PASTOR LORI ON RIGHTEOUSNESS

Table of Contents

1. Introduction: Joy in the Journey
2. A Week of Ministry and Miracles
3. Blameless and Holy: Understanding “Saints”
4. The Israelites’ Dwarfed Opinions
5. Immediate Righteousness by Faith
6. Disqualification Comes from Man, Not God
7. God’s Cry Through the Ages: Enter My Rest

Introduction: Joy in the Journey

The message begins with light-hearted banter and a humorous recounting of the morning's battle with a swarm of carpenter ants in the church. Pastor Leonard jokes about being a pest control professional and how even the unexpected challenges didn’t dampen their joy. They stress that if you're not having fun being a Christian, you're doing it wrong.

Pastor Leonard and Pastor Lori express how much they love gathering with the body of Christ and how thankful they are for the support and participation of the congregation. They also share their gratitude to God and emphasize the importance of joy in the Christian walk.

A Week of Ministry and Miracles

Pastor Leonard shares two major ministry opportunities from the past week. First, he officiated the wedding of a young man he hadn’t seen in nearly 27 years—Joseph Kryland—and his new wife, Jessica, in the beautiful Craigsmore Stone Church.

Second, he spoke at a men’s breakfast in Johnstown, New York. Although initially told to speak for 25 minutes, he asked the attendees for permission to go longer, and they agreed enthusiastically. He ended up speaking for 45 minutes, with many listeners deeply moved—some even in tears—by the message. The lead minister told him it was one of the greatest messages he had heard in a long time. Leonard explains that he had no notes and spoke purely by the Spirit, giving glory to God.

Blameless and Holy: Understanding “Saints

Pastor Lori greets the congregation with: "Good morning, saints." She reminds everyone that the word “saints” means blameless and holy ones. She shares how she still finds it overwhelming to think of herself as holy, but that is exactly how God sees us through Jesus Christ.

She continues by highlighting the impact of truly embracing this truth. She says:

“That is how the Lord thinks of us… because Jesus did it for us, He paid the price for us, and when God looks at us He sees us just like Jesus—blameless and holy.”

The Israelites’ Dwarfed Opinions

Pastor Lori reflects on a passage from Hebrews 3:19: "So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief." She says that in one Bible translation, it described the Israelites’ issue as having “dwarfed opinions of themselves.” They didn’t enter the Promised Land because they didn’t believe what God said about them. This is echoed in Numbers 13:33: "And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight."

They saw themselves as too small, too unqualified, and incapable—despite God's promise. Pastor Lori connects this to how many believers today fail to walk in God's rest and inheritance because they don’t see themselves as God sees them.

Immediate Righteousness by Faith

Pastor Leonard teaches that righteousness is not a process—it is immediate. He recounts the day in 1977 when he was born again and became righteous:

“When you believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead and you make confession unto Him for salvation, you are immediately born again… and you are immediately made righteous by the Father.”

He then explains that righteousness means being fully qualified. From that moment in 1977, he was fully qualified to receive all the promises and blessings of God. But he didn’t realize it.

Disqualification Comes from Man, Not God

Leonard shares how religion and preachers who didn't understand the gospel told him things like: “You're just a sinner saved by grace,” or cited Romans 3:10: "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one." He believed them and lived with a dwarfed opinion of himself for over 35 years—even though from day one he had been righteous. It was man’s opinion, not God's, that made him feel unqualified.

He emphasizes 2 Corinthians 5:21: "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

And also Romans 5:1: "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

He notes that believers often hear the truth but then default to traditional or denominational thinking, saying, "But I'm not righteous." Leonard warns that this mindset disqualifies people in their own minds—not in God’s.

God’s Cry Through the Ages: Enter My Rest

Pastor Lori returns to Hebrews and says the next verse says that God has been crying out through the ages for His people to enter His rest.

“If they would only enter into My rest.”

She explains that this means to believe, receive, and live from the truth of God's love and righteousness. It's an invitation to rest from striving, performing, or trying to earn what Jesus already provided. She and Leonard conclude with a powerful encouragement: It's up to us to enter in—and we should do it now.

We hope this article blessed you. Share this teaching with friends, family, or anyone who has struggled with feelings of unworthiness or religious condemnation. The truth is: because of Jesus, you are already righteous, blameless, and holy. Walk boldly in that truth and help others do the same. Let the true gospel of grace spread far and wide. God bless you!