HEAVENLY INCLINED...: FAITH IN ALL TIMES...

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 IN ALL TIMES...

Some people's FAITH is not as strong as it could be, or should be, because they don't see *GOD*, or feel HIS presence in their lives, though, surely, and TRULY, HE IS VISIBLE in a multitude of ways!!!

I don't know what it is that we humans need to see to believe, or to be motivated at all times! Most of us would pass out from fear if THE LORD suddenly appeared to us! Not only that, HE IS evident in EVERYTHING! HE IS there in good times, in bad times, in ALL times, IF we are there with HIM!!!

TRUE FAITH IS DERIVED FROM SUCH UNDERSTANDING and ACCEPTANCE:
ISAIAH 40: 28-31...
28/ Do you not know or have you not heard? The LORD is the eternal God, creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint nor grow weary, and his knowledge is beyond scrutiny.
29/ He gives strength to the fainting; for the weak he makes vigor abound.
30/ Though young men faint and grow weary, and youths stagger and fall,
31/ They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength, they will soar as with eagles' wings; They will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint.

Our struggle with FAITH, then FAITHFULNESS is explained pretty well in JAMES 1: 22-25...
22/ Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves.
23/ For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his own face in a mirror.
24/ He sees himself, then goes off and promptly forgets what he looked like.
25/ But the one who peers into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres, and is not a hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, such a one shall be blessed in what he does.

We are easily distracted IF we are not strong in FAITH; we cannot remain FAITHFUL for long when we are easily distracted! FAITH REQUIRES DILIGENCE, DELIBERATION, and, CONTINUITY!!!

To be quick to hear the gospel is to accept it readily and to act in conformity with it, removing from one's soul whatever is opposed to it, so that it may take root and effect salvation (James 1:19-21). To listen to the gospel message but not practice it is failure to improve oneself (James 1:22-24). Only conformity of life to the perfect law of true freedom brings happiness (James 1:25).

In hearing the word, we look into it for counsel and direction, and when we study it, it turns to our spiritual life. Those who keep in the law and word of God, are, and shall be, blessed in all their ways. His gracious recompence hereafter, would be connected with his present peace and comfort. Every part of Divine revelation has its use, in bringing the sinner to Christ for salvation, and in directing and encouraging him to walk at liberty, by the Spirit of adoption, according to the holy commands of God. And mark the distinctness, it is not for his deeds, that any man is blessed, but in his deed. It is not talking, but walking, that will bring us to heaven. Christ will become more precious to the believer's soul, which by his grace will become more fitted for the inheritance of the saints in light.

You see, FAITH is strengthened THROUGH allegiance TO HIM, HIS WILL, HIS WAYS, thus THROUGH THE WORD, because the more knowledge of HIS instruction, the greater Wisdom, and understanding we have towards our allegiance to HIM, which, KEEPS us IN FAITH, acting FAITHFULLY, with ability to discern what is of TRUTH! When one strives wholeheartedly to be ONE with HIM, FAITH becomes as natural as the breath of life! We don't NEED to be see to be strengthened; we don't need signs; we KNOW that HE IS WITH US, ALWAYS, and in ALL WAYS! We TRUST HIM unrelentingly, unwaveringly, and, completely, even though, this FAITH WILL be tried, time and again, because the enemy does not like us to COME TO LIGHT!!!

FAITH HAS TO BE STRONG UNTIL WE ARE WELCOMED INTO THE KINGDOM! It is, besides the development of LOVE, as imperative as it gets, and, PROVES us!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2012