Spirit Food - March 2017

Once you are presented with what the Word of God has to say about an issue, you are responsible for receiving His love, grace, & favor; and the gift of His righteousness. Remember, you are greatly blessed, highly favored, and deeply loved by your Heavenly Father.

This month let’s focus on the righteousness given to us!

Matthew 6:33 – But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

In chapter 6 of Matthew, Jesus continues with the Sermon on the Mount. Understand that Our Heavenly Father knows we have basic needs (like eating, drinking, clothing, etc.) while living here on this earth … and He is informing people He knows that. Jesus is sharing with people that Our Heavenly Father already has provided for us to have these things, and is providing us guidance on how to obtain them.

Remember, Our Heavenly Father, Jesus, and The Holy Spirit are a Trinity (3 in 1).

Jesus is indicating that people need to get their focus off of themselves and develop a relationship with Him. As we get into His Word and develop a closer loving relationship with Him, rolling all of our cares/worries/concerns over onto Him, He in turn ensures we are well provided for and taken care of on this earth.

As you are reading this, it is assumed you are most likely a responsible person who is concerned about providing well for your family; making sure that there is food on the table, money for the children’s needs, comfort, education, and so on.

So, what does the Bible have to say to us about these legitimate concerns? According to Matthew 6:31, He tells us, “Do not worry.” Now, He is not saying that we don’t need all these things because in the same portion of scripture He says, “For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.” (Matthew 6:32)

God desires us to have these things. Therefore, our number one priority every day should be to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Developing a deeper relationship with Him on a daily basis is His desire! He created mankind to have a family! He desires to Bless You individually beyond all you can ask or imagine!

Ephesians 3:20 - Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,

How does He do that? He is Almighty God, Our Heavenly Father! He controls all! He can line things up to ensure you are at the correct place at the correct time, ensuring you meet the correct people and ensure you favor in this life on earth!

Once you have made the decision to accept Jesus as the LORD of your life, and develop a closer relationship, The Holy Spirit dwells within you and provides guidance and direction on Our Heavenly Father’s purpose/plan for your life here on this earth. Being in His plan for your life is your healthy, prosperous, protected, place … see Psalms 91.

So, what is righteousness? Righteousness is not right behavior. It is right standing with Our Heavenly Father. It is the realization that all your sin (past, present and future), has been forgiven. That you have been cleansed because of the finished work of Jesus, which makes you able to stand before God. It is not something you get through right behavior. It is a gift from God. Paul calls it “the gift of righteousness” in Romans 5:17. And to “seek” this gift is to be conscious of the fact that you have it, and to confess that you are righteous in Christ.

Again this righteousness we are told to seek is not right behavior, but right standing before God, which comes to us as a gift when we receive salvation. At the cross, Jesus didn’t just remove our sin; He also gave us His righteousness so that today, we can come boldly before the throne of God and receive freely everything that He died to give us!

Hebrews 10:10,12 - By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all … But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

God sees you with no flaw, spot or imperfection, so honor His Word and the finished work of His Son by saying, “Amen!” Don’t doubt your perfection in Christ.

To see yourself as being far from perfect is not modesty, but a failure to understand the perfect sacrifice that Jesus has made for you. Yes, we occasionally “miss the mark” … and this is where Our Heavenly Father’s grace, mercy and favor come in … as He is looking at us through the finished work of Jesus!

The Bible tells us in Romans 5 - “For by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified”. Did you comprehend that? You have not only been sanctified, that is to say, made holy; but by the same offering of His body, you have been perfected. You are both holy and perfect in God’s eyes!

Your sins have been purged perfectly. Today, Jesus is seated at His Father’s right hand not because He is the Son of God (although that is true), but because His work of purging your sins is completely finished and perfect!

So instead of being conscious of your sins, which is to have an evil conscience (Hebrews 10:22), you can have a perfect conscious, a conscious that is free from the guilt and condemnation of sins. When you find yourself conscious of your sins, just say, “Thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your wonderful work at the cross. It is a perfect work that has removed all my sins completely.

As I wrote above, The Holy Spirit came to dwell on the inside of you when you accepted Jesus as your LORD. The Holy Spirit didn’t come to dwell inside of you as an accuser, pointing out every time you “missed the mark”, which would cause you to have a sin consciousness, but rather convict you that you were made you the righteousness of God! Therefore, you say “Holy Spirit, thank You for convicting me of righteousness, not my own, but God’s righteousness, given to me as a gift. Keep on convicting me in the days to come, reminding me especially when I fail that I am still the righteousness of God in Christ.”

If you’re reading this, but you have not made Jesus the Lord of your life, and would like to, pray this prayer out loud in an audible voice:

Heavenly Father, your Word says in Romans 10:9-10- “that if I confess with my mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in my heart that You raised Him from the dead, that I would be saved. For with the heart one believes unto salvation.” I believe your Word, Heavenly Father, and confess Jesus Christ (the anointed one and His anointing) as Lord of my life now. I believe that You raised Him from the dead. I confess that I was a sinner, but now I’ve been saved by Your grace, and in Your thoughts, I am now in right standing with You. I denounce Satan and all he stands for. Write my name in the Lamb’s book of Life. In Jesus Name. Amen (so be it).

Congratulations! If this is your first time praying this prayer, please write and let us know!

Should you decide to give and financially support this ministry with gifts given in faith, I join my faith with yours to see the devourer rebuked (Malachi 3:11) and for you to receive a harvest; pressed down, shaken together and running over (Luke 6:38). Please remember to name your seed!

Dr. Mark Krom, Ph.D., D.Psy

Minister/Clinical Pastoral Psychologist