Stop trying to be righteous. Start believing He has made you righteous.

Believers, put your trust in our Lord Jesus to protect you and also rid your life of sins and addictions. He came to save us from these things. He loves you. He will never condemn you. He will never tell you "Go and stop sinning first before I heal you or open doors for you." He never told all those sinners that received from Him in the four gospels to first go and stop sinning, do restitution, settle their quarrel with their spouse or return the money they stole (remember Zacchaeus the tax collector!) before He healed, fellowshipped with or provided for them! He is the same way today and forever!

Zacchaeus was a thief that stole from his own people, the worst of the worst kind, but Jesus sought him out to dine with him in his sinner state. In church today, we'd be telling such people to go and return what they have stolen or else Jesus will punish them! And they can't because they don't know that they have a Great Provider!

After his encounter with our Saviour Jesus, something changed in Zacchaeus. The Holy Spirit transformed him. Nobody had to tell him 'the right thing to do.' He DESIRED to give to the poor and return what he stole! He didn't have to 'try' to do the right thing. HE WANTED TO. He worked out his salvation "For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." Philippians 2:13.

Believers, this is the logic of heaven. With Christ, we don't give to get, we get to give! This is where many pastors and leaders miss it, telling believers that sin will stop God's grace from flowing in their lives when in fact it in God's grace that stops sin from flowing!

But this is not a license to sin as some say. Paul was accused of the same thing! God's grace is the key to a sin-free life! It is our Lord's gift of "Neither do I condemn you" that makes us "Go and sin no more." (works of faith!) Let's not put the cart before the horse!

If we could stop sinning and be righteous on our own (which the bible says we can't), we won't need Jesus to come and save us. Why clean your body with filthy rags (works done to get right with God or receive from Him) after Jesus' blood has washed you clean? You will get dirty all over again! This is why Paul said in Galatians 5:4 "For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace."

Let's unveil the love of Christ from the pulpit and the people will love. It is only the knowledge of this love that can make the church love. "We love because He first loved us." You won't do things to hurt people you love.

Because of our Saviour Jesus' finished work, we are forever righteous in our Heavenly Father’s eyes. Our righteousness has got nothing to do with what we do or don't do because we didn't earn it to begin with. It's a gift of love! We are righteous because "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Corinthians 5:21.

The way to lose this gift of righteousness is to start trying to be righteous by human effort (dead works) when Christ has made us righteous apart from your works. This is law-keeping. And since law and grace can't mix ( Jesus isn't in the business of saving people that can play their own part), many believers are under the law and experience symptoms of the curse.

Believers, stop trying (this is only possible by His grace so ask now!) Stop performing to be righteous. Start believing that He has made you righteous 100%. Confess your righteousness in Christ, even in the middle of your sins and addictions, and "all these things shall be added unto you" including the grace to overcome those sins and live right! 

You'll find yourself doing more in His name without knowing how. You'll find yourself unable to stop talking about our wonderful Lord Jesus when in the past, your pastor had to force you to go fishing for souls! You'll suddenly realise that you are no longer fearful. So much to say about our awesome Jesus! He is the Saviour. Let Him do the saving! He will never share His glory with anyone.

Believers, our Lord Jesus wants you to come as you are. With all your sins, addictions and burdens. He has made you righteous in Him. He wants to wash the dust off your feet. Our Lord God wants you to talk with Him as a child would talk to a loving father, about the little things and the big things. He wants you to ask Him things like what colour of dress to wear, what style of hair to make and even ask Him to make PHCN supply power so you can get a break from your neighbour's noisy generator:) If it matters to you, it matters to Him.

As the righteousness of God in Christ, the thoughts of His Spirit that dwells in us become our action. No longer us living but Christ that lives in us. We do His will without even knowing it. We reign in life:) This is Grace- undeserved, unmerited favour!

Believe Right and you will Live Right!