The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Joshua 10:25-27, “Joshua then said to them, ‘Do not fear or be dismayed! Be strong and courageous, for thus the LORD will do to all your enemies with whom you fight.’
26 So afterward Joshua struck them and put them to death, and he hanged them on five trees; and they hung on the trees until evening.
27 It came about at sunset that Joshua gave a command, and they took them down from the trees and threw them into the cave where they had hidden themselves, and put large stones over the mouth of the cave, to this very day.”

The cry of Joshua in this passage sounds somewhat like the voice of Israel’s Prime Minister today. Fear and discouragement have lost a lot of battles in their day. Multiple things other than physical battles have been lost due to discouragement.

Joshua was encouraged and passed that encouragement on to the people. That’s how all battles are won. Leaders have to encourage people to become followers, who believe and are willing to risk all for what they believe. At the same time, it takes courage to physically eliminate all of the opposition. Personally, I want to believe I could do all that is necessary to win, but could I really?

At the root of all physical battles are the spiritual battles. Far too often, these are the battles we lose. And that loss leads directly to the physical loss. We must know and believe the LORD in all things! Our trust in Him leads to success in prayer; and success in prayer leads to emotional and physical success.

Freedom allows us to love and worship the LORD Jesus Christ. We need to roll the heavy stones against everything that hinders our prayers because the really tough battles are won on our knees.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem;
May they prosper who love You”
(Psalm 122:6).

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

Gene
(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,

Joshua 10:8-14, “The LORD said to Joshua, ‘Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands; not one of them shall stand before you.’
9 So Joshua came upon them suddenly by marching all night from Gilgal.
10 And the LORD confounded them before Israel, and He slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and pursued them by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon and struck them as far as Azekah and Makkedah.
11 As they fled from before Israel, while they were at the descent of Beth-horon, the LORD threw large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died; there were more who died from the hailstones than those whom the sons of Israel killed with the sword.
12 Then Joshua spoke to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, ‘O sun, stand still at Gibeon, And O moon in the valley of Aijalon.’
13 So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, Until the nation avenged themselves of their enemies. Is it not written in the book of Jashar? And the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day.
14 There was no day like that before it or after it, when the LORD listened to the voice of a man; for the LORD fought for Israel.”

It was a long time ago, but my family and I were living in the St. Louis area, where I
was pastoring a church very near to Lambert Field, St. Louis International Airport. It was in the early days of computers, and one of the men who worked in the aeronautical division told me that he and some other Christians met in the confectionary at Lambert
and discussed the Biblical passage of Joshua and the miracle of the sun standing still.
At length, some of the men utilized a company computer and ran the date back to the
days of Joshua, where they actually discovered an extra-long day. The men them-selves were amazed, yet what they did verified the truth and accuracy of the Scriptures.

I began to muse over the above passage, wondering if Prime Minister Netanyahu had access to that information. I know what you’re thinking; but, no, I didn’t contact him. Yet, the very passage above assured Joshua of victory for a band of Israelites, who
were up against a battle with her enemies. What’s the old saying, “He did it before, He can do it again”?

At the same time, don’t be too critical of me. While I admit being biased toward Israel,
the Jews are not Christians. They are, however, the people who gave us the Savior.
Our LORD Jesus Christ was Jewish! Thus, we need 1) to pray for the Jews, and 2) be
very careful about being biased against any nation so loved by the LORD that He Himself punished them by throwing on them “large stones from heaven” (v. 11).

Think of a loving mother, who’s child is very close to death. Would she not do anything
possible to save her child? Israel is the nation of our LORD and His people. What does the Word say?

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you” (Psa. 122:6).

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

Gene
(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,

Psalms 115:12-18, “The LORD has been mindful of us; He will bless us; He will bless the house of Israel; He will bless the house of Aaron.
13 He will bless those who fear the LORD, the small together with the great.
14 May the LORD give you increase, you and your children.
15 May you be blessed of the LORD, Maker of heaven and earth.
16 The heavens are the heavens of the LORD, but the earth He has given to the sons of men.
17 The dead do not praise the LORD, nor do any who go down into silence;
18 But as for us, we will bless the LORD from this time forth and forever. Praise the LORD!”

Have you ever felt –well, just left out? It may have been to a party given for one whom
you considered a friend –but you were omitted from the list of invitees. Or you were one among a group that was being “recognized” for work done to benefit a needy person, but your name was inadvertently omitted from the list?

Let me just assure you that while you may have been overlooked (be it purposefully or unintentionally) by others, you were never overlooked by the LORD! People are not always trustworthy; but “You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD… (He) has been mindful of (you).”

The prayer that was included in the verses above was not unintentional! “He will bless
those who fear the LORD, the small together with the great.” Oh, yes, there is a “small” group, and there is a “great” group; and the LORD knows who belongs in each group.
It is best that we should always view ourselves in the “small group.” If we are to be placed elsewhere, the LORD is aware of it and He will place us where we fit, whether we agree with His placement or not.

Still, the prayer of the Psalmist is that the LORD will bless us exceedingly! It should be noticed that we are to bless the LORD “from this time forth and forever.” The least of His blessing is probably more that we deserve. Still, we are to praise Him “from this time forth and forever.”

In those moments when we assess that we have been purposely overlooked by others, may we remember that we are never overlooked by the piercing eyes of the LORD! He is ever and always caring for us. May we ever and always be trusting in 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,

1 Peter 1:3-9, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,
7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.”

The very last verse of the very last chapter of the Psalms says, “Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!” (Psa. 150:6). I challenged “everything” in this verse, and was amazed to find that virtually everything the LORD has created experiences “breathing.” Thus, worms and fish and trees, both animate and inanimate things join people in verifying the Word of God.

Like many of you, I view the vicious contention between the Israelis and those nations that would do them harm. At the same time, I ask, “Why would the LORD allow such evil to challenge His people?” To mind comes the short, but tersely meaningful limerick:
“Theirs is not to reason why; theirs is but to do and die.”

We have no right to challenge the LORD’s involvement. The Israelis are His people, although they have never nationally recognized Jesus as their Savior. We recognize Him, but far too often fail to yield to His will. Where then, is the proof of our faith –faith that Peter recognizes as “more precious than gold which is perishable”?

We would do well to remember that it is faith in Him alone that secures our eternal salvation. Do you possess that faith? Have you bowed in quiet prayer and ask Him
to reveal Himself to you? He promises to make Himself known to us; we must trust
Him to do as He has promised. I am praying for 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,

Mark 13:5-11, “And Jesus began to say to them, ‘See to it that no one misleads you.
6 ‘Many will come in My name, saying, “I am He!” and will mislead many.
7 “When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be frightened; those things must take place; but that is not yet the end.
8 “For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.
9 “But be on your guard; for they will deliver you to the courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them.
10 “The gospel must first be preached to all the nations.
11 “When they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit.”

There is nothing quite like war. When the Civil War was being fought, some people would ride to the edge of the battle and watched men shooting and killing each other. Later, during World War I, people depended upon photographs in newspapers and news reels to depict the rage of battles. World War II found families gathered around the living room radio to hear and assess what was happening. Today, however, in the era of instant television, we are enabled to see the action as it occurs in real time!

Have you never wondered what those in Jesus’ audience thought when they heard the words He uttered in the verses above? Jesus’ words were always vital; but what were
His hearers to think when He said they would “hear of wars and rumors of wars”? My
guess is that they felt about like what the Israelis and Palestinians do today. How far
will this war spread? How long will it last? How many casualties will there be on both
sides? (This covers verses 5 to 7.)

The remainder of His warning more largely covers those not directly participating in
battles. Although not in warfare battles, they will, nevertheless, be subject to battles of their own. Fear of multiple accusations will be theirs, for they will be dragged into courts, and physically flogged and belittled for what they believe and what they’re doing. People they thought were their friends, they now view as their arch enemies.

What are they (we) to do in such a time? What are we to say? Jesus said, “…say
whatever is given you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit.”
That being said, we had 1) better know Who the Holy Spirit is, and 2) just keep quiet,
and allow the Spirit to do the talking through us!

Inasmuch as we have no sure knowledge when that time will come for us, we might
do well to commence allowing the Holy Spirit to direct our lives right now! Surely, we
have those around us now who could prosper from some kindness and love!

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