The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Acts 2:13-21, “But others were mocking and saying, “They are full of sweet wine.”
14 But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words.
15 “For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day;
16 but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel:
17 ‘AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,’ God says, ‘THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND; AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS, AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS;
18 EVEN ON MY BONDSLAVES, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN, I WILL IN THOSE DAYS POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT And they shall prophesy.
19 ‘AND I WILL GRANT WONDERS IN THE SKY ABOVE AND SIGNS ON THE EARTH BELOW, BLOOD, AND FIRE, AND VAPOR OF SMOKE.
20 ‘THE SUN WILL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS AND THE MOON INTO BLOOD, BEFORE THE GREAT AND GLORIOUS DAY OF THE LORD SHALL COME.
21 ‘AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.’”

There are always some in every group who think they know the answer to everything! With all of the phenomenal occurrences plunging everyone into distress, there were some who stooped to mocking, saying that it was all a matter of drunkenness. Thankfully, Simon Peter corrected the critics and pointed the crowd to the prophecy of Joel (Joel 2:28ff).

Peter then spoke of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as prophesied by Joel in the Old Testament. The phenomena of which Joel (and now Peter) spoke points people everywhere to the 21st verse: “And it shall be that everyone who calls on the Name of the LORD will be saved.”

The Apostle Paul also gave instruction when he said, “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear
without a preacher?” (Rom. 10:14).

Study these verses carefully. Do they apply to your heart? Have you heard Christ Jesus’ call? Have you heeded His call to you? Have you opened your heart to Him? If not, do it quickly! It’s not a matter of church membership—of any church! It all circles around Jesus and 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

Dear Grands,

Acts 2:5-12, “Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven.
6 And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together, and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language.
7 They were amazed and astonished, saying, “Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans?
8 “And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born?
9 “Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
11 Cretans and Arabs– we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God.”
12 And they all continued in amazement and great perplexity, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”

The distribution of languages, noted in the verses above, might well be viewed in connection with the valley of dry bones, mentioned in Ezekiel 37. In any event, the LORD’s message came to devout men. If you wish to have knowledge of the LORD and of the sure truths contained in His Word, you must be completely committed to Him.

No military leader would dream of revealing troop activities to one not fully committed to his plans or those of his Allies. Therefore, if we ever wish to understand the LORD and His ways, we must belong to Him and be thoroughly faithful in all things.

Moreover, His message was intended for the salvation of every nation under the sun. There are 16 people groups noted in verses 9 to 11, verses the LORD has designated to them. World missions was and is the Divine intention.

Even devout men were bewildered by the various languages (vv. 5-6). No one knows everything the LORD harbors in His mind. Jesus’ disciples walked and learned from Him daily, yet there were multiple times when they were compelled to ask questions. Not only is it vital that we be patient, we must be faithful, too.

The Voice of the LORD spoke of His “mighty deeds!” Those deeds stand ready for our world today! Are you prepared to be used in His service? Time is of the essence! The world is lost and in desperate need! Jesus Christ is the Answer! We stand in the gap! It is for us to share Him with them.

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 2:1-4, “When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.
2 And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them.”
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.”

The word “Pentecost” originates from the Greek (?????????? pentekoste), but the event itself relates to the time when the Jewish people presented to the LORD the first sheaf of the barley harvest. That occurred on the fiftieth day from the first Sunday following Passover (cf. Lev. 23:15f).

Now, many years later in New Testament times, Pentecost occurred again when the Jewish people were gathered together in one place, and when everyone heard the noise that the Scripture says occurred. Whether the “noise” was “felt,” as a “violent rushing wind,” is not stated. In any event, the “noise” aroused the entirety of those present and gathered them appropriately.

At the same time, multiple languages (?????? glossa) spread out like fire, so that everyone might understand the message of Divine Salvation that the LORD intended them to receive. Simultaneously, each language group received the LORD’s message in its own language. It was indeed the LORD’s missionary outreach to the totality of Jewish people.

It should not be overlooked that salvation was never intended for the Jewish people alone! It was and is for those of all nationalities. Yet, it was the LORD’s outreach to the Jews that they might reach out to others with His blessed message of salvation! Have you received that message? Have you acted upon it, repenting of sin and accepting Christ Jesus as your Savior? If so, are you sharing His Message with others? Good News is always good when shared in true love with others.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. If you have friends that live far away or if you’re hesitant in some way about sharing Christ, please use the Gospel Tract that is attached to this Letter. It has been well-received in other areas. After all, this is the CHRISTmas Season! It’s one of the finest times to talk to others about Jesus.

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 1:20-26, “For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘LET HIS HOMESTEAD BE MADE DESOLATE, AND LET NO ONE DWELL IN IT’; and, ‘LET ANOTHER MAN TAKE HIS OFFICE.’
21 “Therefore it is necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us–
22 beginning with the baptism of John until the day that He was taken up from us– one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”
23 So they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus), and Matthias.
24 And they prayed and said, ‘You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two You have chosen
25 to occupy this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.’
26 And they drew lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.”

What do you do when someone you’ve trusted suddenly forfeits that trust? This was the dilemma in which the disciples found themselves when Judas Iscariot withdrew from the group. We’ve all lost friends. The saddest loss, however, comes when friends abandon clear, biblical teaching and align with those opposed to Scriptural truth. Add to that, Judas’ suicide; and the entire Christian group was in desperate need.

The position the group took was to stay with the Word of God. Peter pointed to the Psalm (69:25) that gave them both instruction and hope. Two of their finest men, Joseph (also known as Barsabbas and/or Justus) and Matthias were then nominated, whereupon the entire group went to prayer. It was not a political scramble with some arguing for one and some arguing for the other. They all looked to the LORD in prayer seeking His choice. Then they voiced the one for whom they believed to be the LORD’s choice. How blessed we would be if all churches followed their pattern.

One method of voting in those times was to write the names of the nominees on ballots and drop them into a container. They then shook the container to shuffle the ballots. The ballot that first emerged from the container was assessed to be the LORD’s choice. In this case, the choice was Matthias.

Interesting, too, is the fact that there was no negative outcry from those who voted for Joseph. Unity of the group under the leadership of the LORD was their strength. That’s the key to our strength, too. Pray for your church’s leadership. Pray for unity in all things, especially in the teachings of God’s Holy Word. The LORD is both pleased and glorified when we delve daily in His blessed Word!

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 1:15-19, “At this time Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren (a gathering of about one hundred and twenty persons was there together), and said,
16 ‘Brethren, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.
17 ‘For he was counted among us and received his share in this ministry.’
18 (Now this man acquired a field with the price of his wickedness, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his intestines gushed out.
19 And it became known to all who were living in Jerusalem; so that in their own language that field was called Hakeldama, that is, “Field of Blood”.

It doesn’t seem to matter whether it’s a formal occasion or just a casual group of long-time friends, there is always someone who takes charge of the gathering. Have you not noticed that? On this occasion, it was Simon Peter who single-handedly took charge of the group of about 120.

If there were any in the group who might have objected to Peter’s leadership, they held their peace when he mentioned the Scripture and the Holy Spirit. The Scripture needed confirmation of fulfillment, as the Holy Spirit foretold of Judas Iscariot’s betrayal of Jesus. It is found as far back as David in Old Testament times, when he said: “Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against Me” (Psa. 41:9).

Judas Iscariot is the one intentioned in that Psalm. He shared in the LORD’s ministry. He was trusted by the group in that he carried their money. Interestingly enough, Judas then betrayed Jesus to the Jewish leaders for 30 pieces of their silver, the price of a slave. Still his conscience bothered him so, that he returned the silver, casting it on the floor of the temple. In the end, what Judas had done so preyed upon him that he ended his own life by his own hand.

“The Field of Blood,” mentioned in our verses was the ground the Jewish priests purchased for a burial site for the poor. What a sad ending to one who had been privileged to walk and learn from Jesus Himself. We are so privileged to live and learn of Him. Yet, along with privilege comes responsibility. Those of us who have trusted Him and been born of the Spirit are responsible to love others and share Him with them. Those who have yet to trust Him should recognize the privilege they have of trusting Him as LORD and Savior, too.

As we move into the CHRISTmas Season, we have greater opportunity to trust Him and share Him. May He always be glorified as He occupies our lives and fills us with His LOVE everlasting!

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