Everything we’ve been learning is only knowledge unless we apply it. James 1:22-24 says, “Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don’t act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, or what they look like” (Message).
In other words, we’ve got to act on what we’ve learned.
The Amplified says, “But prove yourselves doers of the word [actively and continually obeying God’s precepts], and not merely listeners [who hear the word but fail to internalize its meaning], deluding yourselves [by unsound reasoning contrary to the truth]. For if anyone only listens to the word without obeying it, he is like a man who looks very carefully at his natural face in a mirror; but once he has looked at himself and gone away, he immediately forgets…“
Through this study, I’ve been encouraging you regarding your righteousness in Christ. Now I want to emphasize the actions required on your part to really seal these truths in your heart and help you LIVE OUT YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
STEP ONE
Without a doubt, step one (after believing the truths of your righteousness in Christ) must be the speaking part of faith. The Bible tells us life and death are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21) and we have what we say (Mark 11:23). So it’s very important to grasp this truth.
Have you ever been hard-pressed? perplexed? persecuted? struck down? Of course you have. We all have. But the Apostle Paul said although we’re hard-pressed, we’re NOT CRUSHED, we may be perplexed, BUT NOT IN DESPAIR, we may even be persecuted at times, BUT NOT FORSAKEN, struck down, BUT NOT DESTROYED (2 Corinthians 4:7-9).
But then Paul told us why we can have this kind of confidence and outcome. He said, “And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak” (verse 13). In other words, a spirit of faith can change the outcome of our circumstances.
But what is a SPIRIT OF FAITH? It’s believing and speaking. Let me show you. Jesus said in Mark 11:22-23, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.”
Jesus gave us a simple formula: 3 parts say and 1 part belief. This is why, if you keep believing negative things about yourself, your thoughts will never be reversed or overridden until you SAY SOMETHING DIFFERENT. A spirit of faith will say what God says (overriding what your thoughts or feelings may be saying).
Faith is built by the spoken word (faith comes by hearing and then is increased by saying and hearing again). Faith is actually defined as a firm belief in something for which there is no proof and this explains why people are weak in faith. If the devil can keep you quiet, he can keep you weak.
STEP TWO
You must continue to believe the truths of who you are in Christ.
The devil would like nothing more than to block or water down your understanding of righteousness. But if you will establish your roots in the knowledge of who are you in Christ (studying and meditating on it regularly), the devil will never win— no matter how hard a storm he blows your way.
Colossians 1:21-22 says, “And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight.” We’ve looked at these verses before. To be “holy, and blameless, and above reproach” describes your righteousness in Christ. But let’s keep reading…
Verse 23 says, “if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard…”
In other words, IF you continue in the FAITH (believing and speaking), you’ll remain grounded and steadfast. The New Living Translation says, “But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News.” You must continue to believe and speak your faith– especially regarding your righteousness in Christ.
STEP THREE
You’ll always have new opportunities to forgive yourself. DO IT.
In Mark 11:25 (which is tied to previous verses regarding faith), Jesus said, “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.”
The King James version says, “…if you have ought against any.” We don’t use this word very much anymore but the word ought means any little thing. So put yourself in this verse, because anyone includes you. If you have any little thing against yourself (regret, shortcoming, failure, whatever) forgive.
Mark Hankins said, “When we choose not to forgive, we burn the bridge over which we ourselves must pass.” In other words, Jesus is the bridge. Everything we need comes through Him. When we choose not to forgive, we block the flow of all that Christ can give us to help, strengthen, and empower us for victory. The devil doesn’t want you to forgive yourself. You will have to ignore that temptation and do it anyway.
LIVE OUT YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS
Living out your righteousness in Christ starts with an understanding of righteousness. And then it really is as simple as 1, 2, 3.
- Speak your faith (what God says, not what you think or feel)
- Continue in the faith (don’t lose what you’ve gained)
- Forgive often
