If you wish to follow along I
invite you to turn to Romans chapter 14 Paul's epistle To the church
at Rome chapter 14 now Before I read any particular verse.
Let me just give a brief overview in this chapter and on into chapter
15 the Apostle Paul instructs We believers concerning our charitable
conduct one toward another, concerning foods and drinks and days. I don't think that's all that's
included, but that's all that Paul dealt with here in the passage. There are other things as well,
as we will see from scripture. But he's talking about our charitable
conduct because although all of God's people, having been
regenerated by the spirit of God and converted by the preaching
of the gospel of Jesus Christ, although we all have faith, we're
not all strong in the faith. Some are weak in the faith. And
we don't all understand everything the same way. Now, this is not
talking about some heretic out here that believes some weird
things. This is talking about within the family of God. And
why, my question to begin here, and why is this charitable conduct
in such things so vital? Well, here's my text, Romans
chapter 14 and verse 17. It is the beginning of Paul's
summary of this for That's a summary, right? He's getting ready to
summarize. Four, here's why I tell you these things. Four, the kingdom
of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness and peace and
joy in the Holy Ghost. Do you see that? Paul's saying
the reason that meats and drinks, days, what you wear, where you
live per se, the house you live in, the place you are, the place
you work. Here's why these things are not
vital things, because the kingdom of God is not those things. The
kingdom of God is, and there are some who say, well, he doesn't
say the kingdom of God is, and I say, don't be silly. He said,
for the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but, and you
can say, it is this. It is righteousness and peace
and joy in the Holy Ghost. The title of my message is this,
the kingdom of God is. I know that's not proper English,
but if you put the point of ellipsis at the end, that makes it proper
English. The kingdom of God is. Now, in beginning, let me say
this, there are at least, I'm not saying this is exhaustive,
but there are at least three parts to any kingdom. And all
three of these parts are seen here in Romans 14 and the first
part of chapter 15. Here's the three parts. In any
kingdom, there is at least this, there is the king. There is the
king. We see that in chapter 14, verse
10. For we shall all stand before
the judgment seat of Christ. That makes him king, does it
not? He's on the seat of judgment, do you see it? Also, verse 18,
look at what it says. For he that in these things serveth
Christ You see it? Not just serveth God, but in
serving Christ, you are serving God, but for he that in these
things serveth Christ is acceptable to God and approved of men. In
any kingdom, there's always the king. Look at chapter 15, verse
12. And again, Isaiah saith, that
is Isaiah, there shall be a root of Jesse and he shall rise to
reign over the Gentiles. You see that? David Wright let's
me know he's the king of this kingdom. He's the king of this
kingdom. Another thing that's another
part to any kingdom is this. There is the king's subjects.
There is the king's subjects. We see the subjects mentioned
in chapter 14 in verse 4. Who art thou that judges another
man's what? Servant. God's people are his
servants. You see it? There's his subjects.
We are his servants. Who art thou that judgest another
man's servant? To his own master he standeth
or followeth. And that's what it's all about.
And that seems so simple, but that's so hard for us to live
by. Because we're so prone to judge one another. Aren't we? And I'm not saying that proudly.
I say that with shame facing us. Yea, he shall be holding
up. for God is also, for God is able,
rather, to make him stand. Aren't you glad God makes you
stand? I recall that one man that preached
during my grandmother's funeral and said, God is a gentleman,
he doesn't make anybody do anything. And then look at what it says
right here. It's a denial of the reality of who God is and
what God does. And yet this world puts up with
that kind of thing as though it's gospel preaching. So there
is the king and there is the king's subjects. Look at verse
18. For he that in these things serveth
Christ. You see it? Serveth Christ. So
there is the king and there is the king's subjects. But also
thirdly, there is the king's realm. there is the king's realm. And where is the king's realm
according to chapter 14 and verse 15? Where does he reign? He reigns
in the heart and in the mind and in the soul. I know he reigns
in the heart because it says him that is weak in the faith.
Verse two, for one believeth. Do you see it? Where is faith
and believing? Where is its, not its source,
but its seat. Where does it sit? In the heart.
Men believeth with the heart under righteousness. Do you see
that? There's the realm of this king's kingdom. And he reigns
in the hearts of his subjects. We also see that he reigns in
the mind, chapter 14, verse five. One man esteemeth one day above
another. Another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully
persuaded, where? In his own mind. Do you see that? There's another aspect of the
realm of the king's kingdom within the king's subjects. It's in
his mind, or in their mind. Chapter 15, verse five. Now the
God of patience and consolation grants you to be like-minded. Like-minded. It's amazing how
the scripture doesn't put everything concerning salvation and service
to Christ and following him in one aspect of our being, does
it? You have the heart, you have the mind, right? Be like-minded
one toward another according to Christ Jesus. He goes on,
verse six, that you may with one mind and with one mouth glorify
God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. See that the soul
is included here and it's alluded to. I see that in chapter 14
in verse eight, look at it. For whether we live, we live
under the Lord. And whether we die, we die under
the Lord. Whether we die, wherefore, let
me read it again. For whether we live, we live
under the Lord. And whether we die, we die under
the Lord. Whether we live therefore or die, We are the Lord's. Now what is the one thing that's
with us, no matter whether it's life or death? Your soul. Your immaterial being. It's alluded
to here, though not directly referenced here. The one thing
we've always had since God created us is our soul and our spirit,
our inner person. That inner, that non-material
being. So in every kingdom, there are
at least these three parts. The king, the king's subjects,
and the king's realm. Now then, having stated that,
Paul's statement makes two things, two things infallibly clear. Two infallible facts concerning
the kingdom of God. What the kingdom of God is not,
doesn't it? Well, that's some deep stuff.
That's some deep doctrine. For the kingdom of God is not,
what is it not? It's not meat and drink. And
anybody tries to tell you it is, you know they're lying on
God. For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink. Now, I believe there's more to
what Paul is declaring here. There's more that it's not, but
this is simply what he's dealing with here. But there's also one
other infallible fact given here, what the kingdom of God is. All
right. For the kingdom of God is not
meat and drink, but what is it? It is righteousness and peace
and joy in the Holy Ghost. And again, I say, I don't believe
this is an exhaustive list, but it's simply, it's not simply,
it is the beginnings, the most important things, the things
where we must always begin. So these two statements are infallibly,
infallible facts, rather. One, the kingdom of God is not
certain things. Right? And the kingdom of God
is certain other things. Now, let's read the King's words
about this. Christ is the King. Turn to Matthew
chapter six and we'll read the King's words about this. This
is what is traditionally called the Sermon on the Mount. And
you know why that's called that? Because he was up on a mountain
whenever he preached it. Now, there's nothing wrong with
that because it was the Sermon on the Mount. But in Matthew,
the Mount didn't make the difference. The man and the message is what
made the difference. But look at what he says here, Matthew
6, verse 24. No man can serve two masters.
What are we talking about? You're talking about a king there,
someone in charge of you, right? For no man can serve two masters,
for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he
will hold to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God
and mammon. Therefore, so he's gonna give
us some explanation, right? Therefore I say unto you, take
no thought for your life what ye shall eat. Isn't this what,
similar to what Paul's talking about? Take no thought what ye
shall eat, or what ye shall drink, nor yet for your body what ye
shall put on. Is not life more than meat, and
the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air,
for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns,
yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better
than they? You see that? Look at it. Which of you, by
taking thought, can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take
ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field,
how they grow, they toil not, neither do they spin. And yet
I say unto you, that even Solomon, in all his glory, was not arrayed
like one of these. You see it? Wherefore? If God
so clothed the grass of the field, which is today, and tomorrow
is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe ye? O
ye of little, what's the first key to it? O ye of little faith. Therefore, take no thought saying,
what shall we eat? Or what shall we drink? Or wherewithal
shall we be clothed? For all these things do the Gentiles
seek. For your heavenly Father knoweth
that what ye have need of, of all these things, here it is,
but seek ye first the kingdom of God. That's exactly what Paul's
talking about in Romans 14, 15. But seek ye first the kingdom
of God and his righteousness. Now we know that peace is there
as well. We know that joy in the Holy Ghost is there as well,
but Christ is here dealing with the first essential element,
because apart from that, seek ye first the kingdom of God and
his righteousness, but apart from that, there will never be
any peace. And there will never be any joy in the Holy Ghost.
but seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,
look, and all these things shall be added unto you. It's not that
they're of no meaning whatsoever. Because Paul tells us how to
conduct ourselves concerning meat and drink and certain days
or not certain days or maybe what you wear and what you don't
wear. And you say, well, that's all back then. Let me just give
you a brief example. There are people who would not
listen to a man preach no matter what he preaches unless he had
a suit coat on and a tie. Do you know that? They wouldn't. They wouldn't think that's a
true preacher. That's not a true pastor if he don't have on a
suit coat and a tie. And folks, let me tell you something.
There are even people who won't preach unless they got a suit
coat on. I am not criticizing them. I'm not criticizing them. But
there are other places where today, you don't wear a suit
coat, you don't wear a tie, it's all casual. But I'm not gonna
criticize them either. Not if that was the problem.
The problem with most people is their doctrine about who man
is, and their doctrine about who God is. It ain't what they're
eating, it ain't what they're drinking, it ain't what they're
putting on, it's about what they're saying about God and his truth.
About God and his gospel, about God and his Christ. Seek ye first
the kingdom of God. And then he says, take therefore
no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought
for the things of itself. Sufficient under the day is the
evil thereof. In other words, let me sum it
up this way. Make ye friends of the mammon
of unrighteousness. You need stuff to eat in this
world. You need stuff to drink in this world. You need clothes
to wear. You need a roof over your head.
You need a place, don't you? We need a lot of these things,
but seek ye first the kingdom of God. All of that will fall
into its proper place. That doesn't mean you're gonna
have everything you want, but God will give his people everything
they need. And if you don't got it, then
you don't need it. And I'll tell you this, I just
found this out yesterday. If he decides he don't want you
to have something, he'll make you go out and buy another one. He'll let it fall all apart so
you gotta spend money making payments on a whole new one. Why? I wasn't giving no thought
to that, Mack. Well, but here's the point. Seek
ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. All this other,
it'll fall into place. It'll fall into place. Seek ye
first the kingdom of God. Now let me give you three things.
Three things here. The kingdom of God, having seen
the statement, for the kingdom of God is not meat and drink,
but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. Here's
three things. I'll deal mainly with the third
one, but I want to mention the other two. The kingdom of God
is a present reality. The kingdom of God is not. Because
the kingdom of God is, not shall be. And there are those who every
time they talk about the kingdom of God, they always put it in
some future tense. Or at least they say that's the
kingdom of Christ. This is talking about the kingdom
of God, it's talking about salvation. The kingdom of Christ is messianic
and it's gonna last for a thousand years. That is not the truth
of scripture. The apostle Paul said this, we
have been delivered from the power of darkness and translated,
not just into the kingdom of God, but into the kingdom of
his dear son. He is now king of the kingdom. The king exists now and has forever
exist. The king's subjects exist now,
and in the mind of purpose of God, they've always existed.
They were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world,
and the king's realm's always been in the purpose of God, because
it's the heart and the mind and the soul of God's people that
God deals with in Jesus Christ. The kingdom of God is a present
reality. Some say that it talks of the
kingdom of God, the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of Christ,
the kingdom of his dear son. They're all the same kingdom.
It may be emphasizing different aspects of that kingdom, but
it's still all the same kingdom. And as I'll mention here in a
moment, just like a glorious, if you had a really nice, expensive
diamond, and you look at that, it's one diamond, Joe, but it
has many facets. And you look at that diamond
in different ways, it looks different at different angles, does it
not? But it's still all the same thing. Now I know that's an inadequate
overall thing, but that's one of the best I can come up with.
The kingdom of God is a present reality. And no matter what you
say or what you teach, there are those who might, no matter
what you say, what you teach, they will throw a moniker over
you when they hear you say a certain thing. Oh, I believe this. Well,
yeah, that makes you, then you believe that too. No. We endeavor
to believe, thus saith the Lord. Not follow any system devised
by men, no matter how sound it may look. because as time goes
on and revelation comes to the heart and mind, the revelation's
already here in these pages, the revelation comes to the heart
and mind, any truthful, honest believer will have to say exactly
what I believed 20 years ago is not exactly what I believe
today about this or that certain thing. I mean, the scripture
is profitable for what? Doctrine. but also reproof. Why does it have to be profitable
for reproof? Because we're so wrong about things. And the scripture
is the guide. The scripture is the guide. So,
the kingdom of God is a present reality, but that's not even
my message. Secondly, the kingdom of God is sourced and sustained
by God. Because it is, after all, the
kingdom of God. It's not a kingdom for God. Though
that certainly would be true in its overall sense, but it
is also called, Joe, one of the titles is the kingdom of God. So that lets me know that it
is sourced and sustained by God himself. God is not depending
upon men to populate his kingdom. And God is not dependent upon
men to let him into their heart or into their mind or into their
soul. As one preacher said, he knocks,
he knocks, and he forces his way in. And you willingly, lovingly
receive him when he forces his way in. And the first time that
you realize that he's forced his way in, he's already seated
on the throne of your heart, mind, and soul. This is what
it means to be conquered by the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
According to the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians chapter 10,
knocking down these strongholds and things that just rebel against
God in our mind and in our thoughts. So the kingdom of God is sourced
and sustained by God because it is the kingdom of God. But now here's my message. Here's
my message. The kingdom of God is Now he
mentions some things that it's not. Not meat, it's not drink. It's not respect of a certain
day. It's not the kind of clothes you wear. But the kingdom of God is this.
It's what? Righteousness? And peace? And joy in the Holy
Ghost. And not joy of the Holy Ghost.
It's joy in the Holy Ghost. Now, what I want to deal with
this morning is righteousness. Because that's foremost and key.
Yes, sir. Because I'm here to declare on
the testimony of the authority of God's Word that you will know
no peace and you will know no joy in the Holy Ghost until you
first know about this righteousness. Amen. That's the order. Righteousness, peace, and joy
in the Holy Ghost. Remember the king's words. Seek
ye first the kingdom of God. And what's the one thing he mentions
in relation to the kingdom of God? Seek ye first the kingdom
of God and His righteousness. You see it? Seek ye first the
kingdom of God and his righteousness. Here's one reason why. Seek ye
first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. Now granted,
Paul does not say his righteousness, but the king did. So I won't,
I'm not adding to what Paul said. I'm looking at the preponderant
testimony of scripture. And here's why I know it is God's
righteousness. I know that it's God's righteousness because by
nature and action, you and I have none. That's why This ain't about
our righteousness. It's about his righteousness.
There is none righteous But how many does that really include
no not one? And even right now today Standing
before you preaching as best God has enabled me even preaching
the gospel of Christ I am NOT righteous because I'm doing that
and that gains me no merit before God and Seek ye first the kingdom
of God and his righteousness. All this other stuff will fall
into place. And I will say this based upon the authority of what
Paul says. Seek ye first the kingdom of
God and his righteousness, and then and then only will you experience
peace. And then and then only will you find that joy in the
Holy Ghost. Because even as believers, when
we don't, when we're looking at another righteousness, Or
when we're looking at another thing, our peace, our experience
of the peace will begin to fade. Your joy will begin to dwindle.
And why is that? Because at that moment, you and
I are not seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. Oh, look at it. I want to give you
six things about God's righteousness, true righteousness, about a God
righteousness, about a divine righteousness of God. It is of God that we
– I'm talking about the keen subjects now. I'm talking about
the elect. I'm talking about believers.
It is of God that we have a few things when it comes to righteousness.
Think about it. There's no particular order here.
I'm not trying to put it in order of importance or anything like
that. I'm just going to give you six things about righteousness. First
of all, we've been given a righteous heart. Yes, sir. We've been given
a righteous heart. Go back and look at Luke chapter
8 verse 15 sometime. There are those upon whom the
good word of God is sown. That's right. That's the preaching
of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Yes. And that good seed
falls on, falls on. It doesn't make. But it falls
on and it must fall on to produce fruit. A lasting fruit. It falls on what? Christ called
it good ground. But then he explained what that
good ground was. He calls it a good and honest heart. And there's not a one of us that
can say we made our own heart that way. Who can say the prophet
said I've made my own heart clean? I think maybe it was the psalmist.
Nobody can. Nobody can. We're given a righteous
heart. Now, when I give you these things,
think of it again. Think of that illustration of
a diamond. It's all one righteousness. But
there are many facets to it. I'm afraid in religion today,
even amongst God's people, when we think of righteousness, what
do we usually think of? Now be honest, you think of imputed
righteousness. And there's even arguments now
about it. Amidst God's people, sad to say. Whether this is imputed
righteousness or whether you're made righteous. Well, if the
Bible says you're imputed righteousness, it means you've been what? Imputed
righteousness. And if it says you've been made
righteous, then that means what? Then you've been made righteous.
And if those two words mean different things, then they mean different
things, but it's all still the same righteousness. It's all
still the same righteousness. It's all sourced and sustained
by God because he is the king of this kingdom. So we've been
given a righteous heart. Here's another thing we've been
given. We've been given a righteous soul. Now there's something to
ponder. It says of Lot. Now, I want you
to think about Lot. And all you know about Lot. And
it said that man, that righteous man, it calls him a righteous
man. Well, look at his deeds. You won't see that in all of
his deeds, will you? You won't see that in all of his deeds,
so that couldn't have been the righteousness we're talking about, is it? But
that righteous man, and seeing and hearing all these things,
did what? Vexed his what? His righteous
soul. I can't explain that. It's not
up to me to explain it. God said he had a righteous soul.
Why? He was one of God's people. He was a believer. God gave him
a righteous soul. I want to call it a what? A righteous
soul. Is it a different soul? Is it
this? I don't know. But it's a righteous soul. Why?
Because God said so. Because God said so. And sometimes the scripture doesn't
go into great detail about certain subjects. You hear what it says
about it, you believe what it says about it, and let it lay
where it's at. Now, if it goes into more detail in another place
about a subject, then by all means, bow to God's word in it,
but if it doesn't give you much information about any particular
subject, but it does give you some information, then you can
bank on what it says about that. And though I look at Lot's life,
and I can't say, well, he had a righteous life, I know he's
still called a righteous man who had a righteous soul, because
God said so. Not only that, we've been given
a righteous faith. I want you to read this one.
It's in the same epistle, chapter four. We've been given a righteous
faith. Faith is the gift of God. Faith
is not some human ability that God sprinkles his blessing on
with a little holy water. Faith is the gift of God. As
a matter of fact, faith is said to be the fruit of God himself,
the spirit. And the reason it's called the
fruit of the spirit is because he is the one that is giving
these things to God's people in time. Faith is righteousness. Look at it, chapter four of Romans,
and let's read three verses. Verse nine, cometh in this blessedness. What blessedness? God will not
impute sin to certain people. Right. And he's also imputed
righteousness to certain people. Right. Cometh this blessedness
then upon the circumcision only? Or upon the uncircumcision also?
For we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
There you see imputation, right? And righteousness there. And
faith, right? That faith was reckoned to Abraham
for righteousness. But now look what else he says.
How was it then reckoned? When he was in circumcision or
in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision. When was
it said this of Abraham? Before he was circumcised. Before
he was circumcised. Look, not in circumcision, but
in uncircumcision. Now look at verse 11. And he
received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of
the faith which he had. Do you see it? Beloved, faith
is righteousness. It's a right thing. It's a good
thing. It's an honest thing. Every good
and perfect gift comes down from God, and faith's certainly one
of those, is it not? A seal, rather, of the righteousness
of the faith which he had, yet being uncircumcised, that he
might be the father of all them that believe, though they be
not circumcised, that righteousness might be imputed unto them also.
Why is righteousness imputed to a man? Because he has a righteous
faith. That's what it says. Imputation of the righteousness
comes after the faith. Isn't that what it says? That
righteousness might be imputed unto him. Right? This is not
make-believe. God's not acting like there's
a righteousness there. There is a righteousness there
because he put it there in faith. In the quality, the character,
the glory, the fruit of God, faith. Truly, faith is perfect. We sing songs about imperfect
faith. It's not really true. Our believing may be imperfect.
We can say it that way to an extent. Our believing may be
imperfect, but faith is a fruit of God. It's the gift of God.
It's absolutely perfect. It's righteousness. It's righteousness. We've been given a righteous
faith. Here's number four. We're enabled to put on a new
man. Turn to Ephesians four, I wanna
read that one to you as well. Ephesians chapter four. We're
enabled to put on a new man. And let's listen to what God
says about that new man. Now about the new man, not about
me personally. Not about Walter Pendleton, born
of Roy Jr. and Linda Pendleton. Not about
Walter the son of Adam. Okay, not about Walter in his
Adamic nature, and I can say that because of this. Look, Ephesians
four, verse 17. This I say, therefore, and testify
in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk
in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened,
being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance
that is in them because of the blindness of their heart. Do
you see the order and all that? The initial problem is what?
Our heart. That's what God gives us is a
new one. That's how it begins, is a new
heart to do what? To believe the truth of God.
Now look, who being past feeling, now he's still talking about
these Gentiles, who being past feeling have given themselves
over into lasciviousness to work all uncleanness with greediness.
but ye have not so learned Christ. If so be that you've heard him,
that's what Joe was talking about, and been taught by him, that's
what Joe was talking about, as the truth is in Jesus, that you
put off concerning the former conversation, the old man, which
is corrupt according to deceitful lust, and that's all it will
ever be. God is not working on that to
make it better, so if you're trying to, just stop, because
God ain't gonna do it, you certainly ain't gonna get it done, Acknowledge
it for what it is. Mourn over its corruption and
its wickedness and deaden it to the extent that God enables
you to. But realize it's right there with you. Which is corrupt according to
deceitful, and be renewed in the spirit of your, uh oh, what
now? Mind. Look. And that ye put on the
new man. which after God is created in
righteousness and true holiness. The new man, the new nature as
some people say. The scripture calls it a new
man. Peter calls it the divine, do partakers of the divine nature. It's perfect. It's like him who
created him. That's what it is. And this new
man is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore,
put away lying. You see it, and it goes through
there. Wherefore, put away lying. So we're unable to put on a new
man, and that man is created in righteousness and true holiness.
It's real righteousness, it's real holiness. It says put him on. Put him on. endeavor to wear him like a suit.
You see it? Now look at it. Here's another
one. Here's number five. Christ is made unto us righteousness. First Corinthians chapter one.
Let's read that one as well. You know this one. First Corinthians
chapter one, verse 30, but of him, that's God, But of him are
ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and what? Righteousness. Do you see it?
Now, Mason, that's the same righteousness as the new man's created in.
And that's the same righteousness of faith. Because we're talking
about God created that new man after his image. Correct? What
the book says. This faith is the gift of God
and a fruit of God. Is this righteousness? It's the
same righteousness, Joe. But here's many different aspects.
Here's that great diamond before you. And you turn and you look
at this facet. Oh, it's so glorious. And you turn it and look at that
facet. And Joe, it's just so glorious, but it's still all
the same diamond. Still all the same righteousness. But let me
tell you, it's a God righteousness. And He has made, I don't even
know that we experience that, that's just what He's made unto
us. We see that to some degree, but
not to the degree that He is that to us. Now you hear what
I'm saying? We see that to some degree, but
not to the degree that He is those things to us. He has made
unto us wisdom, righteousness, and sanctification and redemption,
so what would you say to that? that according as it is written,
you want a glory? You want to brag about something?
Brag on the Lord. That according as it is written,
he that gloryeth, let him glory in the Lord. That was number
five. Let's look at number six. We
are made the righteousness of God in Christ. Now, I've heard
people argue, well, that means imputation. No, it doesn't. He
just said we imputed the righteousness of God in Christ, and he meant
we imputed the righteousness of God in Christ. Just as he
was made sin, then in a similar yet different, because let's
just turn to it and read. Look at what it says, 2 Corinthians
chapter five. Verse 21, for he hath made him
to be sin for us. Who knew no sin that we might
be made the righteousness of God? How? In him. In him. Somebody says, explain
that. Don't have to. Some try to explain
it away by running the imputation, but that's not what he's talking
about. You see, God has made us the righteousness of Himself. Where? In the Son. In the Son. Now, I could just
go on and on, etc. etc. Any righteousness that's
of value, God is its source and sustainer. because it's his kingdom. Seek ye first the kingdom of
God and his righteousness. There's the first thing. If you
try to start somewhere else, you're never gonna get to the
end properly. And I don't mean the end of time. I'm talking
about in your life and in your experience. You try to look to
anything else other than seeking first the kingdom of God and
his righteousness, then you ain't gonna experience much peace.
