The influence of righteousness: Part two They are blessed as citizens and leaders. “When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices; and when the wicked perish, there is jubilation. By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked” (11:10–11, NKJV). “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when a wicked man rules, the people groan” (29:2, NKJV). Israel was a monarchy and the king was expected to rule in the fear of the Lord (20:8, 26). “It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness” (16:12). “Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness” (25:5). God cast out the Canaanite nations because their sins were abominable to Him (Deut. 12:29–32), and He chastened Israel when they imitated the sins of those nations (Jud. 2). God would not tolerate the sin of idolatry. By turning away from God’s Law, wicked rulers led the way for the nation to become evil. Whenever the nation had a godly king, such as David, Josiah, or Hezekiah, God blessed His people. But when an ungodly king ascended the throne, the Lord withdrew His blessing and left them to their own devices. Eventually, the Northern Kingdom of Israel was taken over by Assyria, the Southern Kingdom of Judah was exiled in Babylon, and Jerusalem and the temple destroyed. During times of spiritual decay, it was the godly remnant of righteous people who maintained the flickering flame of spiritual life in the nation. When false prophets, greedy priests, and ruthless kings joined together to lead the nation away from the true God, it was the faithful remnant that served as salt and light in the land. “Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name” (Mal. 3:16). Israel is the only nation that has a special covenant relationship with God, but the principle of Proverbs 14:34 still stands: “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people” (NIV). Deuteronomy 12, Amos 1–2, and Romans 1:18–32 make it clear that God judges the Gentile nations for their sins even though He didn’t give them the same law that He gave to Israel (Ps. 147:19–20). National leaders can’t escape the judgment of God when they lead the people away from God’s holy standards. Legalizing sin doesn’t make it right. No wonder Thomas Jefferson wrote, “Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just.” Godly parents can raise godly children, and godly children can provide godly influence in their communities and in the nation. In a democracy, where leadership is elected and not inherited, the Lord’s remnant must exert as much influence for righteousness as possible; certainly every believer ought to pray for those in authority (1 Tim. 2:1–8). I have ministered the Word in hundreds of churches and conferences in the United States, and I confess that rarely have I heard government leaders mentioned in the pulpit prayers. If the church obeyed the Word and prayed, national leaders would have to take God into account in their deliberations. “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord; He directs it like a watercourse wherever He pleases” (Prov. 21:1, NIV). I occasionally hear people lamenting the state of the nation, but most of them fail to point out the main cause: The church collectively and believers individually aren’t doing their job in spreading righteousness. If the righteous remnant were spreading more salt and light, there would be less decay and darkness (Matt. 5:13–16). Christians have a job to do: praying for all in authority, winning the lost, living godly lives, and raising godly children. And it would help if we humbled ourselves and sought God’s face (2 Chron. 7:14); for apart from the deep working of God’s Spirit in hearts, there is no hope for any nation. “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He chose for His inheritance” (Ps. 33:12, NIV). I HOPE YOU FOUND THIS QUICK STUDY TO BE HELPFUL? PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM EVERLASTING SALVATION CHURCH OF GOD MINISTRIES PayPal.me/donatetochurch Church link: Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com
The influence of righteousness The life of righteousness must not become a solitary and selfish experience. When God blesses the righteous, He does it so they can share the blessing with others. “I will bless you,” God promised Abraham, “and you shall be a blessing” (Gen. 12:2, NKJV). The “blessed man” of Psalm 1 is “like a tree” that produces fruit for others to enjoy (Ps. 1:3). “The righteous will thrive like a green leaf … The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life” (Prov. 11:28, 30, NIV). Let’s trace the circles of influence that radiate from the lives of men and women of God who walk on His paths. They are blessed in their character. The eminent American preacher Phillips Brooks said that the purpose of life was the building of character through truth. Christian character is one thing we’ll take to heaven with us. We’ll all have glorified bodies like that of our Lord (Phil. 3:20–21; 1 John 3:1–3), and we’ll all be happy in His presence, but we will not all immediately have the same capacity for appreciating spiritual