Dear Partner,
Sixty-three years ago, this month, Gloria and I were born from above. I was raised in the Baptist church, and she was brought up in the Church of Christ. Nov. 2, 1962, I flew a charter trip from Little Rock, Ark., to Shreveport, La., and back. Glo waited, knowing I would be late. When I came home, I changed clothes into something more comfortable so we could sit down over our evening meal and discuss our day, which we did a lot.
We were so much in Love from the time we met in October 1961 and then married on April 13, 1962! We didn’t fuss with one another then, and we don’t now! Next April will be 64 years with no cross words between us, EVER! That evening after the Little Rock charter trip, I heard The LORD say in my spirit, Kenneth, son, if you don’t get right with Me, you’re headed to a devil’s hell! Well, you’ve heard me give my testimony before. I received Jesus of Nazareth as my Savior right then. When I tried to explain it to Gloria a little later, she shouted, “Hallelujah!” She had received Jesus two weeks before. Then, in January 1963, we stepped over into the supernatural by receiving the fullness of the Holy Spirit, speaking in “other tongues” as the Spirit gave us utterance. Four years later, on Jan. 24, 1967, we left for Tulsa, Okla., where I enrolled in Oral Roberts University—and the rest is history!
Let’s look now at John 1:1-5, in the Amplified Bible, Classic Edition:
- In the beginning [before all time] was The WORD (Christ), and The WORD was with God, and The WORD was God Himself.
- He was present originally with God.
- All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being.
- In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men.
- And the Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it [put it out or absorbed it or appropriated it, and is unreceptive to it].
Next month, we will be celebrating “Christ-mas”—about the Anointed One and His Anointing that made us “NEW CREATURES” in Him. Second Corinthians 5:17-21, in the AMPC says
- Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!
- But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself [received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself] and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation [that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him].
- It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself, not counting up and holding against [men] their trespasses [but cancelling them], and committing to us the message of reconciliation (of the restoration to favor).
- So we are Christ’s ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us. We [as Christ’s personal representatives] beg you for His sake to lay hold of the divine favor [now offered you] and be reconciled to God.
- For our sake He made Christ [virtually] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become [endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of] the righteousness of God [what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness].
For whose sake? OUR SAKES! That’s the story of the Cross! Last words and first words are extremely important. Every night before we go to sleep, I say to Gloria, “Goodnight, my Love.” Then to the Father, I say Mark 12:30-31:
- And thou shalt Love The LORD thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
- And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt Love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
“I Love The LORD, my God.” I know you already know the answer to the next question: “Who then is my neighbor?” Let’s turn in our Bibles, not just in this letter! Always read my letters with your Bible in hand, either the King James Version or the AMPC. Turn to Luke 10:25-37, AMPC:
- And then a certain lawyer arose to try (test, tempt) Him, saying, Teacher, what am I to do to inherit everlasting life [that is, to partake of eternal salvation in the Messiah’s kingdom]?
- Jesus said to him, What is written in the Law? How do you read it?
- And he replied, You must Love The LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.
- And Jesus said to him, You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live [enjoy active, BLESSED, endless life in the kingdom of God].
- And he, determined to acquit himself of reproach, said to Jesus, And who is my neighbor?
- Jesus, taking him up, replied, A certain man was going from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him of his clothes and belongings and beat him and went their way, [unconcernedly] leaving him half dead, as it happened.
- Now by coincidence a certain priest was going down along that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
- A Levite likewise came down to the place and saw him, and passed by on the other side [of the road].
- But a certain Samaritan, as he traveled along, came down to where he was; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity and sympathy [for him],
- And went to him and dressed his wounds, pouring on [them] oil and wine. Then he set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn and took care of him.
- And the next day he took out two denarii [two day’s wages] and gave [them] to the innkeeper, saying, Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, I [myself] will repay you when I return.
- Which of these three do you think proved himself a neighbor to him who fell among the robbers?
- He answered, The one who showed pity and mercy to him. And Jesus said to him, Go and do likewise.
The KJV says, “The one who had mercy on him.” The Greek word for mercy is eleos, which means “compassion.” Now let’s read Mark 6:30-34, AMPC:
- The apostles [sent out as missionaries] came back and gathered together to Jesus, and told Him all that they had done and taught.
- And He said to them, [As for you] come away by yourselves to a deserted place, and rest a while—for many were [continually] coming and going, and they had not even leisure enough to eat.
- And they went away in a boat to a solitary place by themselves.
- Now many [people] saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the surrounding towns, and they got there ahead [of those in the boat].
- As Jesus landed, He saw a great crowd waiting, and He was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.
“A GREAT CROWD waiting.” Jesus had just received the bad news that his cousin John had been beheaded. He did not mourn or grieve. The Master was MOVED WITH COMPASSION for them.
In closing, let’s read from the Apostle John’s book the night our LORD was betrayed. Let’s look at Chapter 13:34-35 in the AMPC:
- I give you a new commandment: that you should Love one another. Just as I have Loved you, so you too should Love one another.
- By this shall all [men] know that you are My disciples, if you Love one another [if you keep on showing Love among yourselves].
Turn with me now to Ephesians 6:10-19, AMPC:
- In conclusion, be strong in The LORD [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].
- Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.
- For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.
- Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].
- Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God,
- And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace.
- Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving Faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].
- And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is The WORD of God.
- Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people).
- And [pray] also for me, that [freedom of] utterance may be given me, that I may open my mouth to proclaim boldly the mystery of the good news (the Gospel).
As you sow your BLESSING seed this month, remember that every time I sit down to a meal I pray that the Compassion and Love for you as my Partner is on you, spirit, soul and body, financially and socially, and THE BLESSING of Abraham is on your seed.
YOU ARE ONE IN A MILLION! Remember, God Loves you, we Love you, and Jesus is LORD!
Love,
