100331w The Pleasure of Righteousness - Part 2
Tim Franklin
Introduction:
· 2 Thessalonians 2:12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. NKJV
· God prophetically spoke to us on New Years Eve:
o Righteousness will become an increasing revelation and practice in the church.
o Righteousness will become a pleasure in itself and not a weight.
· Righteousness literally means to be in right standing. It means to morally right. Accurate. Innocent. It means to be approved of God or accepted of God. It is a state or quality of a person.
· The mystery of lawlessness in 2 Thes 2:7 is the power of mans hatred towards God. This includes luke-warmness, Rev. 3:16 lukewarm equals being vomited out of the mouth of God.
1. What makes righteousness a Weight?
A. When it is obtained by works
i. Matthew 23:4 For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. NKJV
a. Righteousness is a weight when we see it as an impossible goal.
b. Righteousness is a weight when we see it as a list to complete.
c. Righteousness is a weight when it becomes religious acts with void of the life of God.
d. Righteousness is a weight when we constantly fail at it.
e. Righteousness is a weight when we find no grace to walk in.
f. The things that make righteousness a weight are the very things that make it unpleasureable.
B. When someone else is putting it on you and not helping you to carry it. Matt 23:4 "Instead of giving you God's Law as food and drink by which you can banquet on God, they package it in bundles of rules, loading you down like pack animals. They seem to take pleasure in watching you stagger under these loads, and wouldn't think of lifting a finger to help. THE MESSAGE
i. There is a Kingdom code of conduct. 10 commandments, Sermon on the Mount.
ii. There is a Bible full of do’s and don’ts
iii. God has made it possible to full all the law and the commandments by letting Him give us a heart change.
iv. God has equipped His church to walk with grace.
C. When you are trying to do something your heart is not into.
i. Matthew 5:20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. NKJV
ii. Righteousness without an internal motivation is very difficult to do.
D. When righteousness become a weight it is no longer pleasurable.
i. Ankle weights: mowing the yard with 5 pound weight on each foot. When you take them off you feel like you can fly!
ii. Il. Hiking the Appalachian Trail with a 60 pound pack.
2. The First Wrong Turn is Hating Truth
A. Romans 1:24-25 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. NKJV
i. In other words they chose to serve themselves rather than God.
ii. The created thus worshiped the created.
iii. The result is they embraced wickedness.
B. Gen 2:17 & 3:3 Adam and Eve exchanged the truth for a lie.
C. Note: the pleasure of unrighteousness. Gr. Eudokeo=a. Its usual sense is "to take pleasure or delight in," e.g., God in his people, or in the righteous, or in an offering, but also humans in the sanctuary, or the sabbath, or the truth. b. A further sense is "to decide for," "to select," "to prefer," and even "to adopt." c. From this evolves the sense "to want," "to will," "to be willing or ready." d. A more social meaning is "to agree," "consent," "acquiesce," "concede," "comply."(from Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, abridged edition, Copyright © 1985 by William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. All rights reserved.)
3. How May I Discover Righteousness As A Pleasure?
A. Understand that it comes by faith. A key to growing in righteousness is to grow in faith.
i. Noah believed God. Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. NKJV
a. Noah did not work building the ark to become an heir of righteousness. He believed God and became an heir of righteousness. His faith was revealed in his works.
b. He worked because he believed or better yet, he obey because he believed that what God said was true.
c. Heir of righteousness--One who receives his allotted possession by right of sonship.
d. To get the promise (Heb 11:7) he had to believe.
ii. Abraham believed God. Genesis 15:6 And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness. NKJV
a. Romans 4:20-22 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. 22 And therefore "it was accounted to him for righteousness." NKJV Gr. To reckon, account, calculate—in light of judgment and mercy. God is again looking at belief plus actions.
(i) Abraham did not have to work to become the father of many nations. He believed God and became the father of many nations.
(ii) Abraham endured walking through time, delayed promises, he endured because he believed that what God had said was true.
(iii)To get the promise he had to believe.
(iv)Abraham listened to Sarai and worked to fulfill the promise of God in his own strength and he produced an Ishmael, (something that has opposed God’s people to this day)
b. Rom 4:20-24 He did not by lack of trust decide against God’s promises. On the contrary, by trust he was given power as he gave glory to God, 21 for he was fully convinced that what God had promised he could also accomplish. 22 This is why it was credited to his account as righteousness. But the words, “it was credited to his account . . . ,” were not written for him only. 24 They were written also for us, who will certainly have our account credited too, because we have trusted in him CJB
iii. Philippians 3:9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; NKJV
B. By Renewing Our Mind
i. 1 Corinthians 15:33-34 Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits." 34 Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame. NKJV
a. Awake to righteousness—right standing. Take upon yourself God’s ways.
b. Because we have been made righteous by faith, we therefore choose to separate ourselves from the worlds ways.
c. IE. The Pharisee appeared to be righteous but Jesus said that our righteousness was to exceed theirs. To do that one must have the righteousness that comes by faith plus and knowledge of His Son and His Ways. It is the righteousness that comes by faith and is applied to others through love.
ii. Hebrews 5:13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. NKJV
a. Righteousness literally means to be in right standing. It means to morally right. Accurate. Innocent. It means to be approved of God or accepted of God. It is a state or quality of a person.
b. The deeper we go into God’s word, the deeper we go into God’s ways.
c. The
iii. 2 Corinthians 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? NKJV
a. God sees us as righteous.
b. So what fellowship has righteousness with darkness.
C. Establish Right Actions—Sermon on the Mount lifestyle.
i. From 1 Jn
a. 1 John 3:3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. NKJV
b. 1 John 3:7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. NKJV
ii. James 2:23-24 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. NKJV
a. Faith must be accompanied by works.
b. What you do reveals what you believe.
iii. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. NKJV
a. Instructions are given so that we know how to do things.
b. Ie. Instructions come in the box with your childs bike at Christmas; instruction is what you receive at your motorcycle safety course. It is what you receive in class so that you know how to spell, add, do your job.
D. Hunger and thirst for it.
i. Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. NKJV
E. Be a lover of truth.
i. Ephesians 6:14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, NKJV notice these two parts: truth and righteousness.
ii. Delight yourself in the Word of God (truth)
a. Psalms 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. NKJV
b. Psalms 37:4-6 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him,And He shall bring it to pass. 6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday. NKJV
c. Ps 119:16,24,35,47,70,77,92,174
d. Isaiah 11:3 His delight is in the fear of the Lord, And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, Nor decide by the hearing of His ears; NKJV
Conclusion:
· Be righteous is easy. Just believe what God has done for you.
· Growing in righteousness take discipline.
o A disciple is one who has put their faith in Jesus, governs their life through Jesus’ teachings, and passionately follows Jesus’ mandate of making disciple.
