The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Acts 1:12-14, “Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away.
13 When they had entered the city, they went up to the upper room where they were staying; that is, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James.
14 These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.”

There are some things that occur in our lives that are just too emotional to describe. I remember having an experience that actually left me speechless. My wife said, “That really affected you, didn’t
it?” Yes, it did.

That’s what the disciples of Jesus felt as they watched Him ascend into Heaven. Emotionally stunned, they journeyed from the Mount of Olives back to Jerusalem, some 2,000 paces, and went immediately to prayer. Whether they discussed what they had witnessed as they walked back to the city, the Bible does not say. It only tells us that they were of one mind, and poured out their hearts together in prayer.

There are things too wonderful for words, except for expressing them to the Father. Remember the reaction of Jesus’ mother Mary when she learned she was to be the mother of the Messiah? Luke records: “Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart” (Lk. 2:19).

Prayer includes words –even words that seem to lack full expression. Yet, when we encounter the LORD, He understands. He even understands our hearts when tears are all our hearts can express. Still, He enables us to know that He has heard us as He comforts us. Do you know Him? He knows you and wants you to know Him. He is always ready and waiting to hear from you. Go on, talk to Him. He understands all languages. What’s more, He understands the language of your heart.

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 1:9-11, “And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
10 And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them.
11 They also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.’”

One of the saddest moments in the visit of dear and close friends is when they are leaving. You were excited when you heard that they were coming; you were thrilled with joy while they were their; but you felt sad and a bit empty when they were leaving.

If you have experienced something like that with close and loving friends, you have some knowledge of how Jesus’ disciples must have felt when they saw Him leaving, lifted up into Heaven and disappear out of their sight.

The prophesy of His coming was foretold in many ways throughout the Old Testament Scriptures. Then He came and lived with them for several years, ministering to people and showing them the way of salvation. They had learned of His purpose in coming to Earth; they had witnessed His teaching and His miracles. They had witnessed His sacrifice on the Cross for their sins. They had fellowshipped with Him subsequent to His Resurrection from the dead. And now, they were beholding Him ascending into Heaven.

They heard the words of two angels, who were clothed in white, assuring them that He would return and in a manner equivalent to what they were experiencing of His ascension into Heaven. But they retained in their hearts His promise to return. Is that promise resonating in your heart?

Are you assured of Jesus’ return? The Word of God foretells it. Two angels assured His disciples of it. Jesus Himself promised it. Just think: you and I may live to see it! What a day that will be! But, it will come quickly! So, get prepared now! Trust Him today as your LORD and Savior! There will be no time then to prepare.

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 1:6-9, “So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, ‘Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?’
7 He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority;
8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.’
9 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.”

My dear mother was a schoolteacher, so you can just imagine what my sister and I learned from the questions she was asked by her students. But having to answer the questions Carol and I would ask at home, mom was well prepared for whatever she was asked at school.

Jesus’ disciples asked a lot of questions, too. As we examine the disciples’ questions, we learn how close we are in asking the same things. “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” That is the prime question of religious Jews today! Only recently, I finished reading a book on that very subject. Everything is ready for the rebuilding of the Temple in the area known to us as “the Dome of the Rock.” It could even come in our lifetime!

Jesus replied to His disciples much like my mother used to reply to me; namely, “It’s not the right time for you to know about that,” she would say. “You need to put your mind on what your dad wanted done before he gets home from work!” There are some things we’re just not supposed to know. If the Bible gives a specific answer to a question, well and good; but if it doesn’t, we’re just not supposed to know. The Father has specific times for everything and He will reveal them when He’s ready.

What Jesus said to His disciples (and to us, as well) was that true believers would receive authority and knowledge from the Holy Spirit, which would prompt us to become witnesses of Him to others throughout the entire world! Not everyone is called of God to be a foreign missionary, but He does expect all of us to witness of His saving grace to others living around us. I have to confess that I fail to do that as often as I should. Do you need to confess that to Him, too? When He comes, it will be too late.

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 1:1-5, “The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach,
2 until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen.
3 To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God.
4 Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, ‘Which,’ He said, ‘you heard of from Me;
5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’”

Luke, who is the author of the Gospel of Luke, is also the author of the Book of Acts. Theophilus, whose name means “lover of God,” is the one to whom the Book of Acts is addressed. Luke’s purpose in writing is to substantiate the proof of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection from the dead. Jesus’ resurrection is incontrovertible proof that we have no other means of salvation than that of faith in Him.

Subsequent to His crucifixion, He presented Himself alive to His apostles for more than forty days. Five times in the Scriptures (Deut. 19:15; Matt. 18:16; 2Cor. 13:1; 1Tim. 5:19; Heb. 10:28) it is stated that “two or three witnesses” are required to substantiate the truth of a matter. Thus, Christ’s followers numbered more than the number required to prove His Resurrection.

Faith alone is required for our salvation, as it was in New Testament times. Jesus Himself is the focal point of that faith. Yet, it’s not enough to just know that He lived and died and arose from the dead. He requires that we place trust in Him to forgive our sins. When we do, He immerses us with the Holy Spirit, making us His children and assuring us of a home with Him in Heaven.

Don’t let simple faith slip by you. “Believe in the LORD Jesus Christ” (Acts 11:17). He will make His presence known to 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,

1 Chronicles 17:1-2, “And it came about, when David dwelt in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, ‘Behold, I am dwelling in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD is under curtains.’
2 Then Nathan said to David, ‘Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.’”

David looked at what he had and felt unworthy because he was living in a house that was finer than that of the LORD. He shared his thoughts with the prophet Nathan, who replied that he should do what he felt he must, and know with certainty that the LORD was with him.

2 Samuel 12:5-7a, “Then David’s anger burned greatly against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the LORD lives, surely the man who has done this deserves to die.
6 “He must make restitution for the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing and had no compassion.”
7 Nathan then said to David, “You are the man!”

There are times when we assess our possessions and compare them with those of others. At such times, we either sympathize with those who have less than we have or we question whether we have too much in comparison. There are also times when we view others as standing in the way of our possessing what we want. When we endeavor to have our way without respecting others, we transgress the LORD’s will and invite His wrath to fall upon us.

A prophet’s responsibility varies according to his assessment of the LORD’s desire. We sometimes seek a Christian friend’s thoughts. The friend is not a prophet, although his experience may be beneficial. If, however, he believes and responds contrary to our desire, we must be prepared to alter our thinking or suffer the displeasure of God.

Nathan condoned David’s thinking about building the LORD’s house; but he condemned David for plotting the death of a man in order that he might have the man’s wife. Let us be careful of how we think. Let us be careful to live according to the LORD’s directives. Let us remember that we are accountable to Him for all that we do.

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