Righteousness protects

Welcome to the 7th month of the year! It marks the beginning of the second half.

Before the end of this year, the Lord will perfect all that concerns you.

God finished his work on the 6th day and on the 7th day he rested. May God give you rest from all your troubles this month, in Jesus name.

Make no mistake about it, righteousness preserves. Consider the following scriptures:

“We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.” 1John 5:18

Genesis 18:23 says, “And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?”

Job 36:7, “He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted.”

Holy living is a Kingdom demand for surviving in a corrupt world.

There is an aspect of righteousness that most people overlook. Our righteousness. It refers to two things: our good works and the righteousness that comes as a gift from God delivered through salvation.

Just like grace, righteousness is about being and doing. We become righteous when we get saved but conforming to and manifesting that nature constantly is a lifelong thing.

Our good works cannot save us but after we are saved, we must manifest new nature of righteousness through our deeds.

The Spirit and The Senses

There are two natures at war within us: the spirit and the flesh.

Romans 7:22-25, “For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: [23] But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. [24] O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? [25] I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God…”

The one we allow is the one that gains pre-eminence.

The Works Of The Flesh

Galatians 5:19-21, “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, [20] Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, [21] Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Verse 9 (GW) translation says, “Now, the effects of the corrupt nature are obvious: illicit sex, perversion, promiscuity…”

The works of the flesh makes us enemies of God and must be shunned. They open a man up for satanic attacks and affliction.

We must stay righteous to be protected. Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, [23] Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Against such there is no law! You don’t need to be afraid of punishment when you have not committed an infringement of the law.

Grace and Righteousness

Genesis 6:8-9, “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. [9] These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.”

Here we see a beautiful picture of the relationship between right living and grace. God pours His grace upon the upright. God’s grace spared the lives of Noah and his family when the then known world was destroyed with a flood that lasted for months. You cannot live recklessly and expect grace to continue to flow in your life (Romans 6:1-2).

You must become dead to sin. You must carry your cross and die daily.

There is nothing more important in a man’s life than to be in right standing with God. You cannot walk with a God whose values you do not share or agree with. God is eager to help you and bless you, but I like you to understand that it cannot be on your own terms. Your destiny is too important to leave in the hands of your inferior, inadequate and infective strategies and values. He is wise and all-knowing, so, it is only reasonable for Him to expect you to do what He says and not want you think. Your thinking is too shallow to take you to the level He desires for you. He created you for a certain level of impact and He knows how best you can deliver that impact.

You must understand then that there is a lifestyle that is compatible with the level of success you seek and can only be realised when that lifestyle is embraced. There are principles that are compatible with life in the Kingdom of God or even life generally that if violated will disqualify you from receiving and enjoying the promises that life offers.

You need to understand that you were made by God and therefore He knows how best you can operate successfully, not just for a short while, but for a long time. Anyone who decides to ignore the manufacturers guide will not enjoy the product he spent so much to purchase. Embracing righteousness is key if you really want to succeed and be preserved.

Righteousness not only preserves, it promotes. The Bible says in Proverbs 14:34, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin (unrighteousness) is a reproach to any people.”

While you are on the journey to perfection, God renews His mercy on you every single day to protect you and all that you have. Lamentations 3:22-23, “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. [23]“They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”

Jesus Is Our Only Hope

Finally, Jesus Christ is God’s ordained Man to deliver righteousness to humanity. This was achieved through His death and resurrection.

Like we said earlier, there is grace to become the righteousness of God and whatever God wants one to become, and grace to do whatever God has called one to do. No one can stay righteous without Christ empowering him or her. Jesus said in John 15:5, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”

First you need to get saved. Then you build a strong relationship with Christ and grow daily in this relationship through prayer, studying of the Bible, etc.

Jesus is the way to God.

You and your family will be spared from this deadly covid-19 pandemic, in Jesus name!

Have a blessed and prosperous second half of the year!

Bishop Dr. Charles Olowojoba is the General Overseer of Dayspring Bible Church Worldwide with HQ in Abuja, Nigeria & President, Dayspring Christian Ministries Int’l. Website: www.dayspringcmi.org e-mail: [email protected] Help line: 08035150515