HEAVENLY INCLINED...: THE GIFT OF GRACE = REGENERATION...

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...

THE GIFT OF GRACE = REGENERATION...

Sin tells us that this time is about us, TRUTH says this time is about *GOD*, and HIS WILL! We are, generally speaking, NOT raised close to the TRUTH, and so, by the time we are ready for the TRUTH, for *GOD*, we have LOTS of layers of lies, and deceptions to peel away...

Many believe that they are free from sin, rightly so in the proper context, yet, TRUTH says that we have changed our ways to denounce, and resist from sin! There are yet, because of the ongoing battle against THE LORD *GOD*, plenty of dangers for the believer, and MUCH instruction concerning our attention to the facts, and to remaining safe from enmity!!!

FAITH is right, yet it does not remain mute on the sidelines, or become enmeshed in what is of the world, only to taunt, arrogantly it's fact, instead, it is ACTION evidenced; full of good works, and deliberate growth, PROVING THE RIGHTEOUSNESS of *GOD* in us!!!

Salvation is REGENERATION, NOT degeneration! We are being REFINED, NOT more corrupted! While we CERTAINLY WILL have battles with overcoming certain behaviours, and issues, we SHOULDN'T give IN to them, and act in infidelity, like a Spouse who can't control their desires to cheat, BECAUSE THE WAY is clearly set before us, and you can bet that *GOD* IS NOT looking for more of the same, when the New Earth, and KINGDOM are manifest! I am SURE when HE says that we will enter into eternal PEACE WITH HIM, HE is looking forward to being relieved of the ugly head of sin!!!

It DOESN'T make ANY sense to me whatsoever, not even in compassion, that we should be SO enticed with what we KNOW is against *GOD*, that we can't TRY to overcome such! Ignorance is one thing, but to believe that because HE said our sins are forgiven, that we can do ANYTHING we WANT to do, regardless that it is against HIM, is ILLOGICAL, and dangerous! I CAN RESIST whatever I WANT to; this HAS been PROVEN to me, and I HAVE done so in many areas of my life, and while it takes conscientious effort, and time to do so, it IS the WAY of RIGHTEOUSNESS, and makes perfect sense, because *GOD* BIDS us to BE HOLY as HE IS; NOT that we will fully accomplish such a change, but that we are AWARE of our TRUE stature, which is ELEVATED IN FREEDOM from the chains of this plane!!!

People try to compare themselves to certain ancients whom *GOD* favoured, yet, this isn't wise, BECAUSE, well, let's take Solomon for one; the ONLY reason he was not burned to stubble in his errs is because of *GOD'S* PROMISE to David, and the span of time for CHRIST JESUS' fulfillment of prophecy! In EACH case of seeming tolerance of *GOD'S* handling of sins by HIS favoured, HIS wrath WAS declared, explained, and stayed by what was to come, and for the fulfillment of HIS WILL, SO don't be arrogant in assumption, ever, when it comes to THE LORD!!!

We, HIS people, are being built UP, into a Royal Priesthood of Service to THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY, and our desires are insignificant, especially those that have NOTHING to do with HIS WILL, instead are of the world! We SURELY, WILL struggle, falter, and stumble, YET, we ONLY have to CALL upon HIM, and KEEP on TRYING to WIN the race! HE WILL work wonders in those who are SINCERE in allegiance to HIM, and HIS WILL, and IN HIM, we find the strength to press on!!!

Change of mind towards sin = change of heart towards sin! Change towards sin ELEVATES, and BENEFITS, diversely so!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2014