HEAVENLY INCLINED...: SUNDAY: YOU DON'T 'THINK' YOU NEED THE BIBLE???

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...

SUNDAY: YOU DON'T 'THINK' YOU NEED THE BIBLE???

I recently read that certain Pastor's have said that we shouldn't tell people to read their BIBLE, and I have to respond! Are you kidding me? I know LOTS of people who go to Church frequently, if not all the time, have never read THE WORD, don't listen much to the sermons, do what they want for the rest of the week, and yet, insist they are devout, while they slander, libel, and degrade others! THE BIBLE IS our moral compass, and a point of connection with THE LORD *GOD*, and HIS WILL, and in this time of increasing contention, Christians ESPECIALLY, OUGHT to be REFLECTING HIM, but if they are not knowledgeable, how can they???

There IS SO MUCH instruction that we NEED to know, not just for the moment, but for the end times, and the great battle to ensue, PLUS, someone HAS to provide soundness, reason, principles, and other imperatives as the world shifts farther from TRUTH! Christians ARE instruments IN THE LORD'S PLAN, and WILL, and we HAVE duties, responsibilities, and work to be done, accordingly!!!

Today there is biting and devouring each other (GALATIANS 5), and this constantly! The gospel is a doctrine according to godliness, 1Ti 6:3, and is so far from giving the least countenance to sin, that it lays us under the strongest obligation to avoid and subdue it. The apostle urges that all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. If Christians, who should help one another, and rejoice one another, quarrel, what can be expected but that the God of love should deny his grace, that the Spirit of love should depart, and the evil spirit, who seeks their destruction, should prevail? Happy would it be, if Christians, instead of biting and devouring one another on account of different opinions, would set themselves against sin in themselves, and in the places where they live...

We are COMMANDED to exist according TO HIS WILL, and IF we don't know how, then we are NOT one with HIM! FAITH is CRUCIAL, but IN that IS FAITHFULNESS, which can ONLY come from knowledge enough TO exist appropriately!!!

GALATIANS 5...
1+++It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
2+++Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you.
3+++And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law.
4+++You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.
5+++For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness.
6+++For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.
7+++You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?
8+++This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you.
9+++A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough.
10+++I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will adopt no other view; but the one who is disturbing you will bear his judgment, whoever he is.
11+++But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished.
12+++I wish that those who are troubling you would even mutilate themselves.
13+++For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
14+++For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”
15+++But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
16+++But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
17+++For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
18+++But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
19+++Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
20+++idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,
21+++envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22+++But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23+++gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
24+++Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25+++If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
26+++Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.

MANY ARE those who do NOT understand that we nailed the flesh to the cross with CHRIST JESUS (COLOSSIANS 2), NOR HOW we should NOW exist, which IS evidenced by the tensions, and hostilities of the day, in EVERY aspect of society, government, and life on this troubled, chaotic planet!!!

We ARE on the verge of destruction DUE TO lack of knowledge, and a 'free for all' state of mind! We honour NOT THE LORD in what is happening today, and the Christian people OUGHT to KNOW HOW to navigate through the corruption, opposition, and dissension, LEAVING HIM in their wake!!!

Of course, in studying THE BIBLE we must PRAY for the WISDOM OF *GOD*, and HIS guidance in being able to gain knowledge, understanding, and discernment. We can't rely solely on THE WORD, instead ON HIM as HE teaches us THROUGH THE SPIRIT, and SHOWS us TRUTH! We HAVE perception problems, which is one reason we PRAY for HIM to guide us to knowledge, and understanding, and the will to ALLOW HIS WORD to root, thrive, and flourish...

HE HAS stated that HIS people are destroyed for lack of knowledge (HOSEA 4)! Both priests and people rejected knowledge; God will justly reject them. They forgot the law of God, neither desired nor endeavoured to retain it in mind, and to transmit the remembrance to their posterity; therefore God will justly forget them and their children. If we dishonour God with that which is our honour, it will, sooner or later, be turned into shame to us. Instead of warning the people against sin, from the consideration of the sacrifices, which showed what an offence sin was to God, since it needed an atonement, the priests encouraged the people to sin, since atonement might be made at so small an expense. It is very wicked to be pleased with the sins of others, because they may turn to our advantage. What is unlawfully gained, cannot be comfortably used. The people and the priests hardened one another in sin; therefore justly shall they share in the punishment. Sharers in sin must expect to share in ruin. Any lust harboured in the heart, in time will eat out all its strength and vigour. That is the reason why many professors grow so heavy, so dull, so dead in the way of religion. They have a liking for some secret lust, which takes away their hearts.

Christians must learn to FOLLOW CHRIST JESUS, THE LORD *GOD*, THE WORD, HIS WILL, and THEN, those whom have shown themselves to be Ministers of HIM. See, another reason to study THE WORD; it aids us in knowing the sheep in wolves clothing, so to speak, which IS imperative as MANY HAVE been misled to the point of being more lost than they were before they relied on these to lead them...

It IS your decision to disregard THE BIBLE, yet, I encourage you to make it a personal endeavour to discover TRUTH, PEACE, HOPE, LOVE, and SAFETY within the pages of THE WORD OF *GOD*, GIVEN to us THAT we thrive, and prosper, now, and forever! I had read THE BIBLE times before I put my heart into it, and whoa, what a difference between then, and now! Within is comfort, knowledge, wisdom, direction, and so much more, and I miss very few days of any year without reading it, NO MATTER how many times I have been through each and every page, as there IS always something NEW to take to heart, and mind, and to anchor my soul TO HIM, and TRUTH, which IS very important in this turbulent, woeful world, because we ARE so easily taken off course...

Be careful whom you listen to, or choose to let lead you; ONLY *GOD* can and will lead you 100% TO THE KINGDOM!!!

LWINSOR © 2020
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS