Tag Archives: Righteousness

Friday Proverb – The Desire of the Righteous

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As believers, our natural inborn tendency leans towards works of self-indulgence, rather than works of righteousness.  The struggle within us, mirrors the twins  (Esau and Jacob)  wrestling within their mother, Rebekah.  It is a continuous battle between our flesh, and God’s Holy Spirit.  The strength of one over the other, depends entirely on what we feed them.  If we indulge our flesh with worldly fare, the Spirit will become weaker.  These Proverb studies, and other such materials, are intended to feed the Spirit of true believers. 

Proverbs 11:23

 The desire of the righteous is only good:

As born-again Christians, we have the Righteousness of Christ within us.  We Have no righteousness of our own.  The holy righteousness living inside you, desires only good.  If the Holy Spirit is your dominant “twin” you will desire only good.  On the other-hand, if the flesh is the dominant twin, you will desire the opposite of what is good.

For example, when pondering the evil antics of worldly politicians and other leaders, do you sometimes fantasize that a lightening bolt, or some other act of God, would strike them down, and put them out of your misery?  If someone has wronged you – do you long for them to “get what’s coming to them”? 

Beloveds – that kind of attitude is your flesh talking.  The best thing to do is rebuke it, and turn to the Lord in prayer.  Rather than wishing for revenge, or “inexorable justice” on the workers of iniquity, why not pray for them?  Pray for the most evil of them.  Yes, it is true, that some individuals are beyond redemption, but that is not for us to determine.  It is for us to pray, and pray, and pray.

but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.

 

The lost have a truly bleak future in eternity.  As the children of God, we should not desire that for anyone.  Though your prayers for the wicked may seem like they go unanswered, it is a fact, that if your heart is right with the Lord, He hears all your prayers, even if you are praying for the worst miscreant in the world.  We should desire their good, and the only good for them, is salvation in Jesus Christ.  It is a terrible, awful, thing – when someone dies in their sins.  And when you pray for that lost soul – make sure you mean it.

1 Timothy 2:1-3

2 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour

Please reread verse 2 again – do you see what that says?  It is conditional.  If we don’t pray for those in authority over us – we will have persecution!  Obviously, the Body of Christ has dropped the ball on this one.

sage

Friday Proverb – Deliverance and Direction

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Proverbs 11:6

 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them:

Hmm.  Easier said than done – right?  Not really.  Of course, it is nigh impossible if one relies on their own righteousness, but the Bible implicitly states in many places, that only God is righteous, and that we, miserable sinners that we are,  may receive His righteousness through faith in the death, the burial, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  His perfect righteousness is given to us, by Grace.

Philippians 3:9

And be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.

We are delivered from death and judgment only by recognizing and accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior.  He saves us from eternal death in the Lake of Fire, and promises us an eternity with Him.

but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.

Just as naughty children never think they will be found out – the sinner in rebellion refuses to acknowledge what needs to be done.  They willfully choose the darkness of this world, and the Proverb states they will be taken in their own naughtiness.  Not the misdeeds of another – but their very own  misdeeds.  Sinners in rebellion will not be able to blame anyone (as is the popular trend today) because the Word says the blame will be squarely laid at their own feet.

In the universities and satanically controlled media, herculean effort is made to convince the lost that their condition is not sin and damnation, but that their misery is caused by others.  Hence, the creation of the blame game.  The evil one does not want man to repent, and he will do everything in his considerable power to cause the sinner to either kill themselves before they can get saved – or  contrive to bedazzle the sinner with psychology and fleshly enticements.  But God, in His mercy, has given us a narrow pathway of escape. . .

2 Peter 1:3-4

3 According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

sage

Friday Proverb – Riches Will Not Save Anyone

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Proverbs 11:4

 Riches profit not in the day of wrath:

A great many articles are written about the underground bunkers of the elites and super-rich.  These fortresses amount to vast underground cities, with every comfort known to man.  Even the not-so-rich, have succumbed to the notion, that they can “ride-out” Armageddon.  Bible believers should know, that those who are truly born again – will not need to “hide out,”  because they won’t be here.  Not only that – but it would be impossible to do so.   This is not to say that you should not be prepared for natural disasters, and not so natural ones like losing your job.  What is being discussed here is the Day of Wrath.

Revelation 6:16-17

16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

17 For the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

Zephaniah 1:18

Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord‘s wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of His jealousy: for He shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.

but righteousness delivereth from death.

rapture

It is of utmost importance to understand, that you have no righteousness of your own.  ZERO.  When you are born again – you can possess His righteousness, and it is overflowing and enough!  The good works and deeds you do after being saved, will gain you rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ.  And that is a wonderful thing to work for.

Philippians 3:9

And be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.

Revelation 16:7

7 And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Thy judgments.

 James 5:1-8

5 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.

2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.

3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.

4 Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.

5 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.

6 Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.

7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

sage

The Rewards of Crowns – Part 4

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How pleasant it is, during these perilous times, to contemplate the rewards and peace The LORD has promised us in His Word.  Thus far in our study of the crowns we have covered:

  1. THE CROWN OF LIFE
  2. THE CROWN INCORRUPTIBLE
  3. THE CROWN OF REJOICING

THE CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

Not to be confused with the “righteousness of God,”  which the believer receives when he accepts Jesus Christ as his Savior.  When a person is born again of the Holy Spirit – he is “made the righteousness of God in Him.”  This is saving righteousness, and it is a gift of God,  which the lost accept by choice. 

2 Corinthians 5:21

For He hath made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.

The “crown of righteousness” is a reward, not a gift, to be earned only by the saved.  If the believer looks for, and loves the doctrine of the Second Coming – it will be evident in his whole life.  We have no finer example of this than Paul:

Paul fought a spiritual battle his entire Christian life – and won!  2 Tim. 4:7 – I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. . .

Paul never surrendered to the enemies of righteousness!  Eph.6:12 – For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Paul had a set course to travel, and he maintained his course, never detouring around the rocky places, neither did he, at any point – LOOK BACK!  Luke 9: 61,62 –  61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.  62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Paul traveled the entire length of the course set before him with his eyes fixed fully on CHRIST!  Phil.1:6 – Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. . .

Paul never, in his entire walk, betrayed  a single one of the great doctrines – preaching the “whole counsel of God.”  Acts 20:24-31 –

24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.

26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.

27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood.

29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

Paul’s vision was fixed so firmly on Christ – that he looked ahead  to the “Judgment Seat of Christ,” where believers who “love His appearing,” will receive the Crown of Righteousness. 

2 Timothy 4:8

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.

second coming

Do you see how important it is for you, as a believer, to focus your longing on The Second Coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ – and not on the antics of the son of perdition?  This crown may be awarded to any believer – who  intensely longs for and loves the Second Coming of Christ more than anything – more than this country, more than their freedom, more than their life.