Loving Righteousness / Hating Iniquity…. Qualified for the Oil of Gladness

As God’s created beings and as His begotten sons and daughters, we have such a privilege of being in right standing with the Father through the Son. As sons and daughters, we were “begotten” while all other beings were “created”. We were begotten to rule and reign within His Marvelous Kingdom.
Hebrews 1:8 (KJV 1900) — 8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

Now we all know a lot about righteousness and being in right standing with God. We know we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. We know we started this journey into righteousness when we were born again. But we also make assumptions that we have it in fullness which is far from being correct. The fullness is attainable but not just automatic. I have come to find that as iniquity is confronted with righteousness, then righteousness takes hold and expands into the areas where iniquity was once found. The above verse says the scepter of righteousness is the scepter of the kingdom and this scepter of righteousness is how the kingdom governs and rules. The supreme rule is not done through an anointing but through righteousness. So, righteousness is actually where authority comes from and also how the kingdom rule is expressed. Why do we not see so much more authority moving things and shifting things? The very next verse in Hebrews gives us an amazing clue.

Hebrews 1:9 (KJV 1900) — 9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

The word for loved (righteousness) Agapeo means ‘to welcome, be fond of, to be pleased’. The word for hate (iniquity) means ‘to detest, to dislike strongly to the point of being hostile’. It goes so far as ‘to reject and disown what is evil’. So, two questions now come: do we really love righteousness? Do we really detest iniquity?

If we love something we:
 cherish it
 value it
 prioritize it
 make room for it
 make time for it
If we hate something we:
 Refuse to walk in sin or transgression and iniquity
 Despise it in our heart
 We work against it
 We help others to avoid it
 We free people from it

So, do we honestly get up in the morning and say, “I really love my righteousness today, I honor it, cherish it, value it and esteem it? I’m prioritizing it and making room for it in my life today. And boy do I hate iniquity! I really despise what it does to people and will take action against it today. I want nothing to do with it and want to free others from it.” Now is that really our attitude?
Hate and love is both an attitude and an action. The attitude comes first and then the action will follow. Because Jesus hated iniquity and loved righteousness, He could DESTROY the works of the devil! Our love of righteousness and hatred of evil will increase by two means:
(1) By experiencing greater intimacy and oneness with the Lord Jesus who loved righteousness and hated iniquity
(2) By growing in love and compassion for our brethren and those whose lives are being destroyed by sin.

Psalm 94:16 (KJV 1900) — 16 Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? Or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?

Now the outcome is to be anointed with oil of gladness. Gladness means ‘an extreme joy, to rejoicing exceedingly’. This gladness is part of the Body of Christ’s inheritance. The oil of gladness is for those who will pass the test of loving righteousness and hating iniquity. The level to which you love righteousness must register in the measure to which you hate iniquity….it is an equal exchange. In other words, love and hate walk together. For love to be powerful, there must be a dimension of hate. But the qualifier of the anointing of the oil of gladness it is to hate iniquity and love righteousness, it’s not automatic. This oil of gladness was nothing less than the Holy Spirit. It was the fullness of the Holy Spirit coming upon sons and daughters. It was an anointing of sacred Presence!

John 16:5–11 (KJV 1900) — 5 But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? 6 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

Hebrews 1:9 says Jesus was anointed above His fellows. Who are the fellows, the disciples? The word “fellows” means ‘sharers, or companions’. In other words, this is anyone who truly knew Him and walked with Him. (Proper attitude and proper actions). This means that if we just didn’t receive righteousness as a provision but truly engaged into it with corresponding actions we too could experience greater and greater degrees of the Holy Spirit upon us. He wants us to share in this joy of the Holy Spirit’s gift living in us!

So do you really, I mean really, love righteousness? Then when you get up in the morning, decide with a conscious decision to engage in that righteousness and begin to make the same conscious decision to hate and despise iniquity. Iniquity is running rampant in the Body because we don’t truly love our righteousness. My prayer for you is that a new anointing will come upon you, an anointing you have never experienced yet. An anointing reserved for a select group, those who love righteousness and hate iniquity. That His anointing will bring a smearing of gladness upon you.

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