things. Every vessel will be filled, but not all vessels will be the same size. Those who have walked closely with their Lord will be delighted to see Him (2 Tim. 4:8), but others will be “ashamed before Him at His coming” (1 John 2:28). The righteous desire the very best from the Lord, and He grants it to them (Prov. 10:24; 11:23). When we delight ourselves in the Lord, we will want the things that delight Him (Ps. 37:4). The developing of spiritual perception, a godly appetite, and the ability to choose the best (Phil. 1:9–11), is one of the blessed by-products of a holy walk with God. The more we become like Christ, the less we enjoy the “entertainment” of this world and long for the enrichment of the world to come. Of course, godly character comes from feeding on the Word and taking time to be holy. “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser; teach a just man, and he will increase in learning” (Prov. 9:9). Even reproof helps the godly person to mature. “Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you” (v. 8, NKJV). The righteous are kind and generous (21:26) and show their kindness, not only in the way they treat people (29:7) but also in the way they treat animals. “A righteous man regards the life of his animal, but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel” (12:10, NKJV). THIS IS A MUCH-NEEDED QUICK STUDY. I HOPE YOU RECEIVED MIGHTILY. PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM EVERLASTING SALVATION CHURCH OF GOD MINISTRIES PayPal.me/donatetochurch Church link: Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com
STOP SINNING James 4:8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Isaiah 1:16q Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. CHECK YOURSELF, IT’S TIME TO GET RID OF THE SIN THAT YOU ARE HOLDING ON TO. DON’T WAIT TOO LONG!!! PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM EVERLASTING SALVATION CHURCH OF GOD MINISTRIES PayPal.me/donatetochurch Church link: Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com
The bible teaches us to be Quick To Listen And Slow To Speak James 1:19 ESV Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; Proverbs 17:28 ESV Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent. Ephesians 4:29 ESV Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Proverbs 21:23 ESV Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble. Ephesians 4:26 ESV Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, ALLOW THESE VERSES TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM PayPal.me/donatetochurch Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com
OUR GOD WANTS TO BLESS US God blesses us even though we don’t deserve it. The Bible tells us, “Out of the fullness of his grace he has blessed us all, giving us one blessing after another” (John 1:16 GNT). God blesses us because he enjoys doing it. Any parent can understand this. We love to bless our children. So does God. God says in Jeremiah 32:41: “I will enjoy blessing them” (GW). God promises he will bless our lives if we obey him. God’s promises and his blessings are not automatic. They are conditional. You’re not waiting on God to bless you. He is waiting for you to fulfill the conditions necessary for your blessing. God blesses us as a witness to others. God wants to show off his blessing so that other people can see what a good God he is. God blesses us to bless others. God doesn’t bless you so you can just store up his blessings and keep them all to yourselves. God blesses you so you can bless others. God’s blessing can be multigenerational. God does this over and over throughout the Bible. For example, the Bible says in Genesis 25:11, “After Abraham’s death, God blessed his son Isaac” (NIV). Never forget that God wants to bless you. You’re not waiting for him. He’s waiting for you! THINK ABOUT IT. PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM EVERLASTING SALVATION CHURCH OF GOD MINISTRIES PayPal.me/donatetochurch Church link: Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com
YOUNG CONVERTS If young converts want to be used of God, they must feed on His Word. Their experience may be very good and very profitable at the outset, and they may help others by telling it; but if they keep on doing nothing else but telling their experience, it will soon become stale and unprofitable, and people will weary of hearing the same thing over and over again. But when they have told how they have been converted, the next thing is to feed on the Word. We are not fountains ourselves; but the Word of God is the true fountain. And if we feed on the Word, it will be so easy then to speak to others; and not only that, but we shall be growing in grace all the while, and others will take notice of our walk and conversation. So few grow, because so few study. I would advise all young converts to keep as much as they can in the company of more experienced Christians. I like to keep in the society of those who know more than I do; and I never lose a chance of getting all the good I can out of them. Study the Bible carefully and prayerfully; ask of others what this passage means and what that passage means, and when you have become practically acquainted with the great truths it contains, you will have less to fear from the world, the flesh, and the devil. You will not be disappointed in your Christian life. If young converts want to be used of God, they must feed on His Word. Their experience may be very good and very profitable at the outset, and they may help others by telling it; but if they keep on doing nothing else but telling their experience, it will soon become stale and unprofitable, and people will weary of hearing the same thing over and over again. But when they have told how they have been converted, the next thing is to feed on the Word. We are not fountains ourselves; but the Word of God is the true fountain. And if we feed on the Word, it will be so easy then to speak to others; and not only that, but we shall be growing in grace all the while, and others will take notice of our walk and conversation. So few grow, because so few study. I would advise all young converts to keep as much as they can in the company of more experienced Christians. I like to keep in the society of those who know more than I do; and I never lose a chance of getting all the good I can out of them. Study the Bible carefully and prayerfully; ask of others what this passage means and what that passage means, and when you have become practically acquainted with the great truths it contains, you will have less to fear from the world, the flesh, and the devil. You will not be disappointed in your Christian life. FOOD FOR THOUGHT. PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM EVERLASTIG SALVATION CHURCH OF GOD MINISTRIES PayPal.me/donatetochurch Church link: Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Andra Higginbotham
BIBLE FACTS A theme of Scripture often overlooked is what the Bible promises to do for God’s people. The Word, under various synonyms, is said in Psa. 19:7, 8 to convert the soul, make wise the simple, rejoice the heart, and enlighten the eyes. These great rewards are given to all who keep the precepts of Scripture, v.11. Men are born again through the instrumentality of the Word, Jas. 1:18; 1 Pet. 1:23. Faith comes to believers as they hear the Word, Rom. 10:17. Spiritual growth results from the realized desire for the sincere milk of the Word, 1 Pet. 2:2; 2 Pet. 3:18. Great peace have they who love God’s Word, Psa. 119:165. Those who obey it are promised divine blessings, Jas. 1:25. In the same way that Christ overcame the devil by using the written Word, Matt. 4:1–11, Christians are able to overcome the wicked one as the Word abides in them, 1 John 2:14. Paul spoke of the Word as able to build us up, Acts 20:32. An entire book has been written to provide the assurance of salvation, which is normal Christian experience, 1 John 5:13. It is the Word that sanctifies or cleanses, John 17:17, acting as a laver which reveals sin and provides cleansing as well, Eph. 5:25–27. The promise is given that those who honor the Word will find prosperity and success in all of God’s will, Josh. 1:8; Psa. 1:3. I HOPE YOU RECEIVED FROM THIS POWERFUL QUICK STUDY. PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM EVERLASTING SALVATION CHURCH OF GOD MINISTRIES PayPal.me/donatetochurch Church link: Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com Subscribe to our YouTube channel (Andra Higginbotham)
Our God is a righteous God. His character is holy and without sin (1 John 1:5), and all that He says and does is right and just. “He is the Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice, a God of truth and without injustice; righteous and upright is He” (Deut. 32:4, NKJV). “For the Lord is righteous, He loves righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright” (Ps. 11:7, NKJV). God’s Word is righteous. “I open my lips to speak what is right … All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse. To the discerning all of them are right; they are faultless to those who have knowledge” (Prov. 8:6, 8–9, NIV; see Ps. 119:138). The Word of God reveals the God of the Word; His Word, like His character, can be trusted. Other nations had their gods, temples, priests, and sacrifices, but only the people of Israel worshiped the living God who spoke to them and gave them His Word. “Did any people ever hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and live? Out of heaven He let you hear His voice, that He might instruct you; on earth He showed you His great fire, and you heard His words out of the midst of the fire” (Deut. 4:33, 36, NKJV). However, the privilege of hearing God’s Word brings with it the responsibility of obeying what He commands. “You shall therefore keep His statutes and His commandments which I command you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which the Lord your God is giving you for all time” (Deut. 4:40, NKJV). “See that you do not refuse Him who speaks” (Heb. 12:25, NKJV). OUR GOD IS HOLY, OUR GOD IS RIGHTEOUS!!! LISTEN TO OUR GOD AND OBEY OUR GOD!!! PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM EVERLASTING SALVATION CHURCH OF GOD MINISTRIES PayPal.me/donatetochurch
