The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Luke 2:25-32, “And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man
was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had
seen the Lord’s Christ.
27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to
carry out for Him the custom of the Law,
28 then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,
29 “Now Lord, Thou dost let Thy bond-servant depart in peace, according to Thy word;
30 For my eyes have seen Thy salvation,
31 Which Thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 A light of revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Thy people Israel.”

Where do we find a righteous man, one who is cautious and carefully focused on the things of the
LORD? Occasionally, just such a person will be thrust before us, reminding us of what we should be.
Simeon was that sort of man. He was spiritually clean in the eyes of the LORD, and he was focused
on ministering to the LORD. Simeon had been promised that he would see the Messiah of God
before he died.

There are numerous promises available to us, if we but trust in the LORD. His promises are then
suited to each believer, as He decrees. We sometimes find ourselves envious of the LORD’s gifts
for others. Yet, we should understand that His will and placements are always right, and they are
always superior to our desires. The focus of our lives and the spiritual gifts we possess are always
for His glory. Simeon said that the LORD had prepared “a light of revelation to the Gentiles, and
glory for (His) people Israel.”

Joseph and Mary were simply following the Mosaic Law when they brought Jesus into the Temple.
So far as we know, they had no prior knowledge of Simeon. The LORD also brings us into contact
with people we do not know, in order that our lives may be spiritually enriched. When we are walking
in His Light, we always benefit. Stay in His Word, the Bible! Pray earnestly for others, confessing
your own sin. Walk in His Light. Let this New Year be a blessing to your life! Believe His promises,
and His blessings will fill and enrich your life beyond your expectations.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Luke 1:76-80, “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; For you will go on before the Lord to prepare
His ways;
77 To give to His people the knowledge of salvation By the forgiveness of their sins,
78 Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise from on high shall visit us,
79 To shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace.”
80 And the child continued to grow, and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public
appearance to Israel.

Have you ever looked upon a newborn child and wondered what it’s ultimate purpose in life would be? That’s undoubtedly
what Zacharias thought when he looked upon his son, John. His words were actually addressed to the child. Notice that
he said, “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High…” How could Zacharial hve known this? He knew it
when back in verse 67, he was “filled with the Holy Spirit.” It was a prophecy the LORD had given him.

John’s purpose was to show the way of salvation to the people of Israel. That’s the calling of pastors and evangelists
today. We are to tell the world that God is willing and available to forgive sin. We are to shine the Gosple upon those
who live hopelessly in darkness. Without His Light, man stumbles and falls. He lives alone in the shadows of death.

Knowing the LORD’s will with their son, John’s parents reared him in the way of the LORD. Oh, that parents today
would train their children in the way of the LORD! John’s parents were godly; thus, the pattern of their lives overshadowed
the life of their son. At some point, John left home and lived in the desert, separating himself from all except the LORD.
When we train our children in godly ways, they will continue in those ways; they will live apart from the ways of the world,
and will radiate the life and the love of Christ to those about them.

What a challenge lies before us! We are to live His life before our children that they, in turn, may one day live His life
before their children. For in so living, the world may be drawn out of the shadows of darkness and death and come to know
the life-giving love of Christ Jesus. Find your purpose in life and fulfill it to the glory of Almighty God!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

We never know that Christ is all we need, until He becomes all that we have.” –Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Luke 1:67-79, “And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:
68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people,
69 And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of David His servant–
72 To show mercy toward our fathers, And to remember His holy covenant,
70 As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old–
71 Salvation from our enemies, And from the hand of all who hate us;
73 The oath which He swore to Abraham our father,
74 To grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear,
75 In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.
76 “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; For you will go on before the Lord to prepare His ways;
77 To give to His people the knowledge of salvation By the forgiveness of their sins,
78 Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise from on high shall visit us,
79 To shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

The most important person on the platform, second only to the speaker, is the one who introduces the speaker to the
audience. Yet, so often –almost always!—Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist is omitted except for when he affirms
the name of his son to be John. That affirmation and all the rest of what Zacharias says comes from the Holy Spirit.
Notice, too, that his first words are words of praise to the LORD.

Salvation had come to the nation of Israel. The LORD had not forgotten His promise. What the prophets of old had
proclaimed, has now come to pass: Salvation is freedom from all enemies! It was the LORD’s promise to Abraham! He
has remembered all that He promised; and His promise of deliverance is that His people might serve Him without fear.

So many in our world today serve the LORD in fear. The trust Him, but their enemies continue to threaten them. Often,
they are persecuted and murdered simply because they serve the LORD. Yet, the LORD has not forgotten them. Perhaps,
He allows us the knowledge of their sufferings to awaken us to serve Him all the more. John the Baptist (literally, John, the
baptizing one) is the one who introduces the Speaker, Jesus Christ. John prepares the minds and hearts of Israel to listen
and trust the Words of Jesus, the Father’s Promised Messiah. And it is the Messiah, Who shines upon those who live
in darkness. It is He who “guides our feet into the way of peace.”

If you lack peace in your heart and life, you need only to look to Jesus. The way to Him is so simple that many stumble
over the simplicity. Speak to Him in prayer. Confess the wrong that has residence in your heart and life. Trust Him to
forgive that wrong and to replace it with Himself and the warmth of His love. CHRISTmas’ true meaning will then
become for you what it has never been before! God bless you richly and abundantly! You are in my prayers.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Jeremiah 1:4-10, “Now the word of the LORD came to me saying,
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a
prophet to the nations.” 6 Then I said, “Alas, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, Because I am a youth.”
7 But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ Because everywhere I send you, you shall go, And all that I command
you, you shall speak.
8 “Do not be afraid of them, For I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD.
9 Then the LORD stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me, “Behold, I have put My words in
your mouth.
10 “See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, To pluck up and to break down, To destroy and
to overthrow, To build and to plant.”

This is not the only Scriptural reference to the LORD’s call upon a specific person. It parallels somewhat His call to Moses; yet,
it contains the specific elements of His call to each of us, when once we have yielded our lives to Him. Does a child belong to his parents? Do they have the right to form and control the child’s life? Absolutely, they do! In fact, parental failure to train and discipline children results in the very chaos that permeates our world today!

“I knew you…before you were born…” Yes, specifically the LORD identifies Jeremiah. Simultaneously, He identifies each of us who have been spiritually born again. We were all known by the LORD before we were known by our human parents. It is the LORD who consecrates –sets us apart—and appoints (assigns) us to fulfill the roles He has for us in life. That role may have many facets, but primarily it is to tell others of Him and encourage them to accept Him as LORD and Savior of their lives.

The objection voiced by Jeremiah (“I do not know how to speak because I am a youth.”) is paralleled by each of us in one way or another. We simply don’t know what to say. That’s good! Then we become dependent upon Him to put into our minds what
is needed for each specific person to whom we speak. We are not to be afraid, for we are not responsible for another person’s
response. Our words become His Words, and He accepts responsibility for the ultimate outcome of the witness.

When we examine the witness of various New Testament personalities, we see both acceptance and rejection of their witness.
Furthermore, the LORD was always enabling them, as He will always enable us. What a joy it is to lead someone to Christ! What a joy is expressed by those who come to know Him! Some who have argued with me when I witnessed have rejoiced most
exuberantly when they received Him. It’s like a having a doctor do surgery. Do you want to be well or do you want to risk going without his expertise? The major difference is with the LORD you are dealing with eternity. I pray for you daily.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Isaiah 61:1-3, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted;
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives, And freedom to prisoners;
2 To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn,
3 To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the
mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. so they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He
may be glorified.”

I shall never forget meeting the incomparable Albert Peterson. I was in a meeting in Iowa when I met. Mr. Peterson. He was
the advance man for the noted evangelist Billy Sunday. With all that I learned that day, I shall never forget that verse one
above was the verse Mr. Sunday always quoted before every meeting. Indeed, he was anointed of the LORD and many
came to faith in Christ under his dynamic ministry.

Still, that verse is not for Billy Sunday alone! It has a special note of anointing for every believer, who seeks to bring the Good
News of Jesus Christ to someone else. We live in a world so crowded with meaningless nonsense that anything contrary to
what is normal is Good News. Afflictions of all sorts bind us physically and emotionally; yet, the Message of hope the witness
brings is the proclamation of true liberty to those captivated by the evil that permeates the nations of the Earth.

The Good News of Jesus and His salvation is a comfort to everyone who is smothered with the gloom of mourning. The glory
of the LORD replaces mourning with praise, and stabilizes the faint-hearted as if they were gigantic oaks of righteousness.

While that “favorable year,” denotes a time yet to come, there is joy and hope that pervades the human heart when it is
yielded in faith to the LORD. For the yieldedness of the human heart and life glorifies the LORD here and now. Is your heart
yielded to Him? If it is, then share the LORD by witnessing to others. If you have never yielded your life to Christ, do that
today! Confess your sin to Him and ask His forgiveness. He will save you and that will be glorifing to Him! You are ever in my
daily prayers.

Heartily in Christ,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom