HEAVENLY INCLINED...: CHILDREN OF LIGHT....

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...

CHILDREN OF LIGHT....

Let us take a look at EPHESIANS 5, as, in doing so, we see, clearly, what is expected of us, in the oneness we share with CHRIST JESUS!!!

First of all, we are to BE IMITATORS of *GOD*, as HE has said, "Be HOLY, because I AM HOLY!". I don't understand the arguments against this message; WHO could argue against *GOD*, or, the LOGIC in this instruction? IF we ARE of *GOD*, THROUGH CHRIST JESUS, then, we OUGHT to KNOW for sure, that we have responsibilities to that oneness, it only makes sense!!!

1/ So be imitators of God,* as beloved children,
2/ and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma.
3/ Immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is fitting among holy ones,
4/ no obscenity or silly or suggestive talk, which is out of place, but instead, thanksgiving.
5/ Be sure of this, that no immoral or impure or greedy person, that is, an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Duty to Live in the Light.
6/ Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient.
7/ So do not be associated with them.
8/ For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light,
9/ for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.
10/ Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
11/ Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness; rather expose them,
12/ for it is shameful even to mention the things done by them in secret;
13/ but everything exposed by the light becomes visible,
14/ for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore, it says:

“Awake, O sleeper,

and arise from the dead,

and Christ will give you light.”

15/ Watch carefully then how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise,
16/ making the most of the opportunity, because the days are evil.
17/ Therefore, do not continue in ignorance, but try to understand what is the will of the Lord.
18/ And do not get drunk on wine, in which lies debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,
19/ addressing one another [in] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and playing to the Lord in your hearts,
20/ giving thanks always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.

Above ALL LOGIC, lies the FACT that, salvation IS A GIFT, and so, should be honoured, respected, and, regarded, for the amazing GIFT it is! To honour, respect, and, regard CHRIST for HIS unprecedented, unimaginable, immeasurable SACRIFICE, is more than verbal appreciation, it must BECOME ONE with our beings, that WE ARE REFLECTIONS of the BEAUTY OF THE GIFT!!!

JESUS laid down HIS life for us; something so wondrous, it is difficult to take, deeply, to heart, as, NO OTHER GIFT in this life, has such implications, nor, impact, and, NOTHING could come close to being as worthy as HIS selfless act of LOVE!!!

Paul said that we are to endure, and, persevere the discomforts of this life, for the end gain is awesome, and, incorruptible! As JESUS had to endure, persevere, THEN, OVERCOME the hardships, even, a torturous, wicked death, we, HIS Chosen, must be able to do, as well; all the while, keeping the FAITH, and, the CONVICTION of the promises of *GOD*!!!

Hardships come in ALL forms in day, to day, life, from being tempted, tested, riddled, used, abused, confused, and, well, you know! The FAITHFUL KNOW how to deal with such incidents, by placing POWER where POWER IS, THE FATHER, SON, and, HOLY GHOST, foremost, THEN, ACTING in total BELIEF that HE has the LEAD, which we, willingly follow!!!

LEARN FULLY WHAT IS PLEASING TO THE LORD, then, LIVE as such! HE has said that we must develop into spiritual maturity, which is like training for the race, in which, the prize is the fullness of our inheritance, through the GIFT of CHRIST JESUS!!!

BE all you can be, in the ONENESS of the PROMISE, CHRIST JESUS! Study HIM, HIS WAYS, HIS WILL, and, IMITATE HIM, SINCERELY, to the BEST of your ability, that HE IS SHINING THROUGH YOU, for ALL to see, hear, and, bear witness to!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2011
ALL RIGHTS RETAINED/RESERVED IN AUTHORSHIP
*except for BIBLICAL, and/or, other references*
BIBLICAL, and/or, other references MARKED BOLDLY IN COLOURS

Nothing that is right, or, good, comes easily; that would be against the TRUTH, but, the struggle, and, the fight to manifest, and, retain it, makes all the difference, in the NOW, and, in the HEREAFTER!!!

In the name of *GOD*, and, HOLINESS, all effort IS worthy, and, fitting, for those of the COVENANT!!! ALL GLORY BE UNTO THE LORD, *GOD*, ALMIGHTY, forever, and, forever, AMEN!!!