HEAVENLY INCLINED...: UNDERSTANDING ABUNDANCE: WHAT BEGAN & ENDED IN THE GARDEN...

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...

UNDERSTANDING ABUNDANCE: WHAT BEGAN & ENDED IN THE GARDEN...

When HE CREATED the first people, PARADISE was intended to be their lot, but, when they denied HIM, in favour of deception, that changed; HE told Adam that now he would have to work the ground with hard labor to provide for himself, and Eve!!!

*GOD* CREATED Man to have as a close companion, to share HIMSELF, and HIS GLORY with; the tree that Eve ate from, then shared with Adam, was the tree of KNOWLEDGE of GOOD and EVIL! *GOD* FORBADE them this tree, TO protect them from the harsh realities of what is opposed to *GOD*, thus humanity! *GOD* gave them the freedom of choice; they could rely upon HIM, HIS WISDOM, and HIS knowledge, or not; such was/is the way HE CREATED us! IF only they had listened, if only they had obeyed!!!

IF they had obeyed HIM, their hearts, eyes, and ears, would NOT have been opened to the HIS enemy, the fallen, rebellious, hate-filled Angel, whom was cast out of HEAVEN because he felt himself to be equal, or greater than THE LORD *GOD*! *GOD* warned them, to save them from the heavy yoke of slavery to the knowledge of carnality, the flesh, the egocentric mind! The ban of the tree was NOT to tempt them, it was to spare them! The evil one USED this ban as a tactic to PROVE humanity unworthy of *GOD'S* having CREATED them; he detests us, loathes us, and is jealous of our potential oneness with *GOD*...

Even though THE LORD removed Adam, and Eve from PARADISE, HE was with them; HE caused the rains to fall upon the lands, that their food would grow, and HE caused them to multiply, and increase, although, it was different now, and removed were they, from HIS close companionship! Still, HE PROVIDED for them, and they brought forth the first civilization, abundant with many gifts of THE LORD...

OK, to the point of this post:
There is a LOT of confusion about what ABUNDANCE from THE LORD is, a LOT of confusion! Abundance from THE LORD is often, intangible, though, DOES have tangible effects! Abundance might mean increase in worldly goods, yet, that is rather simplistic, don't you agree? I mean, HE IS THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY, and DOES have the power to make EVERYONE filthy rich, but, that ISN'T what HIS aim! HIS aim is to enrich us from the spirit outwardly, that all else HE bestows upon us, is taken with a heart after HIS own!

Abundance of THE LORD, falls into every category, though, is most likely, to begin within the being, although, HE HAS ABUNDANTLY supplied for our basic needs, even those who are in extreme circumstances ARE being cared for, according to HIS WILL! I struggle for a perfect way to convey that HE HAS abundantly provided for us, yet, CAN'T we SEE???

The evil ruler, on the other hand, entices people, and promises worldly riches, TO remove us from what is just, right, and good, because as THE LORD knows, wealth changes the hearts of humanity, which is WHY HE says that we CANNOT serve 2 Masters, for we will LOVE one, and hate the other! We are NOT perfected of spirit enough to handle worldly wealth OVER *GODLY* wealth! Thus, HE TEACHES us, through diverse lessons, that our spirit is rich enough to over-ride the desire for worldly wealth, which is temporal, and will rot away!!!

To be rich of spirit IS KEY to our TRUE inheritance, which time, nor principality can corrupt, take, or remove! To be rich of spirit IS the introduction TO what lies ahead, and while it might not grant us pleasures of the flesh, it WILL more than exceedingly reward us, come that day of THE LORD!!!

There were many in BIBLICAL times who were quite wealthy BY the hand of THE LORD, BUT, they were also, very DEVOTED to HIM, FEARED HIM, were humble before HIM, and obeyed HIM! HE says, MATTHEW 6: 33...
Seek ye therefore first the kingdom of God, and his justice, and all these things shall be added unto you.

There is scarcely any sin against which our Lord Jesus more warns his disciples, than disquieting, distracting, distrustful cares about the things of this life. This often ensnares the poor as much as the love of wealth does the rich. But there is a carefulness about temporal things which is a duty, though we must not carry these lawful cares too far. Take no thought for your life. Not about the length of it; but refer it to God to lengthen or shorten it as he pleases; our times are in his hand, and they are in a good hand.

Not about the comforts of this life; but leave it to God to make it bitter or sweet as he pleases. Food and raiment God has promised, therefore we may expect them. Take no thought for the morrow, for the time to come. Be not anxious for the future, how you shall live next year, or when you are old, or what you shall leave behind you. As we must not boast of tomorrow, so we must not care for to-morrow, or the events of it. God has given us life, and has given us the body. And what can he not do for us, who did that?

If we take care about our souls and for eternity, which are more than the body and its life, we may leave it to God to provide for us food and raiment, which are less. Improve this as an encouragement to trust in God.

We must reconcile ourselves to our worldly estate, as we do to our stature. We cannot alter the disposals of Providence, therefore we must submit and resign ourselves to them.

Thoughtfulness for our souls is the best cure of thoughtfulness for the world. Seek first the kingdom of God, and make religion your business: say not that this is the way to starve; no, it is the way to be well provided for, even in this world.

The conclusion of the whole matter is, that it is the will and command of the Lord Jesus, that by daily prayers we may get strength to bear us up under our daily troubles, and to arm us against the temptations that attend them, and then let none of these things move us. Happy are those who take the Lord for their God, and make full proof of it by trusting themselves wholly to his wise disposal. Let thy Spirit convince us of sin in the want of this disposition, and take away the worldliness of our hearts.

We don't suffer lack because *GOD* hasn't provided abundantly, HE HAS! NO! We suffer lack because we lack in LOVE, KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDING, and OBEDIENCE! IF we could live in LOVE, to begin with, and all else would follow, as CHRIST HAS COMMANDED, we would lack NOTHING! It is STILL HIS desire for us to share a close relationship with HIM, thus, HE leads us, through MANY ways, and effects, TO the spirit, in order to manifest HIS WILL, as HIS WILL SHALL BE DONE, FOR, and TO HIS GLORY, AMEN!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2013
BIBLICAL, and/or, other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS