RIGHTEOUSNESS - 3 - Bridge to the Islands

RAISING A STANDARD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS – (A)

Isaiah 59:19 – So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, And His glory from the rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the Lord will LIFT UP A STANDARD AGAINST HIM.
Isaiah 49:22 – Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I will lift My hand in an oath to the nations, and SET UP MY STANDARD for the peoples…
- Special note: The STANDARD the Lord is raising in these last days of gross darkness, is a STANDARD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, LIGHT, and TRUTH.
Jeremiah 50:2 – “Declare AMONG THE NATIONS, Proclaim, and SET UP A STANDARD; Proclaim—do not conceal it…

What is a STANDARD? – a level of quality or attainment; something used as a measure, norm, or model in comparative evaluations. Accepted as normal; something established by authority, custom, or general consent as a model or example and rule for value or quality.

1828 Websters Dictionary: An ensign of war; That which is established by sovereign .power as a rule or measure by which others are to be adjusted; That which is established as a rule or model…

STANDARD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

In times when STANDARDS are scorned, and rules to live by are thrown to the winds – it is encouraging to know that the Lord is in the process of raising A STANDARD. It is a STANDARD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.

ZACHARIAH’S PROPHECY

Luke 1:74-75 – To grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, ⁷⁵In HOLINESS AND RIGHTEOUSNESS before Him all the days of our life.

SHINE AS LIGHTS IN THE MIDST OF A CROOKED AND PERVERSE NATION

Philippians 2:14-16 – Do all things without complaining and disputing, ¹⁵that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, ¹⁶holding fast the word of life…

RIGHTEOUSNESS AMONG THE NATIONS

Psalm 67:4 – Oh, let the NATIONS be glad and sing for joy! For You shall JUDGE THE PEOPLE RIGHTEOUSLY, And GOVERN THE NATIONS on earth. Selah
Psalm 96:10 – Say among the NATIONS, “The Lord reigns… He shall judge the peoples RIGHTEOUSLY.”
Psalm 98:2 – The Lord has made known His salvation; HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS He has revealed in the sight of the NATIONS.
Psalm 61:11 – For as the earth brings forth its bud, As the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth, So the Lord God will cause RIGHTEOUSNESS and praise to spring forth before ALL THE NATIONS.
Jeremiah 4:2 – ‘The Lord lives,’ In truth, in judgment, and IN RIGHTEOUSNESS; The NATIONS shall bless themselves in Him, And in Him they shall glory.”
Psalm 33:12 – BLESSED (Happy; what joy for the nation) IS THE NATION whose God is the Lord, the people He has chosen as His own inheritance.
- Special note: However, there is great sorrow for those who call evil good, and good evil. It is sad when people reject God’s Word, and believe in lies, and deception…
Isaiah 5:20 – Woe to those who call evil GOOD, and good EVIL; Who put darkness for LIGHT, and light for DARKNESS…

CONFUSION

These are times of overwhelming CONFUSION of sexes, of right and wrong, of the truth, of direction, etc… God is not the author of CONFUSION.

I Corinthians 14:33 – For God is not the author of CONFUSION but of peace…
- Special note: So where is confusion coming from? Obviously, the source of confusion is our enemy THE DEVIL. We need to recognize that, and not give place to the things that bring CONFUSION. God’s way is the way of peace, clarity, and freedom from CONFUSION… God is displeased when people call good bad, and bad good! Mixture is an abomination to the Him (Isaiah 5:20 – see above).

GOOD TREES BEAR GOOD FRUIT

Matthew 7:17-18; 12:33 – Even so, every GOOD TREE bears good fruit, but a BAD TREE bears BAD FRUIT. A GOOD tree cannot bear BAD fruit, nor can a BAD tree bear GOOD fruit… “Either make the tree GOOD and its fruit GOOD, or else make the tree BAD and its fruit BAD; for a tree is known by its FRUIT.

THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENTS OF GOD

2 Corinthians 5:10 – For we must all appear before the JUDGMENT SEAT of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether GOOD OR BAD.
Proverbs 15:3 – The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Keeping watch on THE EVIL and THE GOOD.
Hebrews 9:27 – … it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the JUDGMENT…
- Special note: God sees and knows everything. We need to live in the fear of God, and His RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENTS.
Ecclesiastes 12:14 – God will bring every work into JUDGMENT, Including every secret thing, whether GOOD or EVIL.
I Peter 3:17 – For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for DOING GOOD than for DOING EVIL.
Jeremiah 4:22 – My people are foolish, They have not known Me. They are silly children, And they have no understanding. They are wise to DO EVIL, But TO DO GOOD they have no knowledge.”

