to separate ourselves from the desire to create our own peace.

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Matthew 5:32-34

32

“Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.

33But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.

34

“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.

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Matthew 5:37-39

37

“Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

38

Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

39

Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

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The Father spoke through His Authority, and sometime the Authority spoke on behalf of the Father, both were acts of the Spirit. The Son of Man was our great example of faith and spiritual integrity. Because Jesus loved the Father above all, he was able to be loving to us all. He cast aside his worldly integrity, and became the light that was in him. We are to do the same, even to the point of persecution, or death.

Be aware of what you do and say. Keep God first with love, and honor Him with your service. Do these things and expect adversity, because what you are attempting to do is foreign, and will be considered wrong. The time upon us will celebrate humanity without God. And we will be chastised and hated because of our spiritual integrity.

Just remember God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son. So that whosoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life. God loved you first, honor Him, stand up for Him.