HEAVENLY INCLINED...: THE CHRISTMAS GIFT OPENS UP INTO A NEW YEAR OF INCREASED *GODLINESS*...

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 CHRISTMAS GIFT OPENS UP INTO A NEW YEAR OF INCREASED GODLINESS...

As we end the CHRISTmas season, may we consider our relationship with *GOD*, our LORD, KING, and SAVIOUR; may we consider our relationship TO HIS WILL, IN THE CHURCH, as well as the POWER INDUCING LOVE HE HAS SHARED with us, and COMMANDS us to exist in...

From LONG ago, THE LORD spoke of renewing HIS COVENANT with us, of HIS PLAN to SAVE us, and HIS WILL to SHARE ETERNITY with those who LOVE HIM! WHEN HIS oracles had been fulfilled, the world still knew HIM NOT, though HE as CHRIST JESUS was in the world, because HE did NOT fit the expectations of the human mind...

HE ABSOLUTELY, DID COME to walk this Earth; to TEACH, to GUIDE, to EXEMPLIFY, to LOVE, to SAVE, and to LEAVE us a MODEL of existence to FOLLOW! ONLY those who OPEN UP TO HIM, in TRUTH and SPIRIT HAVE the LOVE of THE FATHER IN them, and CAN thus, step INTO their REALITY, which IS that we are NOT flesh, instead spirit, and that this is NOT our home, instead we are citizens of THE KINGDOM, OVER which THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY, THE CREATOR, AUTHOR, and FINISHER of ALL in existence, IS KING FOREVER, and FOREVER!!!

We ARE indebted, though there is NO way to repay HIM, YET we CAN STEP INTO our reality VIA HIS WILL, instructions, and guidance, thereby PLEASING HIM, and REFLECTING HIM! REFLECTING HIM IS IMPERATIVE for many reasons, but especially for the sake of the lost, and perishing, for HOPE leads to TRANSPARENCY OF HIM in this woe riddled world, which then, INSPIRES ONE TO SEEK HIM in a more urgent, and sincere way, FOR the sake OF HIS GLORY, and the safety of HIS people whom the destroyer IS hell-bent in captivating, then chaining TO lies, falsehoods, and eternal sufferings...

THE LORD'S WILL IS A PROCESS which HAS diverse, and endless levels, layers, and HAS worked from the beginning THROUGH ALL generations TO FULFILLMENT, even IF we CAN'T recognize what HAS been wrought, or not! EVERY COVENANT HE HAS offered INVOLVES PARTNERSHIP, and TRUE ALLEGIANCE TO, IN ORDER for it to become TRUTH, and to work FOR our sake, and HIS GLORY! We DO HAVE responsibility IN relationship TO HIM, TO LOVE, and TO HIS PROMISES, as well as IMMINENT ROLES OF PURPOSE TO realization OF ALL HE WILLS! IF we ARE HIS people, we ARE BY HIS OWN DECREE, A HOLY people, a CHOSEN people, a ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, INDICATING THE ELEVATED nature OF our existence! CHRIST JESUS SHOWED us HOW to IMITATE HIM FOR the PURPOSE OF our HIGH CALLING, THAT we ARE blameless, and spotless in HIS sight!!!

We ARE BEING SANCTIFIED, and CONSECRATED FOR SERVICE TO THE MOST HIGH LORD of LORDS, KING of KINGS, and ETERNAL RULER OVER ALL EVERYTHING, which DOES INVOLVE our HUMILITY, our AGREEMENT IN FULL, TO STEP INTO HIM, HIS WILL, HIS WAYS, and HIS very NATURE! We ARE going to be TRIED, TESTED, THEN PROVEN BY what we ENDURE, and PERSEVERE IN this realm, the world, AND we WILL be challenged constantly, and consistently by what is against HIM, and therefore us! HOWEVER, IF, IN FAITH, WE ARE FAITHFUL, it IS well with our souls, and HE WILL LEAD us, THE WILLING, AS ONLY HE CAN, through this realm TO our RIGHTFUL, and eternal home!!!

That CHRIST JESUS was only on Earth for a bit over 30 years SHOWS us the temporal nature of our existence in this realm, and HOW it works that we are THEN brought INTO THE ETERNAL KINGDOM! AGAIN, it IS a PROCESS, which CHRIST PROVES PERFECTLY IN HIS birth, then death, resurrection, and in HIS PROMISE of RETURNING! We are NOW, through adoption, HIS, and PART of ALL HE IS, thus, IN ONENESS we ALSO, TRUST IN, and FOLLOW THE SACRED, and DIVINE workings OF HIS PLAN, HIS WILL, HIS WAYS! We BECOME whom we REALLY ARE, which IS Children of THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY, despite being in the world of flesh! The flesh could NOT bind CHRIST JESUS, and so, CANNOT bind us, AS LONG AS WE REMAIN IN HIM, and HIS WILL!!!

CHRIST says that those who DO THE WILL OF THE FATHER ARE those who will be saved (MATTHEW 7: 21)! Let's look into this, and perhaps SEE the vital point:
MATTHEW 7: 21-29...
Christ here shows that it will not be enough to own him for our Master, only in word and tongue. It is necessary to our happiness that we believe in Christ, that we repent of sin, that we live a holy life, that we love one another. This is his will, even our sanctification.

Let us take heed of resting in outward privileges and doings, lest we deceive ourselves, and perish eternally, as multitudes do, with a lie in our right hand. Let every one that names the name of Christ, depart from all sin.

There are others, whose religion rests in bare hearing, and it goes no further; their heads are filled with empty notions. These two sorts of hearers are represented as two builders. This parable teaches us to hear and do the sayings of the Lord Jesus: some may seem hard to flesh and blood, but they must be done.

Christ is laid for a foundation, and every thing besides Christ is sand. Some build their hopes upon worldly prosperity; others upon an outward profession of religion. Upon these they venture; but they are all sand, too weak to bear such a fabric as our hopes of heaven. There is a storm coming that will try every man's work.

When God takes away the soul, where is the hope of the hypocrite? The house fell in the storm, when the builder had most need of it, and expected it would be a shelter to him. It fell when it was too late to build another.

May the Lord make us wise builders for eternity. Then nothing shall separate us from the love of Christ Jesus. The multitudes were astonished at the wisdom and power of Christ's doctrine. And this sermon, ever so often read over, is always new. Every word proves its Author to be Divine. Let us be more and more decided and earnest, making some one or other of these blessedness and Christian graces the main subject of our thoughts, even for weeks together. Let us not rest in general and confused desires after them, whereby we grasp at all, but catch nothing.

AMEN!!!

Let us MORE than PRAISE, WORSHIP, REJOICE, and GIVE THANKS in word, and thought, let us HONOUR HIM in deed BY STEPPING INTO our RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM, which IS A PARTNERSHIP OF GLORY; HIS, then in which we share! Let us TAKE the TRUTH of CHRISTmas INTO the coming days, and years, *GOD* WILLING, IN SERVITUDE of HIM, then others, MOTIVATED BY LOVE, and ALL the while, REFLECTING HIM: this the world NEEDS, and this the world SHALL HAVE, despite the denial, the defying, or the rejection!!!

WE ARE CHILDREN OF THE RIGHTEOUS, HOLY *GOD*, and it is about HIGH time we ARE REFLECTING TRUTH! Let us PRAY for ALL we NEED to do so, but mostly, let us set our hearts, minds, and beings UPON DOING so!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2016
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS