RIGHTEOUSNESS EXALTS

7 3 12 RIGHTEOUSNESS EXALTS  Prov 14 34

Scripture:   Proverbs 14: 34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.

Note: If the above Scripture was the headline of every major newspaper across the United States, how many people do you think would read it and take it seriously? How many of our young adults understand what this verse of Scripture implies? They look around and see all that’s going on and accept it as the norm. They have not been taught God’s word so they do not know the truth about the immorality that is going on around them. But it’s not just our young people. The adult population as well does not know the righteousness of God and live in an ungodly way. There is a small percentage of our population who do consider what is going on around them as obscene and immoral.  We ask ourselves, how in the world have we gotten to this point in our history where we now believe the opposite of the scripture - that sin exalts a nation and righteousness is a disgrace to any people?

How did it happen? It happened because we have not been faithful to the Word of God and have not faithfully lived our lives in the power of the Holy Spirit. We have not faithfully passed on the faith to those who have followed us.

The prophet Jeremiah spoke of this time on numerous occasions but specifically in chapter 9:5-6 where we read:  “Friend deceives friend, and no one speaks the truth. They have taught their tongues to lie; they weary themselves with sinning. ⁶ You [God’s people] live in the midst of deception; in their deceit they refuse to acknowledge me, declares the LORD.” This is the same prophet who wrote earlier in his prophecy chapter 7:28 the following: “Therefore say to them, 'This is the nation that has not obeyed the LORD its God or responded to correction. Truth has perished; it has vanished from their lips.” Jeremiah condemned those who twist the word of God, the priest and the teachers of the law those who had distorted the word of God and the holiness of God. They taught the people to live by their rules and regulations rather than the righteous requirements of the law by which God wanted his people to live.

The times have not changed, people have not changed and the enemy of God has not changed. The evidence is clearly visible, we live in a nation who has chosen to follow Satan rather than to follow God. We are surrounded by the evil practices of immorality. We see it in the movies that are being produced, television programming, shock radio programs and in our newspapers and magazines. God’s holiness and righteousness is not very evident among us today. Another reason we know people are unchanged is because Paul the apostle had to deal with similar issues in the church at Corinth. He had to encourage the Christians at Corinth to renounce the secret and shameful ways in which they were living; ways that were destroying their faith as well as the faith of others. He told them to not be deceived and to not deceive others by the way they were living out their faith. He encouraged them to live in such a way that their lives would be an example to all, of those who have an intimate knowing relationship with Jesus Christ. (2 Cor 4:2 paraphrased).  As believers, Satan has no right to exercise authority over us, but he hopes we’re too ignorant regarding scripture to know it!

There are so many teachers and preachers in our nation today who talk about Jesus Christ but sadly do not know who he really is. They knowingly twist the Word of God or take it out of context to promote their own theological position or the theological position of others. The sad fact about all of this is that the majority of people who are sitting in the pews or watching them over television do not know the difference. They wind up believing a lie rather than the truth and it is clearly seen in how they live.

You may be thinking to yourself about this time, “Wow, what an indictment! Can this possibly be true? My answer is for you to simply look around and observe what’s going on. Our young people are dressing and acting in immoral ways. Adults dress and behave in ways that are condemned in the Word. We approve of practices and uphold laws that are condemned by God. Why? Because the parents don’t know or care and have not instructed their children in the ways of righteousness; we are an apostate people living in an apostate nation, worshipping in an apostate church, promoting an apostate faith.

Look at our leaders. Those we have voted for to represent us at the local level, state level or in Congress. It should be obvious to most that we have voted out of self-interest more so than for the character of those who would be the best leaders. We are guilty of overlooking indiscretions, infidelities and down-right lies of those we elect to office and then we wonder why our cities, our states, and our nation is in the condition it’s in. Our leaders are nothing more than a reflection of the standards of morality and godliness that we have set for ourselves. We are all guilty. Myself included.

As we celebrate the day of our countries Independence are you willing to make a fresh vow to uphold the Constitution of the United States, a document that thousands of people have died for to ensure our freedoms, especially our religious freedoms?  Are you willing to make a recommitment to our Lord Jesus Christ that you will faithfully study his Word but more importantly faithfully live it out?

Our Founding Fathers risked everything. They pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.They counted the cost, they willingly submitted themselves to the leading of the Holy Spirit and then they acted in good faith. Are you willing to do the same?

This Independence Day I invite you to join me in taking time to remember how we have been blessed in such a wonderful way by God. Blessed to live in this wonderful country and having opportunities available to us to pursue life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We are blessed in being able to openly and freely express and exercise our faith in the living God without fear of anyone and is one of the reasons for our being able to rejoice in our living Lord.

Word from the Lord:   “I am the Lord your God, the Almighty. I am the Lord God Almighty who is holy, holy, holy. I am far above you but I am also a part of you. My creation is in great need. It needs to confess its sin and turn to me for forgiveness. If enough of you who claim to know me will cry out to me and walk in my Way I will hear you and I will respond. I want to bless you with a purity of living that shows forth my holiness. I want you to live righteously and hate that which I hate. Don’t compromise, be faithful in all you do and I will lift you up and make you a strong tower of righteousness. For the world to be changed it has to start with the individuals who live upon it. Let Me begin the change in you, today.”

Did the Lord speak to you today?  Why not write it down and claim it for His Glory.

Prayer:  What do you need to pray to the Lord today? Listen to your heart. He loves you!