Only Believe

William Branham

Audio Tape 7
We are dealing with understanding righteousness because James 5 says that the effectual fervent prayer
of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16-18 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one
for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
(17) 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. (18) And he prayed
again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
When we studied Elijahs life we found out that there were some problems with his life and therefore
we also found out that Gods definition of righteousness is different from mans definition of
righteousness. We found out from the word of God that righteousness is different from right living.
Right living is the product of righteousness. Righteousness is the very nature and the character of God.
Except a man is righteous he cannot live a righteous life. Right living is the product of righteousness.
You have to be righteous to live right. We found out that righteousness has been given to us legally.
This time I want to look at righteousness as our nature.
In the Old Testament they only had righteousness only on
one side of the street. In other words righteousness was
given to them only as an award. Abraham believed God
and it was counted unto him for righteousness. God gave
Abraham righteousness as a result of his faith. Which
means that God is calling Abraham a righteous man.

Romans 4:1-3 What shall we say then that Abraham

our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? (2)
For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath
whereof to glory; but not before God. (3) For what
saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was
counted unto him for righteousness.
The Bible doesnt say that Abraham worked so hard to be
righteous and became righteous. Abraham believed his

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believing was counted to him for righteousness. His faith
answered for his righteousness.
Romans 4:4-5 Now to him that worketh is the reward
not reckoned of grace, but of debt. (5) But to him that
worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the
ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Abraham didnt perform so well in such a way that God
was so impressed and called him righteous. No! The man
didnt qualify by his works. He just believed. He
believed in the God who justifies the ungodly. How can
God be just and justify the ungodly? Thats the legal
aspect of our redemption. He is just (righteous) and the
Bible shows that God in His made us righteous.

2 Corinthians 5:21 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.
In other words when Jesus Christ was on that cross representing us He was made sin with our sins. Our
sins were laid on Jesus. That we might be made the righteousness of God with His righteousness. He
bore our sins and became sin and we bore His righteousness and became righteous. Thats what the
Bible says. This is what you call the doctrine of substitution in systematic and scholastic theology.

2 Corinthians 5:21 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.
When was He made sin? The Bible says the reason He was made sin was for us to be made righteous.
So if He has been successfully made sin then of course we have been successfully made righteous. If a
man who knew no sin were made legally to become sin, by sin being laid on his spirit for him to become
sin (i.e. the very embodiment of sin) then it was perfectly possible and legal for a man who has been
sinful to become righteous by having righteousness laid on him.

Romans 3:21-22 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed
by the law and the prophets; (22) Even the
righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ
unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no
difference:
Righteousness was laid on us bestowed on us as our
sins were laid or bestowed on Jesus. He became sin
because of our sins and we became righteous because of
His righteousness. So He took our sins and we took His
righteousness. Are you understanding this?
He became sin. That we might become the righteousness
of God.

Romans 4:5-8 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.

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Thats what we just read. A righteousness apart from the law. A righteousness without the works. A
righteousness you can get from God without qualifying for it by your own actions.
Romans 4:9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision
also?
I want you to follow the Spirits argument here.
Does this blessedness come upon the circumcision only? Or upon the uncircumcision only? Does this
blessing come upon the Jews only? Or also the Gentiles also?
Romans 4:10 for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. How was it then
reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in
uncircumcision.
In other words Abraham received the righteousness of God before he was circumcised.

Romans 4:11-16 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith
which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though
they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: (12) And the father
of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that
faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. (13) For the promise, that he
should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through
the righteousness of faith. (14) For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and
the promise made of none effect: (15) Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there
is no transgression. (16) Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise
might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the
faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

Abraham received the seal of the righteousness of the faith even before he was circumcised that he
(Abraham) might be the father of all them who believe even though they were not circumcised that
the righteousness might be imputed to them also. The promise that Abraham should be the heir of the
world was not to Abraham or to his seed was not to be through the law but to be through the
righteousness of faith. Because if they who are of the law become heirs then faith is made non-effect.
Did you understand that? Because the law works wrath because if there is no law then there is no
transgression. So it is of faith that if might be through grace.
Abraham was called righteous not because he qualified but because he believed in God who justifies
the ungodly. So Abraham gave up his own righteousness and
accepted the righteousness of God.
Lets see how that worked and how this prayer worked. Elijah
prayed and God answered him irrespective of his actions.
Genesis 18. In this particular occasion God visited Abraham and
said to him Ive heard of Sodom. The cry of Sodom has come to me.
Sodom was a city of sinners and their sins have reached up to
heaven. God now wanted to judge Sodom and told Abraham about
it. But this Abraham had a nephew in the city of Sodom by the
name of Lot. Lot was with his family. God tells Abraham I want to
destroy Sodom. There were 2 other angels that came with the Lord.
They appeared in the form of men. Watch what happens.

Genesis 18:20-22 And the LORD said, Because the cry of

Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very
grievous; (21) I will go down now, and see whether they have

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done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know. (22) And
the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the
LORD.
Now I want you to see this boldness!!
How dare Abraham stand in the presence of God and charge God this way!? God Almighty is going to
destroy a city that is filled with sinners and Abraham gets in Gods way. Who does he think he is? Look
at this.
Genesis 18:23-25 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the
wicked? (24) Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not
spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? (25) That be far from thee to do after this
manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that
be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

I mean Abraham is talking to Almighty God! I mean God ought to have blown Abraham out of
existence. What do you think? What did Abraham have? Righteousness. What is righteousness?
Righteousness is right standing. This is what the man had. The ability to stand in the presence of God
without fear, intimidation, inferiority or condemnation. There is Abraham in the presence of God and
he is not intimidated and he is not feeling inferior to God. He is talking to God as if he is talking to a
man. Thats the way we pray sometimes and people wonder at us. Do you know who you are talking
to? You are talking to God. Oh yeah! He gave me something to use and when I put that thing I can stand
in His presence with a great ability. Without fear. Thats what Abraham had. It was set to his account.
This is wonderful.
Abraham is asking God: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

Genesis 18:26 And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will
spare all the place for their sakes.
God said Im going to find out whether theyve done according to the cry I hear and if theyve done so
Ill destroy everybody. God was on His way. Now Abraham stops God and says For 50 righteous men
you shouldnt destroy the city. And the Lord says Alright! For 50 I wouldnt. See Abraham is
interceding. Remembers hes got Lot there. The Lord said that Hes going to destroy Sodom and
Gomorrah. Abraham doesnt even talk about Gomorrah.
Genesis 18:27 And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto
the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:
Abraham knows he understands that this is a right that is given to him. What we call a privileged right.
God gave it to him. So he is using it to his advantage to save Lot but he understands that he is not God.

Genesis 18:28 Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the
city for lack of five?
In other words if we lack 5. If we dont have 50 and weve 45 there. Just because we dont have enough
to 50 are you going to destroy everybody?
And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.
So God says no for 45 I wouldnt destroy the city.

Genesis 18:29 And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found
there. And he said, I will not do it for forty's sake.
Again Abraham took the number down to 40 and the Lord said He wouldnt do it for 40.
Genesis 18:30 And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure
there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.

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Ok down to 30.

Genesis 18:31 And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord:
Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty's sake.
Now down to 20.
What is Abraham doing? Hes taking advantage of his rights and privileges in righteousness. Not many
of us have done that. This is wonderful.

Genesis 18:32-33 And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once:
Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake. (33) And
the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned
unto his place.

What a mistake Abraham made.

Abraham just counted Lot, Mrs.
Lot, 3 daughters, and their
husbands so 1+1+3+3=8. He
thought they must have
somebody converted by now.
Ahhhhh!! The Lord went and
they were not up to 10. But the
Lord knew where Abraham was
going so the Lord delivered Lot
and his family. God delivered Lot
and his family and then destroyed
the city. Can you see that? Because of a righteous man God would do anything.

Look at Elijah now.

James 5:17-18 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. (18) And
he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

Elijah prayed and it didnt rain. He prayed again and it rained. Not because God didnt want rain or God
wanted rain. I want you to understand that a man can actually make things happen. Did you read in your
Bible that Joshua commanded the sun and the moon to stay still? Until weve won the battle Sun stand
still! Moon stand still! The Bible says it was never on record anywhere that God listened to a man that
way. Like He heard Joshua that day. What was he doing? Taking advantage of righteousness.

Romans 5:17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive
abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
These men were reigning. They were not crying under the pressure.
People say I plead the blood! I plead the blood. The blood of Jesus!
Thats wrong. You cannot plead the blood. What do you mean by pleading the blood anyway? What I
think they are saying is Im standing strong on the blood. Like they say Im covered in the blood. We
sprinkle the blood of Jesus. You are doing something that is abominable. You may not know it. You
cannot plead the blood. If you want to plead the blood of Jesus just sit down and break bread. Take the
Holy Communion. Thats what pleads the blood. When you say I sprinkle the blood of Jesus. Its not
in your hand to sprinkle the blood. The Bible says that its on the mercy seat in heaven. Nobody on the

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face of the earth can sprinkle it. You cannot sprinkle it. Only the High Priest had the right to use that
blood in the ministry. Thats what Jesus did. He took His own blood and went into the heavenly most
holy place and presented His own blood on the mercy seat in heaven. You dont need to sprinkle the
blood if Jesus.
1. You dont have the right to do it
2. You cant even do it because you dont have it
3. Its been done already by the High Priest Himself the Lord Jesus Christ.
When you say those things even the angels get surprised at you.
Righteousness gives us the ability to stand in the presence of God without fear inferiority or
condemnation and also gives us the ability to stand in the presence of the devil with all boldness with
the spirit of dominion. Without fear without inferiority or condemnation. It makes us masters!
We come in the presence of that devil and we say In the name of Jesus come out! And he has to come
out.
We can change things. Righteousness gives us the dominion.

Isaiah 54:14 In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for
thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee.

How could you be oppressed of the devil when you understand righteousness? In righteousness shalt
thou be established
You are established! You are unshakable. Far from oppression and fear and terror.

Isaiah 54:15 Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather
together against thee shall fall for thy sake.
Isaiah 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise
against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and
their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

Our righteousness is not of ourselves. Its coming from God. The devil can say I know you. You are
not righteous. No we are.
Now I want to look at righteousness as our nature: The most beautiful thing in all the word of God.
To be born again is not to take a religion, or to become nice church attending person and be very
committed you can have all of that and still not be born again. To be born again is to have the life og
God in you. To be actually vitally effectively literary to be born of the Spirit of God. To come from
God. God is your origin. God has no grandchildren.
Not like God created everybody no the very life. You become a child of God like that mans son is
his son. You come from Him. He is your Father. When you are born again you just know that God is
your Father.

Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Theres an answering inside our spirit. We know that we are born again. If you dont have that
witness in you, the chances are you dont know Him.

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2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like
precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
Understand the tenses.
They have obtained like precious faith. They are not going to obtain.
2 Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and
godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
Hath given unto us. We are not looking for them anymore. We already have it. All things that
pertain unto life and godliness.
You may not see it by yourself because you are looking through your own optical eyes. You cant
see with your optical eyes what God has done in your spirit you have to see it in the word of God
and call it so and it will be so.
through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
This is working now. This is not in the sweet by and by. This is not in heaven. This is not in the
1000 years of peace. This is today!

2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye
might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through
lust.
The divine nature is the righteousness of God. The divine nature is the very nature of almighty
God. We are partakers of the very nature of Almighty God. Why are we partakers of that nature?
Because weve done well? No!

James 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits
of his creatures.
In other words we were born of His own will and we were born by the word of God. Just like he
says Abraham begat Isaac now He begat us. Of His own will. We were born of the Word of God.

1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God,
which liveth and abideth for ever.
Being born again not of corruptible sperm but an eternal sperm. Sperm is the one that has the germ
of life. It is the life giving principle. By the word of God which liveth and abideth forever. When
we were born again it is not by the seed of man. When we were born again it was not of the seed
of man. When we were first born it was the seed of that man the seed of that man was planted in
the body of that woman and this child resulted. Then he gave his heart to Christ and Christ took
that life and planted His own seed. The seed of the word of God. The eternal seed of this divine life
in this mans life. He was born again from that hour and he became a new creation in Christ Jesus.
Its not the human life in him it is the very divine life in Jesus. The man Jesus had the body of a
human being but the life was the life of the Almighty God. Now you are born again the life you
have is the life of the Almighty God.

John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
1 John 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

You have the Son you have His life.

When you are born again you were born of the very spirit of God. The very essence of divinity. So
righteousness was the very nature that gave birth to you. We were in Christ when He died on the
cross for He was our substitute on the cross. Then He died for us and was buried for us so your
name was there in the presence of Almighty God. It is written in the book of God that you died on
the cross, that you were buried in the grave. When God raised Jesus up you were raised up by the
Almighty God and now you have the resurrection life in you.

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He said Open unto me the gates of righteousness!

When Jesus was buried the Bible tells us that He went to hell. They took a hold of Him and He
became a prisoner. A prisoner of the devil because He has been made sin for us. He was taken to
hell. As a prisoner and all the devils of darkness were there. The Bible tells us that He threw off of
Himself powers, principalities. The Bible says that He knocked them all down and made a public
spectacle of them before all the witnesses in Hadis. Abraham saw it, Isaac saw it, Jacob saw it,
Noah was there, and David saw it. They all saw the devil beaten by Jesus. The Bible tells us that
He came out of the grave because He was raised the third day. He came out of the grave. Then He
went to heaven. You remember when Mary came and wanted to great Him and she found out that
Jesus was raised from the dead. She had initially thought it was the gardener. She asked Him Where
have you laid Him? She was looking for the body of Jesus not knowing that the man had been
raised from the dead. Then Jesus said Mary! And she ran toward Jesus and Jesus said Dont touch
me Mary for I havent yet ascended to my Father. But go tell my brethren He had told them
before I do not call you servants anymore, I call you friends. They had graduated from being
servants to friends. Now they are His brethren. Go tell my brethren that I will see them in Galilee
now I ascend to my Father and your Father. To my God and your God. Hebrews 2:11 says for
which cause He is not ashamed to call us brethren. When you are born again you are begotten of
the Almighty God just like Jesus was born again. (Acts 13:33) So now He is the first begotten of
the dead and we are the ones who came after born of the same Father as siblings of Jesus, joint-
heirs with Christ! Do you understand?
Ok now later on we find that Jesus comes to the disciples and talks to doubting Thomas and says
Touch me. How come He didnt make Mary touch Him? Its because at the time Mary came He
had come out of the grave our High Priest to the very presence of the Almighty God. He was talking
His blood as the High Priest to the heavenly holy of holies or the most holy place to present it for
us. Hallelujah!

Then Jesus gets to the gates of heaven and nobody opens for Him because He was raised from the
dead and born again. Jesus Christ was born again. He was born as a new creation old things are
passed away and all things are become new. Why did He have to be born again? Because He was
made sin for us, He had to be born again. He died two deaths. He died spiritually first when sin was
laid on His spirit and He was cut off from God. Spiritual death is separation from Almighty God.
Thats why He cried out My God my God why has thou forsaken me? The Bible says that God
turned His back on His Son Jesus. Why? Habakkuk 1:13 Thou art of purer eyes than to behold
evil, and canst not look on iniquity. God is so pure that He cant look on sin. Jesus was made sin
so God turn away and Jesus cried My God my God why has thou forsaken me? So Jesus died
spiritually thats the reason He could die physically.

Now Hes been raised from the dead and Hes now our High Priest. He gets to the gates of heaven
and because He is born again and a new creation the angels dont recognise Jesus in the realm of
the spirit. When you are born again your past is completely wiped out. When you are born again
you are one that never existed before. So Jesus Christ was born again. So the angels at the gate
didnt know that it was Jesus. So Jesus cries out Open the gates!
Psalms 24:7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King
of glory shall come in.
The angels are confused! They are asking who is the King of glory?
Psalms 24:8 Who is this King of glory?
And Jesus answers
Psalms 24:8 The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.
The angels say We need some ID. Who are you? Are you saying you are the King of glory? The king
of glory is inside Heaven on the throne?!? How can you say you are the King of glory?

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Psalms 24:9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King
of glory shall come in.
The angels ask What do you mean? Who is the King of glory?
Psalms 24:10 Who is this King of glory?
Jesus says
Psalms 24:10 The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory.

And the psalmist shouted Selah! Meaning Pause and think about it

What happened? They opened. Why? First time Jesus said

Open the gates for the King of glory shall come in.
The angels asked Who is the King of glory?
Jesus said The Lord strong and mighty. I am El-Gibbowr open up!
The angels said Who is the king of glory?
Then Jesus said The Lord of hosts. Jehovah Tsaba
Meaning Im the Lord of hosts, I am the captain of the army of God, I am the General, the Field
Marshal.
In other words I am your boss!! Open up the gates!

Paul said this correctly in 1 Corinthians 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world
unto Himself..
In other words it was God Almighty who was in Jesus reconciling the world unto Himself. The
angels didnt know that it was the same King of glory who was sitting on the throne who was also
walking in through the gates!! 1 Timothy 3:16 Great is the mystery of Godliness.

Remember when Jesus said Destroy this temple and I will build it up in 3 days. He was speaking
concerning His body. Then when they destroyed Jesus body on the cross when Jesus gave up
the ghost when His Spirit left at the very same moment the curtain of the temple tore into two.
God who was in the most holy place left breaking off the curtain! When He left the curtain was
torn into two. When the spirit of Jesus left His body, Jehovah in the temple also left. Its not two
things. Its one and the same thing. Both happened in sync. Blood and water gushed out when the
sacrifice was finished just like blood and water would be flushed out via the brook Cedron. The
high priest Mr. Caiaphas lost his job.

Let me show you something beautiful here:

Psalms 118:18 The LORD hath chastened me sore:
See He suffered so much for us.
Psalms 118:18 The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.
Because the Lord raised Him up. They thought theyve gotten Him but the third day He was
raised from the death.
Now He cries out before those gates.
Psalms 118:19-20 Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the
LORD: (20) This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter.
Jesus is saying Open the gates of righteousness. I will go into them and I will praise the Lord.
This gate of the Lord into which the righteous shall enter. We are the righteous ones entering.
Romans 5:2 says By whom we have access with confidence by the faith of Him.

He gave us access into the presence of God. He led captives in His train. As He came we were all
in Him. Then He said Behold I and the children which the Lord hath given me are for signs
and wonders. (Isaiah 8:17-18 & Hebrews 2:13)

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I am the righteousness of God! Amen! Now I can do right. Now I can please God. I couldnt please
Him because I didnt have it in me to please Him. Now that I am born again righteousness was
wrought in my spirit. Now I can please God. Hallelujah!
Weve entered through that gate. We are the righteousness of God. Hallelujah!

Isaiah 45:22-24 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there
is none else. (23) I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and
shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
The prophet Isaiah can see it ahead. It has come to pass now.
Philippians 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in
earth and things under the earth.

Isaiah 45:24-25 Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him
shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed. (25) In the LORD shall
all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.

He is our righteousness. We are born that way. 1 Corinthians 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus,
who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
He has been made unto us wisdom, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. We are born
righteous.
So why do we do wrong? Because we are growing. Its like a baby who cant walk yet. That doesnt
make him an animal.
As you grow in Christ you get better and better but already you have been made righteous.
That is the reason you can do right.

Look at the apostles. They were not the people who were carrying down and going like to hide. Think
about John, Paul and James.

1 John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be
called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
That doesnt sound like somebody who was oppressed.
Look at Paul:

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me

Look at James
James 4:7 Resist the devil and he will flee from you

These were not the guys who were saying The devil is after me help me.. pray for me..
What about Peter?
1 Peter 5:8-9 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh
about, seeking whom he may devour: (9) Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same
afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

He didnt say the devil is looking for whom he may devour so go and hide. No! Resist stedfast.

James said Resist the devil and he will flee from you. To flee means to run away as in terror. The
devil is so scared when you resist that hell run away.
Jesus said when he shows up cast him out!

Paul said Give no place to the devil.

Dont even let him show up!

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Look at all these guys. They werent scared. Ohh the devil is too powerful..

Go to Isaiah.
Isaiah 32:17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness
quietness and assurance for ever.

You know people say Oh Lord if you come tonight. Please make us acceptable. I dont know whether
I go? I just want to make heaven.
Then why did Jesus die? If after He died and we are still not acceptable then the redemption was a
failure.
They are being ignorant. The Bible tells us that in Philippians 3:20 that our citizenship is in heaven.
Dont you understand? You want to make heaven? No you wont make heaven. The only reason you
will go to heaven is because you are a citizen already. Its your place you cannot be stopped from
coming there. It belongs to you in Christ Jesusu. You are not going there because youve been qualified.
You are not going there because youve been so good. You are going there because you are born that
way. Thats your country.

and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.

There is assurance. There are people who say Nobody knows tomorrow. Anything can happen to
me. Dont say that! You are not ordinary. After the gift of righteousness? You are joking! You are
not a child of accident. You are not a child of chance. You are born with a purpose. You are born
with a plan in the mind of God. My tomorrows are ordered of the Lord. I am a victor for all the
tomorrows. Why I dont need to know tomorrow first so that I will plan for it is because no matter
what it is I am a victor. Paul said Ive learnt whatever state I am to be independent of circumstances.
Doesnt matter you are a winner.
Fear comes to people who dont know the word of God.

Eph 2:10 For

we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew]
that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths
which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He
prearranged and made ready for us to live].

Where does in assurance come from? We are to be living the life which He prearranged.

Jesus said In the volume of the book it is written of me. Lo I come to do thy will O God!
Its already written. The same thing with you. Your life has been fashioned for the glory of God.
Dont accept anything less.

Its a stupid thing to say The Lord

made me go through this thing so that
He might show His glory. Thats a
good excuse of your failures. When
your faith is not working you say The
Lord made me to go through.. I now
thank the Lord for what He made me
to go through so that I will know that
the Lord has .. ahhh!! You didnt
know?

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I pray to God when I pray I say Lord I dont want to pass through anything to find out. Let me find
it out from the Bible and correct myself.
The Bible says The righteous sees trouble a far off and takes the right way. But fools go on and are
destroyed. They may get into trouble and say The Lord brought me this way.

Jesus suffered for me so I dont see any reason for me to suffer so that I can get a better glory.
Someone said The Bible says mans days are full of trouble! So thats why Jesus came so that we
no longer have to live a life of a man but live the life of gods. We are partakers of the divine nature.
I dont understand these guys. Its religious. Its nice. We can comfort one another with these
things.

1 Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth,
though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of
Jesus Christ:
This suffering that the Bible talks about here is only persecution. Period!
Because He said that He will give us glory with persecutions.

Paul said I go through afflictions. I go through a lot of trials and troubles. He wasnt saying Well..
I go through a lot of afflictions I go through fire.. you know.. No! thats not what Paul is saying.
Hes telling you that these things give me the kicks of life. These mountains give me the kicks of
life.

He said When I am weak.. during the persecutions they whipped me and they think that theyve
broken me but when I am weak then I am strong that the glory of Christ may reach out through me.

Hes not talking about losing your job. Hes not talking about losing your money. Hes not talking
about being sick and dying. Thats not the suffering here. Hes talking about persecution trials
because of the Gospel. Everything else you ought to say no. Thank God for persecutions because
it proves that we are really serving Him.

If you are accused of being a Christian, will there be sufficient evidence to convict you?
My God let there be. Yes! Yes!!

1 Peter 1:7-9 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth,
though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of
Jesus Christ: (8) Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet
believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: (9) Receiving the end of your faith,
even the salvation of your souls.

Peter wondered about the new Christians who were among the Gentiles. Peter saw Jesus, he ate
with Him and went to His house and he walked with Christ 3 and a half years so it was easy for
Peter to say like John That which we have seen and heard. But these guys loved the Jesus theyve
not seen. This was so inspiring for Peter. 1 Peter 1:8-11 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom,
though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: (9)
Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. (10) Of which salvation the
prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come
unto you: (11) Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did
signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

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What should follow the sufferings of Christ? Glory! So Christ suffered so now its the glory that
should be. We are joint-heirs in Christ. We ought to prosper in Christ. I dont understand anybody
who preaches a Gospel of Jesus Christ and he says that he doesnt believe in prosperity. Thats
garbage!
If you believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ you ought to possess all things. That doesnt mean
having 10 houses. But so that your soul has the spirit of dominion. You are not suffering. Period!
You are living good enough to help somebody else. Amen!

When you say dont worry stay where you are. God will make a way where there is no way. Hes
going to open a door for you
The bible says Revelation 3:8 I put before you an open door which no man can shut. What are
you praying to open the door for? He already kicked the door open long time ago!

Effect of righteousness in stillness and assurance forever. In stillness and in assurance shall your
strength be.

You are born after the second and last Adam Jesus Christ. God loves you the same way He loves
Jesus. You cant make God love you more by your good living. He already loved you the same
way He loves Jesus and sent Him to die for you even when you were sinners. He considered you
valuable to be ransomed by the blood of His very Son because you are so precious to Him. Now
its by His faith you live. Its you that He wants and now He has given that life and His love to you
in full in Christ Jesus. You are the seed of Christ the 14th generation in Matthew 1:12-16 where
Christ is Jesus and the Church. (Isaiah 53:10 & Psalm 22:30)

John 17:19-23 (19) I have given myself completely for their sake, so that they may belong
completely to the truth. (20) I am not praying just for these followers. I am also praying for
everyone else who will have faith because of what my followers will say about me. (21) I want all
of them to be one with each other, just as I am one with you and you are one with me. I also want
them to be one with us. Then the people of this world will believe that you sent me. (22) I have
honored my followers in the same way that you honored me, in order that they may be one with
each other, just as we are one. (23) I am one with them, and you are one with me, so that they
may become completely one with us. Then this world's people will know that you sent me. They will
know that you love my followers as much as you love me.

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