HEAVENLY INCLINED...: PERPETUAL CHURCH...

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...

PERPETUAL CHURCH...

CHRIST JESUS IS THE CORNERSTONE, THE FOUNDATION on which we are built into a SPIRITUAL HOUSE---

Christ is the chief Corner-stone, that unites the whole number of believers into one everlasting temple, and bears the weight of the whole fabric. All true Christians are a chosen generation; they make one family, a people distinct from the world: of another spirit, principle, and practice; which they could never be, if they were not chosen in Christ to be such, and sanctified by his Spirit.

Their first state is a state of gross darkness, but they are called out of darkness into a state of joy, pleasure, and prosperity; that they should show forth the praises of the Lord by their profession of his truth, and their good conduct. How vast their obligations to Him who has made them his people, and has shown mercy to them! To be without this mercy is a woeful state, though a man have all worldly enjoyments.

And there is nothing that so kindly works repentance, as right thoughts of the mercy and love of God. Let us not dare to abuse and affront the free grace of God, if we mean to be saved by it; but let all who would be found among those who obtain mercy, walk as his people.

People go to Church, then exit the brick, and mortar building, without BEING the Church for the rest of the week! As soon as the doors open to re-enter the world, a number of Christians, once again meld into the world, not regarding THE POWER of THEIR BEING an IMPERATIVE part of THE BODY of CHRIST JESUS/THE CHURCH! Some people don't make it through the Service before they are negating their ROLE IN CHRIST, as they act in worldly ways, and some are alright while IN the building, but as soon as they exit, they are fleshy vs. spirit!!!

This IS important TO Christianity, because while there are numerous denominations, CHRIST JESUS as THE CORNERSTONE, and HEAD OF THE BODY of THE CHURCH, SHOULD be a COMMON denominator pulling us TOGETHER, as we ARE THE CHURCH 24/7! THE CHURCH exists to SERVE *GOD*, and then others, GROUNDED IN LOVE, which IS THE LAW, and in which all works together FOR HIS GLORY, and the good of others!!!

Church DOESN'T cease once the Sermon and WORSHIP is finished; it GOES OUT INTO THE WORLD VIA EACH PART OF THE BODY of THE CHURCH/CHRIST JESUS, PROMOTING HIM, HIS WILL, HIS WAY, THROUGH our thoughts, actions, and reactions: it IS PERPETUALLY FORWARDING the EVIDENCE of HIM IN HIS people THROUGH FRUITS of THE SPIRIT!!!

The TRUE Christian does not exit the building and begin to judge, be filled with prejudice, bias, and other negatives of the world! They do NOT gather FROM THE LORD to let it side idly by! As HE LOVES, so do we! As HE offers GRACE, and MERCY, so do we! As HE grants HOPE, and PEACE, so do we! And on it goes, as we REFLECT CHRIST JESUS patterned AFTER HIS example, and teachings! It IS an ONGOING work of HIS WILL in order FOR the BLESSED HOPE of the masses, THROUGH FATHER, SON, and HOLY SPIRIT, and we, HIS CHOSEN!!!

We HAVE to KEEP Church continuously ALIVE in the world, and truthfully, for our own sake too, because as it is written, we soon forget:
JAMES 1: 22-25...
22+++But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
23+++For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;
24+++for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.
25+++But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.
26+++If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.

If we heard a sermon every day of the week, and an angel from heaven were the preacher, yet, if we rested in hearing only, it would never bring us to heaven. Mere hearers are self-deceivers; and self-deceit will be found the worst deceit at last.

If we flatter ourselves, it is our own fault; the truth, as it is in Jesus, flatters no man. Let the word of truth be carefully attended to, and it will set before us the corruption of our nature, the disorders of our hearts and lives; and it will tell us plainly what we are. Our sins are the spots the law discovers: Christ's blood is the laver the gospel shows.

But in vain do we hear God's word, and look into the gospel glass, if we go away, and forget our spots, instead of washing them off; and forget our remedy, instead of applying to it. This is the case with those who do not hear the word as they ought. In hearing the word, we look into it for counsel and direction, and when we study it, it turns to our spiritual life. Those who keep in the law and word of God, are, and shall be, blessed in all their ways. His gracious recompence hereafter, would be connected with his present peace and comfort.

Every part of Divine revelation has its use, in bringing the sinner to Christ for salvation, and in directing and encouraging him to walk at liberty, by the Spirit of adoption, according to the holy commands of God. And mark the distinctness, it is not for his deeds, that any man is blessed, but in his deed. It is not talking, but walking, that will bring us to heaven. Christ will become more precious to the believer's soul, which by his grace will become more fitted for the inheritance of the saints in light.

When men take more pains to seem religious than really to be so, it is a sign their religion is in vain. The not bridling the tongue, readiness to speak of the faults of others, or to lessen their wisdom and piety, are signs of a vain religion. The man who has a slandering tongue, cannot have a truly humble, gracious heart. False religious may be known by their impurity and uncharitableness.

True religion teaches us to do every thing as in the presence of God. An unspotted life must go with unfeigned love and charity. Our true religion is equal to the measure in which these things have place in our hearts and conduct. And let us remember, that nothing avails in Christ Jesus, but faith that worketh by love, purifies the heart, subdues carnal lusts, and obeys God's commands.

WHEN we are ONE with THE LORD *GOD*, it IS a FULL allegiance TO HIM, HIS WILL, and HIS WAYS, FOR SERVING HIM, then others! SERVING IS constant, and IS to bring in the FULL number of HIS people, many of whom are under a heavy shroud of deception, and are chained by the oppressor in a great number of ways, and WE, THE BODY OF THE CHURCH ARE whom SHINES OF HIM, FOR their sake, and HIS GLORY OVER all which works against HIM, and us!!!

It ISN'T that we will be perfect in BEING THE BODY of CHRIST; that isn't the point; the point is that we HAVE COMMITTED to HIM, to LOVE, and to THE COVENANT IN TRUTH, and SPIRIT, IN WHICH HE will guide, direct, and teach us, IF we REMAIN IN HIM!!!

A Church is a refuge, a point of contact, a place of PEACE, HOPE, and RENEWAL, and WE, THE BODY HAVE POWER FROM THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY TO build an epic Church WORTHY of HIM, THAT HIS GLORY is resounded throughout CREATION!!!

While we can't do anything away from *GOD*, we can choose to BE a viable affirmation, and reminder of HIS CHURCH which IS comprised of a peculiar, and CHOSEN people, a HOLY Priesthood; different, and separate from those that comprise the world, and which work BY HIS WILL to diminish the shackles of said world, that more might be brought HOME...

CHURCH ain't NEVER over, it travels in us: PERPETUAL CHURCH, we ARE, indeed, all to the GLORY of *GOD*!!!

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

It is more than ministering with the hands, or other tangibles, and is NEVER for show; it is ministering with the heart, and soul, in the name of THE LORD *GOD*, and HIS LOVE...