The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Galatians 5:16-17, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of

the flesh.

17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for

these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you

please.”

Paul’s ministry is summarized in verse 16. The word walk (?????????, peripateo) indicates the behavior of the Spirit-led believer in Christ. We are to obey the Holy Spirit, who indwells us when once we accept Christ as our LORD and Savior. Summarily, this is how the LORD is glorified.

When Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden, he transmitted the “virus” of sin into the lives of his progeny. That’s how Paul can say that “all have sinned” (Rom. 3:23). We naturally possess the tendency to sin. At the same time, he warns us against carrying out the desires of the flesh – the desires that he quite distinctly names in the following verses.

No two forces ever stood in greater opposition to each other than the flesh and the Spirit. “He’s done wrong to me and I’m going to ruin him!” is an attitude of the flesh.

“Yes, he was wrong in what he did, but his parents failed to rear him according to the Bible. Let’s show him Jesus’ love; maybe he will repent and become a Christian.” The latter response is of the Holy Spirit.

The LORD God sent Jesus into the world to suffer and die for our sins. When we turn our lives to Him, He not only forgives us for all our past sins, He sends the Holy Spirit into our lives to teach and train us to follow the LORD and adopt His characteristics.

Paul himself was a furious persecutor of Christians until he met the LORD and was born again.

If you’ve never accepted Christ Jesus, the same transformation can occur in your life.

He will turn your insecurity into security, your hate into love, so that those whoi knew you in your old life will hardly recognize you. Christians, too, can wander from God, making it necessary for the Holy Spirit to become your spiritual compass. Wherever you are, you can be back on track through sincere prayer for forgiveness. God loves you. He will help you to love Him and others, too. He waits to hear your prayer.

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.”