In fighting the battle over Satan and the demons, the apostle
Paul told us in Ephesians 6 to put on the whole armor of God. The
second piece of armor he mentions is the "breastplate of
righteousness." It is that which covers the heart, to protect the
heart, to keep the heart safe. The "heart" is used in Scripture
for the DEEP TRUE EMOTIONS that lead to LOVING God in spirit and in
truth. We talk about the "heart strings" as like an instrument of
strings played in a way that brings harmony and true love towards
a person. Love songs are heart songs moving outwards in the right
wave length towards whom we have a heart felt love for; could be
boy-friend, girl-friend, wife, husband, mother, father, brother,
sister, or a friend.
It is the heart strings being plucked in the manner that
produces real quality and real "daily action" of works towards
the one that the heart has a deep love for.
Paul calls this piece of armor that we need to fight Satan
and evil, the "breastplate of righteousness."
Most of us instinctively know that righteousness means
"doing that which is right." But what is "right?" For some this
may be right in their eyes, while to another person the same
thing is "wrong." Humans on their own can make their own list of
what is right and what is wrong. And of course many do, living to
their own standard, and the attitude of "Well I see it this way"
philosophy.
But what does God say is His righteousness? Can we find
"righteousness" for how a person should conduct their lives, in
the Word of God. Yes we can! The Word of the Eternal is not
interpreted by the ideas of men or women. The Word of the Lord,
the holy Bible, INTERPRETS ITSELF!
So here is just ONE clear teaching from God as to what is
righteousness. Mark it in your bible, maybe put it in a yellow
high-lighter.
PSALM 119:172 says: "...For ALL THEY COMMANDMENTS ARE
RIGHTEOUSNESS!"
Now isn't that simple? No fancy theological degree needed
here. It is explained is simple words that a child can
understand.
ALL of the commandments of the Lord are righteousness! Look
at Psalm 111.
"His work is honorable and glorious: and His RIGHTEOUSNESS
ENDURETH FOREVER ... The works of His hands are verity and
judgment; ALL His COMMANDMENTS are SURE. They stand FAST FOR EVER
AND EVER, and are done in TRUTH and uprightness" (verses 3-8).
More on all this later but for now some human examples of
"righteousness."
Quote:
(1) In the Antarctic summer of 1908-9, Sir Ernest Shackleton and
three companions attempted to travel to the South Pole from their
winter quarters. They set off with four ponies to help carry the
load. Weeks later, their ponies dead, rations all but exhausted,
they turned back toward their base, their goal not accomplished.
Altogether, they trekked 127 days.
On the return journey, as Shackleton records in The Heart of the
Antarctic, the time was spent talking about food-elaborate
feasts, gourmet delights, sumptuous menus. As they staggered
along, suf-
fering from dysentery, not knowing whether they would survive,
every waking hour was occupied with thoughts of eating. Jesus,
who also knew the ravages of food deprivation, said, "Blessed are
those who hunger and thirst for righteousness." We can understand
Shackleton's obsession with food, which offers a glimpse of the
passion Jesus intends for our quest for righteousness.
(2) Good posture contributes to good health. That is what several
studies and physicians suggest, says writer Brenda Kearns. "Poor
posture can cause headaches," says back specialist Laura Fleck,
M.D. "The problem is your head," says Kearns. "It weighs 20
pounds, and when it's hanging forward, it strains the muscle's
that hold the neck vertebrae together."
Dr.Fleck also says that "many patients with low back pain have it
because of poor posture." A spine out of proper alignment
adversely affects the spinal disks and overworks back muscles.
Posture may have something to do with carpal tunnel syndrome. One
study found that "women who practice good posture for most of
their work day are four times less likely to get CTS.
Chiropractors have long claimed that poor posture affects a
person's blood pressure and heart rate by adversely affecting the
nerves that run from the spine to the rest of the body.
One of the visual words the Bible uses to describe a person of
character is uprightness. Just as good physical posture
contributes to health, so good spiritual posture - a righteous
lifestyle - brings health to our spirit, soul, and body.
From "750 Engaging Illustrations" by Craig Brian Larson.
God gives us clear instruction on how to live UPRIGHT! It is
all contained in His word, the laws and commandments of God are
uprightness and righteousness!
On the subject of self-righteousness, here is a classic:
Quote:
YEARS AGO Joe Bayly, the late Eternity magazine columnist,
visited some German Christians who had been devoted soldiers in
the German army during World War 11. Two of them had been put up
for promotion to become second lieutenants in the Nazi army. The
commandant told them he would approve the promotion on one
condition: that they join the Officers' Club. Being a member of
the club would require them to attend some weekend dances. These
young men believed that dancing was wrong because it could lead
to immorality. Because of their convictions, they turned down the
promotion.
Later in their military careers these same men were assigned to
the death camps where thousands of Jews were stuffed into ovens
and killed. Even though they did not directly participate in the
slaughter, they knew what was going on. Yet they never voiced any
protest.
When Joe Bayly talked to them many years after the war, they
looked back on their experiences with no regret, convinced that
they had made right decisions. For them, not conforming to social
pressure and refusing to dance was an act of righteousness. And
conforming to patriotic mass murder and remaining silent while
thousands of Jews burned in ovens left them with no feelings of
unrighteousness.
When we set our own standard of external righteousness, we are
capable of any evil. When we are filled with His righteousness,
no good is too great. - Haddon Robinson, "What Jesus Said about
Successful Living"
From the book "Swindoll's Ultimate Book of Illustrations and
Quotes."
..........
The study of God's righteousness and commandments would be a
study over many many hours, and really it is a life time study.
But it is worth taking the time to use, say Strong's Concordance
of the Bible and look up the passages where the word "righteous"
or "righteousness" and "commandments" are used. Nave's Topical
Bible has page after page after page, on the subject of
"righteous/righteousness."
FOLLOWING IS JUST A SAMPLE
Ps.24:3-5. "Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who
shall stand in His holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a
pure heart; who has not lifted up his life to vanity, nor sworn
deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and
righteousness from the God of our salvation."
Ps.106:3. "Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth
righteousness at all times."
Prov.2:7. "He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: He is a
buckler to them that walk uprightly."
Prov.10:2. "Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but
righteousness delivereth from death."
Prov.11:19. "As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursues
evil pursues to his own death."
Prov.12:28. "In the way of righteousness is life; and in the
pathway thereof there is no death."
Prov.13:6. "Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the
way.: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner."
Dan.12:3. "And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of
the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the
stars for ever and ever."
Mat.5:20. "For I say unto you, that except your righteousness
shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you
shall in no case enter the Kingdom of heaven."
Mat.19:17. "....but if you will enter into life, keep the
commandments."
John 14:21. "He that has my commandments, and keeps them, he it
is that loves Me: and he that loves Me shall be loved of the
Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him."
Rom.8:4. "That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in
us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."
Rom.14:17. "For the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but
righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit."
Eph.5:9. "For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and
righteousness and truth."
Phil.1:11. "Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which
are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God."
Phil.2:13. "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and
to do of His good pleasure."
2 Tim.2:22. "Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness,
faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a
pure heart."
James 3:18. "And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of
them that make peace."
1 Peter 3:14. "But if you suffer for righteousness' safe, happy
are you."
1 John 2:3-6. "And hereby we do know that we known Him, if we
keep His commandments. He that sayeth he knows Him and keep not
His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But
whosoever keeps His word, in him truly is the love of God
perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him. He that says he
abides in Him so ought himself to walk."
1 John 3:7. "He that does righteousness is righteous, even as He
is righteous."
1 John 5:3. "For this is the love of God: that we keep His
commandments; and His commandments are not grievous."
..........
For those who are reading their Bible from cover to cover,
they cannot but see that the COMMANDMENTS of God are RIGHTEOUSNESS.
And that the TEN COMMANDMENTS have NEVER been "done away with"
as false prophets like to claim. Yes, NOT ONE of the Ten
Commandments have EVER been abolished or changed. The FOURTH
commandment is still part of the ten. It is there, every word of
it, as found in Exodus 20.
The Sabbath Day command is STILL a command of the Lord! And
that command is still the SEVENTH day of the week, not the first,
or the fifth, or any day you like to choose. The holy Sabbath day
is still the 7th day of the week.
My past co-worker in the Lord's work - Jesse - has written
about the value of the Ten Commandments. Her Website can be found
on my Website.
The question is: Does YOUR heart love, play the tune of, the
melody of the song that sings the praises of the righteousness
and commandments of God? Then, just as important, does your LIFE
follow the footsteps of our Lord and Savior. You have the four
Gospels to read about and see the life of Christ Jesus.
Does your heart ever see that the righteousness of man-made
religions, even with the banner of "Christian" over them, is
today FAR from the Christianity of Jesus and the apostles?
Does your heart earnestly seek for the faith once delivered
to the saints. Does it cry out for the righteousness of God, not
some "Jewish" roots righteousness, that is the righteousness of
the scribes and Pharisees. Not some Roman Catholic rites
righteousness that has twisted and perverted the true Gospel of
Christ. Not some various forms of Pro-testant churches, which
carry many of their mother church doctrines and practices.
Do you hunger and thirst after the righteousness which is
from God, pure and clean, right from His Word the Bible.
Do not think that I teach a salvation by works. Nothing
could be further from the truth. You need to fully and truly come
to understand what being saved by grace means. You need to make
sure you study my study called "Saved by Grace" on this Website.
But with that said, your Bible teaches in no uncertain way,
that you are to love and follow, with the help of the Holy
Spirit, the commandments and righteousness of God. If your heart
is covered by the breastplate of righteousness, the fiery darts
of the wicked one will never cut through to stop your heart-
strings beating the love melody towards your God and His son
Christ Jesus.
.......................
To be continued
|
No comments:
Post a Comment