BY PASTOR CHRIS OYAKHILOME DSc. DD.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21ST, 2026
“Let your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds and recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father Who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16 AMPC)
I. THE ONTOLOGY OF THE RIGHTEOUS SPIRIT
Righteousness is not a trophy for good behavior; it is the very nature of God imparted to the human spirit at the point of the New Birth. When we speak of impacting your world with His righteousness in 2026, we are not discussing a “self-improvement” program. We are discussing the Ontological Reality of the New Creation.
In Philippians 1:11, the Apostle Paul speaks of being “filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ.” This is a “Productivity Mandate.” When God’s righteousness was birthed in you, it didn’t come as a dormant seed; it came as a capacity. You possess the inherent ability to produce results that are consistent with God’s own nature. This is the “Life-Force” that allows a man to walk in purity, excellence, and truth in a world that is increasingly comfortable with darkness.
II. THE “ORANGE TREE” PRINCIPLE: NATURAL PRODUCTIVITY
The Holy Spirit does not want you to “struggle” to be good. In the Kingdom, character is not built by willpower; it is produced by Nature.
Consider the “Orange Tree” principle. An orange tree does not wake up in the morning and “try” to produce oranges. It does not groan under the pressure of fruit-bearing. It simply is an orange tree, and because the life of an orange tree is in its roots, it naturally and effortlessly produces orange fruits.
Similarly, you are a “Tree of Righteousness, the planting of the Lord” (Isaiah 61:3). Because you are born of God, the “Sap of Divinity” flows through your spiritual veins. You walk in righteousness naturally because your spirit delights in the Word. Your conduct, speech, and attitude are the “Harvest” of the life of Christ within you. If you find yourself struggling to do right, it is a sign that you have not yet fully awakened to Who You Are in Christ.
III. MORAL EXCELLENCE AS A LIGHTING SYSTEM
Our opening scripture uses a powerful metaphor: Light. In Matthew 5:16, the Amplified Version calls your good works “Moral Excellence.”
1. The Visibility of the Hill City (Matthew 5:14)
In the 2026 landscape, the Church is not called to be a secret society. You are a “City set on a hill.” This means your integrity should be so high that it is visible to everyone in your industry. Your “Praiseworthy Deeds” should be so undeniable that even those who hate your faith cannot deny the excellence of your work.
2. Impacting the Systems
The righteousness of God in you is a “Justice-Bringer.” Everywhere you go, you are to introduce:
Integrity: In a world of digital fraud and misinformation, your word must be your bond.
Justice: You are the voice for the voiceless, bringing the equity of the Kingdom into social and corporate structures.
Goodness: Your presence should act as a “Preservative,” stopping the decay of corruption in any environment you enter.
IV. THE INCREASE OF THE FRUITS (2 CORINTHIANS 9:10)
Righteousness has an “Expansion Quotient.” 2 Corinthians 9:10 tells us that God will “increase the fruits of your righteousness.” This means that as you yield to the nature of God, the impact of your life grows exponentially.
- Your Words: They should carry “Salvation, Healing, and Prosperity.” When you speak, you shouldn’t just be relaying information; you should be “ministering grace” to the hearers.
- Your Deeds: They are the “Seeds” you sow into the lives of others. God multiplies these seeds so that your influence for the Kingdom becomes a dominant force in your world.
V. CONCLUSION: THE RADIANCE OF DIVINITY
God wants the world to experience Him through You. He has made you a “Living Testimony.” You are the “Epistle” that the world is reading today. As you step out on this 21st day of January, remember that you are not just a person looking for a living; you are an Ambassador of the High Court of Heaven. Impact your world! Let your life radiate His goodness. Let the beauty of His holiness be seen in your professional excellence and your personal love. You are the Effulgence of His Glory!
CONFESSION
I am a Tree of Righteousness, the planting of the Lord! I am filled to overflowing with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of my Father. My life is a radiant display of goodness, moral excellence, and divine love. I am the light of my world, and through me, the glory of God is demonstrated to all men. My words bring life, and my deeds bring honor to the King. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY:
2 Corinthians 9:10: “Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;
Matthew 5:14-16: “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid… Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Isaiah 61:3: “…that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Matthew 14:13-36 & Genesis 49-50
2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 10:44-11:1-3 & Job 13-14
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Righteousness is the “Garment” of the New Creation. Wear it with consciousness and impact your world with its beauty!
