Tonight's Lesson: 

Click here for a printable copy

A Key to Breakthrough: 
Seeking First His Righteousness 

Seek Righteousness

• There is a blessing for those who have sought and continue to seek His Righteousness.

Matthew 6:33 (KJV) ³³  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Zephaniah 2:3 (ESV) ³  Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the LORD. 

Matthew 5:6 (KJV) ⁶  Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

• His righteousness is found in Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (KJV) 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.

• His righteousness is obtained by faith.

Romans 4:3-9 (TEV) ³  The scripture says, "Abraham believed God, and because of his faith God accepted him as righteous."
⁴  A person who works is paid wages, but they are not regarded as a gift; they are something that has been earned.
⁵  But those who depend on faith, not on deeds, and who believe in the God who declares the guilty to be innocent, it is this faith that God takes into account in order to put them right with himself.
⁶  This is what David meant when he spoke of the happiness of the person whom God accepts as righteous, apart from anything that person does:
⁷  "Happy are those whose wrongs are forgiven, whose sins are pardoned!
⁸  Happy is the person whose sins the Lord will not keep account of!"
⁹  Does this happiness that David spoke of belong only to those who are circumcised? No indeed! It belongs also to those who are not circumcised. For we have quoted the scripture, "Abraham believed God, and because of his faith God accepted him as righteous." 

Romans 10:4 (KJV) ⁴  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

Romans 10:10 (KJV) ¹⁰  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Galatians 3:6-11 (KJV) ⁶  Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
⁷  Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
⁸  And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
⁹  So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
¹⁰  For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
¹¹  But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 

• His righteousness is obtained through repentance.

Acts 2:38 (ESV) ³⁸  And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 3:19 (ESV) ¹⁹  Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,

• His righteousness is retained through confession.

1 John 1:9 (KJV) ⁹  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Proverbs 28:13 (KJV) ¹³  He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.  

Revelation 3:19 (KJV) ¹⁹  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Acts 8:21-22 (KJV) ²¹  Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
²²  Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

• His righteousness is retained through continual lighted course corrections.

1 John 1:7 (KJV) ⁷  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 

2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV) ¹⁶  All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

The Benefits of His righteousness in Prayer

• Those who seek and find His righteousness have an audacity in prayer.

Proverbs 28:1 (KJV) ¹  The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion. 

Isaiah 54:14-17 (KJV) 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.
¹⁵  Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.
¹⁶  Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.
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.

• Those who seek and find His righteousness get an audience in prayer.

1 Peter 3:12 (KJV) ¹²  For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

Proverbs 15:29 (KJV) ²⁹  The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous. 

• Those who seek and find His righteousness get an answer in prayer.

James 5:16 (KJV) ¹⁶  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.

John 15:5 (ESV) ⁵  I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

John 15:7 (KJV) ⁷  If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

Isaiah 58:8-10 (ESV) ⁸  Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
⁹  Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
¹⁰  if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. 

Psalm 5:12 (NIV) ¹²  For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.