The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Acts 8:29-35, “Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.”
30 Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
31 And he said, “Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
32 Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this: “HE WAS LED AS A SHEEP TO SLAUGHTER; AND AS A LAMB BEFORE ITS SHEARER IS SILENT, SO HE DOES NOT OPEN HIS MOUTH.
33 “IN HUMILIATION HIS JUDGMENT WAS TAKEN AWAY; WHO WILL RELATE HIS GENERATION? FOR HIS LIFE IS REMOVED FROM THE EARTH.”
34 The eunuch answered Philip and said, “Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or of someone else?”
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him.”

Believers in the New Testament era had a distinct advantage in that angels often spoke to them. We have a similar advantage in that the Holy Spirit speaks to us. The difference is that the New Testament believers listened more intently than we.

Remember that Philip had been ordered by an angel to venture to a desert road where he would encounter an official from the court of Candice, Queen of the Ethiopians. Philip obeyed and discovered the official reading the Book of Isaiah. The Holy Spirit then said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.” How does this happen? Is Philip to stop the chariot, or what?

Asking a question is often the best way to introduce yourself into a conversation. Philip simply asks, “Do you understand what you are reading?” Forgive me for introducing myself into the narrative here, but I very often asked myself this precise question when I was studying Hebrew in the seminary. I can only imagine how much more difficult it would have been to attempt to read Hebrew while bouncing around in a chariot on a desert road. Yet, with the LORD, all things are possible.

The very passage the official was reading (Isaiah 53:6ff) gave Philip the “opening” he needed to share the Gospel, and Philip did not waver. He shared his faith with the man. He spoke forthrightly about Jesus. Everyone wants to know the answer to the question the official asked. When we come to know Jesus, we are prepared to share Him as the answer to the multiple questions others have. Philip had no inkling what the man would ask. Yet, the LORD gave him the answer. He will do the same for you –but only if you obey Him by going where He directs.

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,

Acts 8:25-29, “So, when they had solemnly testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they started back to Jerusalem, and were preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.
26 But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, “Get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a desert road.)
27 So he got up and went; and there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he had come to Jerusalem to worship,
28 and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.
29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.”

Sometimes it’s best that we not know some things, especially when they’re on the front end of a directive. If space allowed, and if I were inclined to share it, you would be amazed at how the LORD led our family to Australia and around the world three times! Here in our verses, the LORD led Philip first by an angel (v. 26) and then by the Holy Spirit (v. 29).

In our last Letter, Simon the Sourcerer had come to faith in Christ and been baptised. Still, he was a young believer with carnality still lingering in remote areas of his mind. That quickly necessitated his suffering a strong rebuke from Peter. After that reprieve, the witnesses all turned toward Jerusalem, preaching the Gospel as they went. That’s truly how witnessing should be done: as He leads, and as you go…

It was then that the angel of the LORD directed Philip to go south to a desert road, where an official of the Queen of the Ethopians was returning home from Jerusalem. Philip obeyed the angel, and when he arrived at that desert road, the Spirit then instructed him to join the official in the chariot. Even in that day, this was no simple task. Yet, Philip obeyed without asking any questions. We would certainly be blessed if we were to follow the LORD like that!

“What happened after that?” you ask. Stay tuned. I’ll continue the story tomorrow. If you just can’t wait, get your Bible, find the passage in the Book of Acts, and read ahead. See if it reads to you like it reads to me.

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,

Acts 8:18-24, “Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money,
19 saying, “Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!
21 “You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.
22 “Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.
23 “For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.”
24 But Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”

There are two “Simons” in our verses above; however, the one in the first verse is known elsewhere as “Simon the Sorcerer.” The other Simon goes by his second name, “Peter.” Verses earlier than ours, but yet in the same chapter, tell us that Simon the Sorcerer had become a Christian. But, like a lot of us, there yet remains still some carnality.

Simon acted hastily when he witnessed the Holy Spirit enter the lives of some who had believed upon Jesus. Acting totally without spiritual thought, Simon asked for the authority of implanting the Holy Spirit, knowing that he could make a lot of money with it. Peter lashed out at him with a bare-knuckle shout! “May your silver perish with you…,” Peter shouted! “You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God!” Peter was right! Furthermore, he barked at Simon saying, you need to pray that the LORD will forgive you for even thinking of such a thing!

Simon was so stunned that he could not pray! He asked Peter to pray for him, lest the LORD bring upon him a great disaster! The Scriptures do not tell us whether Peter prayed for Simon or not. I can only guess that Simon never said anything like that again. We’ve all said and done things that were not pleasing to God. But have we repented? Have we asked His forgiveness? Let Peter’s soul-shattering word to Simon speak to us, as well. The LORD is not glorified by money! He is glorified when we yield our lives and our wills to Him.

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,

Acts 8:1-4, “Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death. And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
2 Some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him.
3 But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.
4 Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the Word.”

The New Testament overflows with enemies of the Cross of Christ and the declaration of its message. Saul, whose own conversion appears in the next chapter of Acts (ch. 9), was adamantly convinced that Jesus and His followers were wrong and ought to be imprisoned or suffer death. Even Stephen’s death by stoning, as he continued to praise the LORD, had no immediate effect upon Saul.

The Church itself was scattered, as if the ambush of Saul was working. Yet, the church was “scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria,” undoubtedly sharing the Word of Salvation. While it looked to many, maybe most, that persecution was disabling the Church, members of the church carried with them the Word of Salvation in Jesus Christ!

Christians in many countries of the world are today facing savage persecution; yet, many believers in Christ Jesus are reaching out to these very nations with the Gospel of Christ. Those who oppose Christ and His teachings always lose. What momentarily appears to be a victory against the Church, turns out to be victorious instead. There is no suppression of the Word of God! It always goes where it is sent and it achieves the purpose God Himself intends. Therefore, you witness for Him never in vain.

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,

Acts 7:54-60, “Now when they heard this, they were cut to the quick, and they began gnashing their teeth at him.
55 But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God;
56 and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
57 But they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears and rushed at him with one impulse.
58 When they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59 They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!”
60 Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them!’ Having said this, he fell asleep.”

Have you ever said something to someone that just made them mad? It wasn’t gossip. It wasn’t said in anger, but it was forceful; and above all, it was the truth! That’s exactly what occurred with Stephen in these verses of the seventh chapter of Acts. Stephen told the truth. It was a clear reiteration of a portion of Israel’s history. But, it just didn’t set well with the hearers.

It’s truly difficult to say things that you know beforehand will irritate those who hear them. Sermons are often like that. So, if your pastor shares Scripture that causes you to get angry, just stop for a few moments and evaluate what he said. It was biblical, wasn’t it? It fit the situation, didn’t it? Then, just praise the LORD that Truth from the Word had come to the ears of needy persons.

The verses above speak for themselves. Stephen spoke the truth; those who heard him didn’t like what he said. But his cry to the LORD should always be our cry; namely, “LORD, do not hold this sin against them!” It was at that moment that Stephen went into the presence of the LORD. What a way to go!! God bless you, dear reader! May the lessons of the Word strengthen you in the ways of the LORD!

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