Behavior Modeling – A technique used in cognitive behavior therapy and behavior therapy in which learning occurs through observation and imitation. – The American Psychological Association
Philippians 3:17
. . . just as you have us as a MODEL, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.
Proverbs 10:9
Whoever walks in INTEGRITY walks SECURELY, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.
Numbers 3:23; Proverbs 10:8
- God calls us to view INTEGRITY as necessary to SECURITY.
- Our English word integrity comes from the Latin word ingritas meaning “one” or “whole.”
Finding Security Through Integrity
- Live ROOTED in God’s truth.
Psalm 78:70-72
70 He (God) chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens; 71 from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob,
of Israel his inheritance. 72 And David shepherded them with INTEGRITY of heart; with SKILLFUL hands he led them.
Acts 13:21-22
21 Then the people asked for a king, and he gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years. 22 After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’
1 Samuel 16:6-7
6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
2. Live RELIANT on God’s trustworthiness.
1 Samuel 27:1
But David thought to himself, “One of these days I will be destroyed by the hand of Saul. The best thing I can do is to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will give up searching for me anywhere in Israel, and I will slip out of his hand.”
Proverbs 18:14; 1 Samuel 30; Lamentations 3:22; Proverbs 29:25
3. REMAIN tenacious in trials.
2 Samuel 11:1
In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army . . .
2 Samuel 11:2-3
2 One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, 3 and David sent someone to find out about her . . .
2 Samuel 12:13-14
13 Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan replied, “The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. 14 But because by doing this you have shown utter contempt for the Lord, the son born to you will die.”
4. RESOLVE to try again.
Genesis 17:1-2
1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty” walk before me faithfully and be BLAMELESS 2 Then I will make my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.”
John 8:10-11
10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
2 Samuel 12:24-25
24 Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and made love to her. She gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. The Lord loved him; 25 and because the Lord loved him, he sent word through Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah.
The moral of David’s story regarding integrity: We can’t live blessed with a bad heart. But we can count on God to bless us if we’ll let him forgive our bad and lead us into what’s best for our life.
Proverbs 20:7
The righteous lead BLAMELESS lives; blessed are their children after them.
Questions:
- What did you hear from the Holy Spirit?
- What will you do because of it?
- How can we pray for you?