RIGHTEOUSNESS – 5

RAISING A STANDARD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS – (C)

• 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.
  • Special note: The Lord is in the process of raising A STANDARD. It is a STANDARD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS and TRUTH.

     The Lord is in the process of raising A STANDARD. It is a STANDARD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS and TRUTH. TRUTH IS RIGHTEOUSNESS, and RIGHTEOUSNESS IS TRUTH – they are synonymous.

the TRUTH AND DECEPTION

(CONTINUED FROM “A STANDARD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS – Parts A and B)

IMPORTANCE OF TRUTH

     Why is TRUTH so important? Because truth is God’s nature. He is a GOD OF TRUTH. He cannot and WILL NOT LIE.

• Titus 1:2 – in hope of eternal life which GOD, WHO CANNOT LIE, promised before time began,
• Hebrews 6:18 – that by two immutable things, in which IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us…

LOVING AND BELIEVING THE TRUTH IS NECESSARY FOR SALVATION

• James 1:18 – Of His own will He brought us forth by the WORD OF TRUTH…
• 2 Thessalonians 2:10,12- …with all UNRIGHTEOUS DECEPTION among those who perish, because they did NOT receive the LOVE OF THE TRUTH, that they might be saved… that they all may be condemned who did NOT BELIEVE THE TRUTH but had pleasure in UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.
• 2 Thessalonians 2:13 – …because God from the beginning chose you for SALVATION through sanctification by the Spirit and BELIEF IN THE TRUTH…
• I Timothy 2:4 – God our SAVIOR, desires all men to be SAVED and to come to the knowledge of the TRUTH.

WORSHIP IN TRUTH IS THE WORSHIP THAT IS ACCEPTABLE WITH GOD

• John 4:23,24 – …the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. ²⁴ God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.

DILIGENT STUDY BRINGS GOD’S APPROVAL AND HELPS US DISCERN THE TRUTH

• 2 Timothy 2:15 – STUDY (Be diligent) to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing THE WORD OF TRUTH.

The SCRIPTURE IS TRUE, LIVING, AND POWERFUL

• Daniel 10:21 – I will tell you what is noted in the SCRIPTURE OF TRUTH… 
• Hebrews 4:12 – For the WORD OF GOD IS LIVING (the Word that God speaks IS ALIVE) AND POWERFUL, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
• John 17:17,19 – Sanctify them by YOUR TRUTH. YOUR WORD IS TRUTH… And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the TRUTH.
• 2 Corinthians 6:7 – by the WORD OF TRUTH, by the power of God, by the armor of RIGHTEOUSNESS on the right hand and on the left..
• Ephesians 1:13 – In Him you also trusted, after you heard the WORD OF TRUTH, the gospel of your salvation…
• Colossians 1:5,6 – Because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the WORD OF THE TRUTH of the gospel. …which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in TRUTH…

JESUS IS the TRUE, AND THE LIVING WORD OF GOD

• John 14:6 – JESUS said to him, “I am the way, THE TRUTH, and the life….
• John 1:1-4,14,17 – In the beginning was THE WORD, and THE WORD was with God, and THE WORD WAS GOD. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. ⁴ In Him was LIFE, and the life was the light of men… THE WORD became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and TRUTH… grace and TRUTH came through Jesus Christ.
• Ephesians 4:21 – …if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the TRUTH is in Jesus:…

TRUTH sets us free from error and DECEPTION

• John 8:31-32,36 – Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. ³² And you shall know the TRUTH, and THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE.”
  • Special note: What does the TRUTH make us free from? It makes us free from DECEPTION and the LIES of our enemy!
• Revelation 19:11 – Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and IN RIGHTEOUSNESS He judges and makes war.

A CONTINUATION OF MORE SELECT SCRIPTURES ABOUT THE TRUTH

God is the source of TRUTH AND RIGHTEOUSNESS

• Exodus 34:6; Deuteronomy 32:4 – And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and TRUTH… all His ways are JUSTICE, A God of TRUTH and WITHOUT INJUSTICE; RIGHTEOUS AND UPRIGHT is He.
  • Special note: It is interesting to see the connection between TRUTH and RIGHTEOUSNESS, and GOD is the source of them.
• Psalm 25:5,10; 33:4 – Lead me in Your TRUTH and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; … All the paths of the Lord are mercy and TRUTH… For the word of the Lord is RIGHT, and all His work is done in TRUTH.
• Psalm 43:3 – Let Your lovingkindness and Your TRUTH continually preserve me.
• Psalm 85:10-11 – Mercy and TRUTH have met together; RIGHTEOUSNESS and peace have kissed. TRUTH shall spring out of the earth, and RIGHTEOUSNESS shall look down from heaven.
• Psalm 89:14 – RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUSTICE are the foundation of Your throne; Mercy and TRUTH go before Your face.
• Psalm 96:13 – before the Lord. For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with RIGHTEOUSNESS, And the peoples with His TRUTH.
  • Special note: Once again, we see the connection between RIGHTEOUSNESS AND TRUTH – we will be judged with RIGHTEOUSNESS and TRUTH.
• Psalm 100:5; 117:2 – For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His TRUTH endures to all generations….  the TRUTH of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!
• Psalm 119:130, 160 – I have chosen the WAY OF TRUTH; Your JUDGMENTS I have laid before me… The entirety of YOUR WORD IS TRUTH, and every one of Your RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENTS endures forever.
  • Special note: RIGHTEOUSNESS and JUDGMENTS are connected. Also, it is interesting to note that the entirety (ALL SCRIPTURE) is TRUE!
• Isaiah 16:5 – In mercy the throne will be established; And One will sit on it in truth, in the tabernacle of David, Judging and seeking justice and hastening righteousness.”
• Isaiah 25:1 – O Lord, You are my God. I will exalt You, I will praise Your name, For You have done wonderful things; Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.
• Isaiah 42:3 – He will bring forth justice for truth.
• Isaiah 61:8 – “For I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery for burnt offering; I will direct their work in truth, and will make with them an everlasting covenant.

We are BLESSED IN THE GOD OF TRUTH.

• Isaiah 65:16 – So that he who blesses himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; And he who swears in the earth shall swear by the God of truth;
• Jeremiah 4:2 – And you shall swear, ‘The Lord lives,’ in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; The nations shall bless themselves in Him, And in Him they shall glory.”
  • Special note: If we want our nation blessed, that doesn’t come through ignoring God and His instructions. Righteousness and truth is what brings exaltation to a nation, and to God (Proverbs 14:34). Sin brings destruction and God’s curse instead of blessing.
• Jeremiah 33:6 – Behold, I will bring it health and healing; I will heal them and reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth.
  • Special note: Health and healing come through the Lord’s revelation of TRUTH.
• I Kings 3:6 – And Solomon said: “You have shown great mercy to Your servant David my father, because he walked before You in TRUTH, IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, and in UPRIGHTNESS of heart with You; 
  • Special note: God was merciful to David because of TRUTH… RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND UPRIGHTNESS of heart.

GOD’S COVENANT WITH LEVI

• Malachi 2:4-6 – That My covenant with Levi may continue,” Says the Lord of hosts. ⁵ “My covenant was with him, one of life and peace, and I gave them to him that he might fear Me; So he feared Me And was reverent before My name. ⁶ The  law of TRUTH (true instruction) was in his mouth, and INJUSTICE (UNRIGHTEOUSNESS) was not found on his lips. He walked with Me in peace and equity, and turned many away from iniquity (sin).

THE LORD’S 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.

JUDGMENT UPON UNRIGHTEOUS, UNGODLY MEN WHO SUPPRESS THE TRUTH

• Romans 1:18 – For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all UNGODLINESS and UNRIGHTEOUSNESS of men, who SUPPRESS THE TRUTH in UNRIGHTEOUSNESS…

We need to FEAR GOD, and SERVE HIM IN TRUTH.

• Joshua 24:14 – Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in SINCERITY AND IN TRUTH, and put away the gods which your fathers served…
• I Samuel 12:24 – Fear the Lord, and serve Him in TRUTH with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.
• Psalm 15:1-2 – Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? ² He who walks UPRIGHTLY, and works RIGHTEOUSNESS, and speaks the TRUTH in his heart;
• Psalm 51:6 – You desire TRUTH in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.
• Psalm 60:4 – You have given a banner to those who FEAR YOU, that it may be displayed because of the TRUTH. 
• Psalm 86:11,16 – Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your TRUTH… You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and TRUTH.
• Psalm 145:18 – The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him IN TRUTH.
• Proverbs 3:3 – Let not mercy and TRUTH forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart.
• Proverbs 14:22 – Do they not go astray who devise EVIL? But mercy and TRUTH belong to those who devise GOOD.
• Proverbs 16:6 – In mercy and TRUTH Atonement is provided for INIQUITY; And by the FEAR OF THE LORD one departs from EVIL.
• Proverbs 22:21 – That I may make you know the certainty of the words of TRUTH, that you may answer words of TRUTH to those who send to you?
• Proverbs 23:23 – Buy the TRUTH, and do not sell it,also wisdom and instruction and understanding.
  • Special note: For people to get bought out and compromise TRUTH with bribery and blood-money is EVIL.
• Proverbs 29:24 – Whoever is a partner with a thief hates his own life; He swears to tell the TRUTH, but reveals nothing.
  • Special note: Partnership with someone who is dishonest and a thief is destructive.

TRUTHFUL SPEECH brings delight to the Lord, but LYING LIPS are an abomination to Him.

• Proverbs 8:7 – My mouth will speak TRUTH; WICKEDNESS is an abomination to my lips.
• Proverbs 12:17,19,22 – He who speaks TRUTH declares RIGHTEOUSNESS, But a FALSE witness, DECEIT… The TRUTHFUL lip shall be established forever, but a LYING tongue is but for a moment. LYING lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who DEAL TRUTHFULLY are HIS DELIGHT.
  • Special note: Also notice the contrast of TRUTH to WICKEDNESS. They are opposites. Speaking TRUTH declares RIGHTEOUSNESS.
• Ephesians 4:25 ,31-32- …PUTTING AWAY LYING, “Let each one of you SPEAK TRUTH With his neighbor,” ³¹ Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking BE PUT AWAY from you, with all malice. ³² And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
• Proverbs 4:24 – PUT AWAY from you a deceitful mouth, And PUT perverse lips far FROM YOU.
• Isaiah 1:16 – “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; PUT AWAY the evil of your doings from before My eyes. CEASE to do evil…
• Proverbs 6:12-19 – a WICKED man, walks with a perverse mouth; …He devises EVIL continually…¹⁶ These six things THE LORD HATES, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: ¹⁷ A proud look, A lying tongue,Hands that shed innocent blood, ¹⁸ A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil,
  ¹⁹ A false witness who speaks lies,And one who sows discord among brethren.
• 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.
• 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.

TRUTH and RIGHTEOUSNESS are our protection, and part of our SPIRITUAL ARMOR.

• 2 Cor 6:4,7 – In all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God….⁷ by 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.
• Psalm 91:4 – He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His TRUTH shall be your shield and buckler.
• Ephesians 6:14 – Stand therefore, having girded your waist with TRUTH, having put on the breastplate of RIGHTEOUSNESS.

THE HOLY SPIRIT is the SPIRIT OF TRUTH, and the fruit of the Spirit is TRUTH.

• Ephesians 5:9 – (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all GOODNESS, RIGHTEOUSNESS, and TRUTH).
• John 14:17 – the SPIRIT OF TRUTH, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
• John 15:26 – But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of TRUTH who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.
• John 16:13 – when He, the Spirit of TRUTH, has come, He will guide you into ALL TRUTH; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

A NATION is far from RIGHTEOUSNESS and JUSTICE when TRUTH FAILS.

• 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.
• Isaiah 59:14,15 – JUSTICE is turned back, And RIGHTEOUSNESS stands afar off; For TRUTH is fallen in the street, And EQUITY cannot enter. So, TRUTH fails, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. Then the Lord saw it, and it displeased Him that there was NO JUSTICE.
• Jeremiah 7:28 – ‘This is a NATION that does not obey the voice of the Lord their God nor receive correction. TRUTH has perished and has been cut off from their mouth.

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.

• 2 Chronicles 7:14 – IF My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their SIN and HEAL THEIR LAND.
  • Special note: If we want to see our NATION BLESSED by God and EXALTED (Proverbs 14:34), we need to humbly pray, seek Him, and repent of sin. Then we can expect our land to be healed by the Lord.

A RIGHTEOUS NATION KEEPS THE TRUTH

Our theme for this series of teachings is RIGHTEOUSNESS EXALTS A NATION (Proverbs 14:34)! A RIGHTEOUS NATION IS TRUTHFUL!

RESTORATION OF TRUTH

• Zachariah 8:3,8,16 – “Thus says the Lord: ‘I will return to Zion, And dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Jerusalem shall be called the CITY OF TRUTH, The Mountain of the Lord of hosts, The Holy Mountain.’.. I will bring them back, And they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. They shall be My people and I will be their God, IN TRUTH AND RIGHTEOUSNESS.’… These are the things you shall do: Speak each man the TRUTH to his neighbor; Give judgment in your gates for TRUTH, justice, and peace.
• Isaiah 26:2 – Open the gates, That the RIGHTEOUS NATION which keeps the TRUTH may enter in.

LIGHT REVEALS THE TRUTH

• John 3:21 – He who does the TRUTH comes to the LIGHT, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

LOVE REJOICES IN THE TRUTH, AND SPEAKS TRULY

• Ephesians 4:15,21,25 – but, speaking the truth IN LOVE, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head – Christ… therefore, PUTTING AWAY LYING, “Let each one of you SPEAK TRUTH with his neighbor,” …
• I Corinthians 13:6 – (love)… does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the TRUTH…

THE TRUTH IS OUR PLATFORM OF VICTORY

• 2 Corinthians 13:8 – For we can do nothing against the TRUTH, but for the TRUTH.
• Romans 8:31, 37; I Corinthians 15:57 – If God is for us, who can be against us? …  in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us… Thanks be to God who gives us the VICTORY through our Lord Jesus Christ.

THE CHURCH IS THE PILLAR AND GROUND OF TRUTH

• I Timothy 3:15 – I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD, the pillar and ground of the TRUTH.

A SIGN OF THE LAST DAYS IS A REJECTION OF TRUTH, WHICH BRINGS DESTRUCTION

• 2 Peter 2:2 – And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of TRUTH will be blasphemed.
• 2 Timothy 4:3,4 – For the time will come when they will not endure sound (wholesome, healthy, TRUE, good); doctrine (teaching)…and they will turn their ears away from the TRUTH,and be turned aside to fables (senseless stories).

IF ENVY, SELFISHNESS, DARKNESS, AND PRIDE ARE ALLOWED IN OUR HEARTS IT IS A LIE AGAINST TRUTH (HYPOCRITICAL)

• James 3:14 – But if you have bitter ENVY and SELF-SEEKING in your HEARTS, do not boast and LIE against the TRUTH.
• I John 1:6 – If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in DARKNESS, we LIE and do not practice the TRUTH.

OBEDIENCE TO THE TRUTH AND SINCERE LOVE BRINGS PURITY TO OUR SOUL

• I Peter 1:22 – Since you have purified your souls in obeying the TRUTH through the Spirit in sincere LOVE of the brethren, LOVE one another fervently with a pure heart…

DISOBEDIENCE, ERROR AND LYING DO NOT DEMONSTRATE TRUTH

• I John 2:4,21 – He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a LIAR, and the TRUTH is not in him. I have not written to you because you do not know the TRUTH, but because you know it, and that NO LIE IS OF THE TRUTH.
• I John 3:18 – My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in TRUTH.I John 4:6 – We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the SPIRIT OF TRUTH and the SPIRIT OF ERROR.
• I John 2:4,21 – He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a LIAR, and the TRUTH is not in him. I have not written to you because you do not know the TRUTH, but because you know it, and that NO LIE IS OF THE TRUTH.

ABIDING IN THE TRUTH FOREVER

• 2 John 1:2 – …because of the TRUTH which abides in us and will be with us forever.

We should AGREE WITH THE TRUTH when it is heard

• Isaiah 43:9 – Let all the NATIONS be gathered together, and let the people be assembled… Let them bring out their witnesses, that they may be JUSTIFIED; Or let them hear and say, “It is TRUTH.”

DECEPTION AND LIES ARE GETTING WORSE

Jesus said that deception would get worse and worse. Let’s consider what is actually happening these days.

• 2 Timothy 3:13 – But evil men and DECEIVERS (impostors; seducers; swindlers and scammers; evil people who pretend to be who they are not; cheaters; some of them will teach a false message and people will believe their lies; charlatans; pretenders; those who fool other people) will grow WORSE AND WORSE, DECEIVING AND BEING DECEIVED.

A STANDARD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND TRUTH

As mentioned, and repeated for emphasis – the Lord is raising a STANDARD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS and TRUTH in the land. It is found in the Bible. That is why a study of these Scriptures are so helpful, and they need to be proclaimed.

• 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…
• 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.
  • 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.