HEAVENLY INCLINED...: FOR THEIR LIPS ARE TO KEEP KNOWLEDGE, AND, INSTRUCTION IS TO BE SOUGHT FROM HIS MOUTH...

Thanksgiving for the LORD's Favor

Psalms 138 (A Psalm of David)
1/ I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.
2/ I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy loving-kindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
3/ In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.
4/ All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth.
5/ Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great is the glory of the LORD.
6/ Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.
7/ Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.
8/ The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me:
thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands... AMEN!!!

One CANNOT earn GRACE, it is HIS own ESSENCE; a gift, still, IF one claims to be IN HIS GRACE, we ARE to, or, OUGHT to, be reflections of that GRACE! 2 CORINTHIANS 6:1, tells us not to take HIS GRACE in vain! This means, living in LOVE, morality, ethics, virtue, righteousness, and, spiritual improvement, TOWARDS, spiritual maturity, WHILE, visibly BEING as LIGHTS, beaming OF *GOD*, beckoning the world, TO THE LIGHT! Righteousness MEANS, conduct in conformity with *GOD'S* WILL, and, "Be HOLY because I AM HOLY!", therefore, indicating that knowledge, wisdom, and, effort, DO, apply TO the righteous!!! NEVER forget, we were grafted in, and, if we do not bear fruit, as a dead branch, we will be pruned out, just as were, the natural branches!!!

We are not saved by works, instead, works PROVE HIM in us: they identify HIS own...

IF I claim ONENESS with *GOD*, through CHRIST JESUS, I am DEAD TO THE WORLD, THUS, LIVING as HIM, which is, hopefully, witnessed IN, and, THROUGH, my every thought, action, and, reaction; MEANING, I am, THROUGH CONSCIOUS application OF THE WORD, HIS COMMANDS, HIS WILL, REFLECTING righteousness, not, merely, FAITH! I become, the TRULY FRUITFUL branch, of THE VINE, the TRUE member of THE BODY/THE CHURCH, CHRIST JESUS, and, TESTIFY, then, GLORIFY, BOLDLY, BY my thoughts, actions, and, reactions, HIS name, because, HE IS WORTHY, and, IN HIS LOVE, has SHOWN me, how I OUGHT to exist, to which, I eagerly, adapt, and, comply!!!

MATTHEW 5:48...
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect

1 PETER 1:14-16...
14/ Like obedient children, do not act in compliance with the desires of your former ignorance
15/ but, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct,
16/ for it is written, "Be holy because I (am) holy."

ROMANS 12:2...
Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.

Conduct, in conformity to *GOD'S* WILL, marks the righteous; it is NOT because of guilt, or, ancient Laws, but, because of LOVE; LOVE for *GOD*, self, then, others! CHRIST JESUS gave us Commandments to live by, of which, the first is to LOVE *GOD*, with all of your mind, heart, and, soul; the second is, to LOVE one another!

LOVE COMPELS us to LIVE IN HIM, through conduct which conforms to *GOD*; in other words, morality, ethics, doing good, and, being good, and, ever striving to improve the spirit! It is about REFLECTING THE TRUTH, for ALL to bear witness to, FOR, and, TO HIS GLORY, RADIANTLY SHINING OF HIS POWER, GRACE, and, MERCIES!!!

It IS ALL ABOUT LOVE, baby, all about LOVE!!!

MATTHEW 4: 17...From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

JOHN 14:15..."If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

NOTE: I do not intend to preach, rather to reach; to stir up, awaken, to inspire, and, bring forth, in discussion, that which is, perhaps, dormantly existing in the heart of hearts, thus, little, or, no, sugar coatings, just THE WORD of *GOD*, the TRUTH, along with some of my thoughts. And truth is, I am reminding myself always, as I practice these reminders, in the best of my abilities, and capacities, while RELYING on THE LORD to lead me on that narrow PATH---> MATTHEW 7: 14: "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it... TO *GOD* BE ALL GLORY...

FOR THEIR LIPS ARE TO KEEP KNOWLEDGE, AND, INSTRUCTION IS TO BE SOUGHT FROM HIS MOUTH...

MALACHI 2: 4-9...

4/ Then you will know that I sent you this commandment because I have a covenant with Levi, says the LORD of hosts.

5/ My covenant with him was one of life and peace; fear I put in him, and he feared me, and stood in awe of my name.

6/ True doctrine was in his mouth, and no dishonesty was found upon his lips; He walked with me in integrity and in uprightness, and turned many away from evil.

7/ For the lips of the priest are to keep knowledge, and instruction is to be sought from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.

8/ But you have turned aside from the way, and have caused many to falter by your instruction; You have made void the covenant of Levi, says the LORD of hosts.

9/ I, therefore, have made you contemptible and base before all the people, Since you do not keep my ways, but show partiality in your decisions.

People get downright angry when their Priests, Pastors, Reverends, or, Ministers, exhort them, admonish them, and, remind them of their errs, but, what they don't remember is that err/sin, are natural to life, unto death, AND that, these people, largely, have been CALLED BY *GOD*, and, ARE LED by *GOD*, to deliver HIS messages, at ANY given time; be that, directly, or, indirectly, as through THE WORD! People leave their Churches because of being reminded of things they don't want to face, such as, the fact that IN SALVATION, IS responsibility TO becoming CHRIST-like, which, DOES involve change, effort, diligence, endurance, perseverance, and, constant alignment TO what is HOLY! We must NEVER forget, THE TRUTH in WHOLE, shall set us free!!!

There is PLENTY of GOOD NEWS, but, we MUST understand, and, conform to ALL of what is written, because THE WHOLE IS THE empowering SECURITY we NEED!!!

I was reading about a Pastor whom, in the onset of his Calling, was fearful of delivering the WHOLE TRUTH to his congregation, and, in doing so, built up a remarkable Church, with properties, wealth, and, all sorts of worldly tangibles of his Ministry. Then, one day, he began to regret his decision to appease the people, over *GOD*, and, began to speak THE WHOLE TRUTH to the people of his Church; well, week by week, the following dropped off; they left, sending him letters of disdain, and, other such! He was remorseful, but, he now feels as if a huge weight has been lifted from him! You see, his Calling is clad IN TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, and, nothing but the TRUTH!!!

People of the Cloth should NOT exist to fluff THE TRUTH; they are to GUIDE *GOD'S* people TOWARDS the prize, at ALL times, in ALL ways, regardless of the acceptance by the people! Too many have desired the wrong results of their work! They have sought to be popular, visible, wealthy, and, powerful, VOID of the very things which, mark the anointing of *GOD*! The increase of believing that there is NO responsibility towards Salvation, has increased the people of the Cloth, who have, basically, sold their Calling! Pride, and greed, has replaced reverence, and, devotion! By THE WORD of *GOD*, there is SERIOUS consequence for those who do NOT guide people IN TRUTH!!!

I WISH that I had encountered someone of the Cloth, in my early years, who would teach me the WHOLE TRUTH! I would have been spared a multitude of wrongdoings! Yet, I still believe there was/is reason for the paths of my life to this day! Still, I am appalled at the insufficiency of those who COULD have taught me! Here I was, a Child who, got ready, then, jumped out my bedroom window, to attend Church, taking a beating for doing so, but, I just HAD to, for a while, BE in Church! I tried MANY Churches, and, did not find what I was looking for, but, that did NOT stop me from finding *GOD*, because HE had HIS plans for me!!!

A person of the Cloth who delivers the WHOLE TRUTH, IS the one you want to pay attention to, because these are those who have nothing more in mind, than to guide you home, safely, to THE LORD, and, to GLORIFY HIS HOLINESS!!!

A WORTHY BRANCH is evident BY it's FRUITS! And, this is HOW we test the spirits, too, BY the evidence of their FRUITS! Not ALL of these FRUITS are tangible, yet, they ARE apparent in ethics, morality, integrity, honesty, modesty, chastity, humility, and, virtues BOUND TO THE TRUTH of *GOD'S* WILL!!!

YES, the WHOLE TRUTH WILL SCARE THE HELL out of you; IT IS INTENTIONAL, because *GOD* DOES NOT want ANYONE to perish! The WHOLE TRUTH, after the initial fear becomes part of us, serves us SO well, and, through adherence, and, application OF THE TRUTH, there comes the unleashing of HIS HOLY POWERS! It IS QUITE beneficial, both for the NOW, and, what IS to come!!!

The works of *GOD*/CHRIST/THE HOLY SPIRIT, are mysterious, and, complex, YET, HE has NOT overlooked ANY matter that might cause us to stumble, thus, it IS necessary to KNOW, which requires EFFORT, CONSTANT EFFORT, for the rest of our days, because there are MANY things without understanding, despite our proclamations of FAITH, DO have the power to take us away from our goal, *GOD*/CHRIST!!!

So, next time you are in Church, and, your Priest, Pastor, Reverend, Minister, begins to speak that which you do NOT want to hear, or know, pay close attention, because, *GOD* MAY be talking to YOU, exclusively, through HIS Chosen vessel!!!

BIBLICAL, and/or, other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS