HEAVENLY INCLINED...: SATURDAY'S SOUNDNESS...

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...

SATURDAY'S SOUNDNESS...

On this day, a bit over 2, 000 years ago, CHRIST JESUS would be nearing Jerusalem, after several weeks of intense teaching; both the Disciples/Apostles, and all those who were seeking to hear HIM, to witness HIS POWERS, and those seeking to shut HIM down...

Our BEAUTIFUL, MAGNIFICENT, PERFECT LORD *GOD*...

HE had taught, then sent the Disciples/Apostles out, first the 12, then 72 (some say 70), giving them powers, and authority to cure, to drive out demons (evil spirits), and other miraculous control over what is of this world. They were successful, except for one instance where they could not drive a demon out of a young Man, who had been controlled by such since early childhood. The crowd was upset with them, and they were amazed that they had not enough power to, and so when CHRIST came upon them arguing, HE asked and was told the problem, in which case HE said, "Oh faithless generation, how much longer will I be with you?", and after some questions to the Father, HE sent the demon out of him forever. The Disciples asked why they were not able, in which case HE told them that this kind of healing required PRAYER, and great FAITH...

CHRIST, our LORD performed awesome, and endless miracles; teaching to the point of exhaustion, for HIMSELF, and the crowds too, in these final weeks before the triumphant entry into Jerusalem; HE was moved to pity, and compassion for the masses, for they were like hungry, lost sheep with no one to tend them, and the many sufferings often disturbed HIM, one such instance as when Lazarus had died, probably due to the sting of death...

Also, part of HIS HOLY MISSION was to address the Pharisee's, the Sudducee's, and other leaders of the law, as they had greatly misinformed, and misled the peoples, and themselves, did not uphold the heavy obstacles they laid upon others, instead, they misused their powers, seeking fame, fortune, and importance. Oh yes, HE had much to say to these who believed themselves above HIM, and others. They used their positions to such extremes that people who actually believed CHRIST was THE LORD *GOD*, kept it to themselves in order that they would not be expelled from the Synagogue, for they sought human praise over that of *GOD*...

During the course of the weeks leading to HIS entry into Jerusalem, CHRIST also took Peter, John, and James up to the mountain to PRAY, where they witnessed HIS transfiguration; HIS face changed in appearance, and HIS clothing turned to the whitest white, and gleaming. There HE was, in GLORY and talking with Moses, and Elijah; a very great experience for the three Disciples, whom were filled with awe, and wonder, and fear. Suddenly, a cloud enclosed them, and they heard a voice saying, "This is my beloved Son, listen to HIM!", and then, CHRIST was standing alone, and bid them not to tell anyone what they had witnessed...

HE then, taught about PRAYER, and the FAITH with which one should have while PRAYING. HE left no stone unturned in reaching those who might, with their heart, mind, and soul, seek HIM...

While our LORD had only been Ministering to the world for a short time, HIS WORD was intense, profound, and effective, at least on those who are of HIM! HIS signs, wonders, and miracles were extensive, and it is written that HE performed so many that they could not fit into any book...

Our LORD'S miracles brought to reality HIS DIVINE POWERS, and LOVE for humanity! They reveal HIS compassion for human suffering, that HE HAS ALL POWER OVER evil spirits, and demonic evil, and that HE ALONE, HAS THE POWER to forgive our sins! HE SO LOVES us that HE came to LEAD us past the evil which would chain us eternally! HE came to TEACH us FAITH, and FAITHFULNESS which will see us IN HIS WILL; RELYING ON HIM, TRUSTING HIM, PRAISING & WORSHIPING HIM, being THANKFUL UNTO HIM, and otherwise HONOURING HIM with the spirit, and goodness...

Some of the miracles HE manifested in HIS MINISTRY leading to HIS GLORIOUS entry into Jerusalem, in order to die for our sins, are:
1. Born to a virgin
2. Changing water into wine
3. Healing of the royal official's son
4. Healing of the Capernaum demoniac
5. Healing of Peter's mother-in-law
6. Healing the sick during the evening
7. Catching a large number of fish
8. Healing a leper
9. Miracle of healing a centurion's servant
10. Healing a paralyzed man
11. Healing a withered hand
12. Raising a widow's son
13. Calming the storm
14. Healing the Gerasene man possessed by demons
15. Healing a woman with internal bleeding
16. Raising Jairus' daughter
17. Healing two blind men
18. Healing a mute demon-possessed man
19. Healing a 38 year invalid
20. Feeding 5000 men and their families
21. Walking on water
22. Miraculous healing of many people in Gennesaret
23. Healing a girl possessed by a demon
24. Healing a deaf man with a speech impediment
25. Feeding the 4,000 men and their families
26. Healing a blind man
27. Healing a man born blind
28. Healing a demon-possessed boy
29. Catching a fish with a coin in its mouth
30. Healing a blind and mute man who was demon-possessed
31. Healing a woman with an 18-year infirmity
32. Healing a man with dropsy
33. Healing 10 lepers
34. Raising of Lazarus
35. Healing Bartimaeus of blindness
36. Jesus curses the fig tree with no fruit

But most important of all, HE came to TEACH us REPENTANCE, which is more than lip service, instead, a NEW way of existence while straining towards THE PROMISE OF THE KINGDOM: it is a lifestyle of conduct in conformity TO HIS WILL, and that NONE can come to THE FATHER, except THROUGH CHRIST JESUS, for HE IS THE WAY, THE LIGHT, THE TRUTH, THE LIFE; in which HE EXEMPLIFIED THROUGH HIS OWN PERFECTION, our ability to withstand, and overcome what HIS enemy might use against us! HE TAUGHT us HOW to ARISE from EVERY known possibility to become entrapped by what is of this world; now if only we could place our focus UPON HIM, HIS LOVE, HIS WILL, and HIS WAY, we would be all the more enabled, empowered, endowed, enriched, and enlightened!!!

BLESS THE FATHER, SON, and HOLY SPIRIT: HE WHOSE LOVE will NOT turn us over to the enemy, unless we so refuse HIM! PRAISE HIM ALWAYS, EXALT HIM, WORSHIP HIS HOLINESS, REJOICE IN HIS LOVING PLAN to save us, and FOLLOW HIM closely, that HIS GLORY is seen, felt, heard, and sensed throughout the world! LOVE HIM, LOVE one another, and REMAIN IN HIM, HOLD FAST TO HIM, and be not shaken, for HE IS our ROCK, our FORTRESS, our SURE, and PRESENT HELP, and WILL SUCCEED in bringing HIS own home!!!