The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Acts 21:10-14, “As we were staying there for some days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
11 And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands,
and said, ‘This is what the Holy Spirit says: “In this way the Jews at Jerusalem
will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.”’
12 When we had heard this, we as well as the local residents began begging
him not to go up to Jerusalem.
13 Then Paul answered, ‘What are you doing, weeping and breaking my
heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for
the name of the Lord Jesus.’”
14 And since he would not be persuaded, we fell silent, remarking, ‘The will
of the Lord be done!’”

This passage is one of the most remarkable in all of the New Testament.
Agabus is mentioned only twice in the Bible: here and in Acts 11:28. What
is remarkable is that in both instances Agabus cited prophesies that related
to the Holy Spirit; and in both situations, his prophesies proved to be true.

In the passage above, Agabus cited the Holy Spirit’s prophecy in a visual
message. He took Paul’s belt, bound “his own feet and hands,” and audibly
announced that the Jews in Jerusalem would “bind Paul’s hands and feet
and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.”

In a strange twist of things, and despite the Holy Spirit’s pronouncement,
Paul insisted that he was going to Jerusalem, even if he were required to
die for the LORD Jesus! Luke, who authored the Book of Acts under the
Holy Spirit’s directive, says Paul’s friends wept profusely –yet, Paul was
determined –even to the death!

I am certain that I have insisted on doing many things that the Holy Spirit
had not led me to do. That’s exceedingly dangerous! I warn against it!
Then, why does Paul’s decide to go against the Spirit’s leadership? I can
only point to the reality of Agabus’ warning. From this point onward, Paul’s
ministry narrowed as it moved toward its climax.

Be extremely careful going against the Spirit’s leadership! Just don’t do it!
You may even continue to be a witness for Christ, but there is a price to
pay for turning aside from the Spirit’s clear directive! “But Paul did it,” you
say. Just remember that neither you nor I are the Apostle Paul.

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,

Psalm 37:7-11, “Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret
because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries
out wicked schemes.
8 Cease from anger and forsake wrath; do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.
9 For evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit
the land.
10 Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more; and you will look
carefully for his place and he will not be there.
11 But the humble will inherit the land and will delight themselves in abundant
prosperity.”

Do you find it difficult to be patient? Do the trends and mistakes of others tend
to frustrate and sometimes infuriate you? Do you pray incessantly without
receiving an answer from the LORD? I’m certain that most (if not all) of us
have found patience a difficult quality to employ in our lives.

Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes (7:8) that “patience of spirit is better than
haughtiness of spirit.” Without a doubt, he had had experience with both.
Yet, we want what we want and we want it now! What is it that causes us
to believe that we know more than the LORD –or more than even Solomon?

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 lists more than a dozen “times” that are right or wrong for
us to employ. I won’t list them here for the sake of space, yet we will all profit
from reading them studiedly and applying them appropriately to our own lives.

I am by nature impatient. If I light a firecracker, I want it to explode immediately!
Yet, I have to admit that I’m far more patient when it comes to applying spiritual principles to my life. I once heard the story of a Japanese man, who delayed his
departure to a distant city, only to discover when he arrived that the city had been bombed. His delay had literally spared his life!

Why are we not more trusting of the LORD and His knowledge and impeccable timing? Do we doubt His love and concern for us? If our desire were His will, surely He would allow it. Yet, His will is guided by His knowledge. His timing has never yet been wrong!

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean
on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge
Him, and He ill make your paths straight” (Prov. 3:5-6).

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,

Luke 19:8-13, “Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord,
‘Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor,
and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back
four times as much.’
9And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this
house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham.
10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that
which was lost.’
11 While they were listening to these things, Jesus went on
to tell a parable, because He was near Jerusalem, and they
supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear
immediately.
12 So He said, “A nobleman went to a distant country to
receive a kingdom for himself, and then return.
13 “And he called ten of his slaves, and gave them ten minas
and said to them, ‘Do business with this until I come back.’”

The whole Bible from Genesis to Revelation is the Holy Word
of God. What we often read in the Old Testament (39 books)
must be appropriated to our current lifetime. For example,
when Zaccheus said, “…half of my possessions I will give to
the poor…,” it does not mean that we must calculate our
financial holdings and give half of what we have to the poor.
What the Scripture says here speaks only of Zaccheus.

However, Jesus supports that meaning when He says “Today
salvation has come to this house…” What Zaccheus proposes
to give back (four to one), Jesus says is proof that Zaccheus
belongs to Him! Zaccheus had a change of heart! That’s what
salvation does to us when we trust Jesus!

There’s more –much more!—to this passage than what I have
reproduced in these short paragraphs. Just don’t miss the
emphasis on the “changed heart.” That can happen to you, too!
Jesus affects the operation; but you submit to the operation.

It all has to do with faith! We exercise faith when we allow a
surgeon to physically operate on us. We do the same when we
allow the Great Physician to spiritually operate on our hearts.

True churches teach what I’m saying here; yet, no one is saved
by belonging to any church. Salvation is in Christ Jesus alone!
Still, churches that teach clearly from the Bible are true churches!
If the church you’re attending doesn’t teach the Christ of the Bible,
you would do well to find a church that does! Salvation is in Jesus;
and His churches teach Him as the only Savior of man’s soul.

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,

Psalm 115:1-9, “Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to Your name
give glory because of Your lovingkindness, because of Your truth.
2 Why should the nations say, ‘Where, now, is their God?’
3 But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases.
4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of man’s hands.
5 They have mouths, but they cannot speak; they have eyes,
but they cannot see;
6 They have ears, but they cannot hear; they have noses, but
they cannot smell;
7 They have hands, but they cannot feel; they have feet, but
they cannot walk; they cannot make a sound with their throat.
8 Those who make them will become like them; everyone who
trusts in them.
9 O Israel, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield.”

Like it or not, we live in a world of contrasts. Especially is this
true of spiritual things. The psalmist does well to exalt the Name
of the LORD in the commencement of this passage. We would
do well to exalt His Name in everything and as often as possible.

The unevangelized people of the world mock believers by saying,
“Where, now, is their God?” The response of the godly is: “…our
God is in the Heavens; He does whatever He pleases.”

In contrast with the godly, the ungodly demonstrate “idols of silver
and gold.” Further, while they boast of their abilities, their gods
cannot speak; they cannot see; they cannot hear; they cannot
smell. They possess the likeness of hands and feet, but cannot
walk, cannot make a sound. They are totally devoid of such abilities
because they are devoid of a relationship with the LORD!

Dear friend, search your heart and mind. What do you have that is
useless? What do you possess that is worthless? What matters
most to you in life? Is it the LORD? One day we will all stand before
Him and give an account of our lives. All that will truly matter in that
Day will be whether we have accepted His Son, who died upon the cross for our sin.

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,

Numbers 32:20-23, “So Moses said to them, ‘If you will do this, if you will arm yourselves before the LORD for the war,
21 and all of you armed men cross over the Jordan before the LORD until He has driven His enemies out from before Him,
22 and the land is subdued before the LORD, then afterward you shall return and be free of obligation toward the LORD and toward Israel, and this land shall be yours for a possession before the LORD.
23 “But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD, and be sure your sin will find you out.’”

Have you ever gone far out of your way to help someone, only to
have them turn against you? How did you feel? What emotions
arose in your thoughts toward them? Has someone ever given you
a gift that they prized, but that you thought to be virtually worthless?

If you’ve ever encountered such a situation, you have somewhat
of an understanding of how the LORD Himself felt when the sons
of Israel –the LORD’s own people– objected to crossing the Jordan
River and entering the land that the LORD had promised them. Yes,
they faced an obligation, but the reward was stupendous!

It’s virtually the same today when the Gospel of Jesus Christ is
preached and you learn what the LORD has done for you at the
Cross; yet you reject Him as if what you would receive from Him
were to your benefit only!

Moses scorned the people for their refusal of the LORD’s gift of
the land. Only two (Joshua and Caleb) stood ready to go! And
the multiple blessings that came to them and their children are
traceable to their obedience. “If you do this…” the LORD’s
Salvation will benefit your children and grandchildren, just as
you are currently influencing them now.

If, however, you do not accept the LORD Jesus into your heart
and life, “…be sure your sin will find you out.”

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