Who Is the Righteous?
Is it the Faithful or the Just?
God is merciful, just, faithful and righteous! He answers ANYONE who call upon Him” (Act 2:21); and it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
God answers prayers. It doesn’t matter who is calling upon Him, any Church or organization/institutions or ministry. Being a member of one congregation or the other does not guarantee or give you the assurance that God will answer your prayers. Neither does where you are calling from matter more than the other places, for God is everywhere. He hears from all angles and hidden places are visible to Him also. So long as you recognize His presence and pray unto Him as required, then He will answer.
Firstly, It depend on the way, manner and approach you pray or direct your prayers, which should be acceptable unto God. Take an example in Christ’s parable about the Pharisee and the Publican (Luke 18: 9 -14). A humble prayer, not a selfish prayer is worth praying for and be rest assured of a grateful answer from The Father! Your case might not be better than the other person’s petition, slide away criticism and hatred; who is a sinner or not; the righteous and unrighteous. Focus on the inside you and humbly communicate with the Father of all in existence.
Secondly, if your prayers are not answered at the moment or delayed, two things are involved. It’s either not the right time for God to answer your prayer(s), waiting for the moment you really need what you are asking or praying for, for He knows the right time.
Patience is required at this stage. And the number 2 of it is that, maybe you are asking with the wrong motive, approach and intentions. Reconsider your prayers and manner of approach and pray accordingly, God will definitely answer you.
Let me stop here by saying, we should take a look at the following scripture (proverbs 15:29; James 5:16; 1 pet. 3:12).
Therefore, God answers not only a Church of Christ, apostolic, Pentecostal, Redeemer, or Chosen member’s prayers, but also to others who prays with a genuine mind and desires. Know it also that He answers at His time, when it is considerate, not your time!
There are two things involved in terms of prayer; either it is answerable or not. If it is answerable, there are two things involved; either immediately or later on. If it is immediately, there is only one thing you must do, ask according to His will and if it is later, there are two things you must do, be patient and remain faithful!”
Let us look at the account of Cornelius in Acts 10:1-
Cornelius was a devoted man who fears God: A good man who gave to the poor. Believed in God and obeyed Him with his family. (Let us bear in mind that Cornelius was not a Jew but he believed in the God of the Jewish people, obeyed the law and prayed to God).
While he was praying at 3 o’clock, he had a vision (known as a special dream) an angel of God spoke to him; God has answered your prayer. He has seen all your help to the poor people and He is pleased with you. Do you know how long he has been praying and seeking help from God? Suffering in silence and was still faithful even though he was under a command to carry out some duties or tasks, he still Believed!
Now the question is; what was his prayer? Following the scripture and reading that same passage of Acts 10 starting from verse 34-48, we will understand that he was praying for a way, that God should show him a way on what to do. “From the answer given to him by the angel in verse 5 – send some men to Joppa. These men will find a man that is there. He is called… ask him to come here to Caesarea. Who will tell him what to do and the way Now the angel of God also came to peter in a special dream revealing what he should do (in verse 11; Peter was taught/instructed not to despise the Gentiles, the non-Jewish people. And later he was told by the Holy Spirit to go with Cornelius men to Caesarea.
In verse 34 and 35; Peter began to speak “now I understand that God shows no partiality”
Indeed whosoever fears Him and does what is right is acceptable to Him in any nation. Let us also understand that Cornelius was acceptable to God based on this passage. (He fears God and does what is right) but was worried on what to do, the way he should go (To be saved). The righteous is one who does what is right. And no one does what is right without the fear of God in him or her. The fear of God in you is the wisdom; His wisdom in you!
To make it brief, from verse 36-48 – Peter started ministering/preaching the word of God to them (the gospel of Christ). That is, the message of salvation through Christ Jesus. He and his family including other gentiles received the Holy Spirit while Peter was still speaking in verse 44, and they were baptized. There was joy, the joy of salvation.
Hallelujah! Verses 47;48 stated that, ” no one can stop us from using water to baptize these people who have received the Holy spirit in the same way that we did, can they?”
So Peter ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus the Messiah. Then they asked him to stay there for several days. The book of books is absolutely complete!
For further understanding, let us take a look at these passages – Acts 11:1-18.
After peter returned to Jerusalem, he explained everything that happened to the Jewish believers starting from verse 4; because not everyone will understand the mystery behind the incident without the conviction.
The key word here is “believers”. He did just explain what happened to everyone but to those who believes. You need to believe that your prayers are answered before you pray. Let your spirit accept that and allow your soul to remain in that assurance of God’s promise to answer you whenever you call upon Him! Righteousness and justice are the foundation of God’s throne; steadfast love and faithfulness do go before Him.
Above all things, God is faithful, righteous and just. He also needs us to be faithful to Him, to be just in all our dealings and to remain righteous as He is Righteous. The just shall live by faith, the merciful will always obtain mercy and righteous will live by faith! Let us always imitate God’s character and being.
~ Simeon Okore