HEAVENLY INCLINED...: TUESDAY'S THOUGHTS: GUIDANCE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT...

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...

TUESDAY'S THOUGHTS: GUIDANCE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT...

We ALL need guidance; guidance from our LORD, *GOD*, at ALL times, in ALL matters! Thus, those who have been Baptized into CHRIST, have received THE HOLY SPIRIT, which, supplies us, richly, with gifts, and, fruits of the mysteries of THE *GODHEAD*! The HOLY SPIRIT empowers us, and, moves in us, in ways we are, often, unaware of! The HOLY SPIRIT is identified with the re-birth of the person, through the act of dying in CHRIST, and, becoming the TRUE self, the spirit, thereby, enabling us with spiritual gifts, and, fruits OF *GOD*!!!

There are 6, actually 7, gifts, which are, fear of THE LORD, knowledge, Wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength, and, piety is added...

There are 9 BIBLICAL based fruits of the HOLY SPIRIT, which are, LOVE, PEACE, kindness, patience, gentleness, self-control, generosity, FAITHFULNESS, and, joy...

There are 12 traditional fruits of the HOLY SPIRIT, charity, joy, PEACE, patience, kindness, goodness, long-suffering, humility or gentleness, fidelity or faithfulness, modesty, continence or self-control and chastity, of which, several are found in the BIBLICAL based 9, but, ALL ARE of, HIS instructions...

IF you notice, many of these gifts, and, fruits, are synonymous to LOVE! LOVE is our connection to HIM, and, the premise of our obedience to HIM! LOVE IS THE LAW, and, is evidenced THROUGH these gifts, and, fruits in one's thoughts, actions, and, reactions!!!

In obtaining these gifts, and, fruits OF THE *GODHEAD*, we are equipped to live a virtuous life, ever heading towards HOLINESS of spirit, while, bearing worthy fruit, for the GOOD OF ALL, but especially, FOR, and, TO THE GLORY of *GOD*/CHRIST!!!

Guidance is OPTIMIZED by understanding, thus, THE HOLY SPIRIT, in turn, OPENS UP to the necessary Wisdom, and, knowledge, which comprises understanding! But, we HAVE to be open, ourselves, while remaining in worthy conduct, TO receiving!!!

HIS gifts, and, fruits, are to encourage our gifts, and, fruits, that, HE IS GLORIFIED through us, and that, HE SHINES through us, for all in the darkness to bear witness to!!!

Guidance is right before us, and, the more we seek HIS guidance, the more accessible it becomes! One could not hope to understand HIM, without HIS guidance, and so, the HOLY SPIRIT!
EPHESIANS 1: 3-14, & 17-23...

3/ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens,

4/ as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him. In love

5/ he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will,

6/ for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the beloved.

7/ In him we have redemption by his blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of his grace

8/ that he lavished upon us. In all wisdom and insight,

9/ he has made known to us the mystery of his will in accord with his favor that he set forth in him

10/ as a plan for the fullness of times, to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth.

11/ In him we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the one who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will,

12/ so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ.

13/ In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised holy Spirit,

14/ which is the first installment of our inheritance toward redemption as God's possession, to the praise of his glory.

17/ that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him.

18/ May the eyes of (your) hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones,

19/ and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, in accord with the exercise of his great might,

20/ which he worked in Christ, raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens,

21/ far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come.

22/ And he put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,

23/ which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.

We are CALLED to HOLINESS, thus, guidance is imperative, for we cannot do what we do not understand, and so, THE *GODHEAD* completed the formula, by filling us with the HOLY SPIRIT!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2012
BIBLICAL, and/or, other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS