During communion with the Holy Spirit this morning, a clearer teaching emerged concerning how people truly learn what righteousness really is. Many believers assume that righteousness will be learned primarily through extending greater love and tolerance toward those practicing wickedness, believing that such love will eventually cause repentance.

However, the Holy Spirit emphasized that this assumption is often incorrect. Scripture reveals that persistent wickedness does not necessarily change simply because love is extended, as illustrated in Revelation 2:20–23, where wrongdoing continued despite much opportunity given for repentance.

The Lord Himself addressed this issue in Isaiah 26:9, which declares these words: “When Your judgments are on the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.” This passage reveals a critical truth that righteousness is often learned through the visible execution of God’s justice. Human assumptions about truth are not the true plumbline standard, because truth is defined solely by what the Lord declares, and only the truth the Lord spoke sets people free.

Within the context of Isaiah 26, the passage is part of a song of deliverance for God’s people, describing a heart that passionately seeks after the Lord by desiring Him in the night and seeking Him early with your whole heart/spirit. Yet the answer given by the Lord about establishing His Kingdom on earth is striking, pointing to the reality that when the Lord’s judgments appear on the earth, people learn righteousness. This shows that the manifestation of divine justice reveals the reality of God’s righteous rule.

The Holy Spirit went on to connect this principle with the nature of Christ’s Kingdom described in Hebrews 1:8–9, where it is written that the Son’s throne is eternal and that a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of His Kingdom. Jesus we know loved righteousness and hated lawlessness, and because of this devotion to righteousness, God anointed Him with the oil of gladness above His companions. The authority of Christ’s Kingdom is therefore rooted in righteousness.

The Holy Spirit further revealed that no kingdom of righteousness can be established without an effective system of justice that addresses wrongdoing and sets a visible standard. This is confirmed in Psalms 89:14, which declares that righteousness and justice are the foundation of God’s throne, while mercy and truth go before Him. If justice is absent, the earthly representation of God’s righteous rule becomes incomplete, because God’s throne itself is established upon both righteousness and justice.

This explains why Scripture teaches that when the judgments of God are revealed on earth, people learn righteousness. Justice demonstrates the reality and seriousness of righteousness.

Jesus reinforced this principle in Luke 18:1–8, where He told the parable of persistent prayer for justice. In this teaching, Jesus affirmed that God will avenge His elect who cry out to Him day and night and will do so speedily. Yet He concluded with a probing question which says: “When the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” This question highlights whether believers will have and exercise the faith necessary to contend for justice so that righteousness becomes visible and understood for all to see.

A clear biblical demonstration of this principle appears in Acts13:6–12. In this account, the proconsul encountered the Apostle Paul and desired to know more about Jesus, but Elymas the sorcerer sought to oppose the truth by seeking to stop the Proconsul receiving the word of truth.

Paul confronted Elymas, declaring him an enemy of righteousness and pronouncing judgment upon him, resulting in temporary blindness. When this judgment manifested immediately, the proconsul witnessed the authority of God’s justice and believed the teaching of the Lord, being astonished by what he saw happen that described righteousness at work.

This event illustrates how the visible execution of divine justice clarified truth. The proconsul was no longer uncertain about who he should trust and commit his life to, but could confidently embrace and defend the righteousness Paul had preached to him. The manifestation of God’s judgment became a teaching moment that revealed the reality of righteousness.

The message concludes with the reminder that Jesus has already demonstrated the greatest expression of love by coming to earth, bearing humanity’s sins, and providing the atonement necessary for salvation. The opportunity for salvation is available to all through Him. However, the refusal to receive what Christ accomplished is what ultimately disqualifies individuals from salvation, as explained in John 3:16–21.

The Holy Spirit spoke of the importance of followers of Jesus understanding the reality that the establishment of Christ’s Kingdom on earth involves both love and justice. When the justice of the Lord is revealed, righteousness becomes visible and learnable, enabling people to recognize and embrace the truth and come to the place of walking in the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I declare in the name of Jesus that the Spirit of truth will open your eyes to the reality of God’s righteousness and justice. This will enable you not to walk in confusion about truth, so you will not be intimidated by lawlessness to affect you. The Lord will demonstrate His righteousness on your behalf, and His justice will vindicate you so that where wickedness has resisted truth, the Lord will cause His judgments to reveal His true authority, and through these demonstrations many will learn how righteousness operates.

I decree that you will no longer stand as an obstacle to the will of God, but you will be a vessel through whom the Kingdom of Jesus is established on the earth as it is in heaven. May the teaching of the Lord be manifested in your life through the power of the Holy Spirit, and may many come to know the truth of Jesus Christ through the visible triumph of His righteousness being established in your life in Jesus’ mighty Name. Amen.