Those Who Desire Righteousness

Matthew 5:1-12 (NIV) Now when Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on a mountainside and sat down.  His disciples came to Him, 2 and He began to teach them. He said: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Matthew 5:6 (NIV) Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

RIGHTEOUSNESS: the state of him who is such as he ought to be, the condition acceptable to God

RIGHTEOUSNESS: the state of being righteous

RIGHTEOUS: upright, virtuous, keeping the commands of God

RIGHTEOUSNESS: Actively living life to please God

Blessings FOLLOW our FOLLOWING Him

POOR IN SPIRIT:  We recognize, in humility, we are NOTHING without You, God. As beggars, we come with our NEED of You!

THOSE WHO MOURN:  Have we mourned our sin and turned from it?  I ask for forgiveness; my life needs to change.

THE MEEK:  Do we use our strength for ourselves or for God’s purposes; use it to help others?

RIGHTEOUSNESS: Actively living life to please God

What does it involve to LIVE IN RIGHTEOUSNESS?

1. It has to be PUT ON

Ephesians 6:13-14 (ESV) - Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness

Righteousness covers and strengthens our ability to walk in FAITH and LOVE

1 Thessalonians 5:8 (ESV) - But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.

Galatians 5:6 (ESV) - For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

Romans 4:3,9,13,20-24 (ESV) - 3 What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”… 9 Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness… 13 It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith… 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22 This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” 23 The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.

Galatians 5:13-14 (ESV) - For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Ephesians 3:17-19 (ESV) - so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

When we CHOOSE to MOVE FORWARD with FAITH and CHRIST’S LOVE, we WILL walk in RIGHTEOUSNESS.

What does it involve to LIVE IN RIGHTEOUSNESS?

1. It has to be PUT ON

2. It has to be HIS

Matthew 6:33 (ESV) - But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Romans 10:1-4 (NKJV) - Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

Philippians 3:9 (NLT) - … I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.

Isaiah 64:6 (NKJV) - But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags…

The REASON faith is necessary is because sometimes, acting in righteousness goes beyond OUR REASON

What does it involve to LIVE IN RIGHTEOUSNESS?

1. It has to be PUT ON

2. It has to be HIS

3. It has to be WHOLE-HEARTED

Matthew 6:33 (ESV) - But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Matthew 5:6 (AMP) - “Blessed [joyful, nourished by God’s goodness] are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness [those who actively seek right standing with God], for they will be [completely] satisfied.

John 4:31-34 (ESV) - Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” 33 So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.

Ephesians 3:17-19 (ESV) - so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.