TOPIC: INTEGRITY PART 2 [RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER’S MANUAL, 21ST JANUARY 2018]
OPENING PRAYER:
Father, help me to develop and maintain a life of integrity.
MEMORY VERSE: “And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?” – Job 1:8
BIBLE PASSAGE: Genesis 39:1-13
1 And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither.
2 And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
3 And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.
4 And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
5 And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.
6 And he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.
7 And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.
8 But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;
9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
10 And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.
11 And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.
12 And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.
13 And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth,
INTRODUCTION:
Men and women of integrity are very few, even among the so called children of God. Are you a man or woman of integrity? Can God vouch for you as He did for Job (Job 2:3)? King David in Psalm 25:21 affirmed by saying “let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.”
TEXT REVIEW: Gen 39:1-13
If you claim that you are man of integrity, you must be ready to prove it. Joseph did not hesitate to prove this at the high price of imprisonment. The following are some of the proofs that Joseph was a man of integrity as presented in today’s Bible passage.
i. His boss knew that he was a godly man. Gen. 39:3.
ii. He served his Master with the diligence of overseer or supervisor. V.4
iii. Through him blessings were attracted to his boss enterprises. V.5
iv. Joseph was trustworthy, loyal and reliable. Gen. 39:6
v. He knew how to flee from the danger zone of sin, and he fled. Gen.39:5
vi. He knew his limit of freedom and authority and was never ready to compromise or extend the limit. V. 9-12
vii. The Lord was with him and he did not soil the relationship with sin. V. 2,V.13
viii. The heart (trust) of his boss was with him (tested on him) and he was not ready to mess the relationship up by sleeping with the boss’ wife. V.8
ix. He knew when to accept (accept gift) and refuse gift- By accepting the responsibility of all assignments and rejecting the enticement and seduction of sexual immorality. V. 4,5,13. Joseph was integrity at work.
LESSON OUTLINES:
1. Biblical heroes of integrity
2. Scope and rewards for integrity
I. BIBLICAL HEROES OF INTEGRITY
i. Abimelech, the King of Gerar (Genesis 20:3-7)
ii. Joseph (Genesis 47:14)
iii. Prophet Samuel (1Samuel 12:3-4)
iv. King David (1Kings 9:4)
v. Job (Job 2:3, 9-10)
vi. Apostle Paul (Acts 20:32-33)
vii. The Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:30).
II. SCOPE AND REWARDS FOR INTEGRITY
IIA. SCOPE OF INTEGRITY
i. Integrity in speech (James 1:19; Proverbs 8:7-8)
ii. Integrity in time management (Ephesians 5:15-17; John 9:4)
iii. Integrity in finance (1Corinthians 4:2; Genesis 47:14)
iv. Integrity in relationship with the opposite sex (1Corinthians 5:1; 1Samuel 2:12, 22-23; Judges 16:1,4)
v. Integrity in keeping promises and paying vows (Ecclesiates 5:4-5)
IIB. REWARDS FOR INTEGRITY
i. God will vouch for the person (Job 2:3)
ii. God will keeps the fellow from falling into sin (Genesis 39:9)
iii. God will bring peace on the fellow (Psalm 37:37)
iv. God will guide the step of the fellow(Proverbs 11:3)
v. God will preserve the person (Psalm 25:21-22)
vi. God will bring generational blessings on the person (Proverbs 20:7).
SUMMARY:
Integrity is a must for all believers
CONCLUSION:
God is pure and He expects His children to be pure too (Matthew 5:48, 2Timothy 2:19). No matter your claims, if you are not a man or woman of integrity, your Christianity is questionable. Remember that only the pure in heart shall see God (Matthew 5:8).
CLOSING PRAYER:
Father, let me receive the blessing of integrity as I make up my mind to be one.
ASSIGNMENT:
Find out ten examples of heroes of corruption with appropriate Bible passages.
