The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Proverbs 23:1-8, ”When you sit down to dine with a ruler, consider carefully what is before you,
2 And put a knife to your throat if you are a man of great appetite.
3 Do not desire his delicacies, for it is deceptive food.
4 Do not weary yourself to gain wealth, cease from your consideration of it.
5 When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. for wealth certainly makes itself wings Like an eagle that
flies toward the heavens.
6 Do not eat the bread of a selfish man, or desire his delicacies;
7 For as he thinks within himself, so he is. He says to you, ‘Eat and drink!’ But his heart is not with you.
8 You will vomit up the morsel you have eaten, and waste your compliments.”

If you ever doubted the validity of Solomon’s wisdom, you have only to read Psalms 23 and 24. By my count, there are 19 “Do nots” in those two chapters alone. There are but three “Do not” warnings in our verses above, yet they ring with the welcome of wisdom.

It has never been my privilege to dine with a true ruler, but I will admit that I have sat at the table with a few dignitaries in their native countries. I cannot say, however, that I have ever “desired” some of their native “delicacies.” Solomon’s warning deals with some who will offer delicious food in order to entice you to undertake for them favors that are unethical or outright immoral.

Often, too, such “delicacies” are truly delicious; yet they are “deceptive food” that is disguised as a promise of enormous wealth. Far too many have fallen into such traps and lived to regret their lack of wisdom. The guarantee of honest wealth is personal engagement in honest work. Those who are deceptive seek others who are of the same mind. They openly encourage their “victims” to enjoy the food set before them; yet, Solomon warns that they are thoroughly dishonest in their endeavors.

Our news today is replete with accounts of dishonest people. It often seems that the dishonest are the only ones of whom readers are concerned to read! Yet, the admonition of Solomon to us all is that we concern ourselves and follow only that which is good and honest. The LORD Himself is both good and honest. We can submit ourselves to His offer and partake daily of His eternal and trustworthy Word. It is like the LORD Himself; it will never deceive us or lead us astray. Have you read the Bible today?

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,

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24, “16 Rejoice always;
17 pray without ceasing;
18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
19 Do not quench the Spirit;
20 do not despise prophetic utterances.
21 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good;
22 abstain from every form of evil.
23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body
be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.”

‘Get ready for bed; brush your teeth; and don’t forget to say your prayers.” How many children grew
up hearing those nightly directives! Quite probably, not enough. Nevertheless, a contentious parent
would seek to keep the child “on course” with health and cleanliness and spirituality.

The Apostle Paul sought the same for the Christians in Thessalonica. He commences with three
positives: “Rejoice always”; “pray without ceasing”; and “in everything give thanks.” Paul then
informed the Church that these three positives were indeed God’s will. They still are His will!

He then solemnly warns them against “quenching” (???????? sbennumi, extinguishing or ignoring) the
Holy Spirit’s directive over their lives. At the same time, he issues a positive warning against (?????????
exoutheneo, treating with contempt or ignoring) the prophecies of the Old Testament. Further still, he
instructs them to “examine everything carefully.” Then he closes with a prayer that the LORD will
preserve the Thessalonians’ Spirit, Soul, and Body.

Notice on the diagram that the Holy Spirit always works first to conquer the Spirit, then with the Soul,
finally winning the battle over man’s body. Satan, on the other hand, commences his battle with the
body, then with the soul, and finally with the hope of conquering the spirit. Salvation in Jesus Christ
unleashes the Holy Spirit’s power and He crushes the devil’s attempt to conquer the whole of man.

Our only effective weapon in resisting the devil’s onslaughts is prayer and resistance. May we will
to resist the Adversary and yield fully and completely to the LORD Jesus Christ! He won the victory
at the Cross and in the Resurrection. Our only hope of victory lies in Christ.

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,

Colossians 3:15-17, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”

It was the prophet Isaiah who said, “…His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6). It is that same Prince of Peace whom Paul encourages us to allow authority over all things within us. Furthermore, it is Paul who admonishes us to view Christ as “the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27). But, how is all of this to be accomplished?

Christ becomes our “hope of glory” when we repent of sin and allow His Word to dwell — to make its home — within us. The Spirit’s indwelling produces “wise teaching” for true and ready believers, as well as “wise exhortation and admonition” for all who own Him as their LORD. Our “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” should originate from our love of the LORD Jesus Christ; and they all should be expressed to the glory of Almighty God!

Expressions of our love arise from the Holy Spirit within us, and they honor and glorify the LORD Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father. The result is that all that we do and/or say in the LORD Jesus’ Name promotes thanksgiving to our Heavenly Father, the LORD God Almighty. May He encourage and enable us to focus our thoughts and intents upon Him today, as taught in the Holy Scriptures.

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,

Hebrews 4:12-14, “For the Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.”

With the multiple storms that surround us personally, nationally and worldwide, how are we to remain calm? Perhaps it would do us well to remember that historically we are not alone. The LORD has not left us to face these times alone. He has provided all we need, if only we would cast ourselves fully upon Him.

What are the weapons He has provided us? How do they work to erase the evils that encompass us? Six clear and distinct words from the passage above are offered to all who will believe and behave to our LORD’s glory.

The Word of God, the Holy Scriptures, contain assurances for us. The Word (????? logos, speech, message) was present to protect those Old Testament saints, and it remains to instruct and encourage us yet today. This Word is living (??? zao, alive}, and remains so to comfort and strengthen our faith. At the same time, that Word is active (??????? energes, at work, effective). He has not left us alone to struggle in the sea of despondency. His Word is as effective today as it was in Old Testament times.

The Word of God is extremely sharp (????? tomos, cuts, gets to the right place) and pierces (?????????? diikneomai, penetrates) where it is most effective in defending us against those woes that work to discourage and displace us from His firm and holy grip.

Finally, the Word assures us that He will one day judge (???????? kritikos, critical assessment) those who resist Him and His love. For those who are not committed to Him are as those who openly work against Him. They will ultimately be judged and cast into an abyss that is eternally separated from the LORD! Don’t be left out! Feast on His Word today! Trust your life to His care today! “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Heb. 3:7-8a).

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,

Galatians 6:9-10, “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.
10 So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the
household of the faith.”

Why not just quit right where we are? There’s no value in continuing. Everything is going haywire! Let’s just say “we lost,” and leave it at that! Okay? Some things do come good, if even at the very last minute. Take sports. I’ve watched some teams try harder when everything looked like they’ed already lost. And guess what? That “loosing team” won!

The Apostle Paul often used athletic terms in his letters. Never in any of his letters does he mention losing! Here in the verses above he urges the Galatians onward! “We will reap,” he says, yet he conditions it upon “not growing weary.” His encourgement is linked with “doing good.” If what we are doing is not good, it is totally worthless. What’s more, it brings shame and disgrace on the Name of our LORD Jesus Christ.

As I’ve previously endeavored to say in these Letters, everything we do ought always to be to the glory of the LORD Jesus Christ. He alone is due the glory! Sometimes we credit the glory to others and ourselves. Sometimes we even act as if the credit is our’s alone. It is not! Whatever good might be found in us is of the LORD alone. Therefore, we ought to do good to all people, including those whom we know to be believers in the LORD Jesus Christ. I’ve not given up! Have you?

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