HEAVENLY INCLINED...: THE LORD IS THE AVENGER OF HIS PEOPLE: WAIT ON HIM!!!

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 LORD IS THE AVENGER OF HIS PEOPLE: WAIT ON HIM!!!

We may with boldness appeal to God; for he is the almighty Judge by whom every man is judged. Let this encourage those who suffer wrong, to bear it with silence, committing themselves to Him who judges righteously---

PSALM 94...

1+++O LORD, God of vengeance,

God of vengeance, shine forth!

2+++Rise up, O Judge of the earth,

Render recompense to the proud.

3+++How long shall the wicked, O LORD,

How long shall the wicked exult?

4+++They pour forth words, they speak arrogantly;

All who do wickedness vaunt themselves.

5+++They crush Your people, O LORD,

And afflict Your heritage.

6+++They slay the widow and the stranger

And murder the orphans.

7+++They have said, “The LORD does not see,

Nor does the God of Jacob pay heed.”

8+++Pay heed, you senseless among the people;

And when will you understand, stupid ones?

9+++He who planted the ear, does He not hear?

He who formed the eye, does He not see?

10+++He who chastens the nations, will He not rebuke,

Even He who teaches man knowledge?

11+++The LORD knows the thoughts of man,

That they are a mere breath.

12+++Blessed is the man whom You chasten, O LORD,

And whom You teach out of Your law;

13+++That You may grant him relief from the days of adversity,

Until a pit is dug for the wicked.

14+++For the LORD will not abandon His people,

Nor will He forsake His inheritance.

15+++For judgment will again be righteous,

And all the upright in heart will follow it.

16+++Who will stand up for me against evildoers?

Who will take his stand for me against those who do wickedness?

17+++If the LORD had not been my help,

My soul would soon have dwelt in the abode of silence.

18+++If I should say, “My foot has slipped,”

Your lovingkindness, O LORD, will hold me up.

19+++When my anxious thoughts multiply within me,

Your consolations delight my soul.

20+++Can a throne of destruction be allied with You,

One which devises mischief by decree?

21+++They band themselves together against the life of the righteous

And condemn the innocent to death.

22+++But the LORD has been my stronghold,

And my God the rock of my refuge.

23+++He has brought back their wickedness upon them

And will destroy them in their evil;

The LORD our God will destroy them.

These prayers are prophecies, which speak terror to the sons of violence. There will come a day of reckoning for all the hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against God, his truths, and ways, and people. It would hardly be believed, if we did not witness it, that millions of rational creatures should live, move, speak, hear, understand, and do what they purpose, yet act as if they believed that God would not punish the abuse of his gifts. As all knowledge is from God, no doubt he knows all the thoughts of the children of men, and knows that the imaginations of the thoughts of men's hearts are only evil, and that continually. Even in good thoughts there is a want of being fixed, which may be called vanity. It concerns us to keep a strict watch over our thoughts, because God takes particular notice of them. Thoughts are words to God.

That man is blessed, who, under the chastening of the Lord, is taught his will and his truths, from his holy word, and by the Holy Spirit. He should see mercy through his sufferings. There is a rest remaining for the people of God after the days of their adversity, which shall not last always. He that sends the trouble, will send the rest. The psalmist found succor and relief only in the Lord, when all earthly friends failed. We are beholden, not only to God's power, but to his pity, for spiritual supports; and if we have been kept from falling into sin, or shrinking from our duty, we should give him the glory, and encourage our brethren. The psalmist had many troubled thoughts concerning the case he was in, concerning the course he should take, and what was likely to be the end of it. The indulgence of such contrivances and fears, adds to care and distrust, and renders our views more gloomy and confused. Good men sometimes have perplexed and distressed thoughts concerning God. But let them look to the great and precious promises of the gospel. The world's comforts give little delight to the soul, when hurried with melancholy thoughts; but God's comforts bring that peace and pleasure which the smiles of the world cannot give, and which the frowns of the world cannot take away. God is his people's Refuge, to whom they may flee, in whom they are safe, and may be secure. And he will reckon with the wicked. A man cannot be more miserable than his own wickedness will make him, if the Lord visit it upon him.

Rarely easy, especially in turbulent times, yet FAITH HAS TAUGHT us to endure, persevere, and WAIT ON THE LORD, TRUSTING HIM, and RELYING UPON HIM! KNOWING HIS timeline is NOT ours, and sometimes it IS tough to wait, as well as to remain FAITHFUL, STILL we are SURE HE WILL AVENGE HIS people, HIS FAITHFUL!!!

MANY get off THE PATH to take things into their own hands, which further endangers, and ADDS to the troubles! From Pastors through to the followers, there is a rush to make things right, fueled by emotions, egocentricity, fear, and other conditions of the world, and so, we MUST BE REMINDED, time and again, ALL VENGEANCE, ALL VICTORY LIES IN, and BELONGS TO THE LORD! The more we TRUST HIM, and RELY ON HIM, the less suffering, EVEN in the midst of downright chaos! Our response is NOT of this world, therefore, we learn to respond, and react ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, and our UNSHAKABLE FAITH IN HIS POWERS TO protect us, enable us, empower us, encourages us, and TO LEAD us through, and past what is NOT of HIM!!!

IN remaining IN HIM, there is a SUPERNATURAL effect of bewilderment cast, in which those who rail against HIM, and HIS own, wonder at our silence, and our restraint, as we ARE vindicated, and LIFTED from that which insists on defeating, and shaking us! They will be INSPIRED BY THE LORD *GOD*, whether directly, or indirectly, and they will themselves, be silenced!!!

When we cry, "HELP US LORD", let us 100%, in TOTAL FAITH, THANK HIM IN ADVANCE, and WAIT ON HIM, BECAUSE HE IS our CHAMPION, and DELIVERER! PRAISE THE LORD *GOD* WHOM IS THE AVENGER OF HIS people, and what is right, just, and good!!!

BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS