The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Galatians 1:1-5, “Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead),
2 and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,
4 who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
5 to whom be the glory forevermore. Amen.”

Paul commences his Letter to the Galatians by citing his spiritual credentials: he is “one sent forth by Jesus Christ…” All ministers who dare to share the Gospel must acknowledge their calling. Sadly, there are those whose lives fall short of the spiritual and bring suspicion upon their calling and upon their teaching.

Nevertheless, there are false ministers, who pretend to have been sent from the LORD Jesus Christ. Paul wastes no time on exposing false ministers; rather, he launches immediately into his message, proving its validity by exalting Jesus as the Christ.

Sadly, the age in which we are living appears to have a plethora of false teachers, who have “hoodwinked” those who need to hear either by sidestepping the Truth in their preaching or in their lives! Some have never been called! Rather, they have utilized the pulpit to enhance their wealth and their popularity!

My guess is that Paul is stoking the fires of his spiritual wrath for the day he meets these imposters –if they make it to Glory! I thank the LORD for my pastors! They may be as close to perfection as possible. I’ve just never had the opportunity to speak to their wives.

Pray for your pastor! If it’s ever discovered that he possesses ideas or desires foreign to the Scriptures, just slip away and find a pastor who exalts Jesus! He blesses those who honor 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,

Luke 4:1-8, “Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness
2 for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He became hungry.
3 And the devil said to Him, ‘If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.’
4 And Jesus answered him, ‘It is written, “MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE.”’
5 And he led Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
6 And the devil said to Him, ‘I will give You all this domain and its glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.
7 Therefore if You worship before me, it shall all be Yours.’
8 Jesus answered him, ‘It is written, “YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD AND SERVE HIM ONLY.

Someone, somewhere once asked: “What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object?” Interestingly, the one who asked the question did not even attempt an answer.

Many of us have experienced the leadership of the Holy Spirit in what, at the time, seemed an impossible situation. I confess to being inevitably biased when it comes to Israel. I pray for Israel. I am duly aware that Jews are not Christians per se –at least, the vast majority are not. But biblically and historically Israel is the people of God. Israel is a special people with a special place in the heart of the LORD!

I do not pray for the eradication of all Iranians, who are the historical enemies of Israel. They are people, too –people who need the LORD, although they are far from Him. But, people in Israel and people of Ancient Persia (Iran) both need the LORD!

Recent converts from Iran are now testifying openly, and quite con-vincingly, of their faith in the LORD Jesus Christ. The same is true of the Israelis.

Satan would have everyone to believe that both groups are on his side. Truth be told, some each group are –and they will suffer eternal damnation in Hell. Satan is clever! He even endeavored to convince Jesus that he, Satan, was right when he tempted Him to turn some stones into bread – and later (v. 7) even to worship Satan himself!

It was all a rouse! –a satanic trick, endeavoring to bring Jesus down.
He would have none of Satan’s evil devices. Yet, Satan has not stopped trying! If we possessed but a fraction of the determination to convince a lost soul he needed Christ — !

We need to pray! We do when we’re sick and when our doctor says, “I’ve never seen anything like this before!” Whoa! This is serious!! Yes, but more so is salvation in Jesus Christ.

What shall we do? Trust Jesus! Ask Him to forgive your sins! Tell Him you’re believing in Him for eternal salvation. Mean what you pray! Read the Bible daily, especially the New Testament. Believe what you read in Holy Scripture and You will experience a new life in Jesus Christ.

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,

Genesis 22:5, “Abraham said to his young men, ‘Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go over there; and we will worship and return to you.’”

It may not be of supreme interest to you, but the word “worship” in some form, occurs 183 times in the entirety of the Bible. The Hebrew word ?????? shachah, means “to bow down.” The Greek word (????????? proskuneo) means “to do reverence, to worship.”

This being Sunday, the LORD’s Day –the special, first day of each week– many will worship the LORD in church services throughout the land. “Bowing down,” however, is not merely an action of the human body; it is a physiclal signification of the superiority of another. Bowing down in one’s heart is what is biblically required.

The habit of most foreign nations is for the constituents to bow before the one who rules judicially throughout the realm. That physical habit, however, derives ultimately from the Scriptures and relates to the LORD, who rules over Heaven and earth.

Most people bow their heads when prayers are offered, despite the fact that they are not personally honoring the LORD or even agreeing with the one who is voicing the prayer. Yet, those who know the LORD and have accepted Him into their hearts and lives, usually close their eyes as well.

What is of foremost value is that those bowing actually know the LORD as their LORD and Savior and are acknowledging Him as the Supreme Being in their lives.

When Abraham said to the young Jewish men who accompanied him and his son, Isaac, “…the lad will go over there; and we will worship and return to you,” he left for us a pattern for worship that pleases the LORD.

Think of this today as you bow your head and close your eyes as someone in the church body voices aloud a prayer to the LORD. The LORD hears every humble and sincere prayer; and He acknowledges all prayers that are offered with sincerity. God bless 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,

Jude 1:1-4, “Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ:
2 May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you.
3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.
4 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.”

If the old adage be true that “great things come in small packages,” then this Letter from Jude is one of the greatest books we have in the New Testament!

The Apostle Paul wrote the Colossians that the two basic facets of all relevant preaching are admonition and instruction. Admonition is a warning, related to conduct. It calls for repentance from sin and is addressed to the heart. Instruction is teaching, related to doctrine. It calls for faith, and is addressed to the mind.

The Internet has now successfully squeezed itself into our lives, coming between radio and television medias of communication, and increasing as skeptical a great deal of what we are currently receiving as “news.”

As entertaining as media sometimes is, we need to take care concerning what we see and hear. Writers and producers have the habit of interjecting unnecessary and ungodly segments into scripts that would otherwise be acceptable. We are living in ungodly days, and we must never allow media to supplant the rich and pure Holy Scriptures the LORD has given to us.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. Pray for Israel and for our beloved United States!

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 13:7-11, “”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 a significant amount of preaching today with regard to the “last days.” While the “last days” of human history are of vital significance, not every passage in either Testament is speaking of “last days” in an eschatological sense.

Old Testament passages that speak of “last days,” include Nehemiah 8:18; Isaiah 2:2, Jeremiah 23:20; and 49:39, Ezekiel 38:16, Hosea 3:5, and Micah 4:1.

The New Testament notation of “last days” includes John 6:39-40, 44 & 54; 7:37 and 11. It should be carefully noted, however, that not every passage that speaks of “last days” is speaking in an eschatological (i.e., “last days”) sense. For example, Nehemiah 8:18, says, “He read from the book of the law of God daily, from the first day to the last day.” The context obviously speaks of a week of seven days. Each passage must be interpreted according to the meaning it had to the people to whom it was originally addressed.

All of that being said, we are, day by day, moving closer to the End Times. There is so much occurring on so many different fronts, that it’s easy to allow the most important things to “slip by.” Hang in there! There’s no news like the Holy Scriptures! Jesus is Coming! And His Book is the only book that gives us a hint of just when.

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