HEAVENLY INCLINED...: REPENTANCE TO DISCIPLESHIP: HONOURING THE GIFT!!!

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...

REPENTANCE TO DISCIPLESHIP: HONOURING THE GIFT!!!

LUKE 5: 32...
I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners."

REPENTANCE is a change of heart! It is seeing things *GOD'S* way, instead of carnally! It involves the conscious resistance to sin more, after confessing to *GOD*, and, the understanding of WHY it was sin in the first place! It is an awakening of conscientious living, aligned to HIM, HIS WILL, HIS WAYS, HIS TRUTH! It is an ACCEPTANCE of renewal IN CHRIST, our LORD, and, SAVIOUR, with knowledge that we are now of spirit, not of flesh, and therefore, act accordingly, following HIS example, and, HIS teachings! The premise is FAITH in HIM, HIS WILL, HIS WAYS, and, HIS having come to redeem us! FAITH requires FAITHFULNESS, and, HE has left us instruction, in how to become FAITHFUL, which involves, improving, and, maturing the spirit; keeping our FOCUS upon what is HOLY, what is right, what is good, what is wholesome, what is healthy, what is moral, what is chaste, what is reverent, what is advantageous TO the spirit, in the NOW, and, eternally!!!

1 JOHN 1: 5-10...

5/ Now this is the message that we have heard from him and proclaim to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.

6/ If we say, "We have fellowship with him," while we continue to walk in darkness, we lie and do not act in truth.

7/ But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin.

8/ If we say, "We are without sin," we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

9/ If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing.

10/ If we say, "We have not sinned," we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

CHRIST would heal, or, forgive people, then tell them to sin no more! HE called them to change, to TURN to *GOD*, and, to become obedient TO HIM, and, HIS WILL! CHRIST HIMSELF, spent HIS time, with a pure heart, fulfilling the WILL of *GOD*, remaining obedient, and, humbly reverent! HE GAVE the example of HOW the saved should live! HE taught in MANY ways, the necessary behaviours, and, characteristics of HIS Chosen! HE IS THE CHURCH, THE TRUE VINE, of which, IF we are repented, we will BUILD UP THE CHURCH, and, produce the best fruits!!!

Mostly, we are to become Disciples of THE LORD, in which case, HE left MANY instructions to enhance the growth, and, optimization of this role! HE TRAINED HIS Disciples, thus, we have to be so trained; that, in letter, and, deed, we ARE the REFLECTIONS of HIM, that, THE LIGHT EVER SHINES in the world, guiding others to *GOD*! This requires effort, body, mind, and, spirit, but, is NOT an effort of discomfort, instead an effort of GREAT JOY!!!

MATTHEW 16: 24-26...

24/ Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.

25/ For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

26/ What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life?

ACTS 5: 29-32...

29/ But Peter and the apostles said in reply, "We must obey God rather than men.

30/ The God of our ancestors raised Jesus, though you had him killed by hanging him on a tree.

31/ God exalted him at his right hand as leader and savior to grant Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins.

32/ We are witnesses of these things, as is the holy Spirit that God has given to those who obey him."

HE has called us to repentance; to a change of heart, to an improved state of existence, from the heart of hearts, outwardly; to Discipleship! May we find the knowledge, wisdom, and, understanding, to HONOUR HIM, and, to radiate for ALL the world to bear witness to, that, more SEE THE LIGHT, THE TRUTH, THE WAY, and, follow accordingly! PRAISE, and, WORSHIP HIS HOLY name, and, give THANKS unto HIM, for HIS LOVE, and, GIFTS! HALLELUJAH, PRAISE THE LORD!!!

JOHN 14: 15...

"If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

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