The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

I Corinthians 2:14-3:1, “But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. 15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no man.

16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ. And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to babes in Christ.”

In these four verses, Paul cites three types of human position: first, there is the

“natural man.” This man is spiritually lost and blinded to the things of the LORD.

They don’t make sense to him. He has not the slightest understanding of spiritual

matters. He only understands what he can see physically and know mentally, but

nothing of God. He may even deny that God exists.

The “spiritual man” is enabled to assess everything because he understands

Scripture and the teachings of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Everything to him is

measured by Scripture and by the Holy Spirit. The natural man cannot figure

him out. They are total opposites.

The “fleshly man” is a hybrid. He has been born again in Christ. He’s spiritually

saved and secure in Christ, and the Holy Spirit lives within him; however, he is

captivated by the things of the world. He ignores the teachings of the Bible and

dismisses the “urgings” of the Holy Spirit. He will say he is a Christian, but there

is little-to-nothing in his life to support that claim. He looks lost and closely

resembles the “natural man.”

How does all of this apply to us? First, we absolutely must know with certainty

that we are that “spiritual man!” We must maintain a habit of reading and under-

standing the Bible! The Holy Spirit may use others to help instruct us. Second,

when we are truly spiritually minded, the Holy Spirit will help us assess the

spiritual condition of others, whether they are “lost,” “saved,” or “worldly.”

Third, because the Holy Spirit lives within us, we must recognize Him as the only

Spiritual Director of our lives! “Wherever He leads, I’ll go.” Others may not

understand, but it absolutely essential that we follow the LORD’s leading because

one day we will stand before Him and will be required to give an account of our

lives. We want to hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant…enter

into the joys of the LORD!”

You are front and center in our daily prayers; and you are loved,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”