MAY 4TH RIGHTEOUS GOD

Our Awesome and RIGHTEOUS God!

We must not be confused about the wisdom of God’s Word.  It is not a set of rules or a collection of “success formulas” that one might occasionally act upon in their life when they please and expect the same as 1 + 1 = 2 !!!  It is HIS Word Which must first work in our hearts .  As we “decrease that HE may increase” – HE will transform us into HIS likeness before we become the kind of people God will guide and bless.  It is Christ’s life that is righteous and HE wants to live HIS life out through you…OUR ONLY HOPE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS!

An unrighteous man can be a success in making money, but if you are desiring a righteous life, you must be rooted and focused on Christ!

Righteous and righteousness are used frequently in Proverbs.  READ: 12:28, 10:28, 8:20.  The wicked have hopes, but they are false hopes…we must examine our hearts to make sure we are among the righteous who truly have the REAL HOPE!

1.     True righteous is not just toeing the line and obeying the rules.  The Lord explains in the Sermon on the Mount that it is possible for us to obey the law outwardly while cultivating sin inwardly.  What is the condition of our hearts?  Matt. 5:21-48.  The Hebrew words righteous, righteousness, upright and uprightness describe ethical conduct that conforms to God’s standards and moral character that comes from a right relationship to the Lord and His Word. 

*Our God is righteous…holy and without sin and all that He says and does is right and just.  I John 1:5, Deut. 32:4, Psa. 11:7

*God’s Word is righteous.  Prov. 8:6, 9, Psa. 119:138.  The Word of God reveals the God of the Word.  We can trust Both!

Deut. 4:33,36  When we hear or read HIS Word, there also comes a responsibility…to OBEY.  Deut. 4:40, Heb. 12:25.

*God’s Acts are righteous  Jeremiah 9:24  Daniel 9:14  We may question God when certain circumstances enter our lives that we do not particularly want to welcome.  The LORD never does anything wrong!  Zeph. 3:5 READ.

*God wants His people to be righteous!  Exodus 19:5-6 READ.  And Jesus repeats in Matthew 5:48.  The problem, of course, is that we are an imperfect people! We are sinners until we receive Christ…John 1:12 READ,  a SAINT, “new creation…old things passed away”; yet because of living in an earth suit (the flesh…and the old highways of sin imprinted on our flesh computer, a SAINT can still choose to sin although no longer a sinner by position or condition or behavior – a saint that may sin by a choice of her/his will!  Proverbs makes it clear that man, even tho saved, can still sin.  BUT WE SHOULD ALWAYS CHOOSE NOT TO – HE gives the grace to not sin!!!

*God provides righteousness for those who will accept it.  The LORD Jesus Christ did it all!  I Peter 3:18, 2:24 READ  God justifies – declares righteous – the ungodly, not when they do good works but when they put their faith in Christ.  Romans 4:5

The only way to be righteous before God is to trust Jesus Christ and receive His righteousness as God’s free gift Romans 5:17, II Cor. 5:21.  Then we can begin to walk “the path of righteousness” and enjoy the blessings of the Lord.  READ 15:9, Matt. 5:6

When God’s people are right with Him, He leads them in right paths…4:11, and teaches them right things 8:6.  Their hearts and minds are full of right thoughts 12:5 and their lips speak right words…23:16.  Their work is right 21:8 because God works in them and through them to accomplish His will.  Phil. 2:12-13.

 

2.   The Path of Righteousness

The Lord desires:  2:20 READ.  Don’t take the detours v. 13, 18

We must wisely choose our path!!!  To be HIS path for us!!!  Our path determines our destination and determines the quality of life we’ll experience along the way. 

On the path of the righteous,

* God’s people experience His DIRECTION…11:5, 3:5-6, Acts 22:14, Eph. 6:6, John 7:17. 

*…experience DELIVERANCE 11:6  We shall certainly experience trials and testings, but the Lord promises to make them turn out for good Rom. 8:28, Pro. 34:17.  Obedience to the Lord keeps us from many troubles, but when we do suffer, He promises to bring us through. 12:13.

*We have God’s PROVISION for all we need if we are walking in His wisdom.  8:20-21.  This is not an encouragement for us to jump on the “health-wealth-success” bandwagon.  Proverbs was originally written for Jews under the Old Covenant, under that convenant, material blessings were part of God’s promise.  Deut. 28:1-14.  Believers today can be sure of God’s provision for their every need as they obey His will Phil 4:19, Matt 6:24-34.  It sometimes looks to us as tho the righteous are suffering and the wicked prospering, but faith see beyond today and considers where the Godless end up.  Psa. 73.  Prov. 16:8.  Our real prosperity isn’t here on earth, but in glory when we see the Lord.  13:21. 

 

3.   The Influence of Righteousness. 

When God blesses the righteous, He does it so we can share the blessing with others.  Gen. 12:2 READ.  Psa. 1…produces fruit for OTHERS to enjoy Prov. 11:28,30. 

CIRCLES OF INFLUENCE:

*They are blessed in their character.  We will all have glorified bodies like that of our Lord.  Phil 3:20-21, I John 3:1-3…we will enjoy heaven perhaps in different amounts…????

The development of spiritual perception, a Godly appetite, and the ability to choose the best Phil 1:9-11 is one of blessed by products of a holy walk with God.  The more Christ increases in our lives, the less we enjoy the “entertainment” of this world and long for the enrichment of the world to come. 

Godly character comes from feeding on the Word and taking time to be holy.  Prov. 9:9.  Even reproof helps the Godly person to mature v. 8

The righteous are kind and generous 21:26 and show their kindness in many ways 29:7, 12:10 

*They are blessed in their home.  3:33, 14:11, 12:7, 20:7, 24:3-4, 14:1 

One of the greatest rewards in life is to be a blessing to your children and grandchildren.  Psa. 37:25, Prov. 13:22 … applies even more to spiritual treasures. 

Men STRAY from home much today.  27:8 About 17 % of the population relocates each year, but in ancient Israel people stayed close to home.  Then a person who strayed from home was either up to no good or had to leave because of family problems.  …Spiritually, we must not stray from the example of our Godly ancestors or the spiritual treasures they left us.  How tragic when children and grandchildren ridicule and reject the spiritual heritage of their family and turn instead to the ways of the world. 

*They are blessed as citizens and leaders.  11:10-11, 29:2.  Israel was a monarchy and the king was expected to rule in the fear of the Lord.  20:8, 26, 16:12, 25:5.  God chastened Israel when they imitated the sins of the pagan nations…God would not tolerate the sin of idolatry.  God blessed His people, but when an ungodly king ascended the throne, the Lord withdrew His blessing and left them to their own devices.  It would seem that there was always a FAITHFUL REMNANT!!!  Malachi 3:16.

The principle still stands of Prov. 14:34.  National leaders cannot escape the judgment of God when they lead the people away from God’s holy standards.  Legalizing sin doesn’t make it right.  Thomas Jefferson wrote, “Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just!” 

In a democracy where leadership is elected and not inherited, the Lord’s remnant must exert as much influence for righteousness as possible; certainly every believer ought to pray for those in authority.  I Timothy 2:1-8.  Proverbs 21:1. 

The main cause of the state of the nation is “The church collectively and believers individually aren’t doing their job in spreading righteousness.”  If the righteous remnant were spreading more salt and light, there would be less decay and darkness  Matt 5:13-16.  We have jobs to do:  pray for all in authority, win the lost, live Godly lives and raise Godly children.

Apart from the deep working of God’s Spirit in our hearts, there is no hope for our nation.  II Chron. 7:14. 

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He chose for His inheritance.”  Psa. 33:12