THE PATH OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

O U T L I N e for :

THE PATH OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

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one of the Most Popular passages in the bible is Psalms 23 •

but do we REALLY know what it means

and how it APPLIES to me ?

HOPEFULLY this brief outline will HELP :

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TRY this:

i want you to LOOK at your LIFE 

Like it’s a Action Adventure Movie.

Some of the Key Elements in these kinds of Movies are

the Heros - the Villains

side kicks - the Victims

the Damsel in Distress - the Seductress

Conflict - Betrayal

Battles - Test of Loyalty

Lost Loved ones

& the Happily Ever After

Although these kind of  MOVIES seem SO FICTIONAL

today i want you to see a Passage that could also been seen as the SCRIPT   for SUCH A KIND of Movie ;)

Psalms 23.

the Movie is called 

“the Path of Righteousness”.

NO NEED to Audition

Y O U ‘V E . B E E N . C H O S E N .

you’ve Been Chosen to be one of the HEROS .

This Adventure will TEST you in EVERY WAY,

sometimes the Trials May SEEM Unreal, or Fictional ,

you may FEEL at times like 

“this Can’t be Happening” .

and that is why i am HERE TODAY .

to Let you HEAR the ENTIRE Story -

so that NO MATTER what you FACE 

you won’t Give Up on the Hero in you

 BECAUSE you already know the ENDINg .

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The Lord the Shepherd of His People

A Psalm of David.

23 

The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.

2 

He makes me to lie down in green pastures;He leads me beside the still waters.

3 

He restores my soul;He leads me in the paths of righteousnessFor His name’s sake.

4 

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,I will fear no evil;For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5 

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.

6 

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the LordForever.

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first Understand Who God is:

the shepherd

shepherd

noun

a person who tends and rears sheep.

the Shepherds Responsibilities 

tend ²

verb [ trans. ]

care for or look after; give one's attention to 

• direct or manage; work in

tend ²²

verb

 look after, take care of, care for, minister to, attend to, see to, wait on; watch over, keep an eye on, mind, protect, watch, guard, supervise; nurse, nurture, cherish. ANTONYMS neglect.

rear ²

verb

1 [ trans. ] (usu. be reared) bring up and care for (a child) until they are fully grown, esp. in a particular manner or place

raise, care for, look after, nurture, parent; educate.

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it was very important that 

the ROLE of your HEAVENLY Father 

be  made clear in the beginning.

on this and every Journey

HE IS and WILL Be

the Source of Everything NEEDED

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journey preparation:

2 

He makes me to lie down in green pastures;He leads me beside the still waters.

3 

He restores my soul;He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

Prior to Each Journey in this Adventure 

 there needs to be a Time of Rest & Restoration.

a Time to Help you Understand 

what will be Required along this Particular journey

& a time to HELP you Recover

 from your LAST Journey you were involved in.

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side note:

I Love how this Translation says, “Makes me to Lie down”.

i know for myself, i sometimes get Pre-Occupied or OverZealous and Forget i NEED to REST.

the NEED for REST

the NEED for Resting in Him ... 

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so what is this GREEN Pastures:

pasture

noun

• figurative a place or activity regarded as offering new opportunities

it is HERE that God Presents the Hero with “READy Resources”.

a Resource can be :

specific People / Connections , 

Talents, 

Skills 

or sometimes Material Things

that will Help the Hero on the coming Journey.

the STILL WATERS:

there is a Phrase that goes, “still waters run DEEP.”

and this is usually spoken from a Master to a Student 

or a Mentor to a protege 

to Help them Begin to GRASP the concept of Depth 

especially “psychological Depth”.

a Place where “dimensions” are Revealed. 

- 2 Corinthians 2:10

these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 

This segment of your preparation is where you 

Gain the MOST Advantage & Greatest Perspective.

it is IN the Knowledge and Understanding THESE DEEP THINGS that

Confidence , Courage and Faith Begin to Blossom

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Now our JOURNEY Begins! :

He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

the Path of Righteousness is difficult to explain 

because, it is a Path we Walk on by faith

, a Place or Mindset we consciously try to Stay in

 but it is also a Training Station where we are Purged for Perfecting.

the Path of Righteousness is almost like a FULL Pregnancy -

3 segments or 3 trimesters.

We have just completed discussing Phase 1.

from the beginning of the Psalms 23

we have Actually been on the Path of righteousness ,

even though it’s only Mentioning it now.

> the Writer *Intersects right here to Let us KNOW something 

Very Necessary.

the Path of Righteousness doesn’t always Mean Surrounded by green pastures and still water.

the Path LEADS THROUGH “other places”.

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4 

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

the VALLEY: 

NOW, the Excitement Begins .

the Valley   .   of the SHADOW     .  of Death

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Romans 6:23

And then he told them, "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Mark 16:15 

Go into the WORLD.

The HERO is sent into the “DARk PLACES” to SHINE.

shadow

noun

1 a dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface

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one way the Valley of the Shadow of Death

can Be explained as is : 

the places where Sin and Evil are more Apparent.

apparent

adjective

clearly visible or understood; obvious :Bold

This is what Heros are Born for .

this is a PLACE where “something”- “some Lie”  is working overtime 

to Seduce the People 

away from the Light.

the choosing of SIN  Blocks the Light and Cast a SHADOW.

a Place where people are More Concerned with how Sexy they are 

rather than how Holy they are Living.

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a Place where WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE 

is more important than the Characteristics you possess.

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a Place where people are Cool with being Spiritual, but not being Christ Like.

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it is a PLACE that LACKS the LIGHT & Love 

but has an Strong Appetite for Cruel Criticism

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since JESUS CAME, died and ROSE with all Power-

IT CANNOT be Called the VALLEY of the DEATH.

it can only be the VALLEY of the SHADOW of death.

(read 1 Corinthians 15:55-57)

It IS NOT Necessarily a PLACE WHERE SIN RULES

but it could be a PLACE where SIN is still being Blatantly Chosen by the People

This may be your Job,

your School

your Home

your favorite Coffee Spot

your Gym

a Church 

a Bus Route

 a Stranger on the STREET.

wherever it is, this is what & where 

the HERO has been prepared for.

This is the TASK, the Adventure

and Please Believe - “it GETS Real! out there”.

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But Wonderfully -

God is Still with you.

God actually LEAD you here.

this is ALONG the PATH of Righteousness.

DID we know that

the PATH of RIghteousness

LEADS Through the Valley of the Shadow of Death ?

the Hero is Lead “in” the Path of righteousness

but Lead “THROUGH” the Valley.

Never Confuse those two.

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the Rod & Staff:

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

the Rod: Disciplines

the Staff: Supports and Protects

Sometimes even the HERO wants to Venture off.

the Hero has been called to the Valley to be a Reflection of the True Light of God .

... but sometimes , if not careful, he can become SEDUCED by the same elements that are seducing the people that NEED SAVING in that PLACE.

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God RESTORED your Soul and changed the way you think 

so that the HERO in you would ARISE,

not so that you would GO BACK to being Brainwashed while on a Mission.

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God will definitely USE THE ROD

when NEEDED.

some of the TRIALS the Hero faces on the journey are Self- Inflicted.

this is a Result of the Hero getting off Course and the ROD 

“seeking to bring Him / Her BACK to Depths of Heavenly Reality”

1 Corinthians 10:23 

You say, "I am allowed to do anything"--but not everything is good for you. You say, "I am allowed to do anything"--but not everything is beneficial.

James 4:4 

You adulterers! Don't you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.

2 Corinthians 5:10 

For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for thegood or evil we have done in this earthly body.

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the STAFF 

can be seen as a Actual WOODEN Stick used to Support a person who is tired or injured,

or the STAFF Can be seen from a practical perspective -

as in the “STAFF” from a work environment: 

all the people who Hold different jobs

 and perform different task to reach a MAIN GOAL.

as mentioned in the green pastures, 

God will supply the HERO with Connects, People, 

STAFF MEMBERS to help the HERO along the journey. 

