December 21, 2002

Monica,

I wrote a letter last year about the judgment of works as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15. I pointed out that the works that come through as gold are the works that the Holy Spirit does through us--the light and easy stuff. It is light and easy because we are just allowing God to use us instead of us trying to do something for God.

The church for many years has tried to work for God instead of letting God work through us. In the same way the church has taught that we put on righteousness by trying to live right. That is the same mistake. A careful reading of Romans 5 and 2 Corinthians 5 will show that righteousness is a free gift from Jesus Christ to all who will by faith receive that gift. Put on righteousness by confessing it regularly--"I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus."

When you confess that regularly, it will become epignosis in your spirit, and it will produce a crop of right living in your flesh also.

Now the exciting thing is learning what comes with that righteousness. In Matt. 6:33, Jesus tells us that if we seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, all other things will be added unto us. The kingdom of God and his righteousness cannot be separated. In fact, when you receive by faith the righteousness of God, you are receiving a scepter of authority like the staff Moses used to part the Red Sea. The righteousness is you staff or scepter. Hebrews 1:8 tells us, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom. You confess, "I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus," as an act of faith to receive the staff of authority.

Now when something like a headache attacks you, you will not only confess that your are healed by the wounds of Jesus, but you will also confess that you are the righteousness of God. That confession is your way of lifting up your staff of authority.

Ponder also these scriptures:

Romans 14:17: For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Righteousness is the scepter of the kingdom, and it produces peace and joy. Biblical peace means "nothing missing, nothing broken."

Isaiah 32:17: The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.

Isaiah 54:14-17: In righteousness you will be established: Tyranny will be far from you; you will have nothing to fear. Terror will be far removed; it will not come near you. If anyone does attack you, it will not be my doing; whoever attacks you will surrender to you. "See, it is I who created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its work. And it is I who have created the destroyer to work havoc; no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me," declares the LORD.

Put on righteousness as a deliberate conscious confession until raising that staff in a time of trial or trouble will be an automatic reaction. Then whoever (that definitely includes the devil and his demons) attacks you will surrender to you. He will have no weapon that can prevail against you. You are more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus.

Love,

Dad