Scepter of righteousness

 n the Old Testament, we see the term “scepter” used for the first time in Genesis 49:10. In preparation for his death, Jacob assembles his twelve sons together and conveys blessings upon them. As he comes to Judah, he says: “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and to him shall the gathering of the peoples be.” Here, we find the promise of Christ’s coming (Shiloh) through the physical lineage of Judah (Matt. 1:2-3; Lk. 3:33; Heb. 7:14). Looking further, we read, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness” (Ps. 45:6). In other words, this ruling One is righteous in His judgments, and not a wicked king by any means.

                   One passage that ought to jump out at us after reading Psalm 45:6 is Hebrews 1:8. “But of the Son he says, ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is a scepter of your kingdom.’” Therefore, the statement of David had reference to Christ and His righteous rule!

                   Paul wrote to Timothy and said that Christ is, “... the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords” (I Tim. 6:14-15). When writing the book of Revelation, John said, “These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings ...” (Rev. 17:14, 19:16). Yes, Christ rules today, and will do so “till he has put all enemies under his feet...” (I Cor. 15:25, 28).

                   The Lord reigns over us right now, ruling with a scepter of righteousness or uprightness. Therefore, our responsibility is to submit willingly to the Lord, our King. What Christ tells us to do, we must do (Col. 3:17)!

                   Our King tells us to believe on Him or die in our sins (Jn. 8:24). Christ tells us to repent or perish (Lk. 13:3). Our King commands men to confess Him or be denied in the presence of the Father (Matt. 10:32-33). Jesus also has decreed that one must be baptized in order to be saved or we will be lost (Mk. 16:16). Our responsibility is to submit to His plan, not fight against it!

                   Similarly, all of the New Testament stands as our instructions for living in this life (II Tim. 3:16-17). We are expected to do all things according to the authority of our King (Col. 3:17). Will we rebel, or will we gladly obey? That is the question! Christ is our King; are we living for Him (Lk. 6:46)? Think about it!!

truly using our authority that Jesus died and rose to give to us:  Each day as you take your seat of authority in Christ Jesus (see my daily #suitup prayer) Go a step further and take the Scepter of Righteousness of KING JESUS in your hand in the spirit and use it! Hold it up each day and beat down the scepter of wickedness! Do this over your city and region in the spirit.  It is those who are in Christ Jesus who have dominion over the land!

Now, Sit in a Chair, turn to your left and Say out loud: “Father God, I accept Thy gracious word. I believe that Thou hast thus wrought for me according to Ephesians Chapter 2.  In humble faith, I do now take my seat of authority in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus at Thy right hand. Where I now rule and reign in Christ Jesus, King of Kings and through Christ Jesus of the Priestly Kingly Order of Melchizedek, over all the land, the waters and the mountains and over every area of influence in the earth in Jesus name! I put the kingdom of darkness under my feet! I walk in the righteousness of Jesus Christ and I now take the Scepter of Righteousness in my hand. It is written in Psalm 125:3 that The scepter of wickedness will not remain over the land allotted to the righteous.  I declare this land of _________________ has been allotted to the righteous.  Therefore the scepter of wickedness can no longer remain here over ______________.   I hold up the scepter of righteousness by the authority of Jesus Christ and I beat down the scepter of wickedness and smash it to pieces!  I scrape the pieces into the fire of Almighty God to be burned to ashes!  It is written that the scepter of wickedness cannot remain so it shall be!!  In the name of Jesus Christ I decree and declare this land of _____________is the land allotted to the righteous and the scepter of righteous rules and reigns over __________forever!  I decree the scepter of wickedness is now destroyed and can never come near _______ again in Jesus name!!  By the Authority of Jesus Christ in whom I am seated I take dominion over _____________ and in the name of Jesus Christ and claim it for ALMIGHTY GOD!  I call forth the Angel Armies of Almighty God to come and blow the victory trumpets of the Lord over this land!  Let the plans and purposes of Almighty God and the Lord Jesus Christ come forth upon this land right now and prosper in Jesus name!  Let the righteous people of this land now receive their rightful inheritance from the Lord!! Hallelujah!!

God’s kingdom is established by His righteousness. His reign, both in heaven and on earth is through His righteousness. As long as you follow His righteousness in your life , you are established and can never be shaken. 

What does it mean to follow His righteousness? It means that your good deeds don’t qualify you for His blessing rather it is His good deeds for you , done on your behalf that qualify you for His blessing. It is not how good we are rather it is how good Jesus is! His righteousness is given to us as a free gift.

Jesus completely obeyed God to bring in His everlasting salvation to mankind. His obedience cost His life, enduring the most gruesome death on the Cross. His blood has made you righteous forever. Your Confession that you are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus establishes your in every aspect of your life & causes you to reign victoriously.

Did you realize that wickedness wields a scepter? Yes, it’s true; there is authority in the kingdom of Satan. The Scripture tells us in Colossians 1:12–13 that we have been delivered from the authority of the dominion of darkness and translated into the kingdom of the Son of God’s love. There are the two kingdoms set in stark contrast. The kingdom of the authority of darkness and the kingdom of the Son of God’s love, which is a kingdom of light and of love. Each kingdom has authority, but the authority of the kingdom of God is superior to all other authority in the universe. God’s kingdom, the Scripture says, ruleth over all, it is established forever, it is unshakable.

And when we are part of God’s kingdom, then God permits us, on His behalf, to wield the scepter of righteousness, the scepter which has upon it the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. And as we wield that scepter, we beat back and cast down the scepter of wickedness, breaking down the scepter of wickedness, destroying the dominion of Satan. We move back into the area which God has allotted to us.

So there is a promise for God’s people to regain their inheritance in Christ. “The scepter of wickedness shall not remain over the land allotted to the righteous.” For you and me, there is a land allotted to us through our righteousness in Christ. We need to take that scepter boldly and beat down the scepter of wickedness and enter into our allotted inheritance.

Heb 1:8 But to the Son He says: "YOUR THRONE, O GOD, IS FOREVER AND EVER; A SCEPTER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IS THE SCEPTER OF YOUR KINGDOM. Heb 1:9 YOU HAVE LOVED RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HATED LAWLESSNESS; THEREFORE GOD, YOUR GOD, HAS ANOINTED YOU WITH THE OIL OF GLADNESS MORE THAN YOUR COMPANIONS." 

Definition of a sceptre:“a ceremonial staff, rod, or wand used as an emblem of a monarch's authority.to endow somebody with royal power or authority (Microsoft Encarta)”Oxford Dictionary describes a sceptre - (please excuse the American spelling in the scipture verse!) "A rod symbolizing sovereignty"

These are some effects of God's Sceptre extended over our lives:

1. We partake in God’s Eternal Reign

2Ti 2:12 If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. 

Rev 5:10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth."Rev 22:1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. Rev 22:2 In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. Rev 22:3 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. Rev 22:4 They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. Rev 22:5 There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.

2. His authority is released in us through a Sceptre of Righteousness

Witnessing about Righteousness

2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 2Pe 3:11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 2Pe 3:12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 2Pe 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Obtaining Righteousness

James 2:23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS ACCOUNTED TO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS." And he was called the friend of God.

How do we remain Righteous?

Heb 12:11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

2Ti 4:6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 2Ti 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2Ti 4:8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Governing through his right ways of doing things – is a sceptre of righteousness. His RIGHT WAYS – Jesus is the Way the Truth and the Life (...Divine Protocol Conference will explore this further at months end Lord willing from the 25th to 27th of March, Harvester Cape Town.

 John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 

KEY: Loving His Righteousness unlocks His Anointing Oil of Joy in our lives

3. The anointing Oil of Gladness is released in our lives

G20 agalliasis ag-al-lee'-as-isFrom G21; exultation; specifically welcome: - gladness, (exceeding) joy.

G21 agalliao ag-al-lee-ah'-oFrom agan (much) and G242; properly to jump for joy, that is, exult: - be (exceeding) glad, with exceeding joy, rejoice (greatly).

TheOil of Joy that Jesus exhibited when the disciples returned from mission is the root of the oil of gladness mentioned in Hebrews

Luke 7Luk 10:17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name." Luk 10:18 And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Luk 10:19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Luk 10:20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven." Luk 10:21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. Luk 10:22 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him." 

Note the  same word for “rejoiced” Lukes account as for the Oil of “ joy”

So let’s overcome with His royal authority in Jesus’ Name because we love His righteousness and rejoice by the Spirit of God for the victory in our lives!

Today His sceptre is stretched out over your life. Recveive His favour, ability, correction if needed, kingdom of righteousness, resources, authority and enter into His joy, forever!