r L n -- really LOVE now! : Romans 8:14

Showing posts with label Romans 8:14. Show all posts

Thursday, February 13, 2025

The SPIRITual Outlook

HOW may a person KNOW whether The Holy SPIRIT is leading the Born-Again CHRISTian? Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones supplies RELEVANT Guidance on this VITAL question. He says The Holy SPIRIT Who INdwells the BLOOD-Bought Believer LEADS him or her to a total NEW Outlook on Life -- a SPIRITual Outlook.

WHAT is this NEW SPIRITual Outlook? It is that SPIRITual people, the Twice-Born of GOD, enjoy SPIRITual things and Fellowship with other CHRISTians. These who are LED by The SPIRIT desire to live for GOD's GLORY -- for this is the CHIEF end of man.

IF you have a SPIRITual Outlook, you'll have a deepening DESIRE for greater KNOWledge of GOD and CHRIST. This is actualized by reading the HOLY Scriptures, Prayer and longing for Holiness. You'll have a deepening concern over your lack of LOVE for GOD. The Holy SPIRIT leads you to this concern. You'll have an INcreasing awareness of your SINs. The SPIRIT withIN illuminates SIN in your life. Then your REaction to SIN is one of GRIEF over offending GOD's LOVE -- not just breaking rules. You'll experience personal "godly sorrow."

Having a SPIRITual Outlook, we'll experience an INcreasing SENSITIVITY to SIN and TEMPTATION. We'll become MORE watchful. We'll desire and long for more actual RIGHTEOUSness and HOLINESS withIN. We'll hunger and thirst for them. We'll take action to MORTIFY the deeds of the body. We'll AVOID SINful influences and provision for SIN.

Dr Lloyd-Jones encourages Believers to honestly examine their FAITH: whether they are truly SPIRITually ALIVE, with the NEW Life IN CHRIST -- or whether STILL spiritually DEAD, with the OLD Life ruled by SIN, SELF, Satan and his World System. Do you, as a professing CHRISTian, desire first and foremost GOD’s GLORY?

Do you LOVE the Redeemed of GOD? Do you HATE SIN? Do you actively mortify the deeds of your own Flesh? For the REgenerated Children of GOD -- the INdwelling Holy SPIRIT always LEADS to personal Holiness for the GLORY of The FATHER and The LORD JESUS CHRIST.

May GOD use this sermon on Romans 8:14 by Dr Lloyd-Jones, to provide you with the sweet EVERlasting JOY of ASSURANCE of your Salvation -- ETERNAL Life IS by the GRACE of GOD alone, through FAITH alone, IN CHRIST alone. May The SPIRIT withIN conform us INto more and More and MORE CHRISTlikeness as HE acts upon our Mind, Heart and Will. AMEN!

The SPIRIT and the Bride say -- MARANATHA... "COME, LORD JESUS!" (Revelation 22:17) HalleluYAH! \o/

(This blog was created from my notes from Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones' sermon on Romans 8:14, description and breakdown)

Saturday, May 30, 2015

IF and SO -- Two GREAT, Two-Letter Words

IF my LORD GOD had not timed it JUST-so, SO that the stoplights would be green or red, SO that i would arrive at Palm and Dennery on a red light, SO that i can look around as i caught my breath (early Thursday morning, as i biked to work)... (Luke 1:37)

IF the alive-within SPIRIT had not caused my eyes to focus and alight on the sight of a crumpled piece of green, while at the same time causing all traffic to be properly stopped or turning away from my direction, SO that i can pick up the recognizable greenback in safety... (Romans 8:14)

THEN i wouldn't have felt that boost of JOY, which energized my body to tackle the rest of the uphill ride with hallelujah praises singing in my heart and bursting forth out of my lips. (Nehemiah 8:10)

JESUS my Beloved LORD knew my spirit wasn't light that morning, which caused my body to feel heavy as i pedaled up Palm -- lacking energy because i was lacking His JOY, which is my day-to-day source of strength in ALL things, in ALL circumstances. (Philippians 4:13)

SO my ever-compassionate LORD JESUS gave me a perk in the form of a one-dollar bill, which perked me up in my spirit, which sparked the waiting storehouse of JOY within, which infused the cells of my body with palpable, energetic happiness because of the IN-sight that GOD was speaking to me in my real-time circumstance. (Hebrews 13:8)

The LORD SPIRIT spoke into my heart -- "See, rln, how money has such power over people, even you? See how highly energized you got from just a mere dollar? Can you understand more clearly then, the literal "high" of someone whose god is money?" (Matthew 6:24)

"Yes, LORD." (Romans 10:10)

i also knew (that GOD knew that i knew that He knew! -- for He knows at ALL times, ALL the WHATevers within my heart and mind and body) that it was a "GOD-speak" event in the momentary circumstance. i knew without a shadow of doubt that it was a GOD-given gift of serendipity, a GOD-governed provision, a GOD-gladdened lesson. (Psalm 139)

What else was there for me to do, but to sing aloud thankful praises for my heavenly Father -- for His higher-than-the-heavens wisdom, His tenderhearted ways, His compassion-in-action LOVE...His ALL-mightiness in ALL things, in ALL circumstances, in ALL ways...always! (Philippians 4:4)

Thank You, my LORD GOD, for cleansing my heart more and more and more with your Light -- The TRUTH of The Word -- SO that i may see Your glorious holy beauty more and more and more with the eyes of my heart in these unexpectedly delightful moments that abound in Your creation! (Matthew 5:8)

Hallelu-JAH for the greatest "SO"! \o/ For GOD SO loved the world that He gave His one and only Son JESUS, that IF anyone trusts in Him -- he or she will not perish into eternal hell, but will have eternal Life! The SO has been demonstrated in HIStory -- the IF is your chosen story... (John 3:16-18)

Dear reader: may the SPIRIT of GOD blaze the TRUTH of the Good News into your heart, SO that you may choose for your self TOday to receive in all humility and genuine repentance, the utterly AMAZING GOD-given gift of GRACE -- your REDEMPTION through CHRIST JESUS -- SO that you may enJOY a GOD-governed life with GOD-gladdened days forEVERmore as your greatest SO in answer to your IF.

AMEN -- in the ALL-mighty Name of the LORD GOD JESUS CHRIST!

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

SUCCESS--WHAT IT IS to me

SUCCESS, to me, is being the wholeheartedly OBEDIENT daughter that GOD, my heavenly FATHER, desires me to be. "If you love Me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15)

i honestly love GOD's will, for it is ALL-ways good, ALL-ways perfect, ALL-ways accomplished in LOVE, ALL-ways wise. And i love His Word. i am not speaking figuratively or in exaggeration when i say that i "love" His will and His Word. i literally LOVE His will and i literally LOVE His Word. They are bread and water--real nourishment--to my spirit, to my soul, to my body... to my very life. And i am glad to obey GOD's Holy SPIRIT when He speaks in His still, quiet voice. The issue is not not wanting to obey; the issue is my dullness of hearing--am i hearing HIS voice or mine? Am i listening with the attentive ears of a SPIRIT-led heart, or am i distracted with my oftentimes unruly monkey mind?

That's why i pray this prayer of SURRENDER to my heavenly FATHER: "FATHER, today i abandon myself into Your hands, do with me what YOU will. Whatever You may do, i thank You. i am ready for ALL, i accept ALL. Let only YOUR will be done in and through me, and in all Your creatures. i wish no more than this, O LORD." (by Charles de Foucald)

SUCCESS, to me, is being loving and being at rest in the midst of turmoil or deep valleys--of being JOY-full even in seeming drudgery. Success is having peace of mind, whatever the outcome of ANYthing--WHATever tomorrow may bring. Success is trusting GOD in ALL the details of my life, trusting Him in ALL ways, always -- "It matters not what GOD does, it matters only WHO He IS!" (Oswald Chambers)

SUCCESS, to me, is not having an earthly goal in sight, nor an imagined happily-ever-after-fairytale-ending. Success is being IN the process of becoming CHRIST-like and realizing that the process itself is GOD's plan...the process of becoming more and more intimate with JESUS. "Don't store up treasures here on earth...store your treasures in heaven. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be." (Matthew 6:19-21, NLT)

SUCCESS, to me, is resting at ease in GOD's will. "As JESUS is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4:17)

SUCCESS, to me, is being content with whatever i have, wherever i am,.."for i have learned how to be content with whatever i have. i know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. i have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For i can do everything through CHRIST, who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:11-13)

(Taveuni, Fiji)

(London, England)

(Castillejos, Philippines)

(Moorea, Tahiti)

SUCCESS, to me, is dancing the tango of Life with the SPIRIT of GOD and seamlessly following His lead. It is being 100% surrendered with a JOY-full heart to the One who owns EVERYthing anyway. "For as many as are led by the SPIRIT of GOD, these are sons of GOD." (Romans 8:14, NKJV)

SUCCESS, to me, is BE-ing love--no longer acting nor behaving in a loving manner, but BE-ing love itself.

Success, to me, is having my LORD JESUS greet me with "Well done, my beloved rLn!" (Matthew 25:21)

my Prayer For You

When i think of the wisdom and scope of GOD's plan, i fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. i pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will give you mighty inner strength through His Holy SPIRIT. i pray that CHRIST will be more and more at home in your heart as you trust in Him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of GOD's marvelous love.

And may you have the power to understand, as all GOD's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love really is. May you experience the love of CHRIST, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from GOD.

Now to Him Who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by CHRIST JESUS to all generations, forever and ever. AMEN!

(Ephesians 3:14-21)

The Great I AM

I AM the Bread of life. He who comes to Me will never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
(John 6:35)

I AM the Light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the Light of life.
(John 8:12)

I AM the Door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I AM the Door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
(John 10:7, 9)

I AM the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep. I AM the Good Shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.
(John 10:11, 14)

I AM the True Vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. I AM the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
(John 15:1, 5)

I AM the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
(John 11:25)

I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
(John 14:6)

Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" JESUS answered, You say rightly that I AM a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the Truth hears My voice.
(John 18:37)

LOVE is...

Though i speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, i have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

And though i have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though i have all faith, so that i could remove mountains, but have not love, i am nothing.

And though i bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though i give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;

does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;

does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

For we know in part and we prophesy in part.

But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

When i was a child, i spoke as a child, i understood as a child, i thought as a child; but when i became a man, i put away childish things.

For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now i know in part, but then i shall know just as i also am known.

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

(I Corinthians 13)

Rejoice!

Rejoice in the LORD always. i will say it again: Rejoice!

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The LORD is near.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to GOD. And the peace of GOD, which transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and your mind in CHRIST JESUS.

Finally, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.

(Philippians 4:4-8)

How Great Thou Art!

O LORD, my GOD! When i in awesome wonder consider all the works thy hands have made.
i see the stars, i hear the rolling thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!

And when i think that GOD, His Son not sparing, sent Him to die, i scarce can take it in;
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin.

Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!

When CHRIST shall come with shout of acclamation and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then i shall bow in humble adoration and there proclaim, my GOD, how great Thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!

Amazing Grace

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! i once was lost, but now am found; was blind, but now i see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved; how precious did that grace appear the hour i first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares, i have already come; 'tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.

The LORD has promised good to me, His word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion be, as long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail, and mortal life shall cease, i shall possess, within the veil, a life of joy and peace.

The world shall soon dissolve like snow, the sun refuse to shine; but GOD, who called me here below, shall be forever mine.

When we've been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun; we've no less days to sing GOD's praise than when we'd first begun.

The Holy BIBLE -- The Word of GOD

The BIBLE contains the mind of GOD, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you.

It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and the CHRISTian's charter. Here is Paradise restored, Heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed.

CHRIST is its grand subject, our good the design, and the glory of GOD its end.

It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgment, and be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents.

(Foreword from The Gideons International)