WAKE-UP CALL: Part 5 – Come out of Babylon! HEAR THE WORD, UNDERSTAND IT and BEAR FRUIT – RIGHTEOUSNESS as defined by the WORD

28 November 2025

We are proceeding in our study on what Yeshua our Messiah explained in His PARABLE on the SOWER and the SEED in Matthew 13:1-23 (also read Mark 4:1-20 and Luke 8:4-15). And we are still focusing on THOSE BELIEVERS WHO SUCCEED TO COME OUT OF BABYLON because they are able to:

HEAR the MESSAGE, the GOOD NEWS of the KINGDOM of YHVH, UNDERSTAND it and BEAR FRUIT, a HUNDRED or SIXTY or THRITY TIMES what was sown.

We commenced speaking on what the WORD teaches us on RIGHTEOUSNESS, specifically through the examples of NOAH and LOT in the respective times that they lived in since Yeshua our Messiah told us that He will come again in a time SIMILAR to theirs. Read Luke 17:26-30. But before we learn more about RIGHTEOUSNESS from the lives of NOAH and LOT, we are studying RIGHTEOUSNESS as defined in the broader context of the WORD of Abba Father.

Yeshua our Messiah further explains in Matthew chapter 6 the importance of: being HUMBLE, especially when we GIVE to the NEEDY and when we PRAY and FAST, to FORGIVE others as we are FORGIVEN by the FATHER and not to STORE UP WEALTH for us on the EARTH but rather to STORE UP TREASURES in HEAVEN because where our treasures are, there will our hearts also be and we should avoid SERVING MONEY as a master over our lives because we as BELIEVERS don’t need to be WORRIED and ANXIOUS about LIFE in terms of what we should EAT or DRINK or WEAR as clothes, because our HEAVENLY FATHER knows we need it. And then Yeshua concludes with this IMPORTANT statement in Matthew 6:33 “But SEEK FIRST HIS (ABBA FATHER’s) KINGDOM and HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS (meaning like John said in 1^st John 3:22, KEEP HIS COMMANMDNETS and DO what PLEASE HIM, therefore, DO WHAT is RIGHT, PURE and HOLY in accordance to HIS WORD), and ALL THESE THINGS (meaning everything you need to live – physically and spiritually) WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU AS WELL. Thus highlighting the IMPORTANCE of LIVING a RIGHTEOUSS LIVE.

Isaiah gives us insight on what RIGHTEOUSS LIVING entails and the BENEFITS thereof in terms of ETERNAL LIFE in the coming KINGDOM of GOD in Isaiah 33 and in verses 15-16 we read: “He whose LIFE is RIGHT and whose SPEECH is STRAIGHT, he who scorns (disdains, disregard) getting rich by distortion (falsehood, misrepresentation) he who shakes his hands FREE of bribes, stops his ears against talk of bloodshed (violence, slaughter, murder) and shuts his eyes against LOOKING at evil (wicket, sinful, criminal, immoral, foul things). SUCH a person will LIVE on the heights, his REFUGE a FROTRESS among the cliffs, his FOOD and WATER in STEADY supply.

And in verses 17 and 20 we further read about the eternal benefits of a person whose LIFE is RIGHT (living in righteousness as defined by Abba Father’s Word): “Your EYES will SEE the KING in HIS BEAUTY, they will GAZE on a LAND stretching into the distance (alluding to the Promised Land in Eternity, living with God as the KING). Look at Tziyon (Zion), the CITY of our FESTIVALS; your EYES will SEE JERUSALEM (alluding to the NEW JERUSALEM) a secure (safe) abode (dwelling place). A TENT  that will not be removed , whose pegs will never be pulled out and whose guy-ropes will not be cut (unlike the earthly TABERNACLE which was a TENT, the NEW JERUSALEM will be a DWELLING PLACE of GOD THE FATHER and YESHUA the LAMB FOREVER, and GOD ALMIGHTY and YESHUA the LAMB will be the TEMPLE read Revelation 21:22). Also read Hebrews 12:22-24.

David asks in Psalm 15:1-5: “YHVH, who can REST in Your TENT? Who can LIVE on YOUR HOLY MOUNTAIN?” And then comes the answer:

• Those who LIVE a BLAMELESS (innocent, virtuous, righteous) LIFE, who BEHAVE UPRIGHTLY (decent, honest) Psalm 15:2a.

• Who SPEAK TRUTH from their HEARTS (Psalm 15:2b).

• And KEEP their TONGUES from SLANDER (insult/ rudeness, defamation/ smear/ denouncement/ denigration/ belittling/ vilification/ criticism/ backbiting/ infighting); who NEVER DO HARM to others (meaning keeping the commandments, read Romans 13:8-10) or seek to DISCREDIT (dishonor) your neighbors (Psalm 15:3).

• Who look with scorn (contempt, dislike) on the vile (awful, abominable/ repulsive/ horrible), but honor those who FEAR YHVH (Psalm 15:4a).

• Who HOLD ON TO AN OATH (promise, pledge), NO MATTER THE COST (Psalm 15:4b).

• Who REFUSE USURY (overcharging) when they LEND MONEY and REFUSE a BRIBE to damage the innocent (Psalm 15:5a).

And David ends Psalm 15 in verse 5b saying: “Those who DO these things never will be moved (shaken).

And in Psalm 106:3 David says: “How happy (content, joyful) are those who ACT JUSTLY, who ALWAYS DO what is RIGHT!

And we further read in Isaiah 33:21-22 and 24 “But there in HIS SPENDOUR YHVH will be with us, in a place of rivers and broad streams. But no boat with oars will go there, no majestic ship will pass by. For YHVH is our JUDGE, YHVH is our LAWGIVER, YHVH is our KING, He will SAVE us…No inhabitant will say, ‘I am ill’; the people living there will be FORGIVEN their sin.” This corresponds with Revelation chapters 21-22. Also read 1^st Corinthians 15:24-28.

And in Ezekiel 18:4 YHVH said to Ezekiel: “Look, ALL LIVES BELONG TO ME – both the parent’s life and the child’s life are equally MINE – so it is the person who sins, himself, who must die.” And in verses 5-9 He explains: “Consider someone who is RIGHTEOUS, WHO DOES what is LAWFUL (permitted according to God’s LAWS as summed up in the TEN COMMANDMENTS in Exodus 20) and RIGHT”:

• He doesn’t eat on the mountains (referring to the person not worshiping other small letter gods) or raise his eyes to the idols of the HOUSE of ISRAEL (the idols worshiped by the TEN TRIBES under Ephraim and is still today worshipped by them while being integrated in the nations until they are called by Abba Father) Ezekiel 18:6a. (Referring to Commandment 1-4: you may not worship other small letter gods, may not make idols and bow down in front of them and are to keep God’s name holy and keep the Sabbath, Exodus 20:3-11).

• He doesn’t DEFILE his neighbor’s wife (referring to Commandment 7: you shall not commit ADULTERY, Exodus 20:14) or touch a women during her menstrual impurity (Leviticus 18:19). Read Ezekiel 18:6b (Also read Matthew 5:27-29 and 32, Matthew 15:19 and 19:9 and 18-9, Luke 16:18 and 18:20, Mark 7:21 and 10:1-19, Romans 13:9 , Hebrews 13:4 and James 2:11).

• He doesn’t WRONG (or harm) anyone. Ezekiel 18:7a (Also read Romans 13:10 and Matthew 7:12 where Yeshua tells us to treat people the same way you want them to treat you corresponding to love your neighbor/ other people as yourself).

• He RETURNS any pledged property a debtor has given as collateral (security, warranty) for a loan; he TAKES NOTHING by robbery but GIVES his FOOD to the HUNGRY and CLOTHING to THOSE who NEED it; he neither DEMANDS nor RECEIVES interest on a LOAN (this has to do with loans to poor people, read Exodus 22:25. (It refers to Commandment 8: you shall not STEEL, Exodus 20:15). Also read Matthew 15:19 and 19:9, 18-19, Luke 16:18 and 18:20, Mark 7:21 and 10:1-19) Ezekiel 18:7b-8a.

• He REFRAINS (abstains, withdraws) from what is evil (wicked, sinful, immoral) Ezekiel 18:8b.

• He judges honestly (fairly, justly, honorably) between one person and another (Ezekiel 18:8c). Also read Deuteronomy 1:16, Zechariah 8:16, John 7:24 and 1 Corinthians 6:2-3).

We know from Matthew 7:1-2 that we may not judge people as we will be judged by God in the same way we judge others. So what I understand from this is that FAIR JUDGEMENT between people is based on the LAW and GUIDELINES of GOD’s WORD as indicated in Genesis to Deuteronomy and summed up in the TEN COMMANDMENS. But JUDGEMENT must start with ourselves. We must first ENSURE that we are in line with God’s requirements BEFORE we judge another people, hence Yeshua’s words in Matthew 7:1-5 of removing FIRST the plank from our own eye, then we will be able to see clearly to remove the splinter from someone else’s eye. Paul also warns us about this in Romans 2:1 because as fleshly people, we often “see” the faults of others and judge them on it, while we tend to overlook our own faults, many times faults similar to those we judge in others. We are therefore called to RIGHTEOUSS, HONEST (fair and just) JUDGEMENT between people enabling us to resolve matters of contention. ALWAYS ensuring our own behavior is in line with Abba Father’s LAW of LOVE, HIS TEN COMMANDMENTS and executing our JUDGEMENTS in LOVE in accordance to the guidelines in 1st Corinthians 13.

• And YHVH then says in Ezekiel 18:9 “In short, he LIVES ACCORDING TO MY LAWS and OBSERVES MY RULINGS, so as to ACT FAITHFULLY (dependably, loyally, authentically). Such a person is RIGHTEOUS, and he WILL CERTAINLY LIVE.”

Paul confirmed this in 2^nd Corinthians 6:14 saying that RIGHTEOUSNESS has NO partnership with LAWLESSNESS (with other words there is no place in the life of a righteous person for TRANSGRESSION of THE LAW of GOD) just as LIGHT has NO fellowship with DARKNESS (meaning the TWO cannot exist at the same time or at the same place!)

Isaiah tells us in Isaiah 64:6 “All of us are like someone UNCLEAN (impure, contaminated, filthy), and all our RIGHTEOUS DEEDS like menstrual (filthy) rags. We wither, all of us, like leaves; and our misdeeds (transgressions, wrongdoings) blow us away like the wind.”

WE know that this means WITHOUT YESHUA our MESSIAH’s RIGHTEOUSNESS, obtained as a FREE GIFT due to HIS BLOOD sprinkled for us on the MERCY SEAT of the ARK of the COVENANT (read Hebrews chapter 9) our RIGHTEOUS DEEDS in trying to KEEP the LAW is futile, because we will NEVER BE ABLE TO DO it without FALLING from time to time in accidental (unintentional, unplanned) sin and NEEDING to DO REPENTANCE.

As explained to us in 1^st John 1:1-10 to 2:1-2 describing YESHUA the MESSIAH as: “The (capital letter) WORD, which GIVES LIVE! …This LIVE appeared and we have seen it. We are testifying to it and announcing it to you – (as) ETERNAL LIFE! He was with the FATHER and HE appeared to us (the disciples). What we have seen and heard, we are proclaiming to you; so that you too may have FELLOWSHIP with us. Our FELLOWSHIP is with THE FATHER and with HIS SON, YESHUA THE MESSIAH…And this is the message we have heard from Him (from Yeshua the Messiah) and proclaim to you: GOD IS LIGHT, and there is no darkness in Him – NONE! If we claim to have FELLOWSHIP with HIM while we are WALKING in darkness, we are LYING and NOT LIVING OUT THE TRUTH. But IF WE ARE WALKING IN THE LIGHT, as HE is in the LIGHT, then we have FELLOWSHIP with each other, and THE BLOOD OF HIS SON YESHUA PURIFIES US FROM ALL SIN. If we claim not to have sin, we are DECEIVING ourselves, and THE TRUTH is not in us. IF we ACKNOWLEDGE (admit and confess) our sins (plead guilty to it/ doing repentance/ teshuvah in Hebrew), then, since HE IS TRUSTHWORTHY and JUST, HE WILL FORGIVE them and PURIFY us from ALL WRONGDOING. If we claim we have not been sinning, we are making HIM out to be a liar, and HIS WORD IS NOT IN US. My children, I am writing you these things SO THAT YOU WON’T SIN. But IF anyone DOES SIN (by accident, unintentional, unplanned), we have YESHUA the MESSIAH, the TZADDIK (THE RIGHTEOUS ONE), WHO pleads our cause with THE FATHER (read Hebrews chapter 7). Also, HE is the kapparah (the COVERING/ THE ATONEMENT –  the BLOOD sprinkled on the MERCY SEAT on our behalf, COVERING THE LAW IN THE ARK OF THE COVENANT) for our sins – and not only for ours, but also for those of the WHOLE WORLD (read John 3:16).