ARMOR OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

2 Cor 6:4,7 – In all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God….⁷by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the ARMOR OF RIGHTEOUSNESS on the right hand and on the left…
- Special note: As we serve the Lord, RIGHTEOUSNESS is likened unto protective armor. If we give place to UNRIGHTEOUSNESS and evil we become vulnerable to the destructive tricks and traps of the devil.

REMOVING EVIL IN THE MIDST

There are some very clear teachings from God’s Word regarding things that are evil, and displeasing to the Lord. Exposure of them is kind of like being in the washing machine, with cleansing by the Word and Spirit of God. (Ephesians 5:26-27; John 6:63).

Ephesians 5:26-27 – that He (Jesus Christ) might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water BY THE WORD, ²⁷that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
John 6:63 – It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The WORDS THAT I (Jesus) SPEAK to you ARE SPIRIT, and they are life.
Psalm 34:14 – Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.
Ephesians 4:25,31-32 – …PUTTING AWAY LYING, “Let each one of you SPEAK TRUTH with his neighbor,”³¹Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking BE PUT AWAY from you, with all malice. ³²And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Hebrews 9:26 – …once at the end of the ages, He (Jesus) has appeared to PUT AWAY SIN by the sacrifice of Himself.
Proverbs 4:27 – REMOVE your foot from evil.
Psalm 119:119 – You PUT AWAY all the wicked of the earth like dross;
Proverbs 4:24 – PUT AWAY from you a deceitful mouth, And PUT perverse lips far FROM YOU.
Ecclesiastes 11:10 – PUT AWAY evil from your flesh,
Isaiah 1:16 – “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; PUT AWAY the evil of your doings from before My eyes. CEASE to do evil…
Jeremiah 4:1 – return, O Israel,” says the Lord, “Return to Me; And if you will PUT AWAY your abominations out of My sight, then you shall not be moved.
I Corinthians 3:13 – when I became a man, I PUT AWAY childish things.
Romans 16:19 – I want you to be wise in what is GOOD, and simple concerning EVIL.
I Corinthians 15:33 – Do not be deceived: “EVIL company CORRUPTS GOOD HABITS.”
I Thessalonians 5:15 – See that no one renders EVIL FOR EVIL to anyone, but always pursue what is GOOD both for yourselves and FOR ALL.
Romans 12:21 – Do not be overcome by EVIL, but OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD.
- Special note: We are to hate every evil, false way. It needs to BE ELIMINATED from our lives. We are to LOVE GOOD, AND RIGHT.

RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENTS

Righteous judgments upon sinful conduct are needful. Just and right consequences for sin help us live in the fear of a RIGHTEOUS AND HOLY God. We need to have just judgments upon devious and sinful behavior to maintain RIGHTEOUSNESS in a corrupt worldly system. The goodness and rewards of RIGHTEOUSNESS, and God’s blessings upon the RIGHTEOUS WAY OF LIFE are wonderful, and motivational.

REPENTANCE FOR SIN

True repentance for sin is to TURN FROM a sinful lifestyle to a new way of living. It is the determination to now live a RIGHTEOUS, HOLY lifestyle that is pleasing to the Lord, living in the awesome and holy fear of God.

WHAT DOES GOD HATE? We are to hate the same things!

Psalm 45:7 – You LOVE RIGHTEOUSNESS and HATE WICKEDNESS; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.
- Special note: Obviously this was a messianic prophecy of Jesus (Hebrews 1:9). He LOVES RIGHTEOUSNESS and HATES WICKEDNESS, and we are to follow in His steps (I Peter 2:21).
Psalm 97:10 – You who love the Lord, HATE EVIL!
Proverbs 8:13 – The fear of the Lord is to HATE EVIL; Pride and arrogance and the EVIL WAY and the perverse mouth I HATE.
Amos 5:15 – HATE EVIL, LOVE GOOD; establish justice…
Zechariah 6:17 – Let none of you think evil in your heart against your neighbor; And do not love a false oath. For all these are things that I HATE,’ Says the Lord.”
Malachi 2:16 – “For the Lord God of Israel says that HE HATES divorce, for it covers one’s garment with violence,” Says the Lord of hosts. “Therefore take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously.”
Proverbs 6:12-19 – a WICKED man, walks with a perverse mouth; …He devises EVIL continually…¹⁶These six things THE LORD HATES, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: ¹⁷A proud look, A lying tongue,Hands that shed innocent blood, ¹⁸A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, ¹⁹A false witness who speaks lies,And one who sows discord among brethren.

SERVE GOD, NOT WEALTH

Matthew 6:24 – “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (wealth; riches).
I Timothy 6:10 – For the LOVE OF MONEY is a root of all kinds of EVIL, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
- Special note: Beware of the love of money more than God and His RIGHTEOUSNESS. It is the ROOT OF ALL EVIL. Giving place to riches and the promise of wealth in exchange for wrong doing is EVIL.

WORLDLINESS IS NOT GODLINESS

We are instructed NOT TO LOVE THE WORLD, or be conformed to this world.

Romans 12:2 – …DO NOT BE CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
I John 2:15 – DO NOT love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

THE SEARCH LIGHT OF GOD’S WORD

It is good to pray along with David, “Lord search me and try my ways and see if there is any wicked thing in me, and lead me in the way everlasting”.

Psalm 139:23-24 – Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties (thoughts; concerns; worries) ²⁴And see if there is any WICKED WAY in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

EVIL

(Specific, practical application, revealing the truth about evil and corruption). There are many lists of things that bring the Lord displeasure. Highlighted below are 3 of them. (with more to come in the following posts).

LYING – DECEPTION – DISHONESTY – CHEATING

Psalm 63:11 – But the mouth of those who SPEAK LIES shall be stopped.
Psalm 101:7 – He who WORKS DECEIT shall not dwell within my house; He who TELLS LIES shall not continue in my presence.
Job 13:4 …you forgers of LIES, You are all worthless physicians.
- Special note: Trusting in the lies forged by some physicians is unprofitable. We shouldn’t blindly believe everything we hear from doctors just because they are physicians. Counsel should be tested and proven for truth.
Psalm 40:4 – Blessed is that man who makes the Lord his trust, And does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to LIES.
Psalm 58:3 – The wicked… go astray as soon as they are born, speaking LIES.
Psalm 62:4 – …They DELIGHT IN LIES; They bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly.
Proverbs 14:5,25 – A faithful witness does NOT LIE, But a false witness will UTTER LIES… A true witness delivers souls, But a deceitful witness speaks LIES.
Proverbs 19:5,9 – A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who SPEAKS LIES will not escape…
Isaiah 28:14-15,17 – Therefore hear the word of the Lord, you scornful men, who rule this people who are in Jerusalem, ¹⁵Because you have said, “We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol we are in agreement. When the overflowing scourge passes through, it will not come to us, for we have made LIES our refuge,and under FALSEHOOD we have hidden ourselves.”… Now therefore, do not be mockers… For I have heard from the Lord God of hosts, a destruction determined even upon the whole earth… I will make JUSTICE the measuring line, And RIGHTEOUSNESS the plummet; The hail will sweep away the refuge of LIES, And the waters will overflow the hiding place.
- Special note: RIGHTEOUSNESS AND TRUTH is God’s standard, not lies!
Isaiah 59:2-4 – your INIQUITIES have separated you from your God; And your SINS have hidden His face from you,So that He will not hear. ³For your hands are defiled with blood,and your fingers with iniquity; Your lips have spoken LIES, your tongue has muttered perversity.⁴No one calls for justice, Nor does any plead for truth. They trust in empty words and SPEAK LIES; They conceive evil and bring forth iniquity.
Jeremiah 9:3 – “And like their bow they have bent their tongues for LIES. They are NOT VALIANT FOR THE TRUTH on the earth. For they proceed FROM EVIL TO EVIL, And they do not know Me,” says the Lord.
Ezekiel 13:8,22 – “Because you have spoken nonsense and envisioned LIES, therefore I am indeed against you,” says the Lord God… “Because with lies you have made the heart of the RIGHTEOUS sad, whom I have not made sad; and you have strengthened the hands of the WICKED, so that he does not turn from his wicked way to save his life.
Hosea 10:13 – You have plowed WICKEDNESS; You have reaped INIQUITY. You have eaten the fruit of LIES, because you trusted in YOUR OWN WAY…
Amos 2:4 – …they have despised the law of the Lord, And have not kept His commandments. Their LIES lead them astray, LIES which their fathers followed.
Micah 6:9– The Lord’s voice cries to the city—… For her rich men are full of violence, her inhabitants have spoken LIES, And their tongue is DECEITFUL in their mouth…
Nahum 3:1,5 – Woe to the bloody city (Ninevah)! It is all full of LIES and robbery… “Behold, I am against you,” says the Lord of hosts;
Zephaniah 3:13 – The remnant of Israel shall DO NO UNRIGHTEOUSNESS and speak NO LIES, nor shall A DECEITFUL TONGUE be found in their mouth;
I Timothy 4:1-2 – Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to DECEIVING SPIRITS and doctrines of demons, ²SPEAKING LIES in hypocrisy…
Revelation 21:8 – the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and ALL LIARS shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

THE DEVIL IS THE AUTHOR OF LIES

John 8:44 – You are of your father THE DEVIL, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the TRUTH, because there is NO TRUTH IN HIM. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for HE IS A LIAR and the father of it.

MURDER – SHEDDING INNOCENT BLOOD – ABORTION

GOD TELLS US NOT TO MURDER

Exodus 20:13 – “You shall not murder.
Exodus 23:7 Keep yourself far from a false matter; DO NOT KILL the innocent and RIGHTEOUS. For I will NOT JUSTIFY THE WICKED.
Deuteronomy 19:10 – lest INNOCENT BLOOD be shed in the midst of your land which the Lord your God is giving you… and thus guilt of BLOODSHED be upon you.
Deuteronomy 21:9 – …you shall put away the guilt of innocent blood from among you when you DO WHAT IS RIGHT in the sight of the Lord.
Jeremiah 2:34- on your skirts is found the blood of the lives of the poor innocents (blood of the life of the innocent).
- Special note: The blood of the lives of millions of babies being aborted, and children being trafficked and sacrificed these days is appalling, and this needs to stop!

MURDER DEFILES (see Isaiah 59:3 above).

MURDER IS THE WORK OF THE DEVIL

John 10:10 – The thief (devil) does not come except to steal, and to KILL, and to destroy.

EXTORTION – Bribery – injustice – DEATH THREATS

Threatening people with death if they don’t cooperate with evil plans and schemes is devilish.

Special note: Obtaining something through force or threats is UNRIGHTEOUS. When someone threatens to reveal damaging information unless you do what they want you to do – beware! There is a lot of fraud, scams, abuse of power and criminal behavior happening these days…
I Thessalonians 4:6 – no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother.
Ezekiel 22:12 – In you they take BRIBES to SHED BLOOD; you take usury and increase; you have made profit from your neighbors by EXTORTION, and have forgotten Me,” says the Lord God.
Matthew 23:25 – “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence.
I Corinthians 6:10 – …nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, NOR EXTORTIONERS will inherit the kingdom of God.
Isaiah 16:4 – the extortioner is at an end, Devastation ceases, The oppressors are consumed out of the land.

GIVING GIFTS TO CONVINCE PEOPLE TO DO WRONG BLINDS PEOPLES EYES, AND HINDERS THEM FROM ADMINISTERING JUSTICE.

Special note: There is a lot of this happening in high places these days, and this must stop!

Exodus 23:8 – And you shall take NO BRIBE, for a BRIBE blinds the discerning and perverts the words of the RIGHTEOUS.
Deuteronomy 10:17 – the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality NOR TAKES A BRIBE.
Deuteronomy 16:19 – You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a BRIBE, for a BRIBE blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the RIGHTEOUS.
Deuteronomy 27:25 – ‘Cursed is the one who takes a BRIBE to slay an innocent person.’ “And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’
Job 15:34 – …fire will consume the tents of BRIBERY.
Psalm 15:5 – He who does not put out his money at usury, Nor does he take a BRIBE against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.
Proverbs 15:27 – …he who HATES BRIBES will live.
Proverbs 17:23 – A WICKED man accepts a BRIBE behind the back to pervert the ways of JUSTICE.
Ecclesiastes 7:7 – Surely oppression destroys a wise man’s reason, and a BRIBE debases the heart.
Isaiah 1:23 – Your princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves; Everyone loves BRIBES, And follows after rewards…
Isaiah 5:23 – Who justify the wicked for a BRIBE, And take away justice from the RIGHTEOUS man!

Special note: How were the soldiers who witnessed the resurrection of Jesus from the tomb silenced? They were given a large sum of money. They took the money, and did as they were instructed, and their deceptive lies are still believed by some of the Jews…! (Matthew 28:11-15)

OVERCOME EVIL

Let’s pray for evil and corruption to be overcome, and RIGHTEOUSNESS TO PREVAIL!

We CAN OVERCOME by the blood of the Lamb, and the Word of our testimony. (Revelation 12:11). May our testimony and lifestyle be in line with God’s Word! As we resist the devil and everything that is of the devil, he MUST FLEE! (James 4:7)

Romans 12:21 – Be not overcome of evil, but OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD!

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RIGHTEOUSNESS – 3