HEAVENLY INCLINED...: YESTERDAY, & TODAY: DELIVERANCE FROM THE FURNACE...

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...

YESTERDAY, & TODAY: DELIVERANCE FROM THE FURNACE...

1/ King Nebuchadnezzar had a golden statue made, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, which he set up in the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.

By decree, all people were ordered to fall down, and, worship the golden statue, when they heard the trumpet, flute, lyre, harp, psaltery, bagpipe, and all the other musical instruments, or, suffer being thrown alive into a white hot furnace; though, 3 Men would NEVER worship anything besides their *GOD*, the *GOD* of ALL CREATION! When King Nebuchadnezzar, heard this, he called for the 3 Men; Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and, asked them, if it was true, that they refused to worship his golden statue! They told the King that there was no need for them to defend themselves in the matter, for they could only serve one *GOD*, and, if that led to them being thrown into the furnace, they would pray that HE would save them! Of course, King Nebuchadnezzar, full of fury, ordered them thrown into the white hot fires!!!

And, the LOVE of *GOD* from these 3 Men, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, along with their FAITH, REPENTANCE, and, HUMILITY, was so strong, that this is how they reacted, once inside the inferno, in which case, so amazing, was the FAITH, and, DELIVERANCE of these Men, that King Nebuchadnezzar, was altered:

23/ But these three fell, bound, into the midst of the white-hot furnace.
24/ They walked about in the flames, singing to God and blessing the Lord.
25/ In the fire Azariah stood up and prayed aloud:
26/ "Blessed are you, and praiseworthy, O Lord, the God of our fathers, and glorious forever is your name.
27/ For you are just in all you have done; all your deeds are faultless, all your ways right, and all your judgments proper.
28/ You have executed proper judgments in all that you have brought upon us and upon Jerusalem, the holy city of our fathers. By a proper judgment you have done all this because of our sins;
29/ For we have sinned and transgressed by departing from you, and we have done every kind of evil.
30/ Your commandments we have not heeded or observed, nor have we done as you ordered us for our good.
31/ Therefore all you have brought upon us, all you have done to us,you have done by a proper judgment.
32/ You have handed us over to our enemies, lawless and hateful rebels; to an unjust king, the worst in all the world.
33/ Now we cannot open our mouths; we, your servants, who revere you, have become a shame and a reproach.
34/ For your name's sake, do not deliver us up forever, or make void your covenant.
35/ Do not take away your mercy from us, for the sake of Abraham, your beloved, Isaac your servant, and Israel your holy one,
36/ To whom you promised to multiply their offspring like the stars of heaven, or the sand on the shore of the sea.
37/ For we are reduced, O Lord, beyond any other nation, brought low everywhere in the world this day because of our sins.
38/ We have in our day no prince, prophet, or leader, no holocaust, sacrifice, oblation, or incense, no place to offer first fruits, to find favor with you.
39/ But with contrite heart and humble spirit let us be received;
40/ As though it were holocausts of rams and bullocks, or thousands of fat lambs, So let our sacrifice be in your presence today as we follow you unreservedly; for those who trust in you cannot be put to shame.
41/ And now we follow you with our whole heart, we fear you and we pray to you.
42/ Do not let us be put to shame, but deal with us in your kindness and great mercy.
43/ Deliver us by your wonders, and bring glory to your name, O Lord:
44/ Let all those be routed who inflict evils on your servants; Let them be shamed and powerless, and their strength broken;
45/ Let them know that you alone are the Lord God, glorious over the whole world."
46/ Now the king's men who had thrown them in continued to stoke the furnace with brimstone, pitch, tow, and faggots.
47/ The flames rose forty-nine cubits above the furnace,
48/ and spread out, burning the Chaldeans nearby.
49/ But the angel of the Lord went down into the furnace with Azariah and his companions, drove the fiery flames out of the furnace,
50/ and made the inside of the furnace as though a dew-laden breeze were blowing through it. The fire in no way touched them or caused them pain or harm.
51/ Then these three in the furnace with one voice sang, glorifying and blessing God:
52/ "Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever; And blessed is your holy and glorious name, praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages.
53/ Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory, praiseworthy and glorious above all forever.
54/ Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.

55/ Blessed are you who look into the depths from your throne upon the cherubim, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.
56/ Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven, praiseworthy and glorious forever.
57/ Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord, praise and exalt him above all forever.
58/ Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord, praise and exalt him above all forever.
59/ You heavens, bless the Lord, praise and exalt him above all forever.
60/ All you waters above the heavens, bless the Lord, praise and exalt him above all forever.
61/ All you hosts of the Lord, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
62/ Sun and moon, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
63/ Stars of heaven, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
64/ Every shower and dew, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
65/ All you winds, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
66/ Fire and heat, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
67/ [Cold and chill, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
68/ Dew and rain, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
69/ Frost and chill, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
70/ Ice and snow, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
71/ Nights and days, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
72/ Light and darkness, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
73/ Lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
74/ Let the earth bless the Lord, praise and exalt him above all forever.
75/ Mountains and hills, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
76/ Everything growing from the earth, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
77/ You springs, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
78/ Seas and rivers, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
79/ You dolphins and all water creatures, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. 80/ All you birds of the air, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
81/ All you beasts, wild and tame, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
82/ You sons of men, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
83/ O Israel, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
84/ Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
85/ Servants of the Lord, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
86/ Spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
87/ Holy men of humble heart, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
88/ Hananiah, Azariah, Mishael, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. For he has delivered us from the nether world, and saved us from the power of death; He has freed us from the raging flame and delivered us from the fire.
89/ Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever.
90/ Bless the God of gods, all you who fear the Lord; praise him and give him thanks, because his mercy endures forever." Hearing them sing, and astonished at seeing them alive,
91/ King Nebuchadnezzar rose in haste and asked his nobles, "Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?" "Assuredly, O king," they answered.
92/ "But," he replied, "I see four men unfettered and unhurt, walking in the fire, and the fourth looks like a son of God."
93/ Then Nebuchadnezzar came to the opening of the white-hot furnace and called to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: "Servants of the most high God, come out." Thereupon Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire.
94/ When the satraps, prefects, governors, and nobles of the king came together, they saw that the fire had had no power over the bodies of these men; not a hair of their heads had been singed, nor were their garments altered; there was not even a smell of fire about them.
95/ Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who sent his angel to deliver the servants that trusted in him; they disobeyed the royal command and yielded their bodies rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.
96/ Therefore I decree for nations and peoples of every language that whoever blasphemes the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be cut to pieces and his house destroyed. For there is no other God who can rescue like this."
97/ Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
98/ King Nebuchadnezzar to the nations and peoples of every language, wherever they dwell on earth: abundant peace!
99/ It has seemed good to me to publish the signs and wonders which the most high God has accomplished in my regard.
100/ How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders; his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endures through all generations.

This is the way it was, and, evermore shall be! Give thanks to the LORD, for HE is good, for HIS mercy endures forever. Bless the LORD; praise and exalt HIM above all forever. AMEN! HALLELUJAH, PRAISE the LORD, our *GOD*!!!