Sunday Sermon
PURSUING RIGHTEOUSNESS, THE KEY TO AN ABUNDANT LIFE
Date: April 6, 2008
Speaker: Pastor Gerry Gregoire
Scriptural Reference: Psalm 37:4 & Matthew 5:6
Listen to Audio Sermon

PSALM 37:4
4Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart.

MATTHEW 5:6
Blessed and fortunate and happy and spiritually prosperous (in that state in which the born-again child of God enjoys His favor and salvation) are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God), for they shall be completely satisfied!

WE HAVE LOOKED AT SEEKING THE KINGDOM OF GOD FIRST WITH MUCH ENTHUSIASM AND SAW SOME OF THE BENEFITS IT WOULD PRODUCE. NOW I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT AND TRY TO DIGEST THE B PART OF THAT VERSE, “AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

GO TO MATT 6:33 –
33But seek aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.

THE QUESTION WE NEED TO ASK OURSELVES IS WHAT DID JESUS MEAN BY HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS? THE AMPLIFIED VERSION OF THE BIBLE KIND OF ANSWERS THAT FOR US WHEN IT SAYS, “HIS WAY OF DOING RIGHT AND BEING RIGHT.” THAT IS WHAT WE WANT TO LOOK AT TODAY AND HOPEFULLY DEVELOP A HEALTHY UNDERSTANDING OF THIS COMMAND OR PRINCIPLE.

IT’S NOT ONLY TRYING TO DO THINGS HIS WAY AND WITH HIS APPROVAL, BUT ITS HUNGERING AND THIRSTING AFTER THIS RIGHTEOUSNESS. MAYBE WE CANNOT UNDERSTAND HUNGERING AND THIRSTING UNLESS WE CAN IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO BE OUT IN THE DESERT WITHOUT WATER OR FOOD FOR A FEW DAYS AND ALL YOU CAN THINK ABOUT IS GETTING THAT DRINK OR FOOD THAT WE NEED TO SURVIVE. AND WITH REGARD TO WHAT JESUS SAID, IT IS A MATTER OF SURVIVAL AND AN ABUNDANT LIFE IF WE DON’T UNDERSTAND AND GET THIS RIGHTEOUSNESS WORKING IN OUR LIVES. THAT IS ALIGNING OURSELVES WITH HIS AUTHORITY; AND TO BE IN RIGHT STANDING WITH THE GOVERNING POWER, WHO IN FACT IS GOD.

THE KEY TO MAINTAINING THAT RIGHTSTANDING IS OBEDIENCE TO THE LAWS OF THAT GOVERNMENT. IN ANY KINGDOM, THE KING’S WORD IS LAW, THEREFORE RIGHTEOUSNESS MEANS FULFILLING THE KING’S REQUIREMENTS. WHEN THIS IS DONE WE HAVE POSITIONED OURSELVES TO RECEIVE ALL THE RIGHTS, RESOURCES, BLESSINGS, AND PRIVILEGES OF THE KINGDOM THAT ARE OURS AS KINGDOM CITIZENS.

THAT BEING SAID, WE NEED TO REALIZE THAT THERE IS A PART THAT WE PLAY AND A PART THAT GOD PLAYS. OUR PART IS TO OBEY THE LAWS OF THE KINGDOM’S GOVERNMENT AND GOD’S PART IS TO OPEN UP TO US THE RESOURCES OF HEAVEN. IF WE OBEY; GOD OPENS, IF WE DISOBEY; GOD CLOSES, PRETTY SIMPLE HUH? EXCEPT FOR THE HUMAN ELEMENT OF SELFISHNESS AND I WANT IT MY WAY COMING INTO PLAY. THAT’S WHY MANY CHRISTIANS DON’T HAVE ACCESS TO GOD PROMISES AND HIS ANSWERS TO OUR PRAYERS. REMEMBER PSALM 66:18 –
8If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me;

ARE YOU GETTING THIS? WE LIKE TO ENTERTAIN SIN AT TIMES.

