HEAVENLY INCLINED...: FAITH TO FRUIT: FAITH, FAITHFULNESS & THE HOLY SPIRIT...

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...

FAITH TO FRUIT: FAITH, FAITHFULNESS & THE HOLY SPIRIT...

One of the reasons some of those who profess CHRIST JESUS as their LORD and SAVIOUR don't know the GIFT of THE HOLY SPIRIT/GHOST, IS because they have NOT ACTIVELY made room for HIM in their heart, or lives---

Nor, have they put effort into developing a RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM! ALL relationships take work, and conscientious input to that union, and so, the same is true of our ONENESS WITH HIM, which includes LOVING HIM MORE THAN ANYTHING, or ANYONE, and KEEPING HIS COMMANDS, which is MORE LOVING; then the clincher; ASKING HIM to FILL YOU with THE HOLY SPIRIT!!!

SINCERITY IN FOLLOWING HIM IS evidence of our FAITH, and FAITHFULNESS, in which case, HE PROMISES us 'the comforter'; THE HOLY SPIRIT, which LEADS us, and AIDS us IN our relationship WITH HIM, and our walk on THE PATH. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A GIFT, and in that gift is EVERYTHING which will necessitate our walk WITH HIM, and our arrival to our TRUE HOME; THE KINGDOM...

MANY ARE those who believe that mere proclamation, or belief is our sole role, but then why are we called to SHINE OF HIM, and bear fruits worthy of the vine? You see, the Christian DOES HAVE duties, and responsibilities TO THE LORD, HIS WILL, HIS COVENANT, and HIS PLAN! We ARE to be DIFFERENT from the rest of the world BECAUSE WE ARE OF HIM, AND NOT THE WORLD! And so, we have MUCH to learn, understand, and utilize as we GROW INTO HIM, and our REALITY AS HIS OWN! Our lives do NOT belong to us, NOR to the world, they ARE HIS FOR HIS REASONS, PURPOSES, and GLORY!!!

THE BIBLE IS FULL OF FAITHFUL people, from Abraham, all the way through to John! EACH illustration of these people IS to guide us, direct us, encourage us, and to motivate us! We have great examples besides CHRIST JESUS to study, know, and learn from! FAITH IS like a journey, a long, long journey riddled with dangers, complexities, evil, and all sorts of trips, and traps, but as we HONE our FAITH, we are better enabled to endure, and persevere FOR HIS GLORY, and to fulfill HIS WILL IN our very existence!!!

Too, we have plenty of instances where the FAITHFUL forsake THE LORD as they became more wealthy, more renowned, or more involved with those from other regions! In these, there are also, lessons to be taken to heart...

FAITHFULNESS IS of LOVE FOR HIM, and of FAITH; it is a life-style, if you will; one which sees us growing UP INTO HIM, and leaving the world behind, save for inspiring others, and working to aid, and rescue those who are lost, downtrodden, afflicted, endangered, alone, and so forth...

Words are one thing, action reiterates, and proves the heart! Not only that, but as we begin to understand WHO WE REALLY ARE, we are more comfortable in our role AS HIS Child, as HIS OWN! We begin to see the world as it truly is, and we look forward to what is to come, where we will exist eternally FREE of all the negatives which keep us bound, and down...

Rites, rituals, and acted out shows of FAITH seldom contain the 'heart' of WORSHIP, or FAITHFULNESS, but are widely used due to incorporation into our PERCEIVED traditions! TRUE FAITH is deeper, more silent, more entailed, and certainly, more practiced than simply on particular days, or dates! The HONEST Christian HAS nailed their sins to the cross, and are NOW existing IN CHRIST JESUS, even though it is a PROCESS in which they WILL struggle, and stumble...

We have MUCH to cover in the way of FAITH, and FAITHFULNESS, indeed! Inclusive IS LOVE, fidelity TO *GOD*, conscientious behaviours, and actions ALIGNED TO HIS WILL, and so forth! NONE of which is for pomp, or display, instead for SERVING HIM, and others in the best of our knowledge, understanding, and capacity, according TO HIS WILL, and WAYS...

This study will take time, and so, bear with me time-wise, as I attempt to reach to the core of understanding, and share my findings in the most comprehensible ways feasible...