HEAVENLY INCLINED...: TRIED & TESTED; NOT SHAKEN LOOSE...

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...

TRIED & TESTED; NOT SHAKEN LOOSE...

We are being tried on every side, as evil increases in the lands---

Violence, hatred, bitterness, robberies, assaults, and on the list goes of things happening ever closer to the security of our homes, of our world, which in turn, causes us to wonder, to worry, to be cautious, distrustful, and to have any of many other reactions in these times! EACH one of which tries us, as our FAITH IS TESTED, because we think, act, and react according to the world INSTEAD of according to FAITHFULNESS; at least in the onset of yet another evil! ALL reactions according to the world set us up for err, and CAN ensnare us, and so, we have need of greater understanding of HOW to exist according to FAITH as we are hit day by day by more unrest!!!

We HAVE to FIGHT against the tendency to doubt, worry, and otherwise fall prey to fear(s)! It IS a struggle to REMAIN IN CHRIST when the world is assaulting us daily, not because we forget or deny, instead because the human condition of EMOTIONS causes us to leave sound reason behind, as we react to what is happening! As ALWAYS we NEED to CONTROL ourselves, AS we PRAY to HIM to lead us through, and past what hopes to afflict us, and snare us! It ISN'T easy to avoid being shaken by what is going on, but we MUST TRY to with all the FAITH we have! Initial response to the ugliness around us is natural, but we MUST move past it with our every bit of strength, RELIANCE ON THE LORD, and our TRUST IN HIM!!!

Some areas of the world are overwrought with wrong, with evil, with wickedness; I know my city is teeming with awfulness; hourly, and it does cause one to seriously wonder! Thus, I HAVE to consider my FAITH, and my FAITHFULNESS OVER all else, even when it might be most difficult to do so, as I experience the dangers all about! NOTHING matters besides my REMAINING IN THE LORD *GOD*, because as it is written, the enemy WILL attempt to shake us all loose, and more so as the days are corrupted by ways of the world, and wickedness replaces *GODLINESS* as a standard of existence!!!

We HAVE been taught that perilous times WILL come, and this is brought about because most do NOT fear *GOD*, giving power to corruptions within instead (2 TIMOTHY 3)! We HAVE TO remember that we are NOT battling against flesh and blood, and to PERSEVERE no matter what! We are to CONTINUE ON in the good we have been taught, as we CLING to THE LORD, and HIS WORD, KNOWING that HE WILL lead us through, and past!!!

It IS written that in later times many WILL fall away from the FAITH, being swayed by deceitful spirits, and the doctrines of demons (1 TIMOTHY 4), in which case we find NEED of watchfulness, and self-denial while attending to the fulfillment of *GOD'S* WILL! It IS very possible for those who THINK themselves safe to be swayed; the enemy is master of cunning deception, and absolutely knows when, and how to use his every evil!!!

Certain ones have crept in among us, even unnoticed who turn the GRACE of THE LORD into a license for immorality, and deny our MASTER, our LORD *GOD*, CHRIST JESUS (JUDE 1)! We are taught to NOT trust in ourselves, nor in our stock of grace already received, but in HIM, and in HIM alone. The mercy of God is the spring and fountain of all the good we have or hope for; mercy, not only to the miserable, but to the guilty. Next to mercy is peace, which we have from the sense of having obtained mercy. From peace springs love; Christ's love to us, our love to him, and our brotherly love to one another. The apostle prays, not that Christians may be content with a little; but that their souls and societies may be full of these things. None are shut out from gospel offers and invitations, but those who obstinately and wickedly shut themselves out. But the application is to all believers, and only to such. It is to the weak as well as to the strong. Those who have received the doctrine of this common salvation, must contend for it, earnestly, not furiously. Lying for the truth is bad; scolding for it is not better. Those who have received the truth must contend for it, as the apostles did; by suffering with patience and courage for it, not by making others suffer if they will not embrace every notion we call faith, or important. We ought to contend earnestly for the faith, in opposition to those who would corrupt or deprave it; who creep in unawares; who glide in like serpents. And those are the worst of the ungodly, who take encouragement to sin boldly, because the grace of God has abounded, and still abounds so wonderfully, and who are hardened by the extent and fullness of gospel grace, the design of which is to deliver men from sin, and bring them unto God...

2 TIMOTHY 3: 16-17...
16+++All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
17+++so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Those who would learn the things of God, and be assured of them, must know the Holy Scriptures, for they are the Divine revelation. The age of children is the age to learn; and those who would get true learning, must get it out of the Scriptures. They must not lie by us neglected, seldom or never looked into. The Bible is a sure guide to eternal life. The prophets and apostles did not speak from themselves, but delivered what they received of God, 2Pe 1:21. It is profitable for all purposes of the Christian life. It is of use to all, for all need to be taught, corrected, and reproved. There is something in the Scriptures suitable for every case. Oh that we may love our Bibles more, and keep closer to them! then shall we find benefit, and at last gain the happiness therein promised by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the main subject of both Testaments. We best oppose error by promoting a solid knowledge of the word of truth; and the greatest kindness we can do to children, is to make them early to know the Bible.

We CAN be FULLY equipped to fight the good fight! There must be a conflict with corruption, and temptations, and the powers of darkness. Eternal life is the crown proposed for our encouragement. Everyone who competes in games for a prize does so with strict discipline; so it is with us (1 TIMOTHY 6; 1 CORINTHIANS 9)! We TAKE HOLD of the PROMISE, and HOPE of ETERNAL LIFE, to which we were called (1 TIMOTHY 6), AS we remind ourselves again, and again, that our struggle is against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world's darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms, WHICH INTEND to distress us enough to REMOVE us FROM our LORD, and our FAITH!!!

Our training HAS to include the ability to AUTOMATICALLY PRAY TO THE LORD when we are faced with woes of this world, and then to BELIEVE IN HIS WILL, and POWER OVER all! In doing so, we ARE safeguarding ourselves, much more than we might know, as HIS MIGHT protects, guides, heals, restores, enables, endows, enriches, encourages, enlightens, and empowers us TO enduring, and persevering IN the best of our knowledge, understanding, abilities, and capacities; and where there is weakness, HE shall strengthen us; this I BELIEVE, this I HAVE seen, this I COUNT on!!!

The world IS an extremely troubled realm, but it WON'T overtake those who are NOT of it, and KNOW their TRUTH; it CAN'T, IF we prevail IN THE LORD! Therefore, in the armour of *GOD*, in FAITH, and FAITHFULNESS, we progress IN LOVE, IN TRUST, IN HOPE, IN JOY, and IN the PEACE which IS derived of HIM! Yah, we will think, act, and react to what is hurled our way, HOWEVER, our FIRST inclination IS to PRAY, then to BE CONFIDENT IN our ONENESS with THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY, SOVEREIGN RULER OVER ALL, and EVERYTHING!!!

PRAISE THE LORD! BLESS HIM ALWAYS! WORSHIP HIS HOLINESS! REJOICE IN HIS LOVING CARE for us! HONOUR HIM in all your ways, all your days, according to HIS WILL! BE content, BE grateful, BE thankful, and STAY IN THE WORD, DEVOUR it daily, as it will sustain indeed! PRAY, PRAY, PRAY; not only for your own good, but that of others! LOVE AS HE HAS LOVED, and LET that LOVE SHINE, no matter what, all according to HIS WILL!!!

LWINSOR © 2016
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS