The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Titus 1:7-16, “…the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain,

8 but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled,

9 holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.

10 For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,

11 who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain.

12 One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”

13 This testimony is true. For this reason reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith,

14 not paying attention to Jewish myths and commandments of men who turn away from the truth.

15 To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.

16 They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed.”

The “overseer,” of whom Titus speaks, was a superintendent, who saw that everything and every-one was as they ought to be and in the proper place. Notice that there were five “negatives” that he was to avoid and seven “positives” that he was to employ at all times. Opposition to the LORD’s work was constantly present; thus, the superintendent was there to promote sound doctrine and to refute all who would seek to contradict it. Pastors and deacons today are charged with much the same responsibility.

If true believers will avail themselves of the opportunities, they, too, will serve well when they put down those who teach and promote false doctrine. That “they must be silenced” is, without a doubt, correct even today. Many a congregation has been virtually destroyed because of the hustlers, who upset the faithful with their false doctrine. Satan is real! And his efforts to thwart the work of the LORD are present wherever the LORD’s Truth is believed and taught. Be ALERT!

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

We will never know that Christ is all we need,

Until He becomes all that we have. – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Exodus 13:1-8, “Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

2 ‘Sanctify to Me every firstborn, the first offspring of every womb among the sons of Israel, both of man and beast; it belongs to Me.’

3 Moses said to the people, ‘Remember this day in which you went out from Egypt, from the house of slavery; for by a powerful hand the LORD brought you out from this place. And nothing leavened shall be eaten.’

4 On this day in the month of Abib, you are about to go forth.

5 It shall be when the LORD brings you to the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Hivite and the Jebusite, which He swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, that you shall observe this rite in this month.

6 “For seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to the LORD.

7 Unleavened bread shall be eaten throughout the seven days; and nothing leavened shall be seen among you, nor shall any leaven be seen among you in all your borders.

8 You shall tell your son on that day, saying, ‘It is because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.’”

What is your favorite day? Your birthday? Christmas? Thanksgiving? A special anniversary? Just about everyone has a day that counts as “special.” The day that Moses led Israel out of Egypt –that was indeed a very special day! I have spoken through the bars with prisoners, who were indeed looking for their day of release. To them, that is indeed viewed as a special day!

But, for the Israelites, who were imprisoned in Egypt, one day was viewed as a lifetime! For many it was indeed a lifetime! Yet, release is now imminent! The words, “Let My people go!” had reached the Egyptian leadership, and the humongous crowd of thousands were ready! Abib was the first month of the Jewish ecclesiastical year, corresponding to our month of April.

The journey from Egypt to Israel was not easy, yet the people were now free from the rigors of Egyptian slavery! It’s not easy for people today to translate from worldly lifestyles to the lifestyle of a born-again Christian. Yet, it’s more than worthwhile! There’s freedom in the air, and in everything that’s pure and clean. “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift!” (2 Cor. 9:15).

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

We will never know that Christ is all we need,

Until He becomes all that we have. – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Luke 22:39-46, “And He came out and went, as was His habit, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples also followed Him. When He arrived at the place, He said to them, ‘Pray that you may not enter into temptation.’

41 And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and began to pray,

42 saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.”

43 Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him.

44 And being in agony, He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.

45 When He rose from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow,

46 and said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

If we read the Scriptures carefully, we will quickly learn that the disciples of Jesus were very much like we are today. Previously, in this chapter, the LORD and His disciples had shared in the Supper where He gave thanks to the Father, likening the bread to His Body and the wine to His Blood, saying “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” It was a solemn time, followed by prayer that they might “not enter into temptation.”

Leaving them to themselves, He then withdrew somewhat and began to pray, knowing that the time of His death was rapidly approaching. His prayer was so earnestly fervent that He sweat profusely, much like blood when excessive energy is expelled from the body. Yet, when He concluded His prayer, He found His disciples sleeping –sleeping from sorrow!

Have we not all experienced the same? Our concerns turn first to sorrow; then we seek sleep to cover and expel that sorrow –at least for a time. Yet, sleep does not erase sorrow completely; it simply seeks to cover it for a time; and when we awaken, the sorrow rushes again into our mind and we, in need of that sleep, simply mask it again.

Earnest prayer is the only answer, for it lays our difficulty squarely in the Hands of the LORD. “Thy will be done” is the resolution. We trust a lot of things to a lot of people every day–things of much less importance. Why not put everything into those Hands that were nailed to the Cross?

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

We will never know that Christ is all we need,

Until He becomes all that we have. – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

1 Chronicles 16:23-29, “Sing to the LORD, all the earth; Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.

24 Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.

25 For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; He also is to be feared above all gods.

26 For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the LORD made the heavens.

27 Splendor and majesty are before Him, Strength and joy are in His place.

28 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

29 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; Bring an offering, and come before Him; Worship the LORD in holy array.”

My recent readings from an ancient commentary on the Scriptures, produced the following. May these few words lift your spirit as they have indeed lifted mine!

“Whether the music of that age would be pronounced ‘classic’ in our own, we have absolutely no means of deciding. It is hopelessly lost, nor have we any power to reproduce with certainty even one of their numerous musical instruments. Yet, of this we may be certain, it was music. It had in it some of the harmony of sweet sounds; it had the power to lift up human souls to a true devotional enthusiasm. It bore on high the out-goings of devout thanksgiving, praise, and adoration; it stirred pious souls to their depths of love and grateful trust; and, best of all, was well pleasing to God.”

“Of the poetry of those songs, we fortunately have ample means of judging. If the music was worthy of the poetry—equal to it in beauty and in power, we can afford to wish it had come down to our age in all its glory. That it made the tabernacle worship attractive, inspiring, impressive –a most effective means of reviving true piety in Israel, there can be no manner of doubt. Such hallowed songs, embodying and impressing such lofty sentiments, bringing God so near to men and lifting men so near to God; and all this backed up by the earnest example and the noble enthusiasm of a king whom to know was to esteem and to honor—these influences and impulses must have brought a great reviving in the piety of the Hebrew people.”

“O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His loving kindness is everlasting.” (I Chr. 16:34).

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

We will never know that Christ is all we need,

Until He becomes all that we have. – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Ecclesiastes 12:5-14, “Remember Him before the silver cord is broken and the golden bowl is crushed, the pitcher by the well is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed;

7 then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.

8 ‘Vanity of vanities,’ says the Preacher, ‘all is vanity!’

9 In addition to being a wise man, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge; and he pondered, searched out and arranged many proverbs.

10 The Preacher sought to find delightful words and to write words of truth correctly.

11 The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of these collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd.

12 But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body.

13 The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.

14 For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.”

It is by no accident that this instruction is given to us all, because the end of life, as we now know it, will one day be over, and we will discover the truths that either guided us into life eternal or left us to spend eternity in death. The goad, mentioned in verse 11, was a device that ploughmen used to guide their oxen. Here the writer uses it to describe the words of wise men –those who have verbally urged you to accept the LORD Jesus Christ as your Savior.

Think of the times you have been spiritually instructed to accept Jesus Christ and live to the glory of God; yet you have brushed those words aside in preference to your own desires. Be warned that those who ignore the teachings of Scripture, risk eternal separation from God and from everything joyous and loving. Indeed, it is time to seek the LORD! For when you truly know Him, you will want to share Him with others.

“”Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see

your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16).

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

We will never know that Christ is all we need,

Until He becomes all that we have. – Corrie ten Boom