We are the righteousness in Christ as we come to repentance of our sins and as His Blood cleanses us. We continue to be the righteousness in HIM as we confess to HIM when we stumble and fall into sin. This is to work out our salvation with trembling and fear.
1 John 1:9 If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action].
1 Corinthians 11:31 For if we searchingly examined ourselves [detecting our shortcomings and recognizing our own condition], we should not be judged and penalty decreed [by the divine judgment].
Many of God's own people have little power in their prayer life as they pray for people and family members. If we are to be that righteous person that can pray and have healing or spiritual mind, heart, and tone restored to a person, then we must be qualified. We are qualified as we are to be a vessel set apart fit and ready for any good work.
2 Timothy 2:21 So whoever cleanses himself [from what is ignoble and unclean, who separates himself from contact with contaminating and corrupting influences] will [then himself] be a vessel set apart and useful for honorable and noble purposes, consecrated and profitable to the Master, fit and ready for any good work.
However, many people who are doing the praying are also in sin or IN bondage themselves. Will God hear the prayers from a person who is in sin or from a righteous person?
Before we can pray for people for their healing, deliverance, or bondage, perhaps, it is us who needs to be cleansed out first before we can intercede on their behalf. Perhaps, it is us who needs to be fully crucified with Christ and who must finish dying to ourselves before we tell someone else to die to themselves.
Scripture says the EARNEST PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN MAKES TREMENDOUS POWER AVAILABLE. If we have skeletons in our closet or if we have hidden sins, how do we qualify to be that righteous man when we have yet to repent or be cleansed?
Some time ago, the Lord asked my wife and I a question. He asked, "Do you know how when the Apostle Peter walked by, his shadow would bring healing? It was because Peter was a HOLY man." If we are to walk in God's power then we must walk in holiness. Manifesting God's power is evidence of our holiness. This holiness is obtained through the Blood of Christ as we repent, as we stop sinning, and as we stop breaking His commandments. Walking in holiness is not a one time event. It is a process of God molding, training, and cleansing us. Yes, power can corrupt a person and that power can still be evident but that is another subject for now.
Any son or daughter of God can manifest God's power. In fact, God is looking for those who are willing to be obedient, who are willing to suffer with HIM, who are willing to die to themselves, who are willing to obey even unto death, who are willing to seek more of God for His Glory, who are willing to lose everything if necessary, who are willing to fully surrender, who are not afraid of the unknown or uncertainty, who are willing to live and walk in His commandments, who willing to be led by the Spirit and not by their fears, and who are willing to live in holiness. Many say they are willing but their flesh is still weak and thus many rather compromise.Where are His people who will stop giving HIM lip service but are willing to really count the cost to walk in a higher realm with HIM. We know what God desires of us but many of us only understand the height of width of it. We need to get to a place in the Spirit in which we can understand not only the height of width but the depth and breath of what He desires for our lives.
Let us pray that we walk in holiness living lives worthy of HIM so that we have boldness and confidence before God. Because scripture says if we obey His orders following His plan and practice what is pleasing HIM, we receive from HIM whatever we ask! He listens to the prayers of a righteous person because a righteous person does what is righteous. And a person does and walks in righteousness because he/she has been washed by the Blood of Jesus made unto righteousness in HIM. If you look at verse 22 below, it uses the word "practice." Make it a habit to do what is right before God. If you have been washed by the Blood of Jesus, then walking and practicing in righteousness is evidence of that reality! One cannot live and practice evil or sin and claim to be walking in the righteousness of God. He will NOT BE MOCKED! Grace gives us the ability and time to get things right with God. It does not give us the right to continually walk in our shortcomings, bondage, addictions, and sin having made a choice to live in defeat or compromise. His children are called to overcome and thus that will be manifested in our lives. If we cannot overcome the things in life through His strength, then how are we to have a testimony?
1 John 3:21-22(AMP)And, beloved, if our consciences (our hearts) do not accuse us [if they do not make us feel guilty and condemn us], we have confidence (complete assurance and boldness) before God, 22 And we receive from Him whatever we ask, because we [[a]watchfully] obey His orders [observe His suggestions and injunctions, follow His plan for us] and [[b]habitually] practice what is pleasing to Him.
2 Corinthians 10:7 Look at [this obvious fact] which is before your eyes. If anyone is confident that he is Christ’s, let him reflect and remind himself that even as he is Christ’s, so too are we.
God is no respecter men. We all have the ability to walk and be in that position of a "RIGHTEOUS MAN" in which our earnest prayers makes TREMENDOUS POWER AVAILABLE. Let us continue to move forward so that our lives will Glorify the Lord! Glory to HIM!
Fire of God
Steve Yong Kim
June 25, 2012
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