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

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...

Here we are, the 5TH Sunday of Lent, a most BLESSED season of WORSHIP, PRAISE, reflection, and renewal, saying the least...

Lent is a time to measure our growth in CHRIST, if you will; a time to take notice of HIS works in us, and through us; a time for greater understanding of being dead to the world, and ALIVE in HIM, and oh, so much more...

MATTHEW 16: 24...
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

ROMANS 8: 7-8...
For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

TITUS 2: 11-12...
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,

LUKE 9: 23-24...
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,

GALATIANS 2: 20...
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

There are nearly 50 BIBLE verses concerning self-denial! You see, pride works against such teachings, as pride IS the egocentric MIND which we are encouraged to control, for pride IS that which separates *GOD* from us!!!

Self-denial is a valuable, and pertinent lesson in this time, for it teaches us discipline, and grants us more strength to resist the endless darts of the enemy, which of course, we cannot do by ourselves, yet, the more we practice discipline with knowledge, the more THE HOLY SPIRIT moves in us, through us, and around us! CHRIST JESUS EXEMPLIFIED self-denial, self-control, and the will to exist in THE WILL OF what is HOLY, just, right, and good, which HE calls HIS people to FOLLOW in, for many reasons, including our own protection, and good...

It is NOT easy for a human in this world to deny the self, and yet, we are called to do so, and take up our crosses daily! Ah, the lessons involved in doing so!!!

What I, personally, have experienced, and discovered in self-denial, abstinence, and otherwise stepping into THE LORD'S WILL, is that the mind IS the gateway, either towards perfection, or towards faltering! This year I gave up all sweets (every year I abstain from something different), and while I am not a big sweet-eater, I tell you what, the MIND likes to make me believe that I am suffering without them! It is the most bizarre thing! But I REALIZE more, and more that temptation IS controlled by KNOWLEDGE, and UNDERSTANDING of WHY we need to refrain, resist, and overcome! ONLY with knowledge, and understanding, CAN I find the will to turn the MIND from temptation, TO THE LORD!!!

I have noticed that ANY time I give up something for my walk with *GOD*, not only in this season, but throughout my existence, that temptation IS increased, as if to taunt me into submission! It doesn't matter if it was something I was fond of, or not, the MIND likes to toy with my decisions, which has the power to make me more determined, or to cave in! I am not one to allow myself to cave into much, but I can certainly SEE that IF I weren't strong in self-control, I could!!!

Sweets are NOTHING to me, save for in my coffee, or teas, yet, all of a sudden, from within the walls of my home, to everywhere outside my doors, they are as enticements to me! IF I didn't understand this trap, I would certainly, have been captivated into it a while back, BECAUSE whatever works against the world, the enemy USES unrelentingly to our disadvantage! Yes, the enemy WILL torment a mind, body, and heart, increasing the desires of the senses, because he does NOT want anyone to walk TRULY with THE LORD, as he is sure that none of us can honestly do so! Thus, we witness the failure of many to resist, and overcome, as even CHURCH leaders cave in to the mind's whisperings, and urgings!!!

HONESTLY, I CAN testify to the fact that ALL desires ARE controlled first, in the mind! I KNOW for a FACT that when the mind, and heart are retrained, and restrained, the body does NOT suffer from lack! From desires to party all the time, to sexual promiscuity, to seeking riches, and power, all the way down to simpler desires, THE MIND IS THE CENTER of control! WITHOUT knowledge, understanding, and thus the will to resist, we are putty in the hands of woes!!!

*GOD* DOESN'T demand that we give up everything, but that we resist that which HINDERS our growth, development, and rightful living! HIS WISDOM IS tried, tested, and proven, and DOES ELEVATE us OVER what intends to take us down eternally! It is NOT impossible to overcome ANYTHING, and IF we LOVE THE LORD, we SEEK to do HIS WILL, as CHRIST JESUS TAUGHT us to, by HIS own example! We LONG to be shown for whom we REALLY are, the Children of THE KINGDOM, FAR removed from the shackles of this world, which WE allow in our lack of self-control, and understanding!!!

Listen, ALL of us will be tempted, and often, it IS a huge struggle to resist, as the enemy incites the MIND to tempt us! Even HOLY people have fallen because the MIND taunted them to weakness; this is true of everyone who cannot find the will to turn away from what intends to bring them down! People who are addicted to drugs, alcohol, sex, porn, money, power, and whatever, HAVE let the MIND convince them of their NEED, which IS a LIE, but which, WITHOUT SELF-CONTROL HAS the POWER to absorb the being to the point of no return!!!

And so, during Lent, self-denial becomes a way to WORSHIP THE LORD in TRUTH, and SPIRIT, as we BEAR our cross FOR HIS GLORY, and for our own good, thus safety, as we head forward through this valley of the shadow of death, which IS full of evil, wickedness, and all sorts of powers BENT on chaining us to this plane eternally! I don't consider it a huge sacrifice to LEARN WHY certain disciplines ARE for my own well-being, although there was a time, thanks to the false teachings of the world, that I too, would have balked!!!

Every hour we have the choice to DO THE WILL OF *GOD*, or not, and given the human condition, more than not, we don't because the world distorts THE TRUTH, lures us, and leads us, often unknowingly, away from THE PATH! The Easter season IS a fine time to recall, and remember, and to take deeper into our beings, the FACTS that CHRIST JESUS reiterated for us in HIS walk on this Earth; who though was fully *GOD*, was fully Man, and WAS TEMPTED FAR greater than we have been, and who because of LOVE, RESISTED until HIS dying breath on the cross, for our sakes! HE IS YET WITH us, IN SPIRIT, URGING us to REMAIN IN HIM, because the enemy IS more than determined to STEAL what belongs TO HIM, and WE GRANT power OFTEN, where it does not belong, IN our lack of knowledge, understanding, and self-control! So, in this season we LEARN a bit more about BECOMING ONE WITH HIM in more than words, instead, in action, and reaction, because BEING a Christian is more than a statement, it IS a LIFESTYLE of a ROYAL line, and IS EMPOWERED BY HIGHER standards, and principles!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2015
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS

BLESS THE LORD! PRAISE HIM ALWAYS! WORSHIP HIS HOLINESS! REJOICE IN HIS LOVE, and CARE for us! HONOUR HIM BY BEING HIS REFLECTION IN TRUTH, and spirit! PRAY without ceasing, bear fruit WORTHY, and LOVE as HE LOVES! BE HUMBLE, BE THANKFUL, BE GRATEFUL, and BE STRONG IN THE LORD, our *GOD* ALMIGHTY!!!