The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

John 8:34-37, “Jesus answered them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the

slave of sin.

35 And the slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever.

36 If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.

37 I know that you are Abraham’s offspring; yet you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place

in you.’”

Okay, gang, quiet down and listen up! Virtually, every reader has been somewhere and heard words from a leader that sounded like that. High school basketball, football; college soccer, vollyball. Accepting that you have heard words to that effect, I can tell you that Jesus’ use of “Truly, truly” means much the same. He is getting ready to share something of vital importance, so He repeats the word “truly.”

What He goes on to say is as simple as it is important. Everyone has committed sin, so everyone is the slave of sin. Slaves do what their masters tell them. Satan is in charge of all sinful attitudes and activities. His followers don’t even have to pre-judge what they’re thinking or doing; it’s all just evil, and Satan is the ultimate source of it, and pushes it in all of our lives.

Freedom is precious to everyone. (Just lose a little of it and see how precious it is!) Yet, when we sin, we often (but, not always) do it without thinking. We think we are the authority, when it’s actually Satan. We are conceived and grow up with that spiritual DNA that inclines us toward evil.

We need the Son, Jesus, desperately to set us free! When He died on the Cross, He satisfied His Father’s will by becoming the Supreme Sacrifice for our sins. And when we accept Him as our LORD and Savior, sets us free –free indeed!

Until we experience freedom from sin through Jesus Christ, His “Word has no place in (us).” And that Word, coupled with faithful prayer, is how the Holy Spirit keeps us “on track” with the Father’s will. If you’ve yet to trust Him, do it today! It’s the simplest GREATNESS you’ll ever experience!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

John 8:28-32, “Jesus therefore said, ‘When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I

am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me.

29 “And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are

pleasing to Him.’

30 As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him.

31 Jesus therefore was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, then

you are truly disciples of Mine;

32 and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’”

Have you ever met someone who was so “hard-headed” that he couldn’t be persuaded of anything? That’s exactly what characterized the crowd to whom Jesus was speaking. They challenged everything He said! Finally, He was forced to say, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know…” His referral was of the Cross on which He was to die.

What He said to them was straight from His Father. The Father who sent Him into the world, was always with Him. Jesus was never alone. Further, everything He did, was what the Father willed Him to do. And it all acrued to the glory and pleasure of the Father.

“As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him.” This verse (vs. 30) grabed my attention. Jesus was not formally “preaching” to them, as He had in the synagogue; it was just a conversation about His relationship with His Father –and “many came to believe in Him.” Just as prayer can be offered anywhere and under multiple circumstances, so it is with witnessing.

Christ’s transition then focused on those who had believed in Him: “If you abide in My Word,” He said, “you are truly disciples of Mine.” So it is today. Trusting in Jesus for salvation is vital; however, belief does not terminate with salvation. It is but the first step in what the LORD desires. He wills us to abide (make our home) with Him, just as parents want their children to make their home with them.

Further, He wants us to do those things that bring glory to His Father. Living correctly, worshipping correctly, witnessing correctly –all of this and more! Still, it’s not dreary; nor does it cramp our style, because our style has become His style. Has His style taken effect in your lifestyle yet? Better hurry! Whom the LORD loves, He admonishes. I’m praying for you! Please pray for me!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Matthew 8:5-10, “And when He had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, entreating Him, 6and saying, ‘Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering great pain.’

7 And He said to him, ‘I will come and heal him.’

8 But the centurion answered and said, ‘Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed.

9 ‘For I, too, am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, “Go!” and he goes, and to another, “Come!” and he comes, and to my slave, “Do this!” and he does it.’”

10 Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled, and said to those who were following, ‘Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel.’”

How would you outline this brief passage? I’ll give you some hints.

1. Look at the Circumstances: a centurion’s servant is very sick (v. 5).

2. Note the Compassion: Jesus offers to heal the servant (v. 6)

3. Listen to the Commander: “I am not worthy…” (vv. 7-9).

4. Examine the Comparison: “I have not found such faith…” (vv.10-12).

5. Marvel at the Conclusion: “Go your way, let it be done to you as you have believed.”

and the servant was healed that very hour” (v. 13).

The outline is quite simple. What I discovered it that it not only works with physical healing, but

with spiritual healing, too. Sickness is not always physical. In fact, the worst kind of sickness is

spiritual. It’s having all kinds of problems without knowing a solution.

Jesus is The Healer! Our sickness is sin, and He went to the cross to pay for our sin. Are we worthy? Not in the least! Does Jesus heal spiritually from afar? Indeed He does! Physical doctors (not to put any of them down) have to physically see us, examine us physically. Jesus saves us

wherever we are, and without the need of His physical presence. We only have to exercise faith.

For when we are sick enough of our sin –and where it’s leading us—and when we truly believe,

He saves us.

Oh, the Scriptural outline can make a good sermon, but the Spiritual faith can create a New Life! Have you discovered that? If so, have you shared Christ with somone who hasn’t met Him? Why do you suppose the LORD put those verses in the Bible? Have you wondered about that?

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

John 8:12-14, “Again therefore Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world; he who

follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.’

13The Pharisees therefore said to Him, ‘You are bearing witness of Yourself; Your witness is not

true.’

14Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true; for I

know where I came from, and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from, or

where I am going.’”

We have maps today –maps driven by GPS (Global Positioning System) to lead us to our intended destination. The instruments that guide us will even speak to us, so that we don’t have to give physical attention to the map to get where we want to go.

But the problem is not with the activation of the map or the GPS; the problem is that these instruments only guide us physically, not morally or spiritually. When Jesus said, “I am the light of the world,” He was not speaking of a physical light that guides us through darkness, as within an underground cave. He meant that He was our spiritual and moral Light that would lead and direct us morally and spiritually.

Further, He said that those who follow Him would not walk in darkness. Instead, they would live by His spiritual enlightenment. That does not mean that we would not sin or always be right and do things correctly; but it does mean that we would forever thereafter be accountable to Him for staying on the right pathway.

The Law of Moses had decreed that two witnesses were needed to prove a thing like Jesus had just said. That’s why they challenged Him. But His response was classic! He said that His witness concerning who He was and what He had said was indeed true. The reason they were wrong was that they were living in the darkness of the Mosaic Law; He had come to fulfill the Law.

All of that sums up like this: If you haven’t committed your life to Jesus Christ, you are living in spiritual darkness. You miss the true meaning of Life. You have no guidance in life and no assurance of Eternal Life. Nor do you have recourse or deliverence when things go wrong. Jesus gives spiritual Light to life itself. He gives it meaning and gives you hope! Open your heart to Him. Read and believe His Word (the Bible). You’ll open a new dimention of Life Everlasting!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Mark 14:1-7, “Now the Passover and Unleavened Bread was two days off; and the chief priests

and the scribes were seeking how to seize Him by stealth, and kill Him;

2 for they were saying, ‘Not during the festival, lest there be a riot of the people.’

3 And while He was in Bethany at the home of Simon the leper, and reclining at the table, there

came a woman with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume of pure nard; and she broke the vial

and poured it over His head.

4 But some were indignantly remarking to one another, ‘Why has this perfume been wasted?

5 “For this perfume might have been sold for over three hundred denarii, and the money given to

the poor.’ And they were scolding her.

6 But Jesus said, ‘Let her alone; why do you bother her? She has done a good deed to Me.

7 “For the poor you always have with you, and whenever you wish, you can do them good; but

you do not always have Me.’”

8 “’She has done what she could; she has anointed My body beforehand for the burial.

9 “And truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, that also which this

woman has done shall be spoken of in memory of her.’”

When was the last time someone did something outstanding for you? Or should we ask, “When was the last time we did something outstanding for them?” I’ve received a host of nice gifts over the years, some very recent. Some I’ve even had to question whether the giver could afford it.

But that was not what bothered those in our verses above. This unidentified woman entered the home of Simon the leper, and anointed the head of Jesus with a very expensive perfume. No one asked her where she got it, or why she anointed the head of Jesus; they just criticized her for doing it. Most of us, I would believe, have at sometime criticized the expenditures of others, as if their money belonged to us. Sometimes we actually voiced our criticism. These critics, chief priests and scribes, scolded this woman, as if she were acting as a naughty, unwise child.

Amazingly, the woman offered no defence to their criticism. She gave them no room for further criticism. Sometimes silence is golden! If she were to be defended, it would have to be by someone else. Then, in steps Jesus! “Let her alone!” He said. “She has done a good deed to Me… She has anointed My body beforehand for the burial.” Jesus knew He was going to die. The woman apparently knew it, too. Had she been enabled to have done more, undoubtedly she would have.

Jesus’ response continued as He said, “And truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, that also which this woman has done shall be spoken of in memory of her.” Dear reader, that prophecy has just been fulfilled—again! Still, we cannot out-give God! He gave His Son; and He gave Him for you. Take a moment and thank Him for His Supreme Blessing.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”