HEAVENLY INCLINED...: MATURITY OF 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...

MATURITY OF SPIRIT...

ACTS 17:24-31...
24/ The God who made the world and all that is in it, the Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in sanctuaries made by human hands,
25/ nor is he served by human hands because he needs anything. Rather it is he who gives to everyone life and breath and everything.
26/ He made from one the whole human race to dwell on the entire surface of the earth, and he fixed the ordered seasons and the boundaries of their regions,
27/ so that people might seek God, even perhaps grope for him and find him, though indeed he is not far from any one of us.
28/ For 'In him we live and move and have our being,' as even some of your poets have said, 'For we too are his offspring.'
29/ Since therefore we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the divinity is like an image fashioned from gold, silver, or stone by human art and imagination.
30/ God has overlooked the times of ignorance, but now he demands that all people everywhere repent
31/ because he has established a day on which he will 'judge the world with justice' through a man he has appointed, and he has provided confirmation for all by raising him from the dead."

Many think the word repent means "to get your act together" or to "get religion" or "fly straight"; as if we could. Repentance requires taking in a whole new point of view; looking at it God's way. God simply asks us to turn. This is the way we accept His gift. When we do, certain outcomes are promised. If we don't, or we "turn back", alternate outcomes are promised...

SO many people do NOT get it! They remain self-assured, confident, even, arrogant in what they call devotion! Many stick to 3 BOOKS in the New Testament of the BIBLE, and, take specific messages, which they construe into one message of freedom from sin! When we TURN to *GOD*, through CHRIST, YES, there is freedom from sin, but, that is from PAST sin, and, while we, surely, WILL sin In our walk with *GOD*, the sin which is committed KNOWING it is a sin, is turning back to the former self, which eradicates *GOD'S* GRACE, you MUST learn the WHOLE WORD, for there are countless instructions to MAINTAINING that freedom from sin, which you so cling to!!!

CHRISTIANS are required to live in a *GODLY* WAY, for as HE has said, "BE HOLY, BECAUSE I AM HOLY*, IS a multitude of Wisdom for those seeking eternal life!!!

Not only that, there is countless Scripture depicting the nature of CHRISTIAN living, and, the responsibilities therein, which, has been, almost, totally ignored, passed over, or, not taken to heart! CHRISTIAN living is NOT easy, not by ANY means, standards, or, conception; it is tough enough to earn the respect of *GOD*, so, at least, begin in EFFORT, CONSCIENTIOUSNESS, and, TRUE DEVOTION!!!

Paul was AUTHORIZED by the *GODHEAD* to deliver the WHOLE TRUTH, much of which was not, and, is not, regarded by the masses! He told it like it was, which has made him my personal favorite, yet, he was gentle, kind, compassionate, and, truly, concerned about the fate of mankind, as, am I!!!

Sometimes I think that people are always Children, and, either, DON'T want to grow up, or, are not able to, while they cling to fantasies that they CAN live any way they want, and, still be eligible for eternal life! Some argue that *GOD* LOVES us just the way we are, but, there is immense instruction which concludes, that HE EXPECTS us to ALIGN to THE WAY! HE wants us to become SPIRITUALLY MATURE, so that we ARE LIVING EXAMPLES of HIM, through our thoughts, actions, and, reactions; it is a state of obedience, surrender, and, obligation to HIM, to HIS WILL, to HIS WAYS, that HE is GLORIFIED by ALL, and, EVERYTHING!!!

Paul spoke of competing to win the race, FIXED on the prize! Focus on *GOD*, for WHEN you were baptized, you GAVE YOUR LIFE to HIM, thus, HONOUR that BY BECOMING as close to HIS example as is feasible, given your human condition!!!

People want to hear the good stuff, they don't want to hear that it involves altering their state of living! They don't want to hear that repeated sins, such as promiscuity, and, other acts of the worldly person, can eradicate the GIFT of CHRIST! They don't want to walk the walk, just talk the talk, and, believe that talk is enough, when it is written that we should NOT worship HIM by words alone, but, by full compliance, and, respectful regard TO HIS WAYS!!!

Don't feel guilty, repent, and, LEARN THE TRUTH, for THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2011
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