THE KINGDOM OF GOD – THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD
Wednesday – March 29, 2017
Wow, hump day already! God is so good to all especially His children for we are in Covenant. Greetings from The Three Minute Word publications. I will now pickup with our Bible Study from the book of Ephesians.
Ephesians 6:10-13 (KJV)
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
I talked about how our Scripture text points out that this armour that equips us to stand against the wiles (devices, deceptions) of the devil is of God. God Himself without this armour would be no different than a natural man or a born again man who failed to put on the armour. It is not the totality of God but it is a part that is inseparable from Him and is inseparable from our dominion over the devil. Just a few of the other things mentioned in Scripture that are ‘of God’ are the peace of God, the righteousness of God, the love of God, the faith of God, and the joy of the Lord. This is not even close to a complete list of the things which are of God but I think we can all appreciate that this study has the potential to strengthen our faith and our love. Our faith (believing God) and our love (obedience to God) will not happen just because we read this material. We must chose to believe, we must chose to be obedient.
Nothing in the Kingdom of God is a stand-alone item or issue. Spiritually we are an integrated invincible system (person) just as our physical body is a wonderfully integrated system. When there are issues with a part the whole suffers. Three of the things the Lord has led me to discuss concerning things that we “of God’ are the major components of the Kingdom of God. Recall that Jesus told us that the Kingdom of God was within.
Luke 17:21 (KJV)
21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
The Apostle Paul identified the three major components of the Kingdom of God for us.
Romans 14:17 (KJV)
17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
First, let’s take a look at the gift of righteousness, a crucial pillar of the Kingdom of God.
Romans 3:22 (KJV)
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Romans 5:17 (KJV)
17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
The Amplified translation tells us that we reign as kings in life by one, Jesus Christ with the gift of righteousness and an abundance of grace. The Grace that can operate in our lives is directly proportional to spiritual maturity in faith and love.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (KJV)
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Adam had right standing with God but with sin that right standing and access to God was disrupted with no way back. However over time God was able to forge a Blood Covenant with a man (Abram/Abraham) establishing a legal mechanism to make redemption and the return of righteousness available for all men. When we choose to have faith in Christ Jesus we are instantly possessors of righteousness and have the same standing with God the Father as Jesus and with God the Father as God the Father. It just can’t get any better than that. This right standing with God, righteousness, allows us or puts us in a position to reign in life by Jesus Christ. Kings reign, brother and sister you and I are kings in the Kingdom of God. Let’s take a look at some of the synonyms for this word reign: supremacy, control, rule, govern, lead, and administrate.
You and I must ask ourselves right now, are we reigning in life or are we scraping along, running for cover, ducking and rolling? Righteousness is not only right standing with God but it is doing everything as God would do it (right). Do you imagine God breaking a sweat in Heaven or do we see Jesus at any time (other than the Cross) breaking a sweat? Finally in 2 Corinthians 5:21 we see that the reason we have this wonderful gift of righteousness is because Jesus took all of our sin in our place and we are “made the righteousness of God in him”. In Christ Jesus we are righteous, it is inseparable from who we are, and righteousness is us just like it is Him. Tomorrow I will start with the peace of God, until then meditate the following Scripture.
Philippians 4:6-7 (KJV)
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
Remember that I have published two books recently. First was the 
book titled “Temptation – The Battle for our Thoughts”. Perhaps this book will illuminate temptation in ways you have not imagined. Second is the book titled “And God Said – The Creator’s Provision”. This book illuminates the will of God from the beginning. These books are available at Amazon Books.
