The Force of Integrity

By

Pastor Creflo A. Dollar Jr.

© 1993 Creflo A. Dollar Jr. All rights reserved.

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WORLD CHANGERS MINISTRIES

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Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are

from the KING JAMES VERSION.

AMP - Amplified Version

NIV - New International Version

The Force of Integrity

ISBN: 0-9634781-4-1

Copyright 1993, by Creflo A. Dollar Jr.

All rights reserved.

I dedicate this book

to my good friend

Kenneth L. Terry.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Who needs Integrity?. .............................................................7

The Whole Truth. ...............................................................7

Chapter 2

The Power of Integrity. ..........................................................9

Guided by Integrity. ..........................................................9

Established by Integrity. .................................................12

Preserved by Integrity. ....................................................14

Upheld by Integrity. ........................................................15

Bettered by Integrity. .......................................................16

Children Blessed by Integrity. ........................................18

Chapter 3

How to Live in Integrity. ......................................................19

Raising Up a Standard. ....................................................19

How Am I Doing God?. ..................................................21

Hold On. ............................................................................22

The Fruit of Integrity. ......................................................23

Chapter 1

Who needs Integrity?

1

Integrity. It’s a buzz word. You hear it thrown around

constantly. Nearly everyone talks about it but I’m

convinced very few people in our society really know

what it means.

In fact, I believe America is in a crisis of integrity.

Lying, cheating and manipulation are rampant in our

corporate offices, our businesses, our schools, our homes

and, sadly, all too many church sanctuaries. Yet integrity

is a powerful force. Make it an integral part of your life

and it brings tremendous blessings and power. Reject it,

and it almost always results in destruction.

To be truly successful, you need to harness the force of

integrity.

The Whole Truth

Webster defines integrity as “uprightness, virtue or

honesty.” However, it’s biblical meaning goes much

deeper than that. Biblical integrity also suggests fairness

and straightforwardness of conduct. It sticks to the facts.

This type of integrity involves more than just a refusal

to lie. It refuses to deceive or mislead in any way. It refuses

to steal. It refuses to cheat. It refuses to manipulate others

to get its way.

A person of integrity is a sincere person. You never

have to wonder if they mean what they say. You can take

that person’s word at face value.

7

The Force of Integrity

Are you a person of integrity? You can be.

You may not operate in all the gifts of the spirit, but

you can be a person of your word. You may not be able to

lay hands on the sick and see them recover, but you can be

honest.

Anyone who truly desires it, can walk the walk of

integrity. It’s not an easy road, but those who make a

quality decision to travel it will reap enormous rewards.

8

Chapter 2

The Power of Integrity

2

On a daily basis, you’re presented a multitude of

opportunities to compromise your integrity. The teller

gives you too much change at the drive through window.

Your spouse asks for your opinion of a new outfit. You’re

filling out an expense report for your employer. Each of

these scenarios is an integrity tester.

In each of these situations and in many others, the

easiest thing to do is not necessarily the right thing to do.

How you respond in these situations will determine

whether or not you are a person of integrity.

The important question for every believer is, “What

does God’s Word have to say about issues of integrity?”

The answer is quite a bit, actually. Much more, in fact,

than I ever imagined before I began to study the subject in-

depth.

What I discovered was an astounding array of benefits,

promises and blessings prepared for the upright man or

woman of God. Blessings reserved only for those with

enough holy fear and child-like trust in God to dare to

walk in integrity.

Guided by Integrity

The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but

the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.

(Proverbs 11: 3)

Integrity will guide you. This is a very exciting concept

to me. When you choose to live a life of honesty,

9

The Force of Integrity

straightforwardness and sincerity, those qualities will

guide you through treacherous waters. In fact, according

to the Word, they may even keep you from destroying

yourself.

A great example of this very thing in operation can be

found in Genesis 20:1-6.

And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the

south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur,

and sojourned in Gerar. And Abraham said of Sarah

his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of

Gerar sent, and took Sarah. (v. 1, 2)

Sarah was a beautiful woman. And it was not unusual

in that day for a king to take any woman who struck his

fancy into his harem. If the woman was married, an

unscrupulous king would have the husband killed in

order to be able to take her. That’s why Abraham and

Sarah cooked up the plan to claim to be brother and sister.

