RIGHTEOUSNESS - WHAT IS IT?

What is righteousness? Who can obtain it? How?

Webster's Dictionary defines righteousness as, "the quality of being morally right or justifiable: free from guilt or sin". We are called to be then righteousness of God. However, Genesis 6:5 describes the hearts of men as continually evil. If that's the case, then I guess that wipes us all out, doesn’t it? How can we be the righteousness of God if our hearts are, by nature, evil?

ROMANS 3:10 10 As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one;

GENESIS 6:5-6 5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.

If you’re honest with yourself, you know that there are times when you have grieved the heart of God - we all have. Deep down, everyone can be guilty and selfish. For some, it’s obvious for everyone to see. Their actions are selfish and they don't care who knows. For others, what may seem like a selfless act, may actually be manipulated for their own personal gain, or for recognition. Their actions have to do with how they want others to perceive them. Rather than doing things with a pure heart, their motives are wrong. The second example is more dangerous than the first, because their actions are done seeking the approval of man, rather than God!

This would be a good time to reflect on your life and examine your heart. What motivates you? Are you openly selfish? Do you do "good deeds", hoping for other people's approval? What is in your heart?

If you can see yourself in the first person, and you are just plain selfish, then it's time to repent and start correcting those things in your life! The Lord will help you!

However, if you can see yourself in the second person, you may need to deal with a religious spirit. A religious spirit doesn't concern itself with the motives of God, but rather how we behave and are perceived to others. Often, this is accompanied by a spirit of witchcraft. This doesn't have to do with witches and spells, so don't think that. A spirit of witchcraft uses control and manipulation to get what it wants. It will twist the motives of our heart and thoughts to be constantly seeking the approval of man. There is no rest for this person.

That being said, if we do selfless acts and deeds for others with a pure heart, then we can find rest and great joy! We are strengthened and energized by our obedience to God and our love for others. That's when we have great peace in our hearts!

THERE IS HOPE! WHAT A GOOD GOD!

By now you may be wondering, how do we obtain this righteousness? God, and God alone, through his great mercy and love for us sent Jesus to justify us and make us righteous.

ROMANS 5:9 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

2 CORINTHIANS 5:21 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

1 JOHN 1:9 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The key here is to CONFESS IT, whatever it is and he will forgive you and Cleanse you, Many of us need to ask the Lord what is hidden sin in me that I don’t know? Show me holy spirit that I may be free of it. As we allow him to cleanse us we can now receive all the blessings of God in Deuteronomy 28 and this great promise here and Isaiah 54:17.

ISAIAH 54:17 17 No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the LORD.

THIS IS TRULY THE GOODNESS OF GOD 1.No weapon formed against us shall prosper is his protection 2.Every tongue which rises against us in judgment WE shall condemn, he has giving US that authority to do it. 3.This as our heritage for being his, meaning we are to subdue and take dominion, He gave us this mandate in the garden of Eden when he created us in his image, so we are to control, rule and reign over this earth over the birds of the air, over the fish of the sea over the cattle, and everything that creeps on the earth. He knew there was already evil in the world so this mandate was not to do this over each other, but those things on his list as well as the principalities and powers of the air. Because in the New Testament Paul teaches us our battle is not against flesh and blood. 4. He himself has made us righteous. SAYS GOD

GENESIS 1:26-28 26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

THE BLESSINGS THE 1st REQUIREMENT IS TO RECEIVE JESUS THE 2nd IS OBEDIENCE ( IF YOU OBEY )

DEUTERONOMY 28:1-14 1 “Now it shall come to pass, If you diligently OBEY the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. 2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you OBEY the voice of the LORD your God: 3 “Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country. 4 “Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks. 5 “Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. 6 “Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out. 7 “The LORD will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways. 8 “The LORD will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you. 9 “The LORD will establish you as a holy people to Himself, just as He has sworn to you, IF you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in His ways. 10 Then all peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they shall be afraid of you. 11 And the LORD will grant you plenty of goods, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your ground, in the land of which the LORD swore to your fathers to give you. 12 The LORD will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. 13 And the LORD will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, IF you heed the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them. 14 So you shall not turn aside from any of the words which I command you this day, to the right or the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

PRAYER Lord I know that it says in your word that all these things are yes and amen in You. I know that I have fallen short in areas of my life, and your goodness is more than I deserve. Cleanse me now, and lead me in the ways of righteousness. Forgive me of the sins I know I’m committing and also those I do not know. I ask you to show me and cleanse me so I can walk into my inheritance of all you have for me. Teach me how to subdue and take dominion! You created me to do this, because Your Wod says that I was formed in your image. I praise your holy name forever! May it be so now, in Jesus' name.

Amen