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the Happily ever After:

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the LordForever.

the Ending of this Adventure 

has a lot to do with the Coming of our KING

and that Moment when the Heros/Warriors meet the King.

what a GREAT DAY that will Be.

The day the King Rewards the Warrior 

and brings the Hero back into the Kingdom.

There is much to be Interpreted from this 3rd segment of Psalms 23

and i look forward to diving deep into it, but something tells me 

“this is enough for now”

Now is the time that 

you to MEDITATE on the HERO in you.

think about the Training you’ve Received 

and the preparation that has been made available to you.

Think about the resources you’ve been given

and the VALLEYS you’ve been placed in to be a Light.

this is your AWAKENING -

The HAPPILY EVER AFTER  has already been WRITTEN

the Heros  just needs to Make sure they remain being just that - 

 the Heros.

Revelations 22:!2 

"See! I am coming soon! My reward is with me to repay everyone according to hisbehavior.

NO Matter what Happens

Never Give up on the HERO in you.  

EVERYDAY remember the Power that WORKS Within you.

1 John 4:4

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greaterthan the one who is in the world.

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Get saved

Get Knowledge

Get Wisdom

and with all thy Getting 

Get Understanding 

.

CHRISTIANS UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Christians Under Construction

: Outline for “Christians Under Construction”

Group Discussion:   

 ACCESSGRANTED

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a Video was created for the Song 

DEAD & GONE - by T.I.

the First Frame of the video is a Bible Scripture

1 Corinthians 13:11

When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.

the Song Denotes some sort of AWAKENING for the Artist 

in which He sees 

the “Powerful INFLUENCE” of  His Actions

 in a NEW LIGHT.

for this kind of AWAKENING

the Scripture chosen for the video is perfect.

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for Many of us, 

like the ARTIST - we KNOW right from WRONG.

but WHAT will it take for us to 

“WAKE UP” and begin to “RESPECT” Consequences ?

you see,

... you can CHOOSE the CHOICE but you CANT CHOOSE the Consequence •

it is NOT UNTIL 

“Consequences” begin to HELP YOU make Decisions

that you can Truly and Confidently Label yourself an Adult.

Thats simply means:

When you START Considering the BIGGER Picture PRIOR to making a Choice.

b e g i n . t o . C O N S I D E R . t h i s . w a y :

1 Corinthians 10:23 

You say, "I am allowed to do anything"--but not everything is good for you. You say, "I am allowed to do anything"--but not everything is beneficial.

1 Corinthians 10:23 

Someone may say, "I'm allowed to do anything," but not everything is helpful. I'm allowed to do anything, but not everything encourages growth.

>>>

if it’s NOT HELPING 

it’s HURTING

if it’s not GROWING

it’s DESTROYING

what will the RESULT BE

of the CHOICE you want to make ?

consequence

noun

1 a result or effect of an action or condition

in the SONG we see a MAN Considering the Consequences 

of his previous Actions.

It is a Wonderful thing that He is NOW taking into serious consideration

his CHOICES, 

but it would have been a EVEN MORE Wonderful thing

HAD HE CONSIDERED the POSSIBLE Consequences 

Prior to CHOOSING the ACTION

that Caused Him the Trouble He is now Singing about.

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so WHAT About you ? :

1 Corinthians 13:11

When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. 

How much CHILD do you still have Left in you ?

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This song discusses 

PRIDE getting in the way

PEOPLE Dying over NON-sense

How people don’t know what to do when their back is against the WALL

and it speaks HEAVILY about

now I get it, now I take

Time to think, before I make mistakes just for my family's sake

now I get it, now I take

Time to think, before I make mistakes just for my family's sake

do you THINK your CHOICES only AFFECT you ?

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I hear people say OFTEN

i know... i know... just PRAY for me.

WHAT EXACTLY should we pray for.

we Heard you say that “you know” .

 so what’s stopping you ?

should we pray for you to HAVE A DESIRE to Actually *DO what you KNOW you should.

should we pray for the STRENGTH or COURAGE to help you DO what you know.

should we pray that the CONSEQUENCES for everything you are thinking in the HEAT of that MOMENT areVividly revealed to you to Help you DO what you KNOW you should.

WHAT will it take for us to DO what we KNOW we should ?

maybe a LOOK into what we may BE MISSING out on .

...

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OF course

because of the WAR that WAGES within us, caused by our SINFUL nature,

doing the RIGHT thing is a lot EASIER said than DONE.

SO how do we BUILD our STRENGTH ?

...

FLOOD & STARVE

FLOOD ourselves with the WORD of GOD

STARVE our FLESH

this is Done through the 

PEOPLE we surround ourselves with

to the Music we listen to in our Cars or Headphones.

Proverbs 4:23

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

Luke 6:45

A good man from the good stored up in his heart brings out what is good; and an evil man from the evil stored up brings out what is evil; for from the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.

FLOOD ourselves with the WORD of GOD

STARVE our FLESH

this is Done through the 

FIRST Activity we engage in - in the Morning

to WHAT Thoughts we Decide to DWELL on.

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so what’s the BIG DEAL ?

Holding on to CHILDISH ways

is like Carrying around a WEIGHT.

it Holds you DOWN & Hold you Back.

Continuing to Consciously Speak, Think & Reason as a CHILD

KEEPS you from Experiencing and ENTERINg 

the Promise that God has for you.

it’s like trying to Get into a CLUB with a Strict Dress Code

but you are wearing your Pajamas.

... you won’t get pass the VELVET ROPE 

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the FIRST THING we must Understand is that

God is NOT A TEASE. GOD WANTS to BLESS you.

God wants you to WALK into that Promise

or else He wouldn’t have MADE it A Possibility 

or even given you the DREAM.

but “you”

MUST do *your PART .

or it will Never come to Pass.

the “if you” clause

conditional

adjective

1 subject to one or more conditions or requirements being met; made or granted on certain terms

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this MEANS that our HOPE DREAMS and Aspirations

can all be Delayed and Put on HOLD

because of our Behavior or should i say “mis-Behavior”.

Proverbs 13:12 Delayed hope makes the heart sick, but fulfilled desire is a tree of life.

so WHAT must we do ?

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

if not NOW

... WHEN ?...

i understand -

most of the TIME

WE KNOW what to do - but we lack the MOTIVATION to do it.

THIS IS WHEN “Self-Discipline” must KICK in.

Self-Discipline is an ADULT trait.

Self-Discipline is an ADULT trait.

Self-Discipline is an ADULT trait.

POSSESSING this is a SIGN of Maturity.

Self-Discipline is one of the Traits that will Help you 

GAIN ACCESS to those HOPES Dreams and Aspirations .

So , 

let us strip off every weight that slows us down .

GAIN ACCESS

and LIVE the LIFE that God Intended for you.

i’m NOT SAYING it will be EASY -

it will be Difficult 

but why make LIFE Harder than it has to be ?

don’t make the Possible 

IMPOSSIBLE 

because you won’t Discipline yourself

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this is the CONCLUSION:

everyday , with every CHOICE we make

WE CHOOSE the MOVE CLOSER 

to the Promise, the Blessing, the Breakthrough

or we choose to move FURTHER Away .

...

GAIN ACCESS by CHOOSING to put away Childish Ways.

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Now let’s see what they LOOK Like in our Example Demonstration 

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nonsense 

noun

1 spoken or written words that have no meaning or make no sense 

2 foolish or unacceptable behavior 

childish

adjective

• silly and immature 

immature

adjective

• (of a person or their behavior) having or showing emotional or intellectual development appropriate to someone younger 

speak 

verb 

1 say something in order to convey information, an opinion, 

• [ trans. ] communicate in or be able to communicate in

think 

verb ( past and past part. thought 

1 [with clause ] have a particular opinion, belief, or idea about someone or something :

2 [ intrans. ] direct one's mind toward someone or something

reason 

noun

1 a cause, explanation, or justification for an action or event 

• good or obvious cause to do something.

Logic a premise of an argument in support of a belief, 

2 the power of the mind to think, understand, and form judgments by a process of logic

• what is right, practical, or possible; common sense

Proverbs 13:3 

Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.

Jeremiah 15:19

Because of this, the LORD said, "You must repent of such words and thoughts! If you do, I will restore you to the privilege of serving me. If you say what is worthwhile instead of what is worthless, I will again allow you to be my spokesman. They must become as you have been. You must not become like them.

Romans 12:2

Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Proverbs 4:23

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

Luke 6:45

A good man from the good stored up in his heart brings out what is good; and an evil man from the evil stored up brings out what is evil; for from the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.

"Dead And Gone"

(feat. Justin Timberlake)

[Spoken - T.I.]

Ay

Let me kick it to you right quick, man

Not on some gangsta s*** man, on some real s***

Anybody done been through the same thing, I'm sure you feel the same way

Big Phil

This for you pimpin'

[Chorus (Justin Timberlake (T.I.)):]

Oh (eyyy)

I've been travellin' on this road too long (too long)

Just tryna find my way back home (back home)

The old me is dead and gone, dead and gone

And oh (eyyy)

I've been travellin' on this road too long (too long)

Just tryna find my way back home (back home)

The old me is dead and gone, dead and gone, dead and gone

[Verse 1 - T.I.]

Ever had one of them days wish would've stayed home

Run into a group of n*##@$ who gettin' they hate on

You walk by

They get wrong

You reply then s*** get blown

Way outta proportion

Way past discussion

Just you against them, pick one then rush 'em

Figure you'll get jumped, hell that's nothing

They don't wanna stop there now they bussin'

Now you gushin', ambulance rushin'

You to the hospital with a bad concussion

Plus ya hit 4 times

Plus it hit ya spine

Paralyzed waist down now ya wheel chair bound

Nevermind that now you lucky to be alive

Just think it all started you fussin' with 3 guys

Now ya pride in the way, but ya pride is the way

You could f*** around, get shot, die anyday

N**** die everyday

All over non-sense, dope money, dice game, ordinary hood s***

Could this be 'cos of hip hop music?

Or did the ones with the good sense not use it?

Usually n***** don't know what to do when their back against the wall so they just start shootin'

For red or for blue or for blood I guess

From Bankhead or from your projects

No more stress, now I'm straight, now I get it, now I take

Time to think, before I make mistakes just for my family's sake

That part of me left yesterday

The heart of me is strong today

No regrets I'm blessed to say

The old me dead and gone away

[Chorus (Justin Timberlake (T.I.))]

[Verse 2 - T.I.]

I ain't never been scared, I lived through tragedy

Situation could've been dead lookin' back at it

Most of that s*** didn't even have to happen

But you don't think about it when you out there trappin'

In apartments, hangin', smokin', and rappin'

N**** start s****, next thing ya know we cappin'

Get locked up then didn't even get mad

Now think about d*** what a life I had

Most of that s***, look back, just laugh

Some s*** still look back get sad

Maybe my homboy still be around

Had I not hit the n**** in the mouth that time

I won that fight

I lost that war

I can still see my n**** walkin' out that door

Who'da thought I'd never see Philant no more?

Got enough dead homies I don't want no more

Cost a n***** his job

Cost me more

I'd took that a**-whooping now for sure

Now think before I risk my life

Take them chances to get my stripe

A n***** put his hands on me alright

Otherwise stand there talk s*** all night

'Cos I hit you, you sue me,

I shoot you, get locked up, who me?

No more stress, now I'm straight, now I get it, now I take

Time to think, before I make mistakes just for my family's sake

That part of me left yesterday

The heart of me is strong today

No regrets I'm blessed to say

The old me dead and gone away

[Chorus (Justin Timberlake (T.I.))]

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--
donnieBgood...