MY BIRTHDAY WISHES

MY BIRTHDAY WISHES!

3 John 4

4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

Today is my birthday!  The day of my birth was also Thanksgiving Day in 1946. I have already received many wonderful greetings from friends made through the years. I have been asked what I want for my birthday and, generally, I don’t need or want anything. But after some more thought I realize that there are THREE THINGS I want for all my people. Here they are.

1. I WANT YOU TO COMPREHEND THE TRUTH!

Eph 3:16-19

16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

To comprehend is from the Greek katalambano which means “to take eagerly, to seize and to possess.” This is why the minister prepares and preaches so that the veil that is spread upon the eyes and heart might be torn away to reveal the light of the gospel. Oh, I want you to comprehend the truth!

2. I WANT YOU TO CONFORM TO THE TRUTH!

Rom 8:29

29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Rom 12:2

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Truth apprehended is one thing but truth applied is quite another.

James 4:17

17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

3. I WANT YOU TO COMMUNICATE THE TRUTH!

Matt 5:16

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

2 Tim 2:24-26

24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Although the Amplified New Testament does not flow with the poetry of the King James, yet it might be helpful here.

2 Tim 2:24-26

24 And the servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome (fighting and contending). Instead, he must be kindly to everyone and mild-tempered [preserving the bond of peace]; he must be a skilled and suitable teacher, patient and forbearing and willing to suffer wrong.

25 He must correct his opponents with courtesy and gentleness, in the hope that God may grant that they will repent and come to know the Truth [that they will perceive and recognize and become accurately acquainted with and acknowledge it],

26 And that they may come to their senses [and] escape out of the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him, [henceforth] to do His [God's] will.

AMPLIFIED

So, what do I want today? I want you to know and understand the truth, to see it clearly, to grasp it eagerly and make it a part of your life. I want you to communicate the truth to others who are yet in the same bondage which once enslaved you.

Dear Lord, grant that the gospel would be clearly presented and eagerly grasped today. AMEN