HEAVENLY INCLINED...: WEDNESDAY'S WISDOM: INTIMACY WITH THE LORD...

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...

WEDNESDAY'S WISDOM: INTIMACY WITH THE LORD...

It is vital to KNOW THE LORD, our *GOD*, not merely, subjectively, but, intimately, which, is not an easy undertaking, yet, an imperative one! We are removed from *GOD*/CHRIST, by the dormancy of the spirit, which is waiting eagerly to be aroused, awakened, and, instructed! Many who claim to be one with *GOD*/CHRIST, have not yet, let go of the flesh, or, pride, thus, have not, awakened the TRUE self, the spirit, and so, do not have a real relationship with HIM!!!

JEREMIAH 9: 22-23...

22/ Thus says the LORD: Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, nor the strong man glory in his strength, nor the rich man glory in his riches;

23/ But rather, let him who glories, glory in this, that in his prudence he knows me, Knows that I, the LORD, bring about kindness, justice and uprightness on the earth; For with such am I pleased, says the LORD.

PSALM 46: 2-12...

2/ God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in distress.

3/ Thus we do not fear, though earth be shaken and mountains quake to the depths of the sea,

4/ Though its waters rage and foam and mountains totter at its surging. The LORD of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob. Selah

5/ Streams of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High.

6/ God is in its midst; it shall not be shaken; God will help it at break of day.

7/ Though nations rage and kingdoms totter, God's voice thunders and the earth trembles.

8/ The LORD of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob. Selah

9/ Come and see the works of the LORD, who has done fearsome deeds on earth;

10/ Who stops wars to the ends of the earth, breaks the bow, splinters the spear, and burns the shields with fire;

11/ Who says: "Be still and confess that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth."

12/ The LORD of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob. Selah

We know that David had a close, intimate relationship with *GOD*, in fact, ALL of those favoured by HIM, held an honest relationship with HIM, and, willingly worked according to HIS WILL!!!

Moses is another great example of a person who had an intimately, close relationship with *GOD*, even to the point of *GOD* allowing HIM to view HIM from the backside! Still, Moses broke FAITH with *GOD*, by allowing HIS pride to take over his spirit, and though *GOD* forgave him, HE did not allow HIM to enter the land HE had promised those whom Moses led for 40+ years! Moses broke FAITH by not GLORIFYING *GOD* over himself, or as *GOD* saw it, through disbelief! To *GOD*, the FAITH which obeys HIM, is the rightful FAITH! NO pride is left in the obedient, or, the humbled; they are willing, and, happy to give HIM HIS rightful GLORY, for NOTHING is without *GOD*!!!

HOW do we come to KNOW *GOD*/CHRIST? Let's take a look at EXODUS 33: 12-13...

12/ Moses said to the LORD, "You, indeed, are telling me to lead this people on; but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, 'You are my intimate friend,' and also, 'You have found favor with me.'

13/ Now, if I have found favor with you, do let me know your ways so that, in knowing you, I may continue to find favor with you. Then, too, this nation is, after all, your own people."

Moses has asked *GOD* to show him, and, teach him HIS WAYS, so that he will know how to continue to find favour in HIM!

Now, let's read ROMANS 16: 25-27...

25/ Now to him who can strengthen you, according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret for long ages

26/ but now manifested through the prophetic writings and, according to the command of the eternal God, made known to all nations to bring about the obedience of faith,

27/ to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ be glory forever and ever. Amen.

To bring about the obedience of FAITH! CHRIST JESUS tells us in JOHN 14: 7 &15;

7/ If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him."
15/ If you LOVE ME, you will keep MY COMMANDMENTS.
This too, speaks of obedience of FAITH!!!

To KNOW *GOD*/CHRIST is to come CLOSE to HIM, through LOVE, TRUST, BELIEF, FAITH, FAITHFULNESS, and, study of HIS WORD, diligently, and, constantly, THAT, HIS WILL, and, WAYS become one with our mind, TO over-ride the senseless chatter of the egocentric being, FOR the purpose of openness TO receiving HIM, entirely, via the being, body, mind, and, spirit, which then, allows for sincere, honest, and, intentful communication, WHILE we DO what is right, just, and, merciful in HIS sight, FOR, and, TO HIS GLORY!!!

No, it is not easy to have an intimate, personal relationship with *GOD*, and, cannot be manifest subjectively, but, PRAISE be unto HIM, HE HAS SHOWN US THE WAY, and, is ever ready to commence one with us!!!

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