THOSE WHO KNOW THEIR GOD Part 48

“Those who know their God will be strong and do great things.” Dan 11:32

WHAT DO PEOPLE DO TO KNOW GOD?

Before Jesus left the earth, he taught his disciples to pray. But what is so interesting is the model he gave them for prayer. Jesus began by saying, “This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:9-10

Wow! The first matter of business in prayer after addressing God is to pray about his kingdom. Yes, the subject of God’s kingdom was important enough to Jesus that he wanted them to pray about it at the beginning of their prayer times.

During the next few Encouraging Notes, I Want to Discuss Three Important Characteristics of the Kingdom of God. When apostle Paul wrote regarding the kingdom of God, he said, “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Romans 14:17

According to this Scripture, the kingdom of God’s earmarks are righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Indeed, you will always find these characteristics in operation when the kingdom of God is at work. It is also important to note the order in which Paul spoke of these characteristics. The Holy Spirit was very precise when he wrote through apostle Paul and purposely put righteousness at the front. Therefore, according to the Scripture, the subject of righteousness is of the utmost importance whenever the kingdom is discussed.

What is righteousness? Righteousness is right standing with God. At the beginning of apostle Paul’s treatise to the Roman church, he said, “For, in the gospel, a righteousness from God has been revealed. A righteousness that is by faith, from first to last. Romans 1:17

Paul made it very clear that works could never make a person right with God. Faith alone is what makes us right with God. Apostle Paul said, “Clearly no one is justified before God by the law because “the righteous will of by faith” Galatians 3:11 Apostle Paul was radical and passionate about being righteous by faith. If anyone ever thought that they had a reason to be right with God by works, it was apostle Paul. He said, “If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. Philippians 3:4-6

After Apostle Paul became a Christian, none of those things meant anything to Paul at all. He had a much more excellent way to live and be right with God. Look at what he went on to say.

Philippians 3:7-9 7 But whatever were gains to me, I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.”

The cry of apostle Paul’s heart was to be found in Christ, not having a righteousness of his own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ.

Are you right with God based upon your works or upon your faith in the sacrifice of Jesus? Do you live your life feeling never quite good enough, or are you resting in that most beautiful place of being perfect in God’s sight by the blood of Jesus? I am praying for you today and asking God to expand your revelation of righteousness by faith because the most important earmark of the kingdom of God is…

RIGHTEOUSNESS BY FAITH