The General Secretary of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, has said that the prosperity of a nation largely depends on the level of God’s righteous standards upheld by its inhabitants (citizens).
Speaking on the topic: “Righteousness; The Authority of the Kingdom” at the ongoing 2021 Heads’ Meeting at Pentecost Convention Centre at Gomoa Fetteh today, Apostle Kumi-Larbi noted that the progress of every nation is not determined by its political leaders; but rather, “it is righteousness that exalts a nation” (Proverbs 14:34).
He, therefore, stressed that the best response that believers could give to the moral decay in society is to live out the life of righteousness imputed on them through the redemptive work of Christ on the Cross.
“Unless righteousness permeates society, it will be difficult to lead people to Christ because there is a lack of the knowledge of sin,” he said.
He defined righteousness as a behaviour that is morally justifiable or right before God, adding that, such behaviour is characterised by accepted standards of morality, justice, virtue, or uprightness.
“The Bible’s standard of human righteousness is God’s perfection in every attribute, every attitude, every behaviour, and every word. Thus, God’s laws, as given in the Bible, serve as the standard by which He measures human righteousness,” he stated.
Expounding Romans 1:18-32, Apostle Kumi-Larbi said due to the fall and subsequent depravity, humans have become godless and wicked. A consequence of this, he said, has been that now humanity has suppressed the truth by their wickedness and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for created images, among other things. The General Secretary explained that Jesus came primarily to make it possible for humanity to be restored to the righteousness of God.
According to him, the righteousness of God makes provision for the redemption of the sinner from their sins, stressing that, every believer must not indulge in unrighteous acts because the righteousness of God frowns on the sinful life of the sinner.
He explained that true repentance is seen in a life that is patterned after the life of Christ (the bearing of fruit of the Holy Spirit). He urged Christians to demonstrate genuine repentance by upholding righteousness in their character, conscience, conduct and speech daily. This, he said, would validate their witness and testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Using Noah, Daniel, and Job as character examples, he noted that the three men were commended in Ezekiel 14:12-14 for upholding righteousness in their generation. The General Secretary of The Church of Pentecost said aside from being loved by the Lord, some traits shared by the aforementioned righteous men include faithfulness, obedience, humility and virtue.
“Although they were in the minority, they stood firm for the Lord. They also endured for the Lord,” he added.
Apostle Kumi-Larbi challenged Christians to emulate the above righteous men by putting on the breastplate of righteousness (moral character), which, according to him, serves as the believer’s defense since it protects their heart from evil.
“To be able to influence every sphere of society with values and principles of the kingdom of God such as Goodness, Mercy, Justice and Sincerity, we should model lives of righteousness as a breastplate, which is a defensive armour that cannot be hidden,” he noted.
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