HEAVENLY INCLINED...: SIN: OUR DAILY CROSS...

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...

SIN: OUR DAILY CROSS...

Sin, it's introduction, and it's effects are found everywhere; in conditions, circumstances, oppression, lack of rights, and so forth! We are helpless if left to ourselves, thus, *GOD* sent HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON to ransom us! Even so, the ultimate victory over sin is a lifelong task, as sin remains in the world, and has strong powers over humanity, as we battle with the flesh (ROMANS 7)...

Those who LOVE THE LORD, and seek eternal life, must undergo a change in various areas of their being! We are to plan our lives based upon the LOVE we have for *GOD*, and the HOLINESS HE commands of us; this means we think, act, and react, IN LOVE, and IN HIS HOLY WAYS! We are to surrender the flesh, and step into the TRUE self, the spirit, IMITATING our LORD CHRIST JESUS, and patterning our lives after HIM! We are to bear our crosses on a daily basis, while accepting that suffering is part, and parcel with ONENESS WITH HIM; dying of the self, then, finding LIFE IN HIM...

We must have a change of heart towards sin; SEEING it for what it is, ACKNOWLEDGING it, REPENTING of it, and then, DENYING it to have power over what is OF THE LORD! Sin is NOT natural to our beings, it came into existence through the deceiver, working his craftiness in the first people, it IS intrinsic to the world; though we embrace sin as if it were natural to our beings! The ONLY way past sin is IN CHRIST, THE LORD *GOD*, yet, when we make the choice to exist IN HIM, we too, have a part in eradicating sin from our lives, as much as is feasible, WITH HIS assistance, guidance, protection, and empowerment! The more we SEE sin as the negative, damaging evil it is, the more we are inclined to seek *GOD'S* HOLINESS as our own...

It is an ongoing endeavour to work out our Salvation! There are those who disagree that we have to work through/out our Salvation, yet, Scripture says we do. Let us look at:
PHILIPPIANS 2: 12...
So then, my beloved, obedient as you have always been, not only when I am present but all the more now when I am absent, work out your salvation with fear and trembling.

We must be diligent in the use of all the means which lead to our salvation, persevering therein to the end. With great care, lest, with all our advantages, we should come short. Work out your salvation, for it is God who worketh in you. This encourages us to do our utmost, because our labour shall not be in vain: we must still depend on the grace of God. The working of God's grace in us, is to quicken and engage our endeavours.

God's good-will to us, is the cause of his good work in us. Do your duty without murmurings. Do it, and do not find fault with it. Mind your work, and do not quarrel with it. By peaceableness; give no just occasion of offence.

The children of God should differ from the sons of men. The more perverse others are, the more careful we should be to keep ourselves blameless and harmless. The doctrine and example of consistent believers will enlighten others, and direct their way to Christ and holiness, even as the light-house warns mariners to avoid rocks, and directs their course into the harbour. Let us try thus to shine.

The gospel is the word of life, it makes known to us eternal life through Jesus Christ. Running, denotes earnestness and vigour, continual pressing forward; labouring, denotes constancy, and close application. It is the will of God that believers should be much in rejoicing; and those who are so happy as to have good ministers, have great reason to rejoice with them.

It is MORE than being Saved, it is becoming ONE WITH HIM, THUS, becoming EXAMPLES OF HIM, in our daily lives, FOR HIS GLORY, and for the inspiration of others! It is 'THE WAY', HIS WAY, HIS WILL, that we are to adapt to, now, and forever!!!

There are many variations on sin, there is original sin, personal sin, venial sin, mortal sin, conscious sin, unconscious sin, deadly sin, and on it goes! PRIDE is a deadly sin, and IS one that THE LORD *GOD* DETESTS exceedingly, for it is pride that KEEPS humanity in a mindset of self, and seeking self-glory, and IS that which brought the fallen Angel, Satan, down to the Earth, to whom we are subject, IF we are not IN THE LORD! The more KNOWLEDGE we have, the more ENABLED we are to make it through the crazy mazes of the evil of this world!!!

When we live carelessly, precariously, we are prone to increased sin, thus, we are taught discipline, self-sacrifice, diligence, and to seek what is right, just, good, moral, and LIFE giving THROUGH THE LORD *GOD*!!!

We have NO safety without THE LORD *GOD*, CHRIST JESUS, SAVIOUR, and HOLY SPIRIT! NONE! It is impossible for a human being to make it through this life, to the HEAVENS of *GOD*, without HIM!!!

Sin, and sinfulness, is one of those matters of understanding that requires great study, thought, and understanding, then, correction, and, IS imperative to our Salvation! Let us NEVER tire of learning, of growing, of running the good race, for we have SO much to gain in doing so, and if we don't, we have even more to lose! TO *GOD* we are PRECIOUS, and WORTHY of ALL that HE has instructed of us!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2013
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS

THOUGH we have been ransomed, sin is bent on reclaiming it's victims, and as you must know by now, sin IS present everywhere, into which, it IS easy to fall! Thus, the MORE we UNDERSTAND sin, and resist it, the closer we are TO HIM, and our victory!!!

Once a Man told me that he CAN cheat on his Wife, the Mother of his Child, ALL he wants to, because his sin has been forgiven, and he is NOT alone in this, so, you SEE UNDERSTANDING IS IMPERATIVE when it comes to certain, crucial matters of our walk WITH *GOD*!!!