Glory to God! This is
yet another opportunity to minister to the one God loves. In the past week we
opened up the topic of “the Believers’ Authority” in high gear. We saw that it
is not the strength of a policeman that stops traffic, because he cannot even
hold up a “Starlet” car with his strength. Rather, the policeman uses the
authority given to him by the government to command even the largest of trucks
to stand still. This is a picture of the believer’s reign in this life. We may
not have the physical power or strength to prevail over the devil, disease,
death or poverty, BUT we do have the authority.
Even the weakest policeman
can stop the largest trailer. Likewise the weakest believer can make the lame
walk and cast out the biggest meanest demons. The reason we have all authority
is because we are authorized by a very big God. You do not cast out demons
because you are very holy but because you are righteous. “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might
be made THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM” (2Cor5:21). This is God’s promise
to you and He means it. God calls you righteous enough to ask Him for anything
that you desire and He will grant it. Notice that Elijah the Prophet received
answers to his prayers because he was righteous. “The effectual fervent PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN availeth much. Elias
was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it
might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and
six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth
brought forth her fruit” (Jam 5:16b-18). Elijah had authority over the rain
even though he had desires or passions similar to ours. Whatever you liked and
disliked, Elijah liked and disliked too. If you like ice-cream, Elijah liked it
even more. He was an “ordinary” child of God just like you are. The only
difference was that he knew how righteous he was in the Lord and this not
because of his own deeds. Righteousness basically means that you are in right
standing with God or simply that you are right. Righteousness does not come
when you live a so-called “sinlessly perfect” life. Right standing with God, or
being in God’s good books is simply an issue of faith or believing.
Romans 4:5-8
5 But to him that WORKETH NOT, but believeth on him that
justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto
whom God IMPUTETH RIGHTEOUSNESS WITHOUT WORKS,
7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and
whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
Apostle Paul clearly states in his epistle
to the Romans that it is simply faith which one needs to have right standing
with God and not the works of the law. Many times when Christians do not
receive answers to prayer, they ask themselves, “What wrong thing did I do that
is blocking God from answering me?” I want to confidently tell you that there
is nothing wrong enough that you can do to make the Father love you less or not
to answer your prayers. Notice in John that Jesus says God will love us with
the same love with which He loved Jesus, not a lesser love, “And I have declared unto them thy name,
and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them,
and I in them” (John17:26). Remember that God does not want you to work out
your righteousness, rather He imputes the righteousness to you (Rom4:6). Simply
stated, this means that you are endowed or receive righteousness as a covenant
right. Back in the days when I had just joined SMACK (St. Mary’s College
Kisubi), I used to have a number of people who used to bully me when I was in
Senior 1, because I was so small and noticeable. I did not have any way out of
this bullying since reporting to teachers just made the whole thing worse.
However, one day I received a message that one Kasule in Senior 6 wanted to
speak to me in the History room. I thought this was going to be more bad news.
However when I reached the History room, Kasule called me in and told me that
he wanted to be my friend and would protect me and provide for anything in case
I needed it. This was a real surprise to me since I could not and did not
expect such kindness from an S.6 of all people. This is what we call imputed
righteousness for sure! I remember that I reported one of my chief bullies to
him and he promptly (read roughly) dealt with the bully to the extent that that
bully did not trouble me again. When I would run out money, I would run
straight to him. This was the hand of God working through the hand of man. I
did not do anything to deserve this man’s favor, it was simply imputed. One of
the secrets to this favor was that I resembled Kasule (making me like his young
brother). If only believers knew that they are children of God and resemble Him
in every way.
“The proverbs
of Solomon the SON OF DAVID, king of Israel” (Prov1:1). When King Solomon,
the wisest man who ever lived began writing the Book of Proverbs, the very
first statement he made was a description of whose son he was. He placed the
utmost importance upon his standing as the son of David. If the first thought
that crossed the broadest and wisest mind on earth was a knowledge of whose son
he was, I believe the wisdom of God in us will direct us to acknowledge that we
are His sons, and resemble our Daddy on heaven. “Beloved, NOW ARE WE THE SONS OF GOD, and it doth not yet appear what
we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for
we shall see him as he is” (1Jn3:2). God calls you His son, (male and
female included) and expects you to exercise your authority in His house. A son
can command a servant to do what he pleases. Angels, whether fallen or godly
are merely referred to as servants throughout the Scriptures. However, we as
born-again believers are referred to as sons. “But as many as received him, to them gave he POWER TO BECOME THE SONS
OF GOD, even to them that believe on his name” (John1:12). Take your place
as a righteous son of God and do all your Father desires for you to do on this
earth. You are anointed, you possess all authority, do something with it!
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