You ain't gonna know much joy. and most of the peace you think
you're experiencing and most of the joy you think you're experiencing
is not gonna be of God. And then you will be confused
for days or weeks or months on end. Now, seeing this is so,
I didn't say I hope this is so, why? Thus saith the Lord. Thus
saith the Lord, and I would encourage you to look up these words, righteous
heart, righteous soul, righteous faith, a new man created in righteousness
and true holiness, Christ made, and there are other places that
give us more information about some of these things. But remember,
never go beyond thus saith the Lord. But don't be afraid to
stand firm for thus saith the Lord. Now, seeing this is so,
believing God concerning his word as to this righteousness,
then and then only do we experience peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. You see it? And that's not just
my summary. I want you to look how Paul summarized
it. Turn back to Romans now, chapter 14, or I'm sorry, Romans
chapter 15, and listen to these words. Verse seven, wherefore? He's starting to sum this thing
up now about meats and drinks and what you wear, although he
doesn't mention what you wear, but the days you regard or days
you don't regard. All of these things. Wherefore,
verse 7 of chapter 15, receive ye one another as Christ also
received us to the glory of God. Did Christ have you get rid of
everything first before he received you? That song, Just As I Am,
is a good song. I know men abuse the use of it,
but it's a good song. Just As I Am, without one plea,
but that thy blood was shed for me. Now, look, now I say that
Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth
of God to confirm the promises made unto the fathers, and they're
still just as valid as they ever were. and that the Gentiles might
glorify God for his mercy as it is written for this cause,
I will confess to thee among the Gentiles and sing unto thy
name. And again he saith, rejoice ye
Gentiles with his people. You know that's not hard to do
when he's grafted you into him. Now is it? It's not hard to do
when he's grafted you, when he's broken down the middle wall petition
between us. Our salvation is a Jewish salvation.
Salvation's of the Jews, that's what it's all about. And God's
gonna either make you one, you're gonna be a part of it, or you'll
never have any of it. And again, he saith, rejoice ye Gentiles
with his people, and again, praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles, and
loud him, all ye people, and again, Esaias saith, there shall
be a root of Jesse, and he shall rise to reign over the Gentiles,
and in him shall the Gentiles trust. Now. and he's gonna get to it. Now,
the God of hope fill you with all joy, and he just mentioned
that, what the kingdom of God is, with all joy and peace in
believing. Now what do you believe? You
believe in him. You believe in his righteousness. You believe
his son who is the righteousness of God. Now the God of hope fill
you with all joy and peace in believing. So what comes first?
Believing God concerning the record of his son. Believe what
his word says, then you'll find peace and you'll find joy. Now he's starting at the end
and working his way back here, Joe, but do you see the order
then? Fill you with all joy and peace in believing that ye may
abound in hope through how? How? Only this, through the power
of the Holy Ghost. In other words, you can't do
this yourself. I can't do this myself. Oh God, be merciful to
me the sinner. Oh God, I believe. And I do. I confess to you. I don't brag about it, I confess
it. I believe, but I have to also say help thou mine unbelief. All things are possible to him
that, what? Believeth. So what's the summary
of my message? It's okay to believe God. You
hear what I'm saying? It's okay. And we don't really
think of it. We think that's, well, I'm supposed
to believe God. No, it's okay to just believe
God. Everything else will fall in
place. You hear what I'm saying? But
I need this. I need that. Seek ye first the
kingdom of God and his righteousness. Everything else will fall in
its place. If you get that order backwards, Turmoil, trouble,
pain of heart, mind, and soul is what you're going to experience.
And when you do, you realize I've got something backwards
somewhere. I'm not sitting here pointing at you. I'm talking
about me as well. When you do, when you find that turmoil, that
pain, that anguish, no peace, and no joy in the Holy Ghost,
you know why? Because you've got something twisted around
backwards. You're looking at the wrong thing or the wrong
person or something. It's okay, my brothers and sisters. It's okay to just, just believe
God. That's so easy to say. And yet
so impossible to do. That's why it has to be in the
power of the Holy Ghost. Oh God, make me believe. I think that's an honest prayer. Oh God, make me believe. And when he does, all the other
stuff, it'll fall in line. Even when you gotta lay down
and cry at night because of what happened today, you know what
I mean? There'll still be that sense
of peace that passes all understanding. And there'll be a joy in the
Holy Ghost that circumstances and words, it affects me, it
hurts me. I feel the pain of it, and maybe
I can't rise above it. It's not the right language,
but I can take it from God's hand and say with Job, the Lord
gave, the Lord taketh away. But more than that, it's not
just a stoicism. Blessed, blessed be the name of the Lord. Father,
oh God, help us. Help us by your grace, and we
trust you will, and we know you will, amen.