Then John proceeds in 1^st John 2:3-6 ”The way we can be SURE we KNOW HIM is IF WE OBEY HIS COMMANDS. Anyone who says: ’I know Him’ but isn’t OBEYING HIS COMMANDS is a LIAR – THE TRUTH is not in him. But IF someone KEEPS DOING what HE SAYS, then TRULY LOVE FOR GOD has been brought to its goal in him. THIS IS HOW WE ARE SURE THAT WE ARE UNITED WITH HIM. A person who claims to be continuing in UNION WITH HIM ought to CONDUCT his LIFE the WAY HE (YESHUA THE MESSIAH) DID. “

The Complete Jewish Study Bible – Insight for Jews and Christians explains: John writes about the RELATIONSHIP of a believer to sinful acts and the sinful nature and he provides a threefold message: 1). There is an absolute call to PUT AWAY SIN; 2) It is impossible to LIVE without SINNING accidentally from time to time; 3). A believer must persevere in the BATTLE AGIANST SINNING. ACKNOWLEDGING sin is not merely a verbal transaction but is also TESHUVAH (REPENTANCE), as a person FULLY TURNS AWAY from his sin. AUTHENTIC (genuine heartfelt) REPENTANCE (with sorrow, regret, remorse) IS ESSENTIAL FOR TRUE FORGIVENESS. There is a difference between GIVING MENTAL ASSENT (agreement, acceptance) to YESHUA’s MESSIAHSHIP (acknowledging Him as your SAVIOR and REDEEMER/ RESCUER) and KNOWING HIM.

Yeshua said in John 14:15 and 21 as well as John 15:10 and 14 “IF YOU LOVE ME, YOU WILL KEEP MY COMMANDS” and thus “YOU WILL STAY IN MY LOVE.” As John said in 1^st John 2:5b “This is how we are UNITED with HIM”, answers the question about the “eternal security of the believer” discussed in Hebrews 6:4-6. The MARK of a BELIEVER is OBEDIENCE TO GOD’s INSRUCTIONS (Matthew 5:17-20). To REJECT GOD’s INSTRUCTIONS demonstrates that one has NEVER come to have AUTHENTIC (genuine) TRUST (faith, believe, hope) in HIM.

We already see the IMPORTANCE of FAITH in GOD as a PREREQUISITE of our RIGHTEOUSNESS in Genesis 15:6 indicating that Abraham BELIEVED what YHVH said and He counted it to Abraham as RIGHTEOUSNESS. Paul later explained it in Romans 4:3 by emphasizing the IMPORTANCE of FAITH in God as part of our RIGHTEOUSNESS. It makes sense because we know that without FAITH, defined as TRUST and HOPE in God, we can have NO RELATIONSHIP with Him and we cannot PLEASE HIM (read Hebrews 11:6).

Paul explains this RIGHT LIVING with BOTH COMPONENTS as PICTURED in the ARK OF THE COVENANT –THE MERCY of GOD through YESHUA THE MESSIAH and OBEDIENCE TO GOD THE FATHER;s LAWS and RULINGS in mind in Ephesians 4:17-32 as follows:

• In UNION with YESHUA the MESSIAH strip off your OLD NATURE and keep on RENEWING your SPIRIT and MIND (Ephesians 4:17-23).

• CLOTHE (dress) yourself with the NEW NATURE created to be godly, which expresses itself in the RIGHTEOUSNESS (virtue, morality, justice, decency, uprightness, honesty, blamelessness) and HOLINESS (sanctity, sacredness/ purity, consecration/ sanctification/ dedication, devoutness/ zeal/ enthusiasm) that flow from THE TRUTH (the WORD of GOD) Ephesians 4:24.

Job also understood this saying in Job 29:14 “I CLOTHED (dressed) myself with RIGHTEOUSNES, and it CLOTHES ITSELF with me; my JUSTICE (fairness, impartiality/ objectivity) was like a ROBE (a coat/ mantle) and a CROWN.”

We read a PRAYER for the HOUSE of GOD in Psalm 132 in verse 9a namely: “May Your cohanim (priests) be CLOTHED (dressed) with RIGHTEOUSNESS.

And in Isaiah 61 we read about the YEAR of YHVH’s FAVOR and in verse 10 it says: “I am so JOYFUL in YHVH! MY SOUL (heart and mind) REJOICES in my GOD, for HE has CLOTHED (dress) me in SALVATION (redemption, deliverance/ freedom) DRESSED me with a ROBE (a coat or mantle) of TRIUMPH (victory), like a BRIDEGROOM wearing a FESTIVE TURBAN (head covering), like a BRIDE adorned (decorated) with her jewels.”

And in Ephesians 6:14 Paul teaches us that RIGHTEOUSNESS is part of the ARMOUR of GOD that believers have to PUT ON. We read here: “Therefore, STAND! Have the BELT OF TRUTH (that is the WORD of GOD) BUCLED AROUND YOUR WAIST, PUT ON RIGHTEOUSNESS for a BREASTPLATE (meaning, put on RIGHTEOSNESS as a protective covering for your heart).” This is exactly what Proverbs 4:23 also tells us: “Above everything else, guard your HEART (your thoughts and emotions) for it is the SOURCE of LIFE’s CONSEQUENCES (the NIV says: “for everything you do flows from it”).

And in Revelation 3:17-19 Yeshua the Messiah explains to the community of Laodicea “For you keep saying, ‘I am rich, I have gotten rich, I don’t need a thing! You don’t know that you are the one wretched (shameful), pitiable, poor, blind and NAKED (unclothed, undressed)! My advice to you is to BUY FROM ME GOLD, REFINED BY FIRE, so that you MAY BE RICH ; and WHITE CLOTHING so that you may be DRESSED and not have to be ASHAMED of your NAKEDNESS, and EYESALVE to rub on your eyes, so that you may SEE. As for ME, I REBUKE and DISICPLINE EVERYONE I LOVE; so exert yourselves (make a mental and physical effort), and TURN from your sins!”

In Isaiah 32 we read about the KINGDOM of RIGHTEOUSNESS (alluding to the THOUSAND YEAR REIGN of the MESSIAH) and in Isaiah 32:15-17 saying: “till the (capital letter) Spirit is poured out on us from ABOVE (also read Joel 2:28), and the desert becomes a fertile field, with the fertile field regarded as a forest, Then JUSTICE will dwell in the desert, and RIGHTEOUSNESS abide in the FERTILE FIELD. The EFFECT of RIGHTEOUSNESS will be PEACE; the RESULT of RIGHTEOUSNESS, QUIET TRUST FOREVER.”

James explains it in James 3:13-18, saying in verse 13 “Who among you is WISE and UNDERSTANDING? Let him DEMONSTRATE it by his GOOD WAY OF LIFE, by ACTIONS done in humility (humbleness, meekness) that grows out of WISDOM (understanding and knowledge of the WORD of GOD). And we further read in verses 17-18 “…the WISDOM form ABOVE (the knowledge and understanding we receive through the Holy Spirit) is, first of all, PURE (clean), then PEACEFUL, KIND (caring, gentle), OPEN TO REASON, FULL OF MERCY (compassion, forgiveness) and GOOD FRUITS, WITHOUT PARTIALITY (bias or favoritism) and without hypocrisy (insincerity, falseness).  And PEACEMAKERS who SOW SEED in PEACE raise a HARVEST in RIGHTEOUSNESS (virtue, morality, justice, decency, uprightness, honesty, blamelessness).”

We also read in Psalm 119:165 “Those who LOVE YOUR TORAH (Abba Father’s LAWS and INSTRUCTIONS in HIS WORD as written in Genesis to Deuteronomy and summed up in the TEN COMMANDMENTS in Exodus 20) have GREAT PEACE; NOTHING makes them stumble.”

And we read in Hebrews 12:11 “…ALL DISCIPLINE, while it is happening, does indeed seem PAINFUL, not enjoyable; but FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN TRAINED BY IT, IT LATER PRODUCES ITS PEACEFUL FRUIT, which IS RIGHTEOUSNESS.

We also read in Revelation 19:7-9 “Let us REJOICE and be GLAD! Let us give HIM the glory! For the TIME has come for the WEDDING of the LAMB., and the BRIDE (alluding to the NEW JERUSALEM coming down from heaven, read Revelation 21:1-3) has prepared herself – FINE LINEN, BRIGHT and CLEAN has been given her to wear. (‘FINE LINEN’ means the RIGHTEOUS DEEDS of GOD’s people). The angel said to me (John), ‘Write: How blessed are those who have been invited to the WEDDING FEAST of the LAMB (referring to FEAST SEASON THREE: FEAST 7 of YHVH: THE FEAST of TABERNACLES entailing the THOUSAND YEAR REIGN of YESHUA the MESSIAH followed by ETERNITY).  Please also read the PARABLE of the WEDDING told by Yeshua the Messiah indicating that the KING gave orders that the person who was not DRESSED FOR THE WEDDING with his WEDDING CLOTHES had to be bound by hand and foot and thrown outside into the darkness (read Matthew 22:.11-14).

• Next Paul proceeds in Ephesians 4:25-27 saying: Therefore, stripping off FALSEHOOD (misrepresentation/ distortion/ lies/ perversion) let EVERYONE SPEAK TRUTH with his neighbor. Be angry, but DON’T SIN – don’t let the sun go down before you have dealt with the CAUSE of your anger; otherwise, you leave room for the Adversary (Satan).

So here we see anger is a human emotion, but NOT dealing with the CAUSE of our anger can lead to serious problems since it INVITES the Adversary (Satan) to come into our lives and reap havoc and we know the ways in which he works – he comes to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10a) – therefore unresolved anger will steal, kill and destroy our peace, our relationships with God, ourselves and others, as well as our health and ultimately, if driven far enough, even cost lives.

• The THIEF must STOP STEALING; instead, he should make an honest living by his own efforts. This way he will be able to share with those in need (Ephesians 4:28).

• Let NO HARMFUL LANGUAGE come from your mouth, ONLY GOOD WORDS that are HELPFUL in meeting the need, WORDS that will BENEFIT those who hear them (Ephesians 4:29).

• Don’t cause GRIEF (sorrow/ sadness, heartache/ despair, pain/ hurt) to GOD’s RUACH HAKODESH (HOLY SPIRIT), for He has stamped you as His PROPERTY until THE DAY of FINAL REDEMPTION (Ephesians 4:30).

• GET RID of ALL BITTERNESS, RAGE, ANGER, VIOLENT (fierce/brutal/ aggressive, forceful/ strong, passionate) ASSERTIVENESS and SLANDER (insult/ rudeness, defamation/ smear/ denouncement/ denigration/ belittling/ vilification/ criticism/ backbiting/ infighting), along with ALL SPITEFULNESS (vindictiveness/ maliciousness, meanness/ heartlessness, nastiness, unkindness). INSTEAD, BE KIND TO EACH OTHER, TENDERHEARTED; and FORGIVE EACH OTHER, just as IN THE MESSIAH GOD HAS ALSO FORGIVEN YOU (Ephesians 4:31-32).

The BOOK of PROVERBS teaches us much about RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Proverbs 2:1-5 tells us: “…IF you will RECEIVE MY WORDS and STORE MY COMMANDS INSIDE YOU, paying attention to WISDOM inclining your MIND toward UNDERSTANDING – yes, IF you will CALL for INSIGHT and RAISE your VOICE for DISCERNMENT, IF you SEEK it as you would silver and SEARCH for it as for hidden treasure – then you will UNDERSTAND the FEAR of YHVH and FIND KNOWLEDGE OF GOD  (please note: these are all part of the description of the SEVEN FOLD HOLY SPIRIT of GOD as written in Isaiah 11:2 as well as indicated in the GIFTS of THE HOLY SPIRIT in 1^st Corinthians 12:7-11).”

And we further read in Proverbs 2:6-11 “For YHVH GIVES WISDOM from HIS mouth comes KNOWLEDGE and UNDERSTANDING. HE STORES up COMMON SENSE for the UPRIGHT, is a SHIELD (protection, safeguard, defense) to those whose CONDUCT (behavior) IS BLAMELESS (innocent, virtuous, righteous), in order to guard the courses of JUSTICE and PRESERVE the WAY of those FAITHFUL to HIM. Then you will UNDERSTAND RIGHTEOUSNESS, JUSTICE, FAIRNESS and EVERY GOOD PATH. FOR WISDOM WILL ENTER YOUR HEART, KNOWLEDGE WILL BE ENJOYABLE FOR YOU, DISCRESION WILL WATCH OVER YOU, and DISCERNMENT WILL GUARD YOU.”

We also read in Proverbs 13:6 that RIGHTEOUNSES serves as a GUARD to those whose WAY is BLAMELESS (innocent, virtuous, righteous), but SIN serves to OVERTHROW (coup, takeover) the wicked!

Proverbs 11:5-6 says: “The RIGHTEOUSNESS of the BLAMELESS KEEPS his WAY STRAIGHT, but the wicked FALLS by his own wickedness. The RIGHTEOUSNESS of the UPRIGHT DELIVERS them, but the treacherous (unfaithful, disloyal, deceitful) are taken captive by their lust. (Also read the explanation in James 1:14-16).”

Proverbs 11:18-19 says: “The profits of the wicked are illusory (deceptive, false, misleading), but those who SOW RIGHTEOUSNESS GAIN a TRUE REWARD. Genuine RIGHTEOUSNESS LEADS TO LIFE, but the pursuer of evil goes to his own death.”

And Proverbs 21:3 confirm: “To DO what is RIGHT and JUST is MORE PLEASING to YHVH than sacrifice.”

Proverbs 21:21 says: “WHOEVER PURSUES RIGHTEOUSNESS and KINDNESS WILL FIND LIFE, RIGHTEOUSNESS and HONOR.

And David says in Psalm 11:5 “YHVH TESTS the RIGHTEOUSS…” As we indeed read in Genesis 22:1 God tested Abraham’s FAITH when He asked Him to sacrifice Isaac. Also read Hebrews 11:17 and James 2:21. And Peter explains to us in 1^st Peter 1:6-7 the REASONS for TESTING saying: “Rejoice…even though for a little while you may have to experience grief in various trials. Even gold is TESTED for GENUINESS by FIRE. The PURPOSE of these trials is so that your TRUST’s (FAITH, BELIEF, HOPE’s) GENUINESS (authenticity, sincerity), which is far more valuable than perishable gold, will be JUDGED worthy of praise, glory and honor at the revealing of Yeshua the Messiah.” (Also read James 1:2-3 and 1 Corinthians 3:13)

Paul explains it in 1 Thessalonians 2:1-4 saying: “You yourselves know, brothers, that our visit to you was not fruitless. On the contrary, although we had already suffered and been outraged in Philippi, as you know, we had the COURAGE, UNITED WITH GOD, to TELL YOU THE GOOD NEWS even under pressure. For the appeal we make does not flow from error or from impure motives, neither do we try to trick people. Instead, since GOD HAS TESTED US and FOUND US FIT TO BE ENTRUSTED WITH (the) GOOD NEWS, this is how we speak: not to win favor with people BUT WITH GOD, WHO TESTS OUR HEARTS.”

And Yeshua our Messiah also says in Revelation 3:10b a TIME of TRIAL is coming upon the WHOLE WORLD to PUT the people living on the earth TO THE TEST.

Paul encouraged Timothy in 2^nd Timothy 2:22-26 “…flee the passions of youth, and along with those who CALL on MASTER YEHSUA from a PURE HEART, PURSUE RIGHTEOUSNESS, FAITHFULNESS, LOVE and PEACE. But, stay away from stupid (unwise, senseless) and ignorant (ill-informed) controversies (disagreements, arguments, debates) – you know that they lead to fights, and a servant of Master Yeshua shouldn’t fight. On the contrary, he should be KIND to EVERYONE, a GOOD TEACHER, and NOT RESENTFUL (angry, offended, insulted or bitter) when MISTREATED. Also he should be GENTLE as he CORRECTS his opponents. For God may perhaps grant them the OPPORTUNITY to TURN form their sins, acquire FULL KNOWLEDGE of THE TRUTH, COME TO THEIR SENSES and ESCAPE the TRAP of the Adversary (Satan), after having been captured alive by him to DO his will.”

And Peter sums it up in 1^st Peter 2:24-25 saying: “He (YESHUA the MESSIAH) HIMSELF bore our sins in HIS BODY on the cross, so that we might DIE to sins and LIVE for RIGHTEOUSNESS – by HIS wounds you were healed. For you used to be like sheep gone astray, but now you have TURNED to the SHEPHERD, who watches over you.”

Paul also reminds us in 1 Corinthians 1:30, we ABIDE in Yeshua our Messiah, He became to us the WISDOM from God the Father, RIGHTEOUSNESS and HOLINESS (SANCTIFICATION) and REDEMPTION. And REMEMBER YESHUA our MESSIAH IS THE WORD OF GOD the FATHER as we read in John 1:1-14, 1^st John 1:1 as well as Revelation 19:13, no wonder Paul REMINDS us in 2^nd Timothy 3:16 that the WORD of GOD is profitable for TRAINING us IN RIGHTEOUSNESS!

James also tells us the IMPORTANCE of being a PEACEMAKER, since a HARVEST of RIGHTEOUSNESS is SOWN in PEACE by those who MAKE PEACE (James 3:18). He also tells us in James 5:16 that the PRAYER of a RIGHTEOUS person is POWERFUL and EFFECTIVE.

And again RIGHTEOUS is defined in Revelation 14:1-5 – PLEASE note the TWO COMPONENTS as PICTURED in the ARK OF THE COVENANT –THE MERCY of GOD through YESHUA THE MESSIAH and OBEDIENCE TO GOD THE FATHER, namely:

• They (the 144,000) have been ransomed (redeemed, delivered by the Lamb, Yeshua the Messiah) from the world (Revelation 14:3b).

• They have not DEFILED themselves with women for they are VIRGINS (please note, this means they have not committed spiritual idolatry; therefore they have not worshiped other small letter gods but remained FAITHFUL to YHVH their GOD) (Revelation 14:4a). Also refer to the PARABLE told by Yeshua the Messiah on the FIVE WISE VIRGINS who had enough oil in Matthew 25:1-13).

• They FOLLOW the LAMB wherever HE GOES (meaning they follow Him in OBEDIENCE to the FATHER and HIS WORD) (Revelation 14:4b).

• They have been RANDSOMED from among humanity as FIRSTFRUITS for GOD (the Father) and the LAMB (Yeshua the Messiah) (Revelation 14:4c). We also read in Romans 8:23 of having the FIRSTFRUITS of the (HOLY) SPIRIT. And in 2^nd Thessalonians 2:13 Paul said: “But we have to keep thanking God for you always brothers, whom Master Yeshua loves, because God (the Father) chose you as FIRSTFRUITS for DELIVERANCE by GIVING you the HOLINESS that has its ORIGIN (source) in the (HOLY) SPIRIT and the FAITHFULNESS that has its ORIGIN (source) in the TRUTH (the WORD of GOD). Also read James 1:18 and Romans chapter 8.

• On their lips no lie was found – they are without defect (blemish) (Revelation 14:5).

And we are closing with Psalm 23 saying: “YHVH is my SHEPHERD; I lack nothing. He has me lie down in grassy pastures, He leads my by quiet waters, HE RESTORES MY INNER PERSON (my SOUL consisting of my heart/ emotions and my mind/thoughts). He GUIDES me in RIGHT PATHS for the SAKE of HIS OWN NAME. Even if I pass through death-dark ravines (valleys), I will fear no disaster; for YOU ARE WITH ME; your rod and staff reassure (discipline, encourage, comfort and uplift) me. You prepare a table for me, even as my enemies watch; You anoint my head with oil from an overflowing cup. GOODNESS and GRACE (unearned and unending favor and kindness, love and mercy) will pursue me every DAY of my LIFE; and I will LIVE in the HOUSE of YHVH for years and years to come (forever).”