Breath of Power - Week 07/04

Week 7: February 9 - 15, 2004

INTEGRITY! CAN IT BE FOUND? Part III

Key Passage: 2 Samuel 11: 2-4, 8 - 11

Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold. So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, "Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?" Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her.
And David said to Uriah, "Go down to your house and wash your feet." So Uriah departed from the king’s house… But Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house. So when they told David, saying, "Uriah did not go down to his house," David said to Uriah, "Did you not come from a journey? Why did you not go down to your house?" And Uriah said to David, "The ark and Israel and Judah are dwelling in tents, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are encamped in the open fields. Shall I then go to my house to eat and drink, and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing."

It is saddening to see men and women of honor betray the trust bestowed on them and stab their companions at the back. Such is the result of lack of integrity, and that carries serious repercussions.

The above passage was the saddest part of David’s life. It is an example of what could happen if we lose our guards and give the devil an occasion in our lives. David was a righteous king in Israel. Indeed, God recognized him as the man after His heart (Act 13:22). But when he cast his integrity to the wind and bowed to the spirit of lust, the ‘old serpent’ took control, and cast him into the swamp of covetousness, adultery, deception, manipulation, betrayal and murder. That brought the grave consequence of God’s judgment on him and his household that nearly wrecked his whole posterity (2 Sam 12:7-12).

However, on the other side was a proselyte, Uriah, who met David at the lowest time in his life, and rose to become one of his most reliable warriors (2 Sam 23:39). Uriah forsook the gods of his nation and accepted the God of David. He was loyal to the demands of his new found faith in God and his commitment to his comrades at the warfront. Even at the strongest pressure, his response was, “I can’t forsake God whose ark is in the war-zone, and my commander and my buddies whose lives are in jeopardy at the battleground and go to my house to wallow in pleasure. In their honor I must remain straight.” That is the confession of a man of integrity. God opens a book of remembrance for such people (Mal 3:16-18). They are remembered not just in this life, but in that which is to come.

Written by – Evangelist Oguazi Onyemobi



Home Table of Contents 2003 2004 2005 2006 January '04 Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 February '04 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 March '04 Week 10 Week 11 Week 12 Week 13 April '04 Week 14 Week 15 Week 16 Week 17 Week 18 May '04 Week 19 Week 20 Week 21 Week 22 June '04 Week 23 Week 24 Week 25 Week 26 July '04 Week 27 Week 28 Week 29 Week 30 Week 31 August Week 32 Week 33 Week 34 Week 35 September '04 Week 36 Week 37 Week 38 Week 39 Week 40 October '04 Week 41 Week 42 Week 43 Week 44 November '04 Week 45 Week 46 Week 47 Week 48 December '04 Week 49 Week 50 Week 51 Week 52 Week 53	Breath of Power A Weekly Devotional of Jesus Power Outreach Ministries
	Week 7: February 9 - 15, 2004 INTEGRITY! CAN IT BE FOUND? Part III Key Passage: 2 Samuel 11: 2-4, 8 - 11 Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold. So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, "Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?" Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her. And David said to Uriah, "Go down to your house and wash your feet." So Uriah departed from the king’s house… But Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house. So when they told David, saying, "Uriah did not go down to his house," David said to Uriah, "Did you not come from a journey? Why did you not go down to your house?" And Uriah said to David, "The ark and Israel and Judah are dwelling in tents, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are encamped in the open fields. Shall I then go to my house to eat and drink, and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing." It is saddening to see men and women of honor betray the trust bestowed on them and stab their companions at the back. Such is the result of lack of integrity, and that carries serious repercussions. The above passage was the saddest part of David’s life. It is an example of what could happen if we lose our guards and give the devil an occasion in our lives. David was a righteous king in Israel. Indeed, God recognized him as the man after His heart (Act 13:22). But when he cast his integrity to the wind and bowed to the spirit of lust, the ‘old serpent’ took control, and cast him into the swamp of covetousness, adultery, deception, manipulation, betrayal and murder. That brought the grave consequence of God’s judgment on him and his household that nearly wrecked his whole posterity (2 Sam 12:7-12). However, on the other side was a proselyte, Uriah, who met David at the lowest time in his life, and rose to become one of his most reliable warriors (2 Sam 23:39). Uriah forsook the gods of his nation and accepted the God of David. He was loyal to the demands of his new found faith in God and his commitment to his comrades at the warfront. Even at the strongest pressure, his response was, “I can’t forsake God whose ark is in the war-zone, and my commander and my buddies whose lives are in jeopardy at the battleground and go to my house to wallow in pleasure. In their honor I must remain straight.” That is the confession of a man of integrity. God opens a book of remembrance for such people (Mal 3:16-18). They are remembered not just in this life, but in that which is to come. Written by – Evangelist Oguazi Onyemobi

Home \| About the Ministry \| Breath of Power \| Ministries \| Fully Armored Intercessor Evangelist's Itinerary \| Links \| Contact Us \| Relationship with God \| Bible Search Copyright © Jesus Power Outreach Ministries Inc., Lagos Nigeria