Dear Partner,
I’ll begin this letter today by going to 3 John 1-4:
The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth. Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
The Greek word translated wish is the word euchomai which, properly translated, is “to pray to God.” Look what this great apostle said: “I pray above all things that you may prosper and be in health even as your soul prospers.” You and I both know that your soul has a great deal to do with your health. Remember, the soul is made up of your mind, will and emotions. The Spirit of God points us in the direction of victory in that part of our being through what the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:22-23:
Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our LORD Jesus Christ.
Actually, go back and read verses 15-22, and it becomes very clear what the problems, and also the answers, are in the areas of spirit, soul and body.
See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.
Now let’s look again at verses 3-4 in our text in 3 John:
For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
That brings us to our main subject—TRUTH! What is truth? That’s the question that Pilate asked Jesus in John 18:36-38. A few hours before, during that last Passover meal that changed heaven and earth, we find these precious words in John 14:6: “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
Isn’t that just wonderful? Let’s go back and look at what the Master said early one morning in the Temple court, after the Pharisees asked Jesus, “Who are You?” Look at Chapter 8:26: “I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.”
What? “HE THAT SENT ME IS TRUE”! Keep reading verses 27-28:
They understood not that he spake to them of the Father. Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
Verse 29 was the breakthrough for many. And then, verse 30 says: “As he spake these words, many believed on him.”
Now look at verses 31-32:
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my WORD, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free
HIS WORD IS THE TRUTH! “Ye shall know THE TRUTH.” The Greek word ginosko which means “to know” is translated for us in Matthew 1:22-25:
Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of The LORD by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of The LORD had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: and knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus.
Jesus said, “You shall know, [have Intimate knowledge of] THE TRUTH, and THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE. He did not say “SET you free.”
“Well, Brother Copeland, what’s the difference?”
Let’s keep reading in John 8. Look at verses 36-37: “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my WORD hath no place in you.”
There you have it! Jesus and His WORD, if His WORD has place in us, is final authority in our lives. Remember, we are reading words of the covenant! Backed now, by the precious BLOOD of the Lamb! Go with me to Genesis 17:1-5:
And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, The LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.
“A father of many nations have I made thee.” How? BY BLOOD (verse 11). Look at the word token. It means “a covenant sign, or mark.” It means “remembrance.” Why a remembrance? Because it was painful! Especially for a man his age! It took a while, but GOD must have shortened the healing time. Abraham never, ever forgot it! Neither did anyone else because HE HAD A NEW NAME—FOREVER!
Gloria Copeland has not been called Gloria Neece since April 13, 1962. Why? Because of the covenant that was established that evening at 8 p.m. in Little Rock, Ark. Her name was changed! Let’s keep reading.
Romans 4:16-17 says:
Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, (as it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
“It is of faith”! GOD does what? HE CALLS THINGS THAT BE NOT AS THOUGH THEY WERE! Let’s look at that 17th verse in the Amplified Bible, Classic Edition:
As it is written, I have made you the father of many nations. [He was appointed our father] in the sight of God in Whom he believed, Who gives life to the dead and speaks of the nonexistent things that [He has foretold and promised] as if they [already] existed.
Remember now, “Therefore, it is of faith.” Read Romans 4:1: “What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?”
Then verse 3 says:
For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
HE BELIEVED GOD! Now we can better understand. There came a time when HE KNEW GOD! Now read, and continue reading, verses 19-21.
And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
Abraham was fully persuaded. How and why? He had a token, a remembrance, of THE BLOOD COVENANT he had with EL SHAD-DAH’-EE, the Almighty God, the God who is MORE THAN ENOUGH! He had a blood covenant with THE TRUTH, and it completely changed his whole being. Look it up. After Sarah died, Abraham remarried, had six more sons and lived to be 175 years old. Remember, his body had been “DEAD AT 99” (Romans 4:19).
We are not talking about what a lot of people say: “Well, that’s not my truth.” Well, this is not my truth, it’s THE TRUTH. God’s WORD IS TRUTH because it’s impossible for Him to lie. It was not impossible for Jesus to lie, but He always did those things that pleased His Father. Well, His Father is our Father, and it is written in our covenant in 1 John 1:5-9:
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
This, then, is the bottom line of this letter: If we continue in His WORD and meditate in it day and night, we will be MADE TOTALLY FREE from all of the effects of inflation! We believe in financial miracles! Oh, I’m fully aware that Christmas is just around the corner. This will be a wonderful Christmas this year, and we don’t dare say anything else! We are also people of faith in GOD!
As you sow your BLESSING seed this month, dance and sing: “I KNOW MY GOD HAS MADE THE WAY for ME because I’m not moved by what I feel or by what I see!” I’m moved by what I believe, and I believe He who died for me is coming again VERY, VERY soon. He meets ALL my needs according to His riches IN GLORY! How? By Christ Jesus! And, dear Partner, that’s THE TRUTH about the matter!
Remember this: I prayed for you this morning! Gloria and I Love you. God Loves you, and Jesus is LORD
