The Scepter Of Righteousness! By: James Lantz
The scriptures refer to both natural kings and the King of Kings as using a scepter in their rule! A scepter denotes of royal power or authority. When Mordecai charged Esther to make supplication before the king for her people she reminded him of the king’s law. Esther 4:11 All the king’s servants, and the people of the king’s provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days. A scepter is associated with a King and how he rules. The prophets spoke of the Lord God breaking the scepter of wicked rulers and referred to the kingdom of God as being ruled through righteousness. Heb. 1:8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Ps. 45:6 Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. Jesus said that we are not to exercise Lordship over one another like the Gentiles do but to serve one another in love. There is no one in the kingdom of God who is forced to be there or forced to serve God and others and yet Jesus
Love Rules Through Righteousness!
rules through righteousness. Before Jesus was crucified the soldiers mocked and taunted by putting a kingly robe on Him, and a crown of thorns on His head and a reed in His right hand as a scepter, and knelt before Him saying, Hail, King of the Jews. Jesus kept His mouth shut as a lamb being led to the slaughter, but they got meaner still by spitting on Him and hitting Him on the head with His scepter.
No one deserves nor could ever attain to becoming righteous in God’s sight, but thank God for the gift of righteousness through Jesus Christ! Rom. 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. The scriptures teach that if we have transgressed just one of God’s laws that we are guilty as if we have transgressed them all. All of us are in need of God’s grace because all of us have sinned and God has made grace (righteousness and all of God’s gifts) available in a manner that all could receive and that none could boast. The wisdom of God (God’s word) confounds the wise and decrees that men may receive the gift of righteousness (and all of God’s grace) through believing in their heart and speaking with their mouth. Rom. 10:6-10 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise . . . confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. If a christian sins (and we do) our righteousness becomes compromised and our fellowship with the Father has been broken. As long as we have not committed the sin unto death we are privileged to repent and return to the place of God’s favor by engaging the same spiritual laws in which we were first made righteous. That’s right, we must confess to the Father that we have sinned and believe in our heart that Jesus blood has cleansed us from this sin also and then we are back to that place of fellowship with our Heavenly Father. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Restored fellowship means we have regained access to all of God’s benefit’s and are presently qualified to walk in the full blessing of the Lord! Righteousness qualifies us to be a receiver of God’s grace! This is one reason that Jesus loves righteousness and hates iniquity. God’s greatest gift to fallen man was Jesus and His righteousness which included entrance into the Kingdom of God and eternal life. Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Walking in righteousness has many benefits and the devil hates it. 2 Tim. 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. The Holy Spirit through John says, If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him. Peter declared that everyone who fears God and does those things which are right are accepted by God! There is great peace for the righteous and thrones are established through righteousness. The righteous have favor and much treasure is in their house! The Lord will deliver a righteous man from all his afflictions and none of his bones will be broken. The righteous will never be forsaken and he will be delivered from death! Proverbs 10:2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death. The righteous mans children will be delivered! Proverbs 11:21 Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered. The prayers of the righteous are heard and no good thing will He withhold from those who love Him! 1 Pet. 3:12 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. 2 Cor. 1:20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. The righteous are bold as a lion and the scepter of righteousness is extended towards him as he comes before the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace to help in his time of need. Heb. 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Understanding God’s call and His purpose for making us kings and priests! The descendants of Abraham who were supernaturally delivered from Egyptian bondage are a type of us being powerfully delivered from satan’s kingdom. God had a higher purpose than just removing them from Egyptian bondage, He wanted them to experience living in a land that flowed with milk and honey! God did not just deliver us from death but He gave us His life. He has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son. We are ambassadors in this life and workers together with Him. We have been made sons of God and are one spirit with the Lord! We have been raised up from the dead with Christ and have been seated together with Christ at the Father’s right hand. Eph. 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: You have never heard of anyone else being seated in this high place of authority with Christ except for the redeemed of the Lord! Sadly, there are many, like the majority of that first generation who were delivered from Egyptian bondage, who turned back in their hearts and refused to believe to see the goodness of God. Some of us are like Joshua and Caleb, who believed they were not only delivered from something but they had been delivered to something. We are ruling and reigning in this life through an abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness by our Lord Jesus Christ. Rom. 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. The suffering that the Spirit of God is referring to here is not suffering from sickness or poverty because we have been redeemed from the curse of the law. This is the suffering of a good soldier who doesn’t get to do whatever he wants but only that in which he is commanded. 2 Tim. 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. The meek shall inherit the earth and those who are faithful will rule over cities in time to come.
God offers the gift of righteousness to all who desire to walk and work with Him! 2 Tim. 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
