A teaching by Rev. Barbara Williams, President of the Ministry of the Watchman International
Week of March 1-7, 2021
MONDAY
For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
Romans 10:3-4
What is righteousness? God has defined His righteousness as the imputed right standing that comes with the atonement that Christ provided for all mankind. It is this righteousness that entitles us to receive the faith of Jesus. This is the law of faith. The faith of the Son of God, imputed through righteousness, is the beginning of the law of faith, and Christ is the end of the law of righteousness. What this means is that Jesus will be found when we admit we cannot obey the law to be made righteous. When we refuse the free gift of the atonement, we make ourselves subject to the curse of the law. We must submit ourselves to the law of righteousness in Christ Jesus in order to obey the law of faith.
If you are in need of healing, there is good news! Proverbs 4:20-22 SAYS:
My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
So there is life and health in God’s word. Since God’s word is medicine, we must take it like we would a prescription. I suggest three times a day, like you would your food. Remember, healing is the children’s bread. Consider this your “dose” for today. Remember, read, and meditate three times a day the following:
Rx: Proverbs 15:13 ~ A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
2 Timothy 2:15
If you’ve never studied the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, we invite you to join us as we read through the Bible in a year. Read and meditate on these chapters this week:
March 1: Exodus 12:22-51, Luke 15, Job 30, 1 Corinthians 16
March 2: Exodus 13, Luke 16, Job 31, 2 Corinthians 1
March 3: Exodus 14, Luke 17, Job 32, 2 Corinthians 2
March 4: Exodus 15, Luke 18, Job 33, 2 Corinthians 3
March 5: Exodus 16, Luke 19, Job 34, 2 Corinthians 4
March 6: Exodus 17, Luke 20, Job 35, 2 Corinthians 5
March 7: Exodus 18, Luke 21, Job 36, 2 Corinthians 6
TUESDAY
For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “The man who does those things shall live by them.”
Romans 10:5
When we refuse the righteousness that Jesus gives, we become subject to the law of Moses. This law is commonly known as the Ten Commandments, but there are many facets to this law, including the penalty imposed for breaking the law. When the law is broken, we become subject to the curse of the law. This curse is broken by the atonement of Jesus Christ. Phariseeism refuses to acknowledge our inability to obey the law, and seeks to establish self-righteousness. This is why the tax collector, harlot and profane fisherman accepted Christ in large numbers compared to the religious leaders. The sinner, by recognizing his desire to see the end of the law because he could not fulfill it, longed for the saving grace of Jesus Christ. The religious person, being deceived into thinking that he is able to fulfill the law, rejects Christ.
WEDNESDAY
But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down from above) or, “ ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).
Romans 10:6-7
The righteousness that is by faith does not require God to come down from heaven to let us know what is ours. It does not require a sign, in other words. Nor does it require God to ascend from the deep to speak to us. The righteousness that is by faith is not from outside of us. We do not have to wait for an answer. We are no longer under the law, waiting for God to appear in order to know His will. So often we think that God is not ready and willing to provide us with the help that we need. Under the New Covenant, we have a system that allows us access to the throne of grace where mercy and grace abound.
THURSDAY
But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:8-9
God is so close to us, His righteousness speaks from within us. The word is very near to us, it is even in our mouths and our hearts. The word of faith replaces the word spoken from above the tent of meeting. Emmanuel has come and speaks from within us. Our answer is very near. When we have a need, we need only seek the word of faith to know God’s answer. When that word arises from within us, we have God’s sure answer for every situation. We have the confidence that God Himself has spoken. We cannot shake loose from the Word of faith. It is grafted in us…it is a part of us. It is Emmanuel’s voice walking with us.
FRIDAY
But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Romans 10:8-10
The process of obeying the law of faith is almost automatic. We are able to make the confession unto salvation in every situation in which we find ourselves. We can expect the word of faith not only to rescue us out of every bad situation, but also lead us along the path of righteousness. When we choose what to speak, we are wise to choose the word that comes from the heart…the very core of our being. Words of fear and doubt may come into our thinking, but the word of faith will save us. We must choose to speak the word of faith, thereby obeying the law of faith and receiving God’s answer in each and every situation.