The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Mark 1:21-27, “And they went into Capernaum; and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and began to teach. 22 And they were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

23 And just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, 24 saying, “What do we have to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are– the Holy One of God!” 25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” 26 And throwing him into convulsions, the unclean spirit cried out with a loud voice, and came out of him.

27 And they were all amazed, so that they debated among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.”

Just as we don’t know everything, we don’t know who is among us –even in church!

Yet, wherever the Truth is being preached, there are sure to be those who oppose

the Truth. Demon spirits are not a figment of imagination! They are real! Nor are

they limited to biblical days. There are those among us today, who are demon-controlled. And some carry guns and intend harm to others. But the answer is not

gun-control; the answer is spirit-control. Nor are we to walk in fear and suspicion of others. To do that is to allow them to control our thinking.

What was happening in the synagogue in the above passage was a clash of

authorities. The people had noted that Jesus was teaching “as one in authority.”

Satan and his minions want to exercise authority. So, there is conflict. I have to

wonder whether anyone in that synagogue had ever befriended the demon-possessed

man, who cried out against Jesus and His teaching. I also wonder how many Christian young people in that Florida school had ever tried to witness to the young man, who later shot and killed a number of students and teachers. Oh, those who had known him when he previously attended the school, said he was “weird” and “a loner.” But do we Christians seek out the weird and loners to witness to them of Christ? My guess is that we do not. Yet, our Authority –Jesus—has said that we should. He saved us that we might be like Him and do His bidding. The lost are there as our challenge. Be bold! He is our strength and shield! No harm can come to us unless He allows it. Thus, whatever happens is already known to Him and fits solely within His eternal plan.

We continue to love and pray for you every day,

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.”