Build Yourself Up

We must be built up
continually. We must be seeing the world from a finished work
perspective and not from the perspective of the natural universe.
Eternity must be in our hearts. Ezra the Scribe knew of this idea and
wrote Psalm 119.
 
His
was a continual prayer; “turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity, and
quicken me O Lord. My soul cleaves to the dust, quicken Thou me O Lord
according to thy Word. My soul melts for heaviness, strengthen me O
Lord. Stablish the Word to thy servant who am devoted to thy fear.
Remove from me the way of lying, and grant me thy Law graciously.
Incline my heart unto thy commandments. Let thy mercies come unto me…”

Then
comes many verses of meditative origin. See, we must pray to build
ourselves up but then allow the Holy Spirit to lead us in the meditation
of His building. For the meditation part are needed 2 things. One, we
learn and read new things. Two, we allow the Spirit to bring to our
remembrance what we already know. Both are vital.

Lets
use Romans 6 as a reading point. I read it every day.  “Shall we
continue in sin that grace might abound? God forbid, Know ye not that he
that is baptized into Christ is baptized into His
death? Therefore we are buried with Him through baptism into His death
that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the
Father, we should walk in newness of life. For if we were planted
together in the likeness of His
death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection. Knowing
this, that our old man has been crucified with Christ that the body of
sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. ”   And
etc.

Now
we go to Proverb 10 and 11. Since Romans 6 teaches we are servants to
righteousness, the many verses on righteousness in these two Proverbs
refer to us, the righteous. Lets look at an example.

Treasures
of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.
That righteous one is me. The Lord will not suffer the soul of the
righteous to famish (me again): but he casteth away the substance of the
wicked. Blessings are upon the head of the just ( O that’s really me):
but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. The memory of the just is
blessed (thank you Lord): but the name of the wicked shall rot. Get the
idea?

“The
mouth of a righteous man is a well of life (unbelievable): but violence
covereth the mouth of the wicked. The labour of the righteous tendeth
to life (what an encouragement): the fruit of the wicked to sin. The
lips of the righteous feed many (righteous folks, keep feeding): but
fools die for want of wisdom. The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon
him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted (God answers the
prayer of us). As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but
the righteous is an everlasting foundation.” 

There’s much more here: “The hope of the righteous shall be gladness:
but the expectation of the wicked shall perish. The way of the Lord is
strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of
iniquity. The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not
inhabit the earth. The mouth of the righteous bringeth forth wisdom: The
lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: The integrity of the
upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall
destroy them. Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness
delivereth from death. The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his
way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. The righteousness
of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in
their own naughtiness.”

Finally, “When it goeth well with the
righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is
shouting. By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is
overthrown by the mouth of the wicked. Prov 14:34 says “righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” 

So
in Prov 21:1, The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the
rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. Are we kings? Rom
5:17 “much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of
righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)”

Folks, our finished work imputed righteousness is effecting miracles all over
the place. In our lives and in the lives of others. We just put it on
as a robe, as a breastplate. We are not earning or performing. We are,
by faith, applying the gift of righteous identity. When we apply it, we are kings and priests in Revelation 1:6.

So, “Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.” Wow! Proverbs 20:28. Furthermore, Prov 20:8  “A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.” Fellow kings and priests, rejoice.