HEAVENLY INCLINED...: DREAMS, DREAMS, DREAMS: THEN REALITY SPEAKS...

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...

DREAMS, DREAMS, DREAMS: THEN REALITY SPEAKS...

SIRACH 34: 1-7...
1/ Empty and false are the hopes of the senseless, and fools are borne aloft by dreams.
2/ Like a man who catches at shadows or chases the wind, is the one who believes in dreams.
3/ What is seen in dreams is to reality what the reflection of a face is to the face itself.
4/ Can the unclean produce the clean? can the liar ever speak the truth?
5/ Divination, omens and dreams all are unreal; what you already expect, the mind depicts.
6/ Unless it be a vision specially sent by the Most High, fix not your heart on it;
7/ For dreams have led many astray, and those who believed in them have perished.

Confidence placed in dreams, divinations and omens is false because these are devoid of reality (Sirach 34:1-8). True confidence is founded on knowledge and experience (Sirach 34:9-12), and above all on the fear of the Lord, with its accompanying blessings of divine assistance and protection (Sirach 34:13-17).

There is a LOT of discussion concerning dreams these days, and MANY believe ACTS 2: 17 is being realized: 'It will come to pass in the last days,' God says, 'that I will pour out a portion of my spirit upon all flesh. Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams.

Though Peter was filled with the Holy Ghost, and spake with tongues as the Spirit gave him utterance, yet he did not think to set aside the Scriptures. Christ's scholars never learn above their Bible; and the Spirit is given, not to do away the Scriptures, but to enable us to understand, approve, and obey them.

In rare instances God will give instructions in dreams and visions. Today, a teacher, a pastor receives his message from the Word of God through study. The current trend of revelation operated by dreams, visions and prophecies entices numerous believers away from the truth in the already revealed Word of God.

It is repeatedly quoted in the New Testament “the just shall live by faith” (Hebrews 10:37 ).
Romans 1:17: For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” Faith holds to God’s word and does not pursue extra spiritual activity to receive instruction or revelation. The Bible teaches the mature New Testament believer is living by faith- not by sight, signs, or visions.

Just because one receives a dream or vision does not mean it is from God. The fact is: Satan can give dreams and visions. He did so with Jesus “Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time” (Luke 4:5). This was something seen-a vision by his supernatural power to tempt Jesus to sin but Jesus resisted. Too many today are sent visions by the enemy and it never enters their mind to test it because they believe that whatever is supernatural is always from God.

You ought to read some psychological studies on dreams, which state that dreams are brought on by discomfort, physically, mentally, or, they derive from stress, anxiety, and other stimuli! Even temperatures have their effect upon what could bring forth dreams! This is REALLY interesting stuff, and I have been lost for hours in trying to sort through it all, that I can present ALL aspects of the spectrum, yet, I am finding that I HAVE to rely upon THE WORD as my final analysis! Yes, I used to believe in my dreams, and waited for years for those most desired, to materialize, and, I DID live out some dreams, though I do not believe that their visit in the night produced them! Then, I learned that I was not in a correct frame of mind in the first place. I have a few dreams now, but not nearly as frequently as before, instead, my sleep is WAY more peaceful, and complete, and I KNOW THE LORD speaks to me through THE WORD, and HIS guidance in my life...