JESUS THE TRUTH Gods Righteousness GODS RIGHTEOUSNESS Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness

(Mat 6:33). Thus said our Lord, Jesus Christ, when He was on this earth, two thousand year ago. The word First is used to underline the importance of seeking the kingdom of God before all things. viz food, shelter, clothing, education, job, marriage etc., But, it is not the case with everyone. Therefore, let us teach our children and the people alike, to seek the kingdom of God first and then depend on Him for all things which He shall add unto us. After seeking the kingdom, (i.e., the rule of God in your life) seek His righteousness. When one is born again, he sees the kingdom of God. Being born in flesh, we must also be born of the Spirit (Gods Spirit). Then, only you can see the kingdom of God (Inwardly Visible) (John 3:3). Likewise, we must also be born of water to enter the kingdom of God (John 3:5). Our Lord, Jesus Christ, Himself had shown the way. When He was on this earth and at the earthly age of 30, He went to John, the Baptist, to be baptised by him. Thus spoke He Permit me to be baptized for it is the fulfillment of all righteousness (Mat 3:15). Immersion is the real baptism prescribed by the Bible and this is the righteousness of God. It is obedience. Fulfillment of righteousness. Righteousness is right action before God. Believe and then be baptized is the real key to salvation. (Mark 16:16) When you accept Jesus into your heart, after confessing your sins, whole heartedly, you are born again (Salvation of God). Then you find peace and happiness flowing through for having done the righteous work. According to 1

Roman 14:17 this is the state of the mind, body and soul. The Lord Jesus made you righteous in the sight of God and gave you the Spirit of adoption whereby you stand before the Father and call Him Abba Father (Rom. 8: 15). Therefore, we have access to the throne of Grace to obtain mercy and find grace to help in times of need (Heb 4:16). If you want to be in the kingdom of God, you have to seek His righteousness and do the same. Behold the days are coming says the Lord, That I will raise to David a branch of righteousness. A king shall reign and prosper. And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely: Now this is His name by which He will be called THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS (Jer. 23:5, 6). Jesus is the Lord and our righteousness (Jer. 33:16). He is the righteous servant and by His knowledge He shall justify many for He shall bear their inequities (Is. 53:11) He is the Sun of Righteousness (Mala 4:2). The righteousness of God is to believe Jesus as the Lord and Saviour. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness (Rom 10:10). Our righteousnesses are all like filthy rags. We all fade as a leaf and our inequities like the wind (Is.64: 6).Israelites, being ignorant of Gods righteousness, were seeking to establish their own righteousness, had not submitted to the righteousness of God (Rom. 10:3). If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your JESUS THE TRUTH Gods Righteousness 2

heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness (Rom 10:9, 10). The Righteousness of God is revealed from faith (Rom1: 17). Behold your king is coming to you. He is just and the saviour, lowly and

riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zech 9:9). Jesus is the saviour of the world. He shall save your spirit, soul and body from evil, sickness, danger, disaster and from perdition. We, having died to sins, might live for righteousness because He bore our sins in His body on the Calvary tree (I Peter 2:24). He will lead us in the paths of righteousness. (Ps. 23:3) According to the New Testament, which is not of letters (II Corin 3:6), the Spirit of God takes the prominent and dominant role to guide and lead us in the paths of righteousness. It is our bounden duty to obey His instructions. Those who listen to the inner voice and if they dont obey implicitly (unquestioningly), or keep doubting the voice whether it is of God or demon, or in unbelief, God makes them believe the lie (II Thess 2:11, 12). When God speaks, He speaks the truth and nothing but the truth. God is not a man to tell a lie (Num. 23:19). He speaks the truth and if you dont believe it, the righteousness of God is to make you believe the lie. Many dont know this truth. That is why the devil (the Liar) is allowed to speak. Another major debacle for the Pentecostals is unnecessary fear. Fear not, this term is used more than 360 times in the Bible but people still live in fear. God who lives in them says fear not. But they cannot trust the Lord, the protector, the Saviour, the Omnipotent, Omniscient and Omnipresent God. Hence, they are given up to their fears. It is the righteousness of God. We see this in Jobs Book. Job confesses for the thing, I greatly feared, has come upon me and what I dreaded has happened to me. What job really feared? My children are sinning against God and would have cursed God in their hearts, so, my children will perish. This was the constant fear that was in him for which cause he was offering burnt sacrifices for their sake. Like wise, if you unnecessarily fear

about something and dont drive out that fear, God will give in to your fears. This is the righteousness of God. Never entertain fear and dont develop fear. Fear God. With the merciful, He will show Himself merciful, with the pure, He will show Himself blameless and with the devious, He will show himself Shrewd. (Ps. 18: 25, 26). The perverse person is an abomination to the Lord (Prov. 3:32). Why this perversity (waywardness) comes? It is because the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked. (Jer 17:9). If you are perverse, the Lord will also deal with you perversely. This is the righteousness of God. Balaam is the best example to note. We read this Balaam, the prophet of God in the book of Numbers 22 nd chapter. When Balaam went out to inquire of God for the very first time, (12 th Verse) God said you shall not go, you shall not curse the people for they are blessed. Then the king Balak again tempted him by sending Princes more numerous and most honourable men. They said we will honour you greatly and JESUS THE TRUTH Gods Righteousness 3

will do whatever you say, please come and curse the people. Knowing God that He does not change (His mind) or action and He is not a man to relent (I Sam 15:29), Balaam again approached God. What would be the answer from God? It is anybodys guess. For the devious, He is shrewd and with the perverse. He will deal perversely. So, the Lord Said Go But, if you read the 22 nd verse, it says

Gods anger was kindled (aroused) because he went. Why God must get angry when He had said go? It is always the first answer from God will be established. Our God does not change His statement. Yesterday today and forever, He is the same. Many believers do not know this truth. Always they stumble, because God will give in to their perverseness. This is the righteousness of God. Whenever you come to God to inquire of Him on any matter, open your heart to receive the instruction. Never have any reservation. If you have set your mind on something and waiting for God to say yes, He will give into your desire. Openness is needed. Must be ready to take it or leave it. Mostly 90% of the Christians (Born again) suffer from the wrong choice. Even lot, we see in Genesis, committed the mistake of choosing Sodom for a dwelling as it appeared prosperous. Never inquired of God. In Matrimonial matters people suffer from the wrong choice. But, they comfort themselves by saying that they suffer for Christs sake (deceive themselves). So, be doubly careful when you inquire of God. Not all will accept Gods counsel because they see the exterior (fleshy); never can understand in the Spirit. God, who is Holy, shall be hallowed in righteousness and exalted in judgment (Is. 5:16). There cannot be an iota of blemish in His Holiness or judgment. That is why the angels of God always praise Him Holy Holy Holy. They dont simply praise Him like us but they understand Him and see His works. The righteousness of God is revealed in the laws of God (Mat 23:23). We have to read the laws of God study them and store them. It starts from Exodus 20 th chapter to 23 rd

chapter and continues in parts in Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Priest should keep the knowledge and know the laws of God. People will seek the word from his mouth. (Mala 2:7). People are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you from being priest for me. Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children. (Hosea 4:6). To day, we are not able to live in peace and harmony because we all have forsaken the laws of God. But, it is the basic foundation for our life on the earth. If every single brick of law is used to build the life, the structure would have been firm and strong, unshaken by the rain and storm. This is the real reinforced cement concrete needed for the right structure. But, the world is living in adversity and persisting in perversity. Had our ancestors diligently followed the laws of God, the world would not have been in this chaotic condition. Man lusted after many things and never kept the laws of God. Even, Pentecostals drifted away, not understanding the laws of God and forsaking it as an old testament. Now, to impose these laws and bring us back, the crust of the burden fell on the Holy Spirit. Though it is difficult, but it is the only option for a peaceful and JESUS THE TRUTH Gods Righteousness harmonious living. Let us not grieve the Spirit who is doing the fine job of moulding, chiseling and fashioning. All the commandments and laws of God are in letters, Hand written by the Lord Himself (Ex 24:12). Therefore, it is not meant to be changed. On the other hand, the New Testament which is not of letters is instructed by the Spirit (II Cor 3:6). Here, the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sins, righteousness and judgments (John 16:8). Holy Spirit puts the laws into our minds and write them on our hearts 4

(Heb 8: 10). Listen to the voice of God who is within you. Stop listening to the voice of men. You all have (Pentecostals) started of by the Spirit but ended up in flesh. Are you so foolish? (Gal 3:3). What was given to Moses in letters now being instructed by the Spirit. Doing good is the righteousness of God, Therefore to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin (James 4:17) (Prov 3:27). Do not say to your neighbour go and come back. And tomorrow I will give it (Prov 3: 28). You shall not harden your heart but you shall open your heart wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need. (Deut 15:7, 8) (I John 3:17). Listen and obey the instruction who speaks to you and convicts you. Also remember not to cast the childrens bread to the dogs (children are brothers of Gods family) Let the children of God be satisfied first (Mat 15: 26). Be good and lend hoping for nothing in return and your reward will be great and you will be the sons of the Most High. For He is kind to unthankful and evil. Therefore, be merciful just as your Father also is merciful (Luke 6:35, 36). Lend your time, strength, help, work, wisdom, knowledge money, power of God, the anointing and lessons you learnt from God. Good works are the righteousness of God. For , we are His workmanship, created in Jesus Christ for good works, which God prepared before hand, that we should walk in them ( Eph 2: 10).Jesus is the wine and we are the branches. If we stay in the wine, we will bear more fruit and without Him we can do nothing (John 15:5). No good can come out of us without Jesus. He, first changes us to become good and then only we will be able to do good. He who has begun the good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. (Phil 1:6). For there is not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin (Ecc

7:20).There is none who does good, No, not one (Ps. 53:3) Loose the bonds of wickedness and undo the heavy burdens. Let the oppressed go free, break every yoke, share your bread with the hungry and bring to your house the poor who are cast out and clothe the naked. These are the good works which God expects us to do (Is 58: 6, 7). In Mathew 25 th chapter, verses from 33 to 40, Jesus speaks to the sheep on His right. Come blessed of My Father, when I was hungry you fed Me and when I was thirsty, you gave drink when I was a stranger you took Me. In as much as you did it to one of the least of these, My brethren, you did it to Me. I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves (Matt 10:16). Beware of false prophets who JESUS THE TRUTH Gods Righteousness 5

come to you in sheeps clothing but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You know them by their fruits. Even so, every good tree bears good fruit but a bad tree bears bad fruit. Every tree, that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. (Hell) (Mat 7:15-19). Beware, savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among your own selves men will rise up, speaking perverse things to draw away the disciples after themselves (Acts 20:29, 30). Beware of wolves in sheeps clothing. Enquire of God. Be not like Joshua who flaunted his own compassion for the Gibeonites. In Joshuas 9 th Chapter we come across this. Joshua never enquired of God and made an agreement with the

Gibeonites only to suffer life-long. Be watchful, the Spirit of God can reveal everything. Obey the counsel of God. Learn and practice righteousness of God and then teach others. So that, all can walk uprightly. It is Gods righteousness to do the works of God. God expects us to perform His works on His behalf. He is willing to give us His power and authority. Every believer can do the works of God. In Jesus name, we can drive out demons, speak in tongues, take up serpents, lay hands on the sick to be healed (Mark 16: 17, 18). God is willing to give us power over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt us (Luke 10:19) Jesus, Himself, has said Whoever believes in Me, shall do the works that I do and greater works than these. (John 14:12). What are greater works? The blind see, the deaf hear, dumb speak and the lame walk. But, believer must become holy and perfect as Jesus is. He who believes in Him, can receive power and out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water (John 7:38). Holy Spirit is the living water. Whoever drinks the water will never thirst again, and the water will become in him a fountain of river springing up into everlasting life (John 4:14).Wherever this living water (River) goes through there will be healing and every thing will live (Is 47:9). When you lay your hands on the sick, the living water flows through you to heal the sick. Along the banks of the river, on both sides will grow all kinds of trees used for food and their leaves will not wither and their fruit will not fail (Ez. 47:12). Righteous Sacrifices Offering of sacrifices is the righteousness of God. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness. (Ps. 4:5) The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken and contrite heart He will not despise (Ps 51:17).Now, we dont need bulls and calves to sacrifice. But, we offer our bodies a living sacrifice holy, acceptable to God,

which is our reasonable service (Rom 12:1). For everyone will be seasoned with fire and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt (Mark. 9:49). Then, we shall be called the city of Righteousness and the faithful city (Is. 1:26). We present our bodies on the altar to be perfected as gold and silver. He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord an offering in Righteousness. (Mala 3:3). It is always better to go to the alter before going to the pulpit. As Paul says, I discipline my body and bring it into subjection lest when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified (I Cor 9:27). Let us also follow this. At the altar purification is done, all the unwanted characteristics must be burnt out. This is sanctification. It is needed for everyone. We have to become holy in deed, in action and in speech; Be Holy, For I am Holy (I Peter 1:16). Without purity of JESUS THE TRUTH Gods Righteousness 6

heart, none can see God. Who can dwell in the holy Mountain? Who will abide in His tabernacle? (Ps.15:1-5). We are chastised by God so that we can become holy. Why chastisement comes? We do not hearken unto the voice of God. If you hear the voice of God and obey implicitly, there will not be any chastisement. But, we are chastised for our profit that we may be partakers of Holiness (Heb 12:10) Do not forget to do good and to share, for such sacrifices God is well pleased. (Heb 13:16). When you make a feast, (dinner or supper) do not call your friends, your brothers, your relatives or rich neighbours lest they also invite you back and you be repaid. But invite the poor, the maimed the lame, the blind. And you will be blessed because they cannot repay you, for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just (Luke14:12-14). The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. Sacrifice the sacrifices of

thanks giving and declare His works with rejoicing. (Ps 107:22). Let us continually offer the sacrifices of praise to God, that is the fruit of our lips. (Heb 13:15). When you seek to worship Him, offer the best gifts to Him and bow down to worship Him. Let us seek the Lord, our Righteousness, Jesus Christ, always and let us do the righteousness of God. And He shall lead us in the paths of righteousness. Let us offer our soul, sprit and body to be like Him. Glory to God, The Father, Son, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. In His Service Ps. & Ppt. D. Solomon +91- 9341297734