Just as they had feared, King Abimelech took one look

at Sarah, discovered she was single (or so he thought) and

brought her into his palace. Then things got really

interesting.

But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night,

and said to him, “Behold, thou art but a dead man... ”

(v. 3)

Now that’s what I call a wake up call! How would you

like to be awakened in the middle of the night to have God

tell you, “Behold, you’re dead meat!”

“... thou art a dead man, for the woman which

thou hast taken; for she is a man’s wife.” But

Abimelech had not come near her: and he said,

“Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation? Said

he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she

herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my

10

The Power of Integrity

heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.”

(v. 4, 5)

In response to this alarming announcement Abimelech

says, “Look Lord, I didn’t know! I’ve been operating in the

integrity of my heart here, God!”

Notice God’s response (Remember, integrity can guide

you).

And God said unto him in a dream, “Yea, I

know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy

heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against

me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.” (v. 6)

In essence, God was saying, “Abimilech, I know you

didn’t know the woman was married. I saw your heart

and recognized you were operating in integrity. That s

why I stopped you from making a fatal mistake.

That’s powerful! Think about it. When you’re

operating in integrity, even if you take a wrong turn, God

will take it upon Himself to clearly let you know before

you get into real trouble!

A person of integrity can’t miss God’s will for very

long. That’s why you should never be afraid to step out

and do what you believe God is telling you to do. Even if

you’ve totally missed it, God has obligated Himself to

intervene and give you clear direction before you do any

damage. That’s provided, of course, you’re moving in

integrity.

I can’t tell you what a comfort this revelation has been

to me personally. I used to really be concerned about

missing God. But now, when I believe I’ve gotten some

direction from the Lord, I move with confidence knowing

that, because of my integrity, He’s faithful to intervene if

I’ve missed Him. Do you see how wonderful that is?

11

The Force of Integrity

On the other hand, if you go around lying,

manipulating and deceiving, you’d better watch out. God

is under no obligation to warn when you’re about to make

a major mistake. You’re on your own.

Don’t ever let the devil convince you that it’s profitable

to cheat and be dishonest. That stuff will destroy your

ministry, your family, even your very life.

Established by Integrity

Not only will integrity guide you so that you can know

what God wants you to do—it will also help you

accomplish it.

And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy

father walked, in integrity of heart, and in

uprightness, to do according to all that I have

commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my

judgments: Then I will establish the throne of thy

kingdom upon Israel forever, as I promised to

David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a

man upon the throne of Israel. (I Kings 9: 4, 5)

Notice the first thing God told Solomon here, “... if

thou wilt walk before me ... in integrity of heart....”

Always remember, integrity comes from the heart. It

doesn’t come out of your brain. It’s not something that is a

product of reason or intelligence. It is a product of

character. Heart character.

The next thing God told Solomon was that if he would

walk in integrity, “I will establish the throne of thy

kingdom...”

Child of God, if you’ll adopt a lifestyle of integrity,

God will establish your throne. That means He’ll establish

you in whatever it is He’s called you to do. It may be a

ministry. It may be a vocation. It may be a relationship.

12

The Power of Integrity

Whatever it is, God will supernaturally equip and

establish you in it.

I wish more men and women of God knew and

understood this principle. On many occasions I’ve

attended minister’s conferences where everybody seems to

be handing out business cards. Sadly, some preachers will

throw their card at anyone who’ll stand still, hoping to get

a meeting scheduled so they can generate some income.

I’ve watched them maneuver and scheme to find out

which men pastor really large churches. I’ve seen them

gravitate to those they believe have the best connections.

It’s all manipulation and flesh. Of course, not all ministers

engage in this sort of nonsense, but far too many do.

For that very reason, I refuse to even carry a business

card. There’s nothing wrong with these cards in and of

themselves. I’ve just purposed that if I’m going to get

opportunities to minister they’re going to have to come

from God and through the leading of the Holy Spirit. I'm

looking to God to establish me, not man.

Please understand, I’m not patting myself on the back.

I’ve simply made a decision to walk in integrity because

I’ve discovered I can’t afford to live any other way.

Whatever God is calling you to do, if you will be

honest and straightforward in all your dealings, He will

establish your throne in that area.

That means that in the work place, you don’t need to

get involved in office politics. There’s no need to lie, cheat

or step on anyone in your climb up the corporate ladder.

