Kingdom Righteousness

KINGDOM RIGHTEOUSNESS

Hebrews 11:7 "It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith."

None of us like to be wrong. I really thought in the world I was a good person, I didn't behave as bad as most. I inspired to do good, for I wanted to make the world a "better place." When I was found to be wrong I pointed fingers at somebody or something to be blamed, rather than myself. See we want to convince ourselves and others that we are righteous. So we compare ourselves with them and justify the wrong we do. The bible says none are righteous no not one, it says that our righteousness is as filthy rags (Rom. 3:10, Is. 64:6). Until my life began falling apart, and humiliation followed, could God draw me to Him. I finally realized I needed Him and when I began seeking He was found. Now that I have learned His holiness I look back at my life and cannot believe how deceived I was of my own righteousness.
What makes us righteous is simply believing God at His word. Now God's ways are far above our ways, so it is not always easy to believe. It takes faith and faith comes from God. He draws us to Him and gives us a desire to know His ways, as we continually hear we start to believe. Anything spoken long enough will be believed that is why businesses pay a lot of money to advertise, in time when something is seen and heard enough people accept it. Many things that are now accepted in society were not at all just a few decades ago, a marketing strategy was developed, and again with time, acceptance followed. God's word though is the most powerful force in the universe, so if we can hear His Word over and over, it will cause us to believe in what we once thought as impossible.
It is our faith that plants seeds of faith in others. Our lives are living testimonies. That is why God does not want us to live apart from the world in our own little Christian bubbles, but in the world, just not of it. We either draw people to repentance by our acts of faith, or condemn them by their rejection. Noah's act of faith was rejected by all but his family. This is the big point, can we handle other's rejection. How far will we believe God? What can He reveal to us? Maybe why many of us are not being used to do great courageous acts of Faith is because we simply could not handle the rejection that would follow. Many people no matter what they see will reject God and therefore his messengers. To advance God's kingdom we must live not to please man but to please God.
In the Western world we don't face near the persecution than the rest of the world. Is it because we are Christian nation, or is it because of believers lack of true faith? I would argue with the latter. The Western world is no longer predominantly Christian for our culture speaks differently. Therefore, persecution doesn't arise because believers faith wavers. We compromise with the truth. We make God into our own comfortable idol. Our churches are just social gathering places not equipping centers.
Noah stood against the unrighteousness of his day against all odds, he stood firm in obedience to God's word, and through it was saved and his household. The bible says many are called but few are chosen (Matt. 22:14), it also says that many will try to enter in by the wide gate but narrow is the way that leads to everlasting life (Matt. 7:13). Many will say they did this and did that but God will say depart from me you workers of iniquity for I do not know you (Lk. 13:27), for only those who do the will of God will enter in. By the numbers the United States seems to be a Christian Nation, but the bible says we shall know them by their fruit (Matt. 7:20). We better watch out for even the elect will be deceived in the latter days (Mk. 13:22).
What God leads us to do is always bigger than ourselves and does not make sense to the natural mind. We cannot expect the world to be in favor by the so called senseless acts of faith that follow our lives. The Chaos the world is currently in with all it's national conflicts and natural disasters gives us opportunities to display the greatness of God. So let's stir each other on to Kingdom greatness by displaying His righteousness through our acts of faith.

Challenge: Let's repent this week for our fear of rejection, for choosing to please man more than God, and now seek the Lord for the great supernatural acts of Faith He wants to do through us like Noah.