Righteousness Revealed

My mission today is to enable you to feel better about yourself and more confident about your life when you leave today than when you arrived

Most people can benefit from feeling better about themselves.

    *The way we look
    *Comparing with others
    *Most tend to be hard and critical
    *Achievements not enough
    *Feeing that we are not good enough
    *A compliment is received with amazement!

GOD THINKS YOU’RE WONDERFUL – your picture is on his desk!

Love others as we love ourselves.
Too often we love others without loving ourselves. But I love others better when I am secure in God’s love for me.

Today we will look at righteousness and the some of its fruits

If I know and am settled and secure in my relationship with God - then everything else in life is strengthened

The message of righteousness is a simple one – you can be right with God through Jesus Christ; for us and for the world.

Foundations scripture is Luke 18:9-14
This shows us two views on righteousness, one correct, the other false.
READ
See the different attitude. One had confidence in himself, the other in God.

RIGHTEOUSNESS IS ALL ABOUT WHAT GOD CAN DO FOR ME RATHER THAN WHAT WE CAN TRY AND DO FOR GOD

We are used to a system of WORKS for rewards
But the bible speaks of a system of GRACE, where we receive right standing with God by FAITH

2 Corinthians 5:21 TM GOD PUT THE WRONG ON HIM WHO NEVER DID ANYTHING WRONG SO WE COULD BE PUT RIGHT WITH GOD

It was the religious leaders of the day that had Jesus crucified. Pharisees/Sadducees – started out good but regressed into their own righteousness

Luke 11:46 ….you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.

We put burdens on ourselves in many ways: compare ourselves with others rather than running our race, feel we are not measuring up, overly critical of self

Newworldson has a song entitled “Wash Me Clean” - a mountain of regrets. Looking back and wishing “If Only” will hinder receiving the gift of righteousness and our sense of well-being.
God says “I will remember your sins no more” (Hebrews 10:17 paraphrased)

Matthew 11:29 NIV and in particular THE MESSAGE version
There is a peace, a rest, a sense of well-being when we walk with Jesus.

Romans 1:17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith”
The Bible says that faith without works is dead (James 2:17) BUT the works we do are not in our own strength, but the strength He provides.

Paul in Colossians 1:29 …I labour, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.

I love with His love
I forgive with His forgiveness
I face difficulties with God at my side and on my side
I am strong with His strength
I am wise with His wisdom

Romans 4:3 Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness
When we walk by faith God says we are righteous

Satan is the accuser, and sometimes I find he’s persistent. But we can just send it back because Romans 8:1 says there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus… He condemned sin in sinful man in order that the righteous requirements might be fully met in us

Some results of righteousness:

Our future is bright
Proverbs 4:18 The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day

We can expect blessings
Proverbs 10:6 Blessings crown the head of the righteous,

We can be optimistic
Proverbs 10:28 The prospect of the righteous is joy
(Not the world’s definition of an optimist : someone in possession of only half the facts!)

There is deliverance
Proverbs 11:8 The righteous man is rescued from trouble

We have influence
Proverbs 11:11 through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted

Prosperity
Proverbs 13:21 Prosperity is the reward of the righteous

We have God’s attention
Proverbs 15:29 The Lord hears the prayer of the righteous.

We have staying power
Proverbs 24:16 …though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again,

We have boldness
Proverbs 28:1 The righteous are as bold as a lion
DAVID and Goliath. We need boldness in life. Business deals. Standing confidently knowing you are OK with God and that He is with you
Romans 8:28 …If God is for us, who can be against us?

We have Protection
Isaiah 54:17 No weapon forged against us will prevail… WHY? …because “their RIGHTEOUSNESS is from me” declares the Lord

Paul Addison, 24/08/2008