HEAVENLY INCLINED...: THE EXODUS TO LIFE...

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...

THE EXODUS TO LIFE...

EACH of *GOD'S* Children will experience an exodus of HIS own design, for imperative are we, to HIM, in HIS LOVE for us, and the exodus helps to work us into the vessel HE has designated for us to be! The journey may be a long, drawn out one; mine has been, or, a short, impressive one; the point is HE WILL lead HIS people according to HIS WILL...

Yes, HE WILL lead us, HE WILL teach us, HE WILL AMAZE us, and SEAR HIMSELF into our beings! Sometimes it might feel as if HE has abandoned us, but, the process from carnality to spirit, is NOT an easy one, nor a quick one! HE WILL DELIVER HIS PEOPLE, those who remain IN HIM, and heed HIM!!!

On this exodus, we might hunger, we might thirst, but we only have to TURN to CHRIST our LORD, for HE IS our daily bread, and the living waters we seek! HE WILL PROVIDE for us, even in our exodus, though, we might struggle hourly, and imagine that we are afflicted...

The passage will be compelling, life-altering, and profound; leaving us feeling all sorts of things, but, we must travel on, with TRUST, BELIEF, and FAITH THAT HE IS leading us where we are meant to be! We must SURRENDER our whole self TO HIM, and ALLOW HIM to manifest HIS WILL in us, through us, and all around us!!!

We will be led away from, into, and through many things; we are being sanctified, we are being refined, for HIS LOFTY use, thus, we will experience, we will learn, we will feel, but, we will be freed!!!

HE WILL chastise, discipline, and show us, that we might endure, persevere, and strengthen our heart of hearts, minds, and spirits! HE IS INTENT on our deliverance, even when we would give up!!!

It IS AN HONOUR to be led into exodus, it proves our worth to HIM! It is a tough exit from what would destroy us, as we are so accustomed to what we NEED to escape! We are not easy to work into LOFTY vessels, for we are as stubborn materials, always resisting what is good for us, but, HE WILL NOT, regardless of our resistance give up on us, though some WILL give up on themselves, and HIM...

The exile of the flesh to the spirit is confounding to us, for we have been instructed in the ways of the world, yet, HIS WILL SHALL BE DONE! HIS GLORY shall LIGHT THE WAY!!!!!

Tests, trials, and tribulations are a part of the course; from these we are built UP, we are fortified, we develop, we grow, then, we are ready to receive! It is from these ordeals that we are melded, or anchored INTO HIM, and HIS WILL! It is from these, that we find the knowledge, wisdom, and understanding TO BECOME ONE WITH HIM! It is from these that the necessary change comes about which, open the windows of HEAVEN to us! It is from these, that we are ENABLED to resist what would take us backwards again, as the enemy is ever scheming to take what he has failed to chain...

By patience and fortitude in suffering, by dependence on the promises of God, and keeping to the word the Holy Spirit hath revealed, the Holy Spirit is glorified; but by the contempt and reproaches cast upon believers, he is evil spoken of, and is blasphemed. One would think such cautions as these were needless to Christians. But their enemies falsely charged them with foul crimes. And even the best of men need to be warned against the worst of sins.

There is no comfort in sufferings, when we bring them upon ourselves by our own sin and folly.

It is true that the righteous are scarcely saved; even those who endeavour to walk uprightly in the ways of God. This does not mean that the purpose and performance of God are uncertain, but only the great difficulties and hard encounters in the way; that they go through so many temptations and tribulations, so many fightings without and fears within. Yet all outward difficulties would be as nothing, were it not for lusts and corruptions within. These are the worst clogs and troubles. And if the way of the righteous be so hard, then how hard shall be the end of the ungodly sinner, who walks in sin with delight, and thinks the righteous is a fool for all his pains! The only way to keep the soul well, is, to commit it to God by prayer, and patient perseverance in well-doing. He will overrule all to the final advantage of the believer.

The exodus of HIS Children is FOR HIS GLORY, that we might share IN HIS GLORY, when all which is of the world has been eradicated, for SURE is the fact that NOTHING of this world shall remain to harm, afflict, deceive, confuse, confound, and abuse HIS people, or refute HIS WILL, ever again! PRAISE, PRAISE, and WORSHIP THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY, SOVEREIGN KING, and our DELIVERER FOREVERMORE! THANK YOU LORD for leading me through TO LIFE!!!