HEAVENLY INCLINED...: SUNDAY'S SACRED SCRIPTURES: INTERVAL COURAGE...

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...

SUNDAY'S SACRED SCRIPTURES: INTERVAL COURAGE...

Part, and parcel to LOVE, and FAITH, is courage, confidence, forbearance, vigilance, diligence, and determination. We have to have strong characters, and strong convictions; strong enough to stand steadfast in the face of adversity, and all the negative the world will hurl at us!!!

There are about 82 verses in SCRIPTURE, concerning courage! The one I look to is:
2 TIMOTHY 1: 7...
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

It is SO easy to be lost in fear, and fear is what the enemy hopes to stir up in us! Fear is NOT of *GOD*, nor of LOVE, and IS a vault of weaponry used against us in our times of weakness! Fear can lead us to sin, without even thinking about it, as we react to what is before us, around us, and so forth! Fear has the power to debilitate a person, body, mind, heart, and spirit, thus, we are taught by THE LORD that fear has NO place in FAITH! Of course, it is nearly impossible for us, in the human condition, to never experience fear, which is WHY we RELY ON THE LORD, and TRAIN ourselves to PRAY, and REFER to SCRIPTURE the second that fear plagues us! Fear WILL take us down IF we give it power, which we do, when we are overtaken by whatever is creating fear, SO, our recourse is to call upon *GOD*, PRAY, and recall comforting, and strengthening messages, THAT we retain control, and do NOT act outside of LOVE!!!

Often, in times of fear, we react belligerently; cocky, and defensively; this is NOT acting in LOVE, and leads us away from the TRUTH of our existence, and from *GOD*! This also, increases the problems before us, as it fuels the fires of tension! We are taught to be strong, patient, enduring, persevering, and forbearing; in doing so, we maintain self-control, and can remain firm in tolerance, while we await THE LORD to DELIVER us from our dilemma! HE PROMISES HE will NOT forsake, or leave those who are aligned, and FAITHFUL; this is to BE our ROCK to which we cling!!!

IF we TRUST IN *GOD*, then we are CONFIDENT enough to have courage, no matter what, and yes, I KNOW it is easier said than done, which is WHY we have to TRAIN the being in this matter! Courage gives us the confidence to face difficulties free of the fear that CAN ensnare, and chain us! It gives us that PEACE which comes of having FAITH, TRUST, and BELIEF in THE LORD, and HIS PROMISES; it is our assurance that we CAN, and WILL endure, and persevere, no matter what! It is KEEPING THE LIGHT IN SIGHT, when the darkness is turbulently thrashing all around us, to blind us, and disorient us! CHRIST JESUS taught in HIS own example, courage in every possible context; as HE endured the onslaught of that which puts courage to the test, in this world!!!

We HAVE to MAINTAIN TRUST IN THE LORD in order to OVERCOME the trials, tests, and tribulations of our lives! What we experience, HE tells us, is human, and HE PROMISES that HE will NOT let us be taken beyond our abilities in being able to endure, and persevere; that HE WILL provide a way through what we face; THUS, we HAVE to MAINTAIN ROCK SOLID FAITH!!!

Courage is like a shield, and also, a significant indicator for the oppressor, that we ARE OF THE LORD! Courage gives us options, fear removes them!!!

EPHESIANS 6: 10-18...
10/ Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power.
11/ Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil.
12/ For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens.
13/ Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground.
14/ So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate,
15/ and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace.
16/ In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all (the) flaming arrows of the evil one.
17/ And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18/ With all prayer and supplication, pray at every opportunity in the Spirit. To that end, be watchful with all perseverance and supplication for all the holy ones

Spiritual strength and courage are needed for our spiritual warfare and suffering. Those who would prove themselves to have true grace, must aim at all grace; and put on the whole armour of God, which he prepares and bestows. The Christian armour is made to be worn; and there is no putting off our armour till we have done our warfare, and finished our course.

The combat is not against human enemies, nor against our own corrupt nature only; we have to do with an enemy who has a thousand ways of beguiling unstable souls. The devils assault us in the things that belong to our souls, and labour to deface the heavenly image in our hearts. We must resolve by God's grace, not to yield to Satan. Resist him, and he will flee. If we give way, he will get ground. If we distrust either our cause, or our Leader, or our armour, we give him advantage.

The different parts of the armour of heavy-armed soldiers, who had to sustain the fiercest assaults of the enemy, are here described. There is none for the back; nothing to defend those who turn back in the Christian warfare.

Truth, or sincerity, is the girdle. This girds on all the other pieces of our armour, and is first mentioned. There can be no religion without sincerity. The righteousness of Christ, imputed to us, is a breastplate against the arrows of Divine wrath. The righteousness of Christ implanted in us, fortifies the heart against the attacks of Satan. Resolution must be as greaves, or armour to our legs; and to stand their ground or to march forward in rugged paths, the feet must be shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.

Motives to obedience, amidst trials, must be drawn from a clear knowledge of the gospel. Faith is all in all in an hour of temptation. Faith, as relying on unseen objects, receiving Christ and the benefits of redemption, and so deriving grace from him, is like a shield, a defence every way.

The devil is the wicked one. Violent temptations, by which the soul is set on fire of hell, are darts Satan shoots at us. Also, hard thoughts of God, and as to ourselves.

Faith applying the word of God and the grace of Christ, quenches the darts of temptation. Salvation must be our helmet. A good hope of salvation, a Scriptural expectation of victory, will purify the soul, and keep it from being defiled by Satan.

To the Christian armed for defense in battle, the apostle recommends only one weapon of attack; but it is enough, the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. It subdues and mortifies evil desires and blasphemous thoughts as they rise within; and answers unbelief and error as they assault from without. A single text, well understood, and rightly applied, at once destroys a temptation or an objection, and subdues the most formidable adversary.

Prayer must fasten all the other parts of our Christian armour. There are other duties of religion, and of our stations in the world, but we must keep up times of prayer. Though set and solemn prayer may not be seasonable when other duties are to be done, yet short pious prayers darted out, always are so.

We must use holy thoughts in our ordinary course. A vain heart will be vain in prayer. We must pray with all kinds of prayer, public, private, and secret; social and solitary; solemn and sudden: with all the parts of prayer; confession of sin, petition for mercy, and thanksgiving for favours received. And we must do it by the grace of God the Holy Spirit, in dependence on, and according to, his teaching.

We must preserve in particular requests, notwithstanding discouragements. We must pray, not for ourselves only, but for all saints. Our enemies are mighty, and we are without strength, but our Redeemer is almighty, and in the power of his mighty we may overcome. Wherefore we must stir up ourselves. Have not we, when God has called, often neglected to answer? Let us think upon these things, and continue our prayers with patience.

PRAISE THE LORD WHO TEACHES us EVERYTHING necessary to make the journey home! WORSHIP HIS HOLINESS, and REJOICE IN HIS WILL, and WAY, for without HIM, without HIS LOVE, we would be lost forever! HONOUR HIM BY taking HIS WORD to heart, and PRACTICING in full, HIS VERY SOUND JUDGEMENTS, for they ARE for our safety, our good, and our freedom!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2013
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS