LESSON 44

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The Armor of God

Part 4

 

THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (Cont.)

 

The righteousness of God enables you to fulfill the heart of the law.  God has enabled you.  Now He is simply leaving the choice up to you.  You can choose to walk in righteousness or you can choose to rebel.

 

1 John 3:9  Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

 

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If you continue on in habitual sin you are ignoring the righteousness of God that He has put inside of you and denying the work of grace.  To not use the righteousness God put in us, is to tread under foot the blood of Jesus.

 

Mat. 7:22-23  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.

 

Do not judge yourself or others, by the works and the miracles you perform.  God looks at the heart of a man.  He looks for a man who walks in the righteousness of Christ.

 

Rom. 8:10  And if Christ [be] in you, the body [is] dead because of sin; but the Spirit [is] life because of righteousness.

 

Without the righteousness of God you couldn't receive the Spirit of God.

 

The Spirit is life and it is death.  It is life to those who have the righteousness of God, and death to those who walk in unrighteousness.  It brings judgment and conviction.

 

Rom. 5:21  That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

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Grace reigns because of righteousness.

 

Rom. 10:9-10  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

 

Rom. 12:1-2  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

 

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The word transformed comes from the Greek word metamorpho.  It means a metamorphosis.  It is when the true inward nature is manifested on the outside.  It is also translated  in the Bible transfigured.

 

Let the Jesus that is on the inside of you come out by the renewing of your mind!

 

2 Cor. 3:18  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, [even] as by the Spirit of the Lord.

 

We are being changed from glory, to glory, to glory.  There is a church being manifested and raised up that will walk like Jesus, manifest the power like Jesus, speak the Word with the authority of Jesus, and tear down every stronghold of the enemy.  They will declare the righteousness of God.  They will walk like Jesus walked.  People will hate them because their very presence will convict them of their sin.

 

Eph. 5:27  That He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

 

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Jesus is not coming back for an immature church.  He is coming back for a glorious church without spot or blemish.

 

Benefits of Walking in the Righteousness of God

 

Isa. 54:14-17  In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee.   Behold, they shall surely gather together, [but] not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.   Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.  No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue [that] shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This [is] the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness [is] of me, saith the LORD.

 

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This is a prophecy to the church age.

 

No weapon formed against you shall prosper.  Oppression shall be far from you.  Terror shall be far from you.

 

Psa. 5:8  Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.

 

The righteousness of God will make your path straight. 

 

When you walk in the righteousness of God you will never be out of God's will.  When you walk in righteousness you will walk in the very throne room presence of God.

 

Psa. 17:15  As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

 

Psa. 23:3  He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.

Restoration is the restoring of all things lost in the garden back to what God intended them to be, which is the perfect image, character, and nature of Christ.

 

Psa. 31:1  To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.

 

Psa. 85:13  Righteousness shall go before Him; and shall set [us] in the way of His steps.

 

When you walk in the righteousness of God, He orders your steps.

 

Gal. 3:6  Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

 

Psa. 89:16  In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted

 

Psa. 119:40  Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.

 

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Prov. 11:4  Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.

 

Prov. 12:28  In the way of righteousness [is] life; and [in] the pathway [thereof there is] no death.

 

Isa. 5:16  But the LORD of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness.

 

Isa. 42:6  I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles.

 

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Nothing and no one can take you from the hand of God.

 

Isa. 45:13  I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the LORD of hosts.

 

Hos. 2:19  And I will betroth thee unto Me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto Me in righteousness, and in justice, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies.

 

Mal. 4:2    But unto you that fear My name shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing in its wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

 

There will be healing in His wings.  He will heal you.

Satan tries to convince us that we are not in right relationship with God.  When we line up with God and His righteousness it is armor to our minds. 

 

It is your choice to put on the new man.  God put it inside of you.  Put it on!

 

In Review:

1.  Complete this sentence.

    The Spirit is ____________ and it is

    _______________.

2.  Define transformed.  ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3.  What are the benefits of walking in the righteousness of God?

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