OBEYING THE KING’S REQUIREMENTS SHOULD BE EASY, UNFORTUNATELY MANY SAINTS DON’T KNOW OR UNDERSTAND WHAT REQUIREMENTS GOD HAS FOR THEM TO FOLLOW. HOW DO WE KNOW WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS ARE YOU MAY ASK? SIMPLE, SEEK HIM DAILEY AND HIS WORD. ATTEND BIBLE STUDY AS OFTEN AS YOU CAN AND BE A PERSON THAT PRAYER IS YOU LIFESTYLE. YOU ARE CONTINUALLY SEEKING HIS KINGDOM AND ARE ALWAYS WANTING TO DO THE RIGHT THINGS THAT ARE APPROVED BY GOD. HOW DO WE DO THIS PASTOR YOU MAY ASK? I’M GLAD YOU ASKED AND THIS IS MY ANSWER:

BOTTOM LINE IS THAT WE NEED TO PURSUE HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS WITH A PASSION. IT’S NOT ONLY A SUNDAY GO TO MEETING THING. YOU CAN BEST UNDERSTAND THIS IF YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT IS BEING SAID IN PSALM 42:1-2 --
1AS THE hart pants and longs for the water brooks, so I pant and long for You, O God.2My inner self thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God?

THE PSALMIST IS SAYING, I REALLY NEED TO HAVE YOU MY LORD, HIS INNER BEING IS THIRSTING FOR THE LORD AND THAT IS HOW WE NEED TO BE IN OUR DAILY WALKS. SAY LORD MAKE ME THIRSTY FOR YOU.

YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THIS BETTER IF YOU HAVE NOT EATEN FOR QUITE A FEW DAYS AND YOU COME TO MY HOUSE AND THERE IS ALL TYPES OF GOOD FOOD WAITING, STEAKS, FISH, AND BREAD WITH MELTED BUTTER, ZESTY VEGETABLES AND ALL TYPES OF DESSERTS AND DRINKS.. YOU ARE SO HUNGRY AND YOU FEEL THAT YOU WANT TO EAT EVERYTHING. WELL, THAT MY FRIENDS IS HOW WE NEED TO BE FOR THE LORD IN THIS LIFE WE NOW LIVE IN. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS YOUR HUNGER AND THIRST IS FOR GODLY THINGS AND SHOULD BE EVEN GREATER THAN YOUR PHYSICAL THIRST AND HUNGER FOR FOOD.

THE KEY WORD FOR GETTING TO THAT PLACE IN GOD IS DISCIPLINE. EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT DISCIPLINE IS, YOU HAD IT AS A CHILD FROM YOUR PARENTS. YOU HAD IT IN SCHOOL BECAUSE YOU HAD TO FOLLOW THE RULES OR YOU WOULD BE PUNISHED. YOU HOPEFULLY DISCIPLINE YOUR CHILDREN WHEN THEY DO SOMETHING WRONG OR FAIL TO DO SOMETHING THEY WERE SUPPOSE TO DO. YOU HAVE DISCILINE ON YOUR JOB BECAUSE WHEN YOUR LATE FOR WORK, YOU CAN BE DOCKED SOME PAY OR EVEN GET FIRED.

SO SINCE WE KNOW WHAT DISCIPLINE IS, LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION. ARE YOU INCORPORATING DISCIPLINE INTO YOUR WALK WITH CHRIST? WHEN WE SHOW UP LATE FOR CHURCH OR MISS CHURCH NOT MUCH HAPPENS ON THE SURFACE BUT BENEATH IT ALL, GOD KNOWS YOUR HEART AND YOU ARE DISCIPINING YOURSELF BY HAVING GOD’S BLESSING STOP OR SLOW DOWN IN YOUR LIFE. PRAYERS NOT ANSWERED OR DELAYED BECAUSE YOU WERE NOT SEEKING HIS KINGDOM FIRST AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS IN YOUR LIFE IS NO WHERE IN SIGHT AND YOU ASK YOURSELF THE QUESTION, WHY HAS GOD NOT ANSWERED MY PRAYERS YET?

MANY CHRISTIANS ARE IGNORANT ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS, IT’S A TWO WAY STREET. IF YOU DON’T BELIEVE THAT, TRY NOT DOING ANYTHING FOR YOUR SPOUSE FOR A FEW WEEKS AND SEE WHERE YOU END UP. THE BIBLE SAYS IN 2 TIMOTHY 2:15 –
15Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.

AND WITH THAT COMMAND MANY NEVER HAVE PERSONAL OR CHURCH BIBLE STUDIES ON THEIR AGENDA. CONSEQUESNTLY THEY ARE NOT APPROVED BY GOD AND LOSE OR SLOW DOWN THEIR BENEFITS. WHAT PAUL SAYS IS THAT WE NEED TO BE EAGER TO IMPROVE AND GROW IN CHRIST SO GOD CAN BESTOW ON US ALL THE BLESSINGS THAT WE ARE SUPPOSE TO HAVE IF WE “OBEY.”

WE ARE INSTRUCTED BY THE WORD TO PRAY.

LOOK AT MATT 6:6 ---
6But when you pray, go into your [most] private room, and, closing the door, pray to your Father, Who is in secret; and your Father, Who sees in secret, will reward you in the open.

HERE, JESUS TELLS HIS FOLLOWERS TO PRAY TO THE FATHER AND THERE ARE SO MANY MORE REFERENCES COMMANDING US TO PRAY FROM JESUS AND WRITERS OF THE BIBLE. YET SOME NEVER PRAY ALONE AND NEVER SHOW UP FOR PRAYER MEETINGS. THE BIBLE SAYS ONE SETS A THOUSAND TO FLEE AND TWO SETS TEN THOUSAND TO FLEE. THE GREATER THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE PRAYING THE MORE DAMAGE WE CAN DO TO THE KINGDOM OF THE DEVIL. ARE YOU UNDERSTANDING THIS?

LIVING IN HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS IS THE KEY TO A GREAT, ABUNDANT AND SUCCESSFUL LIFE. IT’S AS PLAIN AS CAN BE AND BECAUSE WE NEGLECT THE COMMANDS THAT THE KING HAS GIVEN US WE ARE RETARDING THE BLESSINS THAT JESUS SAID WE COULD HAVE IF WE TENDED TO HIS WORD.

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU ARE WALKING IN HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS?

LOOK AT PSALM 37:21 --
21The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.
ARE YOU CONSISTENTLY A PRSON OF MERCY AND ONE THAT GIVES FREELY TO GOD? DAVID EVEN SAYS MORE IN THE SAME PSALM 37:25-26 ---
25I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.26He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.

WHAT A PROMISE FOR THOSE WHO WALK WITH GOD’S APPROVAL ON ALL THEY DO. NOTICE, EVEN YOUR CHILDREN BENEFIT FORM WHAT YOU DO NOW.

LOOK AT ISA 32:17-18 ---
17And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. 18And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places;

SEEMS LIKE THE MORE WE LEARN ABOUT HIS RIGHTEOUNESS WORKING IN US AND PUT IT INTO PRACTICE DAILY THE MORE WE ARE BLESSED. SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD DEAL ALL THE WAY AROUND. AND MUST I REMIND YOU THAT THESE ARE PROMISES FROM GOD. MOST WOULD HAVE TO ASK WHY ARE THESE THINGS NOT HAPPENING IN ME AND MY LIFE? MY FRIEND I DO BELIEVE IT’S BECAUSE WE ARE NOT PURSUING HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS FIRST. WHAT ARE WE DOING THEN?

WE ALREADY SAID IT WAS BECAUSE OF NOT PURSUING HIS WORD THROUGH STUDY AND WE ARE NOT INVOLVED IN PRAYER ENOUGH AND WE HESITATE IN GIVING GENEROUSLY TO GOD AND NOW THE GRAND FINALE,
WE ARE CONTINUOUSLY LOOK TO THINGS AND PEOPLE TO MEET OUR NEEDS AND NOT GOD. YOU SEE OUR TAKING ON HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS GUARANTEES OUR SUCCESS IN LIFE, BUT RATHER THAN SEEK HIS KINGDOM FIRST AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, WE SEEK THINGS.

REALLY WHAT MAN NEEDS AND WANTS IS PEACE, QUIETNESS, CONFIDENCE AND JOY AND HE LOOKS FOR THESE THINGS IN HIS POSSESSION AND THE FRIENDS HE HAS ALSO. WE HAVE NOT DISCIPLINED OURSELVES TO TRUST GOD TO GIVE US WHAT HE PROMISED. WE ARE UNBELIEVING BELIEVERS. WE ARE OFF TRACK BECAUSE OUR FOCUS IS ON POSSESSIONS AND PEOPLE AND NOT KINGDOM POSITION.

FOR MOST PEOPLE AND SAD TO SAY MANY CHRISTIANS CANNOT MAKE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN WHAT GOD PROMISED AND WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THEY’RE LIVES AT THE MOMENT. IT LIES IN OUR NOT DISCIPLINING OURSELVES IN BELIEVING GOD. WE CANNOT EVEN DISCIPLNE OURSELF TO COME TO CHURCH ON TIME AND TO ATTEND PRAYER MEETINGS WHEN THEY ARE HELD. AND WE CANNOT DISCIPLINE OURSELVES TO READ AND STUDY GOD’S PRINCIPLES. IS IT NO WONDER THAT THERE ARE WEAK CHURCHES AND ALL OVER THE WORLD THAT IS GOING TO HELL IN A BASKET?

IT’S TIME TO WAKE UP AND COME OUT OF OUR FANTACY WORLDS AND REALIZE THAT THE WORD OF GOD CANNOT LIE AND THAT WE NEED TO BE PASSIONATE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO DO NOTHING BUT PLEASE THE GOD THAT CREATED US. IT’S TIME TO TAKE OUR FOCUS OFF THE THINGS AND PEOPLE THAT SURROUND US AND START FOCUSING ON HIS KINGDOM AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS , FOR IN THEM ALONE IS TRUE HAPPINESS.
LETS FORM A FEW CONCLUSIONS AND CLOSE:

1. JESUS REDUCES THE ISSUES OF LIFE TO TWO THINGS (1) THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND (2) THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD.
2. RIGHTEOUSNESS IS THE KEY TO ABUNDANT KINGDOM LIVING.
3. HOLINESS IS A MANIFESTATION OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.
4. PURSUING RIGHTEOUSNESS IS THE FUNDAMENTAL OPERATING PRINCIPLE FOR CITIZENS OF THE KINGDOM.
5. RIGHTEOUSNESS IS ITS OWN REWARD.
6. RIGHTEOUSNESS IS NOT ONLY PERSONAL BUT ALSO CORPORATE.
7. RIGHTEOUSNESS BRINGS REWARD AND THE LINK BETWEEN THE TWO IS OBEDIENCE.
8. OBEDIENCE REQUIRES SELF DISCIPLINE.
9. RIGHTEOUSNESS GUARANTEES THAT WE WILL RECEIVE ALL THE RIGHTS THAT ARE OURS UNDER KINGDOM LAW. (PRINCIPLES).
10. POSSESIONS AND PEOPLE STAND BETWEEN GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS OPERATING TO IT’S FULNESS IN OUR LIVES BECAUSE WE FULLY DEPEND ON THEM AND NOT ALWAYS ON GOD.