HEAVENLY INCLINED...: ATTEND TO HIS TEMPLE...

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...

ATTEND TO HIS TEMPLE...

Attend to THE LORD *GOD*, attend to LOVE, attend to HIS TEMPLE, attend to your soul...

Attending to what is of *GOD*, and HIS WILL, which involves attending to our growth, development, restoring, and maintaining HIS TEMPLE, keeps us busy, and our souls secure...

Far too many people spend the day chasing dreams, chasing desires, chasing what is of the world, instead of perfecting their bond with THE LORD *GOD*, and therefore, are neglecting THE TEMPLE which houses the soul which belongs to HIM, and whose fate resides in HIM, ALONE. By GRACE HE has granted MERCY, through FAITH IN HIM, however, this involves our partnership, which is FAITHFULNESS unto HIM, HIS WILL, and HIS WAY...

Just as THE TEMPLE of *GOD* in ancient times was plundered, pillaged, and destroyed in various ways, but rebuilt when the people repented, and turned to HIM, our TEMPLES of *GOD* have been desecrated in various ways, since early on, and have need for rebuilding, restoration, along with the knowledge of WHY this is important, or imperative...

THE LORD CHOSE to fill the TEMPLES of HIS people that HE might live with them, and share with them, IN SPIRIT, for their safety, growth, and further oneness with HIM, that we are never alone, and are inspired by the second! IF these TEMPLES are neglected, defiled, soiled, and otherwise unattended, HE WILL depart from them, for they are NOT WORTHY of HIM! Now, this is a deep matter which requires understanding, and desire for the purpose of closeness to THE LORD...

The body IS THE TEMPLE of THE LORD, and IS filled with THE HOLY SPIRIT, which is affected by thought, action, and reaction! IF I KNOW my body is a TEMPLE, and I desecrate it with un*GODLY* thoughts, actions, and reactions, I have dishonoured THE LORD, and HE WILL depart from me; not entirely, but until I SEE the need to tend to what WILL honour HIM, just as HE did since way back when, for the purpose of teaching HIS people to respect, and regard what belongs to HIM, and HOLINESS! ANY TEMPLE OF *GOD* IS to BE HOLY, for HE IS HOLY, and CANNOT remain in what is defiled!!!

HOW can we begin to repair, and restore these TEMPLES which belong to HIM, especially when we DENY their existence, significance, or purpose? We ALL KNOW how HE feels about HIS TEMPLE(S), yet, we REFUSE to acknowledge our part as caretakers of them; we RESIGN ourselves from our responsibility to their UPKEEP, or we cry that we are not able to! We AVOID as much as is feasible ANY instruction, or guidance towards their restoration, and maintenance!!!

Oh, how I wish I had been taught from a young age about HIS TEMPLE which I exist in! But, that doesn't matter now, except for the fact that because of my allegiance to HIM, I have LEARNED how I so neglected it, and therefore, am AWARE now THAT it REQUIRES tending to, from within, to without, for HIS GLORY, the good of others, and my own good...

There are numerous references to HIS TEMPLE in THE BIBLE, some pointing to our bodies being THE TEMPLE OF *GOD*, others to HIM leaving THE TEMPLE, some to the desecrating of HIS TEMPLE, and so forth! There are tons of books, pages, theologies, and much more concerning this matter! HIS TEMPLE IS PART and PARCEL TO HIS WILL, and HIS PLAN to SAVE humanity!!!

I was never taught that it IS AN HONOUR to BE THE LORD'S TEMPLE, nor the purpose therein! No one EVER told me that it is for the purpose of being as one with HIM, in safety, comfort, PEACE, and empowerment! No one EXPLAINED what BEING A TEMPLE OF THE LORD IS, let alone that I AM HIS TEMPLE! Ah, it is not difficult to understand what HE means in saying that HIS people are perishing in their lack of knowledge, is it?!!

I should be ECSTATIC that I have been CHOSEN to BE A TEMPLE OF *GOD*! I should be EXCITED to BE THE BEST TEMPLE possible; cleansed, pure, and daily maintained! I should be GRATEFUL that HE CHOSE to reside in me, lowly one that I am! And I am, but alas, I never knew, I never even thought of such things, let alone the HONOUR involved, and so, late in the game, I strain to learn, to understand, and to act upon what is necessary to making HIS TEMPLE WORTHY!!!

In the next few weeks, we will dig deep into this matter, because it IS that imperative to understand, to embrace, and to utilize, THAT we ARE FILLED WITH HIM, for then we ARE enlightened, enabled, endowed, empowered, and encouraged, and HE IS GLORIFIED, AMEN!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2014
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS