HEAVENLY INCLINED...: THE LORD *GOD* IS OUR ONLY HOPE...

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 LORD GOD IS OUR ONLY HOPE...

THE LORD *GOD* IS OUR HOPE! Without HIM, all hope diminishes; flashes, but fades; sounds out, but mutes; and inspires us to no end! Without *GOD*, ALL we seek is lost, cast to the winds of time, and to the woes of the world; just look around, listen, and take note...

PSALM 39: 5-8...
5/ LORD, let me know my end, the number of my days, that I may learn how frail I am.
6/ You have given my days a very short span; my life is as nothing before you. All mortals are but a breath. Selah
7/ Mere phantoms, we go our way; mere vapor, our restless pursuits; we heap up stores without knowing for whom.
8/ And now, Lord, what future do I have? You are my only hope.

There is no solid satisfaction to be had in the creature; but it is to be found in the Lord, and in communion with him; to him we should be driven by our disappointments. Therefore let us pray that God would enlighten our minds by his Holy Spirit, and fill our hearts with his grace, that we may be ready for death every day and hour.

We are nothing without THE LORD, save for victims of HIS enemy, who makes sport of us, in all we think, do, or say! ONLY WITH *GOD* is there HOPE, is there LIFE, is there A WAY past the enemy, and his endless schemes; ploys which lead us farther from comfort, LOVE, PEACE, safety, and optimism! ONLY *GOD* is our helper, our rescuer, our rock, our fortress, our very present shield, defender, and DELIVERER! When HE is NOT the focus of our very lives, we are thrashed about, used, abused, more confused, and left, largely, amiss!!!

If you claim THE LORD as your SAVIOUR, claim HIM with a TRUE heart, and a cleansed conscience, for if you claim oneness with HIM, and live outside of HIS WILL, and WAYS, you are acting arrogantly in your claim to Salvation! BECOME ONE with HIM BY taking off the old ways, and putting on HIS WAYS; the freeing of the spirit within, the TRUE being that has eternal life, and belongs to HIM, NOT to the world, in any context...

*GOD* IS our HOPE OVER our struggles, IF we are ONE with HIM! IF we are USING our Salvation for more of the world, and a claim in HIM, dually, we are mistaken, and NOT on THE PATH to righteousness! IF we lack self-control, we CANNOT achieve this control without *GOD*, because to be without HIM, places us in the world, where we WILL be used until we are used up, by the deceiver, and his workers of wickedness! The evil ones DELIGHT in our weaknesses, and PREY upon them, and SO, our ONLY HOPE RESIDES IN *GOD*, NOW, and forever! AMEN!!!

More people than necessary, are TRYING to lead double lives BY clinging to the world, but claiming THE LORD *GOD*, WHILE acting in ways which PROVE their heart; things such as promiscuity, greed, lust, and on the list of deadly behaviours go! ESPECIALLY if they DON'T come to THE LORD for assistance in OVERCOMING, but ASSUME that they CAN act wrongly, while proclaiming HIM! There ARE some sins, those unconscious, and those that just happen, that we cannot help, HOWEVER, in claiming ONENESS with *GOD*, while continuing in CONSCIOUS sin, we are acting foolishly, dangerously, and haughtily! ONENESS with THE LORD is a SERIOUS relationship, which COMMANDS honesty, sincerity, truthfulness, and responsibility for our thoughts, actions, and reactions! It is a way of life, and a determination to overcome what hinders us, and this relationship, while ever working to improve the whole being, FOR THE GLORY OF *GOD*!!!

Some people are so chained to their sins of the flesh that they are sliding backwards, but IF they SEEK THE LORD, HE CAN free them! If they DON'T seek HIM, but imagine that because they say they are of HIM, they are risking their share! There are verses that teach us about these things; THE LORD speaks often throughout THE WORD of those that are of HIM in lipservice, or mouth, or their words, but their choices, thoughts, actions, and reactions, prove their hearts, which HE studies as if under the most intense scope imaginable...MATTHEW 15: 8, ISAIAH 29: 13, 1 PETER 2: 16, GALATIANS 5: 1, much of ROMANS, and on it goes...

THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY, SAVIOUR, and HOLY SPIRIT, IS OUR ONLY HOPE in this sojourning, which means HE MUSTN'T be far from us, therefore, the more we align in allegiance to HIM, HIS WILL, and WAYS, the greater our HOPE, HIS LOVING PRESENCE, ASSISTANCE, and PRESENCE!!!

HEBREWS 2: 1...
Therefore, we must attend all the more to what we have heard, so that we may not be carried away.

Christ being proved to be superior to the angels, this doctrine is applied. Our minds and memories are like a leaky vessel, they do not, without much care, retain what is poured into them. This proceeds from the corruption of our nature, temptations, worldly cares, and pleasures. Sinning against the gospel is neglect of this great salvation; it is a contempt of the saving grace of God in Christ, making light of it, not caring for it, not regarding either the worth of gospel grace, or the want of it, and our undone state without it.

The Lord's judgments under the gospel dispensation are chiefly spiritual, but are on that account the more to be dreaded. Here is an appeal to the consciences of sinners. Even partial neglects will not escape rebukes; they often bring darkness on the souls they do not finally ruin.

The setting forth the gospel was continued and confirmed by those who heard Christ, by the evangelists and apostles, who were witnesses of what Jesus Christ began both to do and to teach; and by the gifts of the Holy Ghost, qualified for the work to which they were called. And all this according to God's own will.

It was the will of God that we should have sure ground for our faith, and a strong foundation for our hope in receiving the gospel. Let us mind this one thing needful, and attend to the Holy Scriptures, written by those who heard the words of our gracious Lord, and were inspired by his Spirit; then we shall be blessed with the good part that cannot be taken away.

THE LORD IS OUR SHEPHERD, OUR ONLY HOPE, so, let us follow accordingly, and HONOURABLY! PRAISE HIS HOLY name, WORSHIP HIM, REJOICE IN HIM, and RELY ON HIM, while PRAYING continuously!!!

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