The 3 Ps Of Righteousness

“…to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Christ” (Romans 3:26).

The Greek word for righteousness is “Dikaiosunē,” which essentially means divine approval, divine verdict or divine justice.  Apostle Paul makes us to realize there is a divine perspective to righteousness vis-à-vis the human perspective (Romans 10:3). This write-up seeks to highlight the divine perspective of righteousness.

The Position or Platform of Righteousness:  Every child of God stands on the platform of righteousness before God, whether he or she realizes it or not. God declares sinners who exercise faith in Christ (as Savior and Lord) not guilty, and He accepts and causes them to approach Him by the blood of Jesus. He makes them to stand on the platform of righteousness before Him. King David, an Old Testament saint with uncanny insight into the New Testament encapsulated this reality when he said: “Blessed is the man You choose, and cause to approach You that he may dwell in Your courts …” (Psalm 65:4). This truth is the whole essence of our redemption: that a just God justifies sinners who demonstrate faith in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:26). Righteousness is an imputed gift.

The Posture of Righteousness: Posture here means an inward attitude or stance or viewpoint. Abraham’s sins were cancelled and blotted out, and he was declared righteous because he had faith in God (Romans 4:1-3). He was willing to obey God, so he took risk and followed God blindly. His inner posture and desire was inclined to pleasing God at all times, even to his own detriment. A posture of righteousness comes by carrying the mentality that we are justified before a just and holy God because of the shed blood of Christ (Titus 3:4-7). This mentality is different from when one thinks he is vindicated because of his or her own righteousness and good deeds.

The Practice of Righteousness: Anyone who deliberately violates the law even if he is a law keeper and enforcer is still a lawless person (1 John 3:4). Many policemen, who in the course of duty murdered in the name of self-defense, are prosecuted and punished, if found guilty. Of what use is a sown seed which never germinates into a fruit-bearing tree? Yes, we have the seed of righteousness in us, but the only way we glorify God is when we allow the seed within to grow and bring forth good fruits to our world (Matthew 5:16). Apostle John wrote: “Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous” (1 John 3:7).  The righteousness we practice is akin to how light dispels darkness in the world.

CONCLUSION: The above-listed points capture what divine perspective of righteousness is about.  Jesus was made sin apart from His righteous deeds; we were also made righteous apart from our sinful deeds. Now that we have been made righteous, Heaven expects and demands from us works and practices of righteousness.

 

Operating In God's Economy

And do not seek what you should eat or drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the Kingdom of God and all these things shall be added to you” (Luke 12:29-31).

God has an economic system that is diametrically opposed to this world’s system. As born again believers in God’s Kingdom, it is imperative for us to know how His economic system operates so as to avail ourselves of the blessings therein.

God’s economy is free from anxiety: Our opening text says God knows we need material things. As a good Father, He provides sufficiently for His children. It is only weird children who will doubt their parents’ willingness to give them the things they need, particularly when they know their parents can afford it. It is an assumption for many children that their parents will provide for their needs. The Psalmist emphatically says he has never seen the righteous forsaken and his seed begging for bread. It is necessary for us to also see God as our Source and Provider, and not just our Savior and Healer. Anxieties about finances and supplies simply shows we have little faith (Luke 12:28).

God’s economy is free from greed: The wealth of the world is predicated on and motivated by greed. The craving to have more and more rules the world’s system. Jesus said a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions even when he has a lot (Luke 12:15). Though God wants us to have things, He doesn’t want things to have us. Things are not God. One of the reasons why God commands us to give generously and regularly is to avoid been consumed by greed. A man of God said: “the only proof you have conquered greed is your giving”

God’s economy is not just monetary: The net worth of an individual is his Assets less Liabilities. Money can only answer to things, and not all life’s issues.  For believers in Christ, our net worth is much more than riches or what it can offer; our real asset is our relationship with God (Jeremiah 9:23-24). God told Abraham (and by extension us) that He is His exceeding great reward (Genesis 15:1). True riches are more than things. True riches refer to the ability to get prayers answered, ability to hear from God, ability to have peace of mind in the midst of turmoil. It is also good health, divine favor, divine wisdom, etc.

God’s economy is a partnership: Jesus entered Peter’s boat on Lake Gennesaret by purpose. There were two boats, but He entered Peter’s and ended his financial struggles and toil (Luke 5:1-11). Tithing is neither an old nor new covenant issue; it is actually a timeless covenant issue. We are stewards of God’s possessions because He owns all things; we don’t own anything. He owns it all. This understanding should help us surrender our finances, business and careers to Him. When He becomes our senior partner indeed, our heavens open and lack disappears. God is looking for trust worthy partners like Peter.

God’s economy is a mindset:  God’s economy rest solely on the law of seed time and harvest (Genesis 8:22). It is about sowing and anticipating the harvest from the seed intentionally planted. It is about having a mind that seeks to glorify God in all things and at all times. It is a mindset of possibilities in spite of odds. Isaac planted in famine and his crops yielded supernaturally (Genesis 26:1-3, 13-14). It is a mindset that doesn’t give up. Isaac kept on digging wells till he got to Rehoboth (the place of his enlargement). This mindset is totally opposed to that of this world. In the world you accumulate for leverage; in God’s economy you liquidate for leverage (Proverbs 11:24-26).

CONCLUSION: Are you a bona fide member of the Kingdom of God. If not, accept Jesus as Lord and Savior today. If you are, are you operating fully in God’s economy? Receive faith, courage and a heart of obedience to begin to operate God’s economy.

 

Ade(Gboyega) ESAN

www.rccgpittsburgh.net

http://gboyegae.blogspot.com

Your Thoughts Are Entities

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).

An entity is synonymous to something real, living and separate. An entity is an object not necessarily material. Many times, we don't think of our thoughts as objects that are real and living. A certain man of God said the most important things in life are your thoughts, and the most powerful things in life are the words that we speak. Our words emanate from our thoughts and thinking patterns (Matthew 12:34). Below are some things to consider:

Thoughts Are Real: Our values and beliefs are shaped by the way we think and all these determine who we are. Our destinies are also determined by our value and belief systems. Jesus said: "The good man from his inner good treasure flings forth good things, and the evil man out of his inner evil storehouse flings forth evil things"(Matthew 12:35, AMP). What we produce in our lives are the results of our thinking patterns.

Thoughts Are Changeable: The Bible enjoins us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2).  Humans are “programmable” creatures. Our brains register events of pain and pleasure, and have a tendency to replay and repeat them even when they are destructive. Habits are formed when we keep allowing the brain to replay events of pleasure. The Word of God and the Holy Spirit in the believer are powerful change agents. As we fix our minds on the Word of God, we gain quality and higher thoughts that eventually produce quality mindsets and people.

Thoughts Are Entities: We live life from within us. We draw inspiration, and otherwise, from our minds and thinking patterns. Until God convinced Gideon he was a mighty man of valor and capable of defeating the Midianites, Gideon wasn't ready to make any move against them. But once his thinking pattern changed about himself, he made the move against the Midianites (Judges 7:14-16). The battle of life is won or lost, first and foremost, in the minds of men. Thoughts are entities.

Thoughts Are Controllable: The clarion call is to always be conscious of your thoughts. Our main text above says we should focus our thinking on noble things. The Amplified version of 1 Corinthians 14:20 says: "Brethren, do not be children [immature] in your thinking; continue to be babes in [matters of] evil, but in your minds be mature [men]." Adult people take charge, while infants don't. We are to take charge of our thoughts (Proverbs 4:23). Psychologists tell us it takes approximately 21 days to change a particular thinking pattern.

Conclusion: Repentance is always as a result of deep, reflective thinking. The prodigal son, upon seeing how low his life had sunk, made up his mind to go back to his father's house, where there is abundance. God has given us the responsibility to decide what manner of life we want. It's not enough to desire a quality lifestyle; we must be willing to pay the price for it by changing our thinking, and as a result our ways. Have a blessed month.