Simply walk in integrity and let God take care of the

rest. If you’ll do that, I promise, God will establish you in

such a way that no person or thing on earth can shake you.

God will establish your throne.

13

The Force of Integrity

Preserved by Integrity

O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be

ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.

Let integrity and uprightness preserve me: for I wait

on thee. (Psalm 25: 2, 21)

Integrity will preserve you from your enemies. What

enemies? The enemy of cancer. The enemy of debt. The

enemies of violence, strife and hatred. In other words,

integrity will preserve you from anything Satan (the

ultimate enemy) has in his evil arsenal.

When you choose to wait upon the Lord in integrity,

you can rest assured that you will enjoy the protection of

Almighty God. What does it mean to “wait” upon the

Lord?

It means allowing God to promote you rather than

resorting to manipulation and scheming to promote

yourself. It means letting others praise you instead of

boasting of your own ability. And when you operate in

integrity you can live without fear of calamity and

disaster. That truth is repeated in Psalm 26: 1.

Judge me, O Lord; for I have walked in mine

integrity: I have trusted also in the Lord; therefore I

shall not slide.

Trusting in the Lord is intricately tied together with

walking in integrity. In fact, the two are inseparable. You

can’t walk in true integrity without complete trust in the

Lord. You have to believe that God will take care of you

when you choose to live a straightforward life.

That’s why so many Christians don’t have much

integrity. They don’t really trust God to prosper, promote

and protect them so they do whatever it takes to do it

themselves.

14

The Power of Integrity

The promise of God is clear. Trust Him, walk in

integrity and He’ll make sure you never slide.

Upheld by Integrity

And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine

integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever.

(Psalm 41: 12)

God will uphold you in your integrity.

Have you ever been in a situation in which telling a lie

seemed to the most logical thing to do? I’m talking about a

time where it seemed that if you told the truth, all sorts of

problems and negative results would come about?

We’re all faced with situations like that from time to

time. The next time you are, remember Psalm 41:12 and

remind yourself that if you’ll maintain your integrity, God

will uphold you. And when you’ve been upheld by God

himself, brothers and sisters, you’ve been upheld.

You can tell the truth with confidence, knowing in

your heart that regardless of the apparent consequences,

God will make everything come out all right.

Does that mean you have a license to hurt people’s

feelings in the name of honesty? Of course not. You can

tell someone the truth without hurting their feelings. It’s

called tact.

I remember one occasion in which my wife modeled a

new dress for me and asked, How do you like it? I must

tell you that it was the ugliest dress I d ever laid my eyes

on.

How did I handle that awkward and potentially

explosive moment? I simply said, “Honey, to be honest, I

love you a whole lot more than I love that dress. You are

the most beautiful thing in the world to me, but I must tell

15

The Force of Integrity

you that I do not care for that dress.” There is always a

way to be honest with someone without hurting them.

I didn’t always know that. I remember one particular

occasion early in my marriage. My wife had just made

some candied yams. Now, my mother had a way of

making candied yams that was something special. I loved

my mama’s candied yams.

I took one bite of my wife’s yams, made an ugly face

and yelled, “What is this?” Needless to say it hurt her

feelings. She got fire in her eyes and told me that if I

wanted dinner I could get up and cook it myself!

The Lord informed me that I had not been very

sensitive toward my wife. My excuse was that I was just

being honest. “At least I was straight with her!” I

protested.

Sometimes being straight is really a straight arrow that

pierces a loved one’s heart. There is a difference between

honesty and rudeness.

True honesty will bring God on the scene to uphold

you when things get tough. But integrity carries another

benefit as well. Look at Psalm 41: 12 again, “... thou

upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before

t h

y f ace forever.”

A person of integrity stays before the face of God.

That’s a person who is never out of God’s watchful care

and protection. Wouldn’t it be reassuring to know that

you were the constant focus of the Most High God’s

attention? You can. Be a person of integrity.

Bettered by Integrity

Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity,

than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.

(Proverbs 19: 1)

16

The Power of Integrity

Here’s yet another important benefit of being a person

of integrity—God’s promise to better you! That’s right,

even if you’re poor, if you’ll walk in integrity, God will see

that you’re bettered. In other words, you won’t be poor for

long!

The life of a person who is honest and straightforward

before God is going to be in an upward progression—ever

increasing responsibility, ever growing influence, ever

greater rewards. The force of integrity will see to it.

I’m reminded of an occasion shortly after Taffi and I

were married. I was applying for a therapist job at a

hospital. I wanted and needed the job badly. At that time I

had been preaching when I could and selling pots and

pans out of the back of my car to help make ends meet.

I was filling out the application at home one night

when I came across a question regarding whether I was or

ever had been a minister. I remember thinking, “They

probably don’t want any preachers in this job. They’re

probably afraid he’ll spend all his time preaching rather

than doing his job.”

At that moment there was a tremendous temptation to

check “No.” After all, I really needed that job. But my wife

and I discussed it and determined to just be honest and

glorify Jesus.

In big, bold letters I wrote MINISTER OF THE

GOSPEL on the application, finished filling it out and sent

it in.

The next day I got a call from the personnel director of

the hospital.

“Hello. Is this Creflo Dollar?”

“Yes, is it.”

“Well, I’ve got your application and resume here. Now

17

The Force of Integrity

you’ve put on here that you’re a minister of the gospel. I

just want you to know that I’m a Holy Ghost-filled,

tongue-talking minister of the gospel myself! Hallelujah!”

Needless to say, I got the job. The very thing the devil

tried to make me think would prevent me from getting the

job was the thing that sealed it for me.

Integrity will better you. Don’t ever succumb to the

temptation to abandon it.

Children Blessed by Integrity

The just man walketh in his integrity: his children

are blessed after him. (Proverbs 20: 7)

That’s powerful isn’t it? A life of integrity will not only

bring you guidance, protection and promotion, it will

bless your children too! As you live an upright life you are

laying up a storehouse of blessing for your children (even

if they haven’t been born yet).

Of course the opposite is true, too. You can’t walk in

deceit, manipulation and craftiness and not expect your

children to emulate you. In fact, they can pick up your

spiritual characteristics even before they’re born! Psalm

58:3 says, “The wicked are estranged from the womb:

they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.”

Isn’t that amazing! Even as a child develops in the womb,

the course of his life can be affected by what you say and

do.

No matter what stage of life your children are in,

you can make a quality decision right now to live a life

of integrity. If you will do that, God promises they will

be blessed.

18

Chapter 3

How to Live in Integrity

3

I’m sure by now you will agree that, for the believer, a

life of integrity brings many rewards. But now the issue of

how arises. How does one successfully maintain one’s

integrity in a world in which lying, cheating and

manipulation are “standard operating procedure”?

Once again, we’ll find practical answers in God’s

Word.

Raising Up a Standard

Understanding the concept of a standard is vital to

living a life of integrity. It’s also the key to bringing people

to Christ.

Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I will lift up

mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard

to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their

arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their

shoulders. (Isaiah 49: 22)

Notice that God says a standard must be set up to the

people. And that standard will draw the Gentiles

(unsaved people) to God. But what standard? The

standard of righteousness. The standard of integrity and

character. We, as ambassadors of Christ on earth must

raise up a standard through the way we live our lives.

As a person who claims the name of Jesus Christ, your

lifestyle is a standard set up for all around you to see. The

question is, “What kind of standard are you presenting?”

19

The Force of Integrity

If we live our lives filled with deception and

manipulation, God is not glorified and people are not

drawn to Him.

Furthermore, that standard, good or bad, is not only

displayed in our personal lives, it is raised in our homes

and churches as well.

Raising a Standard in the Face of Temptation

It’s one thing to establish a standard for your life. It’s

another thing all together to maintain that standard in the

face of hard temptation.

That’s where most of us lose it. We mean well. We

intend to be honest, straightforward and sincere. Then a

strong temptation comes along and the next thing we

know we’re compromising left and right.

Is it possible to uphold a righteous standard in the face

of temptation? You bet.

When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the

Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against

him. (Isaiah 59: 19)

We’ve all had the enemy come into our lives through

circumstances, other people, or our own thoughts and

imaginations. Yet this verse says the Holy Spirit can rush

to meet and overwhelm the enemy.

I believe the comma in that verse is misplaced. It is

well known that water is a biblical symbol for the Holy

Spirit. I believe the verse should read, “When the enemy

shall come in, like a flood the Spirit of the Lord shall lift

up a standard against him.”

The enemy isn’t the flood. The Spirit is. The power to

overcome the enemy comes when the Spirit energizes and

activates our standard. That standard is your integrity.

20

How to Live in Integrity

When you have an established standard of integrity,

you give the Holy Ghost something to energize that will

combat and overwhelm temptation when it tries to come

in. The reason many believers are constantly falling into

sin is they have no established standard of integrity for the

Holy Ghost to work through.

When the enemy tries to come into your household, lift

up the standard. For example, if he’s attacking your

finances, tithe and give. They are God’s financial

standards.

Wherever the point of attack is, raise up the standard

of integrity and watch the Spirit of God rush into that

situation like a mighty flood.

How Am I Doing God?

... judge me, O Lord, according to my

righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is

in me. (Psalm 7: 8)

When was the last time you set aside a time of private

prayer and asked God to judge your integrity? Does that

prospect scare you? It shouldn’t. He’s full of mercy and

grace. Just be open, transparent and yielded to Him.

There is something very powerful about coming to

God in that way and simply saying, “Lord, there may be

some things in my life that I honestly don’t know are

wrong. Please show me any habits, traits or attitudes that

aren’t pleasing to you. I want to change them.”

In those moments, God will not only show you what’s

wrong, he’ll show you how to make them right.

When you ask the Lord to shine the light of His Holy

Spirit into the innermost recesses of your heart, you are

putting yourself in a wonderful position to increase in

21

The Force of Integrity

integrity. But being that naked before God is a sobering

experience. It is absolutely necessary however, if you are

going to walk the walk of integrity.

Hold On

One of the most outstanding examples of integrity is

Job. In many respects, Job has gotten a bad rap. Yes, he

made some mistakes in the way he handled adversity.

And the Lord straightened him out about those things.

The most important thing to note about Job is what

God himself said about him. Look at Job 2: 3:

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? and still he holdeth

fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against

him, to destroy him without cause.

The Lord’s testimony of Job was that he was an

upright man who held on tight to his integrity. And he did

so without much encouragement—even from his wife.

Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain

thine integrity? curse God, and die. (Job 2: 9)

Job refused to abandon his stand of integrity. His

declaration was: “I don’t know why these things have

happened to me. I don’t know why I’m in the position I’m

in. But I will maintain my integrity and uprightness and

God will get me out of this somehow.”

My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my

tongue utter deceit. God forbid that I should justify

you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.

(Job 27: 4, 5)

I like that. “I will not remove mine integrity...”

22

How to Live in Integrity

Child of God, if you purpose to be a person of

integrity, you are surely going to be presented some

opportunities to remove your integrity. You will face

situations where the hardest thing in the world to do is tell

the truth. You will encounter opportunities to gain wealth

if you will only bend the rules.

The pressure to compromise may come from your

family. It may come from your friends. It may even come

from inside the church.

At those times you must make the same profession Job

did: “Until the day I die, I will not remove my integrity.”

Those moments represent the true test of your integrity. It

is where the rubber meets the road.

The Fruit of Integrity

Travelling the path of true integrity is not easy. If it

were, more Christians would be walking in it. Yet we’ve

seen the many benefits that flow from integrity of heart.

Integrity will guide you. It will establish you. It will

preserve, protect and promote you. It will bless your

children. Perhaps best of all, it will please your Heavenly

Father.

When you operate in integrity you’re being like Him.

And that, brothers and sisters, is what it’s all about.

23

Document Outline

- The Force of Integrity

- Table of Contents

- 1 Who needs Integrity?

- The Whole Truth

- 2 The Power of Integrity

- Guided by Integrity

- Established by Integrity

- Preserved by Integrity

- Upheld by Integrity

- Bettered by Integrity

- Children Blessed by Integrity

- 3 How to Live in Integrity

- Raising Up a Standard

- How Am I Doing God?

- Hold On

- The Fruit of Integrity

Table of Contents

Who needs Integrity?.

The Power of Integrity.

Established by Integrity.

Preserved by Integrity.

Upheld by Integrity.

Bettered by Integrity.

Children Blessed by Integrity.

How to Live in Integrity.

How Am I Doing God?.

Hold On.

The Fruit of Integrity.

The Force of Integrity

Table of Contents