Oneness, Union, Total Alignment with Father, Son, Holy...

Oneness, Union, Total Alignment

With Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (God-head)

Marsha Deveaux Johnson, Living Joy Ministries, Inc. http://hepzibah40.blogspot.com

God has His ordained way of bringing His will to pass.  My prayers for years have been for the body of Christ to enter into the oneness that Jesus prayed for in John 17:21, “That they all may be one; as thou Father art in Me, that they also be one in Us, that the world may believe that Thou hath sent Me.”(KJV)   Little did I know that God needed me to understand this prayer Jesus prayed and how it would be answered. 

My thoughts had always been that everyone naming the name of Jesus had to come together in unity in thoughts, deeds, and actions (Thank God I now know better).  God’s word is infallible, irrefutable, and irrevocable.  Our understanding of His word lies in the revelation of it to our spirit, soul, and body.  This revelation of His word comes as we read, meditate, be obedient, and live out His word in our lives daily.

During the increased time of sheltering in my home, I have been on a path of increased reading, studying, and writing God’s word.  This always leads to revelation pouring out of His word like sparks from a hot wood fire.  He began to speak to me about the word concerning the oneness of the body of Christ.

The first clarity came when I had to understand just who God said could be “One”.  God clearly made a distinction to me between the “organized church” and the “body of Christ”.  They are not one in the same.  This fact alone brings scripture illumination.  Jesus said in a parable about the wheat and the tares in Matthew 13:30, “Let both grow together until the harvest:  and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers. Gather together first the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them:  but gather the wheat into my barn.” (KJV) The organized church has wheat and tares all lumped together.  We are not charged with the separation of them nor to be at one with them.  The body of Christ consists only of wheat.  Wheat that must exist with tares while the Lord of the Harvest tarries.

Furthermore, God says in His word in Matthew 7:21-23, “Not everyone that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils?   and in thy name done many wonderful works?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.” (KJV) Never means never, no oneness, no union, no total alignment with the God-head.

So, then we often see tares that are doing great “works” in the name of Jesus, and Jesus does not know them.  Their charade looks like, acts like, and proclaims to be wheat, but they are tares that cannot be one with Jesus, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit. 

By the way tares distort God’s word, use it to promote dissention, factions, and hatred among brethren. Tares cannot exhibit true love to others (races, sinners, social classes, etc.).  They see these groups as threats to the Kingdom as opposed to potential sons and daughters of the Kingdom.  Tares are mean, callous, and hateful toward God’s creation all in the name of Jesus.  They have an agenda to cleanse the world and not change the world through the love of Jesus Christ. Tares cause Christianity to be viewed as Satan desires it to be viewed, divisive, racist, and elite.  “Jesus came to save sinners of whom I am chief” are the words of Apostle Paul who was changed from a tare to wheat. (  ) The body of Christ (wheat) can never be one with the tares.  Are you a wheat or a tare?  God knows who you are.  He forgives and restores.

Let me now tell you who enters into the oneness with the God-head.  John 14:23 says, “Jesus answered and said unto to him, if a man loves Me, he will keep my words:  and My Father will love him and make our abode with him.” (KJV) The oneness that Jesus spoke of is when each of us who receives Him obeys His words and the Father comes to make His abode in us.  It is at this time that the prayer of Jesus for us to become One (with Him, the Father, and the Holy Spirit) gets answered. 

This scripture has been clear all the time.  I thank God for bringing my understanding to this word. I do not need to seek alignment with the organized doctrines, attitudes, and practices that do not represent the heart of God.  Tares are not going to enter into God’s kingdom.  God says so.  When we are One with Jesus, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, we have entered into where God would have us to be.   God’s word says in Ephesians 4:13, “Till we all come in the unity of faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” (KJV) The perfection is not in the organized church but in the body of Christ.

Let me make three basic distinctions between the body of Christ and the organized church.  There are others, however these categories are basic and understandable as we watch the current situations play out in the earth.  When you review this, you will see why the church world is all over the map with practices, doctrines, teachings, priorities, and more.  It is only the body of Christ who is hearing what the Spirit of God is saying to the church and the world.  Be found in the body of Christ!

Body of Christ                                                         Organized Church

Wheat Only                                                                             Wheat and Tares

(Matthew 13:30)                                                                     (Matthew 13:30)

Entered into Oneness with                                                     Not all entered into

God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit                                                     Oneness with God, Jesus, and

Union, Total Alignment, (John 17:21)                                     Holy Spirit, different factions exist

Sees God’s word as final authority,                                        Seeks power from status, politics,

deliverance, and instruction for daily living                           worldly connections, man’s favor,

Trusts God for all outcomes                                                    and money (2^nd Timothy 2:4).

Manipulates God’s word for agendas

Make no mistake about this.  Tares will be judged and handled by the Lord of the Harvest. Abide as Wheat!

The Shut-In

The Shut-In

Marsha Deveaux Johnson, Living Joy Ministries, Inc. http://hepzibah40.blogspot.com

I grew up in a rich environment of faith where I saw faith lived out in my grandmother and my parents.  For a short period of time as a child I lived with my grandmother.  I look back now and I cherish those days when I saw right before my eyes simple faith exercised by these precious ones.  They believed in the Lord Jesus Christ and served Him with their whole heart.  Of course, as a child I did not realize the total value of what I was seeing in them but God knew.  God so loved me that He made it possible for me to have heroes of faith in the household where I grew as a child.

During the period of time I spent with my grandmother I experienced what was then called a “Shut-In”.  Men and women of God would set a time for this (usually overnight but it could also go on for days).  They would gather their bibles, some clothes (remember housecoats), and food (now referred to as snacks) for the children and go to the church for this event and it was an event.  Fasting, praying, singing, and repenting took place to the glory and honor of God.

I can remember the “saints” (we now call Christians or Believers) would lay blankets near the front of the church where the altar was and put the children there to sleep.  Although the prayers were loud and many of them walked around (in housecoats) with praise and adoration for God, the children slept sound.  I believe that the grace that is upon my life today was pronounced as I lay asleep as a child surrounded by the prayers of the righteous that avail much.

I also experienced this with my parents who pastored a church.  This same event was called “All Night Prayer”.  It took place in the church.  There is a childhood memory of one of these events.  We lived next door to the church in the parsonage.  I was the youngest of four children and my parents (then it was safe) left me asleep at home while my sisters and brother went with them to church next door.  Somehow, I awakened during the night and found my way to the church next door.   My mother recalled that she looked across the church and saw her toddler walking down the aisle on the opposite side of the church.  Needless to say, from then on, I was never excluded from all night prayer.

God has always summoned His people for a “Time Out” with Him.  It is the “Solemn Assembly”, the “Gathering”, the “Convocation”.  It is Him calling us to repentance, redirection, and love for the mission He has given us.

The Bible records a God ordained Shut-In for the children of Israel when they left Egypt.  They were instructed to apply the blood of a lamb to the doorposts of their houses and go inside and shut the door.  The death angel was passing by and would only spare those who were obedient to the instructions that they had been given by God (Exodus 12:13).

Moses was Shut-In or hidden in the cleft of the rock as God passed by to reveal Himself to His servant (Exodus 33:22). 

Perhaps the most famous Shut-In took place when the resurrected Savior of man(Jesus) told His disciples to go into an upper room in Jerusalem and wait until the Holy Spirit would descend from heaven (Acts Chapter 2).  After a Shut-In there will always be an unveiling of Truth, an unleashing of Power, a releasing in Anointing, all in the person of Jesus Christ to His body.

I can remember the refreshing that always accompanied the “Shut-Ins” and “All Night Prayers”.  Sometimes afterwards revivals would “break out” in the churches.  The bodies of Believers would be healed and lost loved ones would return home. These events served as a reset button for the lives of God’s people. 

We have one of these events now, a mandated “Shut-In”.  This one has been so ordered by our Heavenly Father.   Listen to Him.  Hear Him. Be refreshed by His ordinance and His power to change you and the world in which we live.  What has He been saying to you that you could not hear when you were not Shut-In?  Has your outlook on anything changed?  Have you begun to see current conditions, opinions, and attitudes in a different light?

I speak for myself and say that in this Shut-In Father God has moved in my life in a depth that He has ordained.  I am delighted to submerge myself in His logos (written) word and He is revealing Rhema (inspired) word to me.  I have grown to love the word of God even more than I have in the past.  I see His eternal plan more clearly. 

God’s plan makes the plan of man so small and insignificant that I am strengthened as a Believer to carry out the commission, “Go make disciples”.  I know that this “Shut-In” will yield a tremendous harvest for the Kingdom of God.  Don’t attend to the distractions.  They are just that.  Attend to God’s word and His promise of eternity.

At the beginning of the pandemic, God instructed me to pray for the people (all people) and to walk and talk with Him.  I remain faithful to this simple request that keeps me focused on God and what He is doing rather than the rhetoric of other voices in the earth. 

Years ago, God spoke to me about the “Underbelly” of this nation.  He is exposing it now for what it is.  It is not pretty but needs to be exposed and dealt with.   This reckoning is necessary for the release of His purposed revival for this nation.  We can only believe as Believers the truth as God sees it.  Not as we see it.   We must stop now and hear what Father is saying in this Shut-In.  Are you listening? 

Truth is going to prevail.  Align yourself with God’s plan, purpose, and desire or you will circle around in your own plan (or another man’s plan) as did His children in the wilderness.  His glory and revelation are now being revealed to His body.  Receive from this Shut-In all that God has ordained for you to receive.  Journal and write down what He is saying to you because He is speaking very loudly.  Pray for people, pray for blindness to be lifted from the body of Christ.

His Presence

His Presence

Marsha Deveaux Johnson, Living Joy Ministries, Inc. http://hepzibah40.blogspot.com

Exodus 33:14

“And the Lord said, My presence shall go with thee and I will give thee rest.”

One of the benefits of friendship is the comfort level we have with a trusted friend.  We recognize their phone number when we see it on the digital screen.  We know the sound of their voice on the other end of the telephone.  We have a comfort level with them just “dropping by” our home if they are out or in the neighborhood.  We are comfortable in their presence.

I am always fascinated by the words that God speaks to me because of the power that lies in His spoken word.  God has been speaking to me lately about the word “presence.”  He reminded me of the above scripture and pointed out to me that the word “rest” was used instead of peace.  Rest in this instance seems to be a destination or state of existence that God brings us into.  This rest is brought on by His presence being with us. Moses was so committed to the will of the Father that his response to God was, “Lord if Your presence does not go with me, let me not go anywhere” (Exodus 33:15).

 As I meditated upon the word rest in the Exodus scripture, I began to understand that “rest” was all encompassing.  You can have “peace” regarding certain things in your life but be challenged and not at peace with others. 

“Rest” is a place of destination that is entered into by faith and manifests the total presence of God almighty.  Hebrews the 4^th chapter speaks of the “Rest” as a destination.  It is to be entered into by the faith that God’s people exercise in His written and spoken word.  His presence is the optimum benefit of entering into His Rest.

Prerequisites to “His Presence” and the “Rest”

·         You must know Jesus Christ in the pardon and forgiveness of your sins. John 3:16

·         You must know that you are redeemed from the curse of the law (sin, sickness, poverty, spiritual death). Galatians 3:13

·         You must have a revelation of Satan’s Defeat. Isaiah 14:12-17. Ezekiel 28^th Chapter 

·         You must have a revelation of Christ’s Victory. Revelation1:18    

What does “His Presence” entail?

To view a snapshot of His presence, I will go back to the statements I made about a trusted friend.  I will apply these statements to our Trusted Friend.  You know His voice.  Of all the voices that are in the earth, and there are many, you discern when He speaks to you.  You have absolute clarity of His promptings, desires, and orders.  You also recognize and know His footprint on circumstances, situations, and occurrences.  You would never mistake another for Him (Calling good evil or evil good).  You understand and exercise His heart toward mankind. 

And last but not least you are comfortable with Him “dropping by” and visiting with His divine presence anytime He desires.  In fact, your spirit lives continually in His divine presence and promptings.  Your spirit remains in constant communication with God. This communication is likened unto the flame in the tabernacle that burned continually, (Leviticus 6:13).  This communication in your spirit takes place regardless of the engagement of your soul (mind, will, emotions) in temporal things.  This candle just keeps on burning (Proverbs 20:27, “The  spirit of man is the candle of the Lord”).

What does “His Rest” entail?

Well first of all it can only be experienced if the “Presence” of God is with you.  There can be no allegiance to man or self in this place of “Rest”.  You have abandoned your own plan, will, actions, desires, and submitted to the will of the Father (John 5:30).  This is sometimes where it gets hard for some who genuinely love God.  You must abandon self-seeking and approval of man desires.  This abandonment will allow you to enter into His presence and His rest.  God’s presence can then invade your spirit with the union He desires. 

Just as the Father and the Son are One (John 10:30), we also enter into that same “Oneness” as His presence engulfs us.   It is here in this “Oneness” and “Union” that the world and its system have no stronghold over our lives.  Like Jesus, our kingdom truly becomes not of this world.  We are in it but not of it.

Benefits of His Presence

·         You are void of desires that promote self and the approval of man.  Your lips constantly speak forth the plans, purposes, and will of God.  You have denied yourself, taken up your cross and are following Jesus (Matthew 16:24).

·         You constantly feast on the “Hidden Manna” (Revelation 2:17) that God floods into your spirit daily.  You radiate a purity of spirit and love in your dealings with others.

·         You have peace and contentment that defies the chaos of the world. God can trust you to know and do the right thing.

·         You immediately identify the plans, purposes, and desires of the Father and seek to agree with and accomplish His agenda.

·         You bring the anointing and presence of God wherever your voice is heard, wherever your words are read, and wherever you  go.

Divine Order

Divine Order

Marsha Deveaux Johnson, Living Joy Ministries, Inc., http://hepzibah40.blogspot.com

“Two “orders” compete.  They are “Divine Order” (God’s plan) and “Chaos” (Satan’s plan of Sin & Death).   There is no “order” outside of God’s divine order.” MDJ

Elohim, the Creator of the universe created man in His image and likeness (Genesis 1:26).  This was and is His eternal plan that man live throughout the eternity with Him.  God wanted fellowship and communion with someone who was “like Him”.  God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit placed man in the Garden of Eden (Genesis Chapter 1).  God’s creation was given dominion over everything in the earth realm. Adam was given a commandment not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 3:3). 

God’s plan was challenged when His creation took a wrong turn in the Garden of Eden and unleashed chaos (Satan’s plan, sin & death) into the earth realm. This really happened and is the cause for all the chaos we see in our world today.  Man’s “wrong turn” of disobedience in the garden has left us with choosing one of two options, right choice (God’s Divine Order) and wrong choice (Satan’s plan, sin & death).  Right choice (God’s Divine Order) follows the complete will of the Father’s purpose for man. Wrong choice follows the pattern of the fallen angel (Isaiah 14:12-16) Satan’s plan for man (Chaos; Satan’s plan, sin & death).

The ability for man to live in God’s divine order was established when Jesus came to earth, suffered, and died on the cross for our sins.  It was a high price to pay, however God sacrificed His then “only begotten Son” so that all sons and daughters would have access to Him in order to become “like Him”.  This salvation plan offered by Jesus Christ requires that a man surrender his own order to the divine order of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  This surrender is without exception, we are called on as children of God to conform to the image of His son Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29).  The unique challenge that this presents is that the inherited nature of Adam is selfish and wants to remain the center of attention. 

The new creation (2^nd Corinthians 5:17) makes Jesus Christ the center of attention, but through a process.  This process of transformation happens with the “renewing of the mind” (Romans 12:2) to God’s eternal word and practicing the plan (God’s Divine Order) found in His word.  A follower of Christ navigates with His word in a world that does not adhere to God’s plan (God’s Divine Order).  This is the challenge for those who believe and do God’s word. 

Success in life is different for Believers and non Believers.  One man’s success may be another’s failure. This ramps up the confusion for everyone and spins daily interaction between people on earth into chaos (Satan’s plan, sin & death).  God’s people (Believers) exist in a kingdom that is not of this world (John 18:36).  Non Believers exist in a kingdom that Satan rules.  The current condition of the world becomes clear when the interaction between these two different kingdoms (Divine Order verses Chaos; Satan’s plan, sin & death) occur.

Divine Order is divine (God’s plan).  Chaos is chaos (Satan’s plan, sin & death). For man, these two kingdoms are revealed by who lives on the throne in his heart.  Believers are not to look, think, or act like people who live in chaos.  We have been redeemed and bought back from chaos (Satan’s plan, sin and death) to the God who created us in His image and likeness.  We enter chaos (Satan’s plan, sin & death) only when we are tempted to conform to the kingdom and practices of this world. These worldly practices create chaos (Satan’s plan, sin & death); that encourage selfishness, greed, hatred, racism, elitism, and every ungodly thing (Galatians 5:19-21) that reigns in the heart of man.  

We are a “peculiar” (1^st  Peter 2:9) people and are not called upon to blend into chaos (Satan’s plan, sin & death) but to lead others out of chaos (Satan’s plan, sin & death) by example and love.  Every encounter we have with those who do not know Jesus Christ should leave them with a hunger for the divine order that is manifested in our lives.  When we take on the role of chaos (Satan’s plan, sin & death) as Believers, people do not encounter the Living Christ who is the hope of glory in us (Colossians 1:27).  You may be the only divine order (God’s plan) a person comes into contact with the day that you encounter them.

What are you showing the world? Do people see in you a light burning so brightly that they cannot ignore the peace, joy and love of that light? Do they see in you warmth that supersedes the condemnation they receive from others?  Do they know that the word “Christian” means that they are welcomed and loved regardless of their race, creed, color, politics, etc?  Do they encounter God when you do business with them?  Do they see Jesus in you when they are hungry, cold, poor, and in need of a destination?  Do you contribute to the divine order (God’s plan) or to the chaos (Satan’s plan)? 

The body of Christ is sick when it allows the chaos (Satan’s plan) of the world to infiltrate the divine order (God’s plan) that our Father demands that we live under.  Healing for the body of Christ comes when we all come into the unity of the faith. Jesus prayed for “Oneness” for His body as He and the Father were One.  Chaos (Satan’s plan) is the only thing that separates us from this “Oneness” that Jesus prayed for.  Drop the chaos (Satan’s plan) and live in divine order (God’s plan) and then the world will know that we are His disciples.

When the body of Christ functions in the divine order (God’s plan) of God we see physical healings come forth in abundance.  We see relationships restored in families that have been estranged for years.   We see souls come to know the Lord Jesus as divine order brings us into the “Oneness” Jesus prayed for (John 17:21. 

As Living Joy Ministries, Inc. ministers to God’s people, we are seeing the amazing power of God in restoring families, ministries, and joyous living to people who were cut off from the Father because of the chaos (Satan’s plan, sin & death) in their lives.  God is moving in a mighty way to bring man back to Him.  He just wants to fulfill the desire He had when He created man.  That desire was for fellowship and communion with a being that was “Like Him”.  Be “Like Him” and live in His divine order (God’s plan).

PS What He (God) wanted was to commune & fellowship with someone who was like Him.  Do you qualify? MDJ

"Water into Wine"

Water into Wine”

Marsha Deveaux Johnson, Living Joy Ministries, Inc., http://hepzibah40.blogspot.com

This is A New Day

This is a new day,

We have shed off old garments,

Like the chaff that the wind drives away,

This is a new day,

And revived we will stand,

In the Holy Ghost authority

Conquering this land.

It’s not time for old things to be here.

It’s not time for old things to stay.

The Holy Ghost authority is moving in the land,

And we’re preparing for that great day!

Marsha Deveaux Johnson

(A song given to me by the Holy Spirit @twenty-five years ago)

Welcome to a new year and a new day!  How wonderful it is when our heavenly Father speaks “Rhema” (God inspired word, planted in man’s spirit) to our hearts!  It is always encouraging and direct in its power to address, heal, and clarify every situation.  On January 6, 2020, God implanted His Rhema word for my life in my spirit with three words, “water into wine”.  This is the season in my life that water will turn to wine.

The origin of this passage goes back to the first biblically recorded miracle of Jesus when He was here on earth (John Chapter 2).  He was at a wedding in Cana of Galilee.  There was a problem.  The wedding hosts had run out of wine for the guests.  Jesus, along with His mother Mary and the disciples were among the guests.  Apparently Mary became aware of the problem.  She however intervened in the situation because she had given birth to and had the Solver (Jesus) of every problem living under her roof.  She went and explained the situation to Him.  His reply to her was one of “not my problem, not my time”.

The mother of Jesus knew His heart toward people and refused to let it end there.  She engaged the disciples and instructed them to follow His orders when they came.  That is exactly what happened.  Jesus gave them orders to fill water pots.  At the time, this probably made no sense at all, but the disciples were obedient.  Jesus closed this case when He miraculously turned the water into wine.  This wine came as a delight to all the guests because it was the best wine that had been served.

It has been my experience that when God speaks to us, we never know initially the depth of His communication at that time. He unfolds, illuminates, and clarifies.  We humble our hearts and allow Him to unfold, illuminate, and clarify His meaning to the words that He tenderly places in our spirit.  My heart is humbled with this word and I share it with you for you to ponder with Father whether this word can be embraced by your heart.  Here are three principles I observe  from this scripture and from the Rhema word (Water into Wine) God gave me.

Water/Wine

First of all, water is H2O in its chemical analysis.  Wine is different.  Water will never become wine except under miraculous circumstances.  That is what happened in Cana of Galilee.  There was divine intervention.  God in His logos (written) word has given Believers the power of having divine intervention in our lives.   When God says “water into wine” to me He is speaking of His sovereign divine intervention into my life, circumstance, and situation.  The morning after I received this word from God I awakened with clarity in my spirit regarding what to do in two situations that I had been pondering.  I immediately acknowledged to God that the clarity He had given was a “water into wine” event.  I anticipate having them as frequently as He allows.  What glorious things will He unfold, reveal, clarify, and do in my life?  He alone knows.

Mary/Absolute Faith, Confidence, Dependency

Secondly, what is obvious in this scripture recording is that Mary recognized she could not solve this problem.  It needed divine intervention and she had to get the problem to the One Who could solve it.  Mary knew that the God who lived under her roof was able to solve this problem.  She had faith and confidence in Him. This says we must have absolute faith, confidence, and  dependence upon God in every circumstance to see “water into wine” events come to pass.

Disciples/ Obedience

The third part of the “water into wine” process that I observe is the complete obedience of the disciples regardless of the “marching orders”.  Mary said to them, “whatsoever He says, do it.”  It is incumbent upon us to obey His logos and Rhema word regardless of our knowledge of the outcome.  After all, He is working things together for our good and His glory.

I am encouraged by this word, I want to see it manifest in my life.  I anticipate the divine intervention of God everywhere, at all times, and in all the places of my life.  I’m allowing the transformation power of the word of God to turn “water into wine.”  I will be totally exercising my faith, confidence, and dependency upon God.  I will be obedient to His logos and Rhema word.  I will see “water into wine” this year and every year until He returns!

 “Water into Wine”

 PS.

Led by God, I use the word “divine” intervention as opposed to supernatural.  Divine refers always to Deity. Supernatural encompasses divine, ghost, or devil according to Merriam Webster’s Dictionary.

Understanding Righteousness

Understanding Righteousness

Marsha Deveaux Johnson, Living Joy Ministries, Inc., http://hepzibah40.blogspot.com

“Wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get wisdom and with all thy getting get understanding” Proverbs 4:7

“God hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him (Christ Jesus).”   2^nd Corinthians 5:21

Definitions:  Merriam Webster’s Desk Dictionary

Understanding:  Knowledge and ability to judge

Righteousness:   Acting or being in accordance with what is just, honorable, and free from guilt or wrong, upright, moral, ethical

Years ago God led me to do a study on righteousness.  He said to me that He was a righteous God and loved righteousness. I gathered many scriptures in His word on righteousness and stored them in my heart and in my computer.  Recently God has been speaking to me again about righteousness.  I went to my computer and found those precious scriptures (two pages of them) and began to confess them regularly.  God always has a plan when He reminds you of His word that He has planted in your heart.   I share some of His thoughts spoken to my heart for me and the body of Christ regarding righteousness.

           

#1

The scriptures plainly tell us that we are the righteousness of God when we accept and are found in Jesus Christ (2^nd Corinthians 5:21).  When receiving Jesus, we instantly become the righteousness of God simply because of our faith and acceptance of Jesus Christ.  From that point on, the natural progression is to allow the Holy Spirit (The third Person in the Trinity of Jesus and God) to  daily impart right thinking, right choosing, and right doing to us.  This is called transformation and renewing of the mind.  It is necessary to manifest God’s will in our lives on a daily basis.

#2

We must understand why God chose to make us righteous through Christ. We were imputed or given righteousness by God so that the righteousness of Christ Jesus in us would produce righteous fruit.  If God had not invested righteousness in us through Jesus Christ, and we had to of our own free will choose righteousness, failure would be inevitable for us.  He made provision for us to grow the righteousness seed He sowed in us through Jesus by declaring us righteous.  The seed of righteousness is in us planted by God to produce righteous fruit (Example: The seed of an orange tree in the process of time produces oranges).

#3

Let me use a parallel example to further clarify the understanding of righteousness.  I will compare righteousness imputed by Jesus Christ to a three million dollar inheritance.  A desperately poor person suddenly comes into a three million dollar inheritance (Righteousness of God through Christ).  The person is now instantly a millionaire.  However his mentality now has to change (transformation, renewing of the mind).  He no longer has to be homeless.  He can change that. He no longer has to stand in the soup line.  That can change.  If he worked, he may consider leaving the low paying job.  He may consider moving to another town, visiting his family, and any of the long lists of possibilities that have now expanded.   All these decisions, all these choices have to be decided as time goes on.  This new millionaire (compared to the new creature in Christ, 2^nd Corinthians 5:17) must allow the millionaire status to impact every aspect of his life. Being made a millionaire instantly positions you to live as a millionaire.  However, living like a millionaire takes time.  You may also continue to live a life of poverty if you do not use the inheritance to make right spending choices.   

#4

So it is with your being instantly made the righteousness of God through Christ (2^nd Corinthians 5:21).  Being made the righteousness of God when you accept Jesus Christ empowers you to live righteous. However, living righteous takes time, knowledge of God’s word, and obedience to it.   Righteousness has to permeate every aspect of your life as time goes by.  When you understand that you are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus it changes everything.  You begin to live your life from a place of victory.  You no longer see yourself as a sinner, but a new creation keeping sin out of your life. You no longer see yourself as poor, but rich keeping poverty out of your life.  You no longer see yourself as sick, but well keeping sickness out of your life.   You have been declared righteous by God so that you may live a righteous life.

#5

The fruit of the newly imputed (inherited) righteousness frees you from the curse (sin, sickness, poverty, spiritual death, Galatians 3:13).  As you grow in the knowledge and application of the word of God in your life you will grow in the daily imparted righteousness.  Your daily righteous choices equip you for combating the world, the flesh, and the Devil. You are a new creation in Christ Jesus (2^nd Corinthians 5:17).  After His death on the cross, Jesus lives inside of everyone who has accepted Him as Savior and Lord. He instantly declares them the righteousness of God.  As God’s word is applied to and activated in the Believer daily, righteousness abounds in his life.

The Believer has promises in God’s word that are a by-product of them being made righteous and continuing to manifest righteousness in their lives.  I have listed the scriptures that I gathered years ago to encourage you in your walk with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  You are God’s righteousness because of Jesus Christ.  Live and enjoy all God’s benefits of being His righteousness right here on earth.

                                                        

The Uncompromisingly Righteous

Living Joy Ministries Inc., http://hepzibah40.blogspot..com

Compiled by Marsha Deveaux Johnson in 2008

They will never famish (suffer severely from hunger).

(Proverbs 10:3)

Blessings are upon their head. (Proverbs 10:6)

Their memory is a blessing to others. (Proverbs 10:7, Psalms 112:6)

Their mouth is a well of life. (10:11)

Their earnings lead to life. (Proverbs 10:16)

Their lips (mouth) feed many. (Proverbs 10:21)

Their desire shall be granted. (Proverbs 10:26)

Their hope is joy and gladness. (Proverbs 10:28, Psalms 118:15)

Their mouths bring skillful and godly wisdom. (Proverbs 10: 31, Psalms 37:30, Proverbs 15:28)

They know and speak that which is acceptable. (Proverbs 10:32, Psalms 37:30)

Their integrity guides them. (Proverbs 11:2)

They are delivered from death. (Proverbs 11:4)

They are delivered from trouble. (Proverbs 11:8)

A city is exalted by them. (Proverbs 11:11)

They shall flourish like a green tree. (Proverbs 11:28)

They shall receive an earthly reward. Proverbs 11:31,

Psalms 92:12)

They obtain God’s favor. (Proverbs 12:2, Psalms 5:12)

Their thoughts and purposes are honest and reliable.

(Proverbs 12:5)

Their house shall stand. (Proverbs 12:7)

They bear the fruit of their words. (Proverbs 12:14)

They listen to counsel. (Proverbs 12:15)

No evil shall come upon them. (Proverbs 12:21)

They are a guide (example) to their neighbor. (Proverbs 12:26)

They hate lying and deceit. (Proverbs 13:5, Proverbs 29:27)

Their light comes from within. (Proverbs 13:9)

They are rewarded with good things. (Proverbs 13: 21)

They leave an inheritance to their children and grandchildren. (Proverbs 13:22, Proverbs 20:7)

The wealth of the sinner finds its way into their hands.

(Proverbs 13:22)

God watches over their ways. (Psalms 1:6)

God is present with them. (Psalms 14:5)

They are commanded to be joyous and sing. (Psalms 32:11,

Psalms 33:1, Psalms 64:10, Psalms 68:3-4)

They cry and God hears and delivers them. (Psalms 34:17,

 Psalms 37:39-40)

They are delivered from all their troubles. (Psalms 34:19,

Proverbs 15:29)

The Lord upholds the righteous. (Psalms 34:17, Psalms 55:22)

They give generously. (Psalms 37:21, Psalms 112:5,

Proverbs 21:26)

They will never be forsaken and their seed will not beg for bread. (Psalms 37:25)

They will inherit the land. (Psalms 37:29)

Men will speak of God’s faithfulness to them. (Psalms 58:11)

Their names are in the book of life. (Psalms 69:28)

Light is sown for them. (Psalms 97:11, Psalms 112:4,

 Proverbs 4:18)

Their rebuke is a blessing. (Psalms 141:5)

The Lord loves the righteous. (Psalms 146:8, Isaiah 3:10)

The Lord blesses their home. (Proverbs 3:33, Psalms 118:15, Proverbs 15:6)

Their refuge in death is Jesus Christ. (Proverbs 14:32)

They may fall seven times, but will always rise. (Proverbs 24:16)

They are bold as a lion.  (Proverbs 28:1)

They care about justice for the poor. (Proverbs 29:7)

They will see the downfall of the wicked.  (Proverbs 29:16)