Transcription
Today with Joseph Prince. If you're in trouble, some sort of trouble that I said just now, you want to escape, you want God to deliver you. All day long confess, "I'm the righteousness of God in Christ." Let your mouth relate that. Let your mouth narrate that.
Most people don't care about the guy in the street, am I right? Or people you see in the papers. But when it's your own child, you feel it. Why? Love makes the difference.
Why does God hate sin in people's lives? You know, God can just say, "Forget it, let them go to hell." He can have that attitude, right? But God doesn't. God is love. He knows when a sparrow falls. The Bible says, Jesus says, even a sparrow that falls, God knows it. Are you not of more value than the sparrows?
So we can never understand God's love, which is so detailed. He's so powerful and so detailed. He numbers the hairs on your head. Isn't it amazing? Praise the Lord.
So here you go. This is what I believe. In the '90s, God was speaking to me about the fact that the gospel is in the stars. It's already there, but none of them say that this is what Abraham believed. In fact, all the commentaries that I've read said that Abraham counted the stars. But when you look at the word "safar," it's also the word "tell the story."
So I believe there's no point in saying, "Count the number of stars." Finally, after 4,000, he says, "Oh God, oh, there's so many." In fact, his descendants are much more than that, right? So God says, "Oh, you believe me? All right, you are justified."
No, it must be the gospel story. And how does our New Testament open up? With the story of a woman with a child, a virgin, right? Am I right? How does the New Testament end? In the Book of Revelation, the Conquering One. This baby is now the Conquering One, the coming King. He's coming again, and behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah.
So if you start, people really do not know how to start. The 12 constellations, where do you start? What the Bible tells you, you start with Virgo and end up with Leo. The New Testament, Matthew starts with the Virgin and ends with the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Amen.
Now, the blessing. I want to close with this phrase: "He believed in the Lord, and God counted it to him for righteousness." This is used in Galatians chapter 3. Oh, by the way, I'm going to show you in Galatians 3. Let me show you verse 8 first.
Okay, before I show you verse 8, look up here. Another proof: the Bible must always interpret the Bible. So just now, I shared with you what the Lord showed me in the '90s many years ago. And of course, you know, I think that people say, "Well, you know, yeah, the gospel and the stars and all that." But those people never said that what Abraham believed.
But this is what I believed. I'm telling you, Church, there's a verse that confirms that God preached the gospel to Abraham. It's found in Galatians. Drop down to verse 8.
And the scripture, the Old Testament scripture, obviously foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith—that's justification by faith—preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, "In you all the nations shall be blessed."
God preached the gospel of justification by faith. God told Abraham that in you, in Jesus, referring to the seed. Because you drop down to the verse now: "To Abraham and his seed were the promises made." He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, plural, but as of singular, one, "to your seed," who is Christ.
So God preached to Abraham, "From you will come the seed, the promised seed." And God preached the gospel. Anyone who believes, and in the night sky, last time, you know, before we had the Bible today, we don't have to look to the sky. You don't have to learn. Thank God we don't have to have a series on the 12 constellations.
Why? Because now we have the written Bible. If you have time, I don't have time, so I'm going to tell you right now. If you have time, Psalms 19, the first seven verses, I show you right. It starts with, "The heavens declare the glory of God." Right? Day unto day, it utters knowledge and all that.
Now, if you go all the way down, the six verses, it's talking about the sky, the stars, the sun. It's all about nature out there in space. But from verse 7 all the way to 14, sorry, verse 14, the end of Psalms 19, it talks about the word of God. The word of God, the word of God.
The law of the Lord is pure and enlightening the eyes. It's by the word of God. Why nature and then God's word? You know why? Long before God's word came, it was nature. It was out there. But today, we don't go to nature and sit down there and man say, "I wonder what is that? Is that the Conquering strong man, or is that I thought I saw the tail?" No, it was a shooting star. Okay, so don't worry about that anymore. Am I right?
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Now, how to be blessed? Very simple. I'll leave this with you. Go back to the very start, verse 5. God, who supplies the Spirit to you, like what He did just now and what He's doing for the rest of the services today and what He's doing for you at home, as well as in GRC, all those who are watching. God has no time barrier. God lives outside time, and God can heal right where you are. Amen.
I see that today, especially after watching that video. God told me right after the video, "People are going to receive their miracles." So I thought I'll just pack up and go back, you know, because it's a very short service then. But God has His ways. Amen.
So here it says, "God who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you." Does God do it by the works of the law, by you keeping the Ten Commandments, or by the hearing of faith? Which is it? The hearing of faith. Just as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
Abraham believed God. It was clear. This is from Genesis 15. Therefore, know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. Then we come to verse 8. We read just now that God would justify, God foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles, the non-Jews, you and I, by faith. We are all justified by faith.
And that's why God preached the gospel to Abraham: "In you all the nations shall be blessed." Even in the natural, right? The descendants of Abraham are the Jewish people. But the greatest Jew of all is Jesus Christ, God's Son, God in human flesh. But He lived as a man, anointed by the Spirit.
And today, there's a man in glory at the Father's right hand. How to be blessed? Watch this, verse 9. So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. Go back again, look at verse 8. What is the subject in verse 8? That God would justify by faith. God would justify by faith. Do you see that?
So the subject is justification is by faith, not by your works anymore. I said justification is by faith, not by your works anymore. Okay, real quick, Romans 4. Romans 4. What then shall we say that Abraham, our father, has found according to the flesh?
For if Abraham was justified by works, by what he did, he has something to boast about, but not before God. What does the scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. What is this belief?
Drop down now. To him who works, the wages are not counted as grace, but that if you work for it, God doesn't give it to you based on what He owes you. Rather, grace. If you work for something, God cannot give it to you by grace, unearned, undeserved favor. He has to give it to you based on debt, and God is adapted to no man.
So to him who works, the reward, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, work to be right with God—not having a profession.
Okay, I hope you understand that. But to him who does not work, that means what? Work to get into God's favor, work to be right with God. To him who does not work but believes, like Abraham did, on God who justifies not the godly but the ungodly.
Now that faith, his faith, is counted for righteousness. So how can a holy, righteous God justify the ungodly? God, who said, "I'll by no means pass by the transgression of people." All right? God's eyes, Habakkuk says, are purer eyes than to behold evil.
How can a holy God bypass all that man's sin and then justify the ungodly? And God says, "If you believe that, I will justify the ungodly. I will justify you." Amen. Your faith is counted for righteousness.
Now, let me treat you from then on as a righteous man. How can God do that? Only on one basis alone: the cross of Jesus Christ. Because at the cross, His Son died as our substitute. At the cross, Jesus bore your sins. At the cross, Jesus was judged in your place.
So God's judgment fell on Jesus, and at the cross, Jesus gave us His righteousness. Divine exchange. He took our sins; we take His righteousness before God. So now, on that basis, the Christ, holy God, who cannot pass by one sin, put all our sins on Jesus Christ at the cross, and He was judged, condemned, and cursed at the cross on our behalf, the Bible tells us.
So that we now receive His righteousness, and we get what we don't deserve. Jesus got what He didn't deserve. Now we get what we don't deserve: favor, blessings, prosperity, longevity, the power for well-being in every area of our life.
And it's hard for some people to take because people are always trying to get some glory. They always want to do something. They always want to do something. Friend, even if you think that the work of Jesus is 98% and yours is 2%, you still cannot give Him the glory because your 2% will always make you feel like you have a part to play.
No, it's "Worthy is the Lamb," not "Worthy is the Lamb and me." So friend, hallelujah, this is the good news. How to be blessed? Those who are of faith, go back again, go back again to Galatians. Those who are of faith, what faith? Those who believe they are justified by faith are blessed with believing Abraham.
For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse. So those who are of faith are blessed. Those who are of the works, they even say those who break the law, mind you. But those who are of the works, the moment you take your ground on, "Well, I believe that we got to obey," all right, try our best not to disobey.
No, morality is important. But when you live by faith, you believe that you are the righteousness of God in Christ. Morality is a fruit. But here, you will end up under the curse because the moment you take that position, God says, "You must keep all the law."
No such thing as doing your best. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse. For it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them."
You choose: you want to be under the law or under grace? Amen. Abraham is under grace. Now, therefore, we confess, "I'm the righteousness of God in Christ." A few weeks ago, I shared about the man who was watching pornography, always in his car. That's how he hides from his wife and all that.
Of course, later on, the wife found out about it, but he was still watching pornography and all that. And how did he find victory? By confessing, "I am the righteousness of God in Christ." It was very hard for him to do that, but he started confessing while watching. He was confessing, "I'm the righteousness of God in Christ."
And one day, he found that desire no more to watch it. It just fell off. By the time the wife shared the story, I think it was about six years. It's been six years. Then she starts sharing the story of her husband. Her husband and she are now serving in church—not this church; it was in Texas. This story happened, and they're rejoicing.
True deliverance, when you confess, "I'm the righteousness of God in Christ." Recently, the Lord spoke to me, and the Lord says to me, "You know, son," He was encouraging me. I was quite—not discouraged, but it's like I'm thinking to myself, you know, people are thinking that Pastor Prince, you like to preach a lot on righteousness, the righteousness of God by faith, or "I'm the righteousness of God by faith."
I'm the righteousness of God by faith. Everything I hear is righteousness. It's almost like it's true. I don't hear many people emphasizing the gospel, which is what's the gospel? Justification by faith. Abraham heard that from God first. Amen.
Then God gave it to Paul. We are justified by faith, not by our works. And then I got a bit down because, you know, I need confirmation, Lord. And the Lord gave me a fresh confirmation. Would you like me to share with you? Yes, and with that, we'll close.
Okay, supposing you're in trouble, whether it's a disease attacking you today. Our enemies are no more physical, but whether it's a disease attacking you, sickness, or whether it is lack, financial lack, whatever it is, a debt. You know, your ARS are pursuing you. Your debtors are—your creditors are after you.
And you've been attacked. In those days, for David, it was a real enemy. So in Psalm 71, he says this: "In you, O Lord, I put my trust. Let me never be put to shame. Deliver me in your righteousness and cause me to escape. Incline your ear to me and save me."
Now, how does God deliver him? In righteousness. Now, this is the psalm that God gave me. I'm sure I've read this before, but I was needing some encouragement. "Lord, you know, is this the path?" Because I don't hear too many preachers preaching on righteousness by faith.
There's an army now, praise God, all over the world preaching the gospel of grace. But still, I find that sometimes a lone voice. And this is what He brought me to: How did I bring David out of his trouble? How did he escape? What caused him to escape? He cried out, "Deliver me in your righteousness."
But how, Pastor Prince? Same psalm, drop down. "My mouth shall tell of your righteousness and your salvation all the day." The word "my mouth shall tell" is "safar." My mouth will tell the story of your righteousness. My mouth will narrate, will recount your righteousness—not man's righteousness, your righteousness that comes to men as a gift.
The Bible says today righteousness is a gift to be received. So God showed me this: "My mouth shall tell of your righteousness and your salvation all the day." And God says, "This is what's happening with your people. All day long, they talk about, 'I'm the righteousness of God in Christ,' and they talk about your salvation."
Here is who, in Hebrew, salvation is Jesus. Jesus' name, Yeshua. Isn't this our story? If it's not, it should be. All day, if you're in trouble, some sort of trouble, like I said just now, you want to escape, you want God to deliver you.
All day long, confess, "I'm the righteousness of God in Christ." Let your mouth relate that. Let your mouth narrate that. Let your mouth tell of His righteousness, not yours. Your righteousness.
"My mouth shall speak of your righteousness and your salvation all the day." I do not know their limits. I love the NIV. NIV says, "I can't even begin to describe it. Words cannot even describe it."
Okay, then you know what's going to happen when you confess God's righteousness in your mouth. When you say, "I'm the righteousness of God in Christ," watch this. The next thing that happens: "I will go in the strength of the Lord." God, you become strong physically.
You become strong physically. There was a time I was feeling fatigued and tired and all that, you know, for a few days. And I said, "This is not, you know, something good." You know, I think God to give me strength. He gave me this verse.
It was a time of seeking the Lord, and God says, "If you want to go in my strength." By the way, the strength here is plural in Hebrew. It's great strength. "I will go in the strength." How many go in the strength of the Lord? Well, make mention of His righteousness all day long, and His salvation is Jesus all day long.
And you will go in the strength of the Lord. Again, He says, "I'll make mention of your righteousness." Of yours only. It was like God is saying, "You think you are the one emphasizing it?" David did that a long time ago. What an encouragement!
And you know how this entire psalm ends? And we end the service with this—not end the service and my message. Such joy when they hear I'm ending it. You know how this entire psalm ends? Like this: This is the last verse.
"My tongue," let's all read together, "my tongue also shall talk of your righteousness all the day long." What happened to all your enemies, to your diseases, to your financial lack, to your depression that come against you? They are confounded. They are brought to shame who seek my hurt.
All the powers of darkness, they all flee. They are confounded when all day long you confess, "I am the righteousness of God in Christ." It was like a voice from Heaven encouraging me, "Son, don't think you're the only one. The man after my heart, David, he confessed my righteousness all day long. And when you do it, your enemies be confounded."
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! Every head bowed, every eye closed, all across this place. Friend, 2,000 years ago, God sent His Son who died on the cross for your sins and mine. And that's where the divine exchange took place.
That's where you receive His righteousness because He received your sins, your curses, your judgment. That was meant for you fell on Jesus. And God, who is holy today, cannot punish the same sin, the same crime twice.
So wherever you are right now, friend, you say, "Pastor, pray for me. I want this Jesus to be my personal Savior and Lord. I want to become the righteousness of God in Christ." The Bible says those who are of this faith are blessed with believing Abraham.
Abraham lived 175 years old. The Bible says he was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold. The Bible tells us his wife's beauty was renewed when she was 90 years old. Even a king, a heathen king, wanted her for his harem.
And the Bible says this phrase at the end: "The Lord had blessed Abraham in all things." That means in all areas of his life. The Bible says those who are of faith are blessed. Believers, right now, ask yourself, "Am I living in this faith? Am I actively declaring, 'I'm the righteousness of God in Christ?'"
Doesn't have to be out loud. In fact, the last verse says, "My mouth shall tell." It's the word "hagga." My mouth shall speak. The last verse says "ha," instead of "safar." Part is the earlier part, but the last verse actually uses the word "haggah," which is meditate.
You can mutter softly under your voice that you are the righteousness of God in Christ. Amen. And for those who do not know Jesus as your Savior and Lord, I want to lead you in this prayer right now.
Say, "Heavenly Father, Christ died for my sins, and He rose from the dead without them. Hallelujah! The work is finished. All my sins are put away. I'm greatly forgiven, forgiven of all my sins, past, present, and future, because Jesus Christ is my Lord. Thank you, Father. In Jesus' name, amen."
Stand to your feet. Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Christians, your assignment is very simple. All day confess throughout this week, "I'm the righteousness of God in Christ." Amen.
Give them the last verse one more time. Give them the last verse. Yeah, the word "talk" is actually "haggah" here. The last verse, if we have "haggah." "Haggah" means to mutter. So even when you're in a public place, say, "I'm the righteousness of God in Christ."
When you are discouraged, "I'm the righteousness of God in Christ." Amen. When you're tempted, "I'm the righteousness of God in Christ." And even when you fail, when you sin, "I'm the righteousness of God in Christ." Your enemies will be confounded, and you will go in the strength of the Lord. Amen.
Lift your hands all across this place. The Lord bless you and your families. The Lord make His face shine on you and be favorable to you and your loved ones. The Lord lift up His countenance on every single one of you and grant to you and your loved ones His shalom peace.
May you be at the right place at the right time. God keeps you, protects you, preserves you from all dangerous harm, sickness, accidents, from all evil. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and all the people said it, amen. Amen. God bless you. You're dismissed.
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