The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Matthew 21:18-22, “Now in the morning, when He was returning to the city, He became hungry.
19 Seeing a lone fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it except leaves only; and He said to it, ‘No longer shall there ever be any fruit from you.’ And at once the fig tree withered.
20 Seeing this, the disciples were amazed and asked, ‘How did the fig tree wither all at once?’ 21 And Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, “Be taken up and cast into the sea,” it will happen.
22 And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

Remember how things went when you were a “kid”? You mother needed to shop, but she
couldn’t leave you at home by yourself, so she took you with her. Shopping always meant passing by the candy store! Shopping, therefore, was never a dull experience.

I won’t mingle a candy store experience with Jesus and His disciples, except to say that they all got hungry, too. The only other strange occurrence was that when the
tree was found to be fruitless, Jesus condemned the tree completely; and instantly the
tree withered.

It was a lesson on faith. Jesus was teaching His disciples that simply speaking to an
inanimate object required trust that what was requested would come true. Fig trees are
supposed to bear figs; and figs were there for the hungry to eat. Jesus continued with the lesson on faith, saying, “If you have faith and do not doubt, you…can say to ths mountain,
‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen.“

No, I’ve never spoken to a fig tree –nor to any tree, as far as I can remember. But, I have sought to live by faith in Him and have found Him to be more than reliable. No, it’s more than just asking; it’s being yielded to Him and living daily in His will. Then, “…all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” There’s really nothing like it! And it’s there for you when you trust Him all the way. Does He have your life in His hands? He wants it..

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 6:9, “the LORD has heard my supplication. The LORD receives my prayer.”

Sometimes in our desperation, we search for a Scripture verse that “fits” with our immediate dilemma. When Scripture verses are used in situations different from their
original meaning, we call it “proof texting.” Certainly, that does not mean that we are
to forego praying or cease searching for a biblical answer.

Somewhere I recall reading of a man who found and used this lethal combination in
the Bible:

And Judas “went away and hanged himself” (Matthew 27:5).
“What you have seen me do, hurry and do thou likewise” (Judges 9:43).
“Go in haste, or he will overtake us…” (2 Samuel 15:14).

Please note that there is no unity in such foolishness.

Recently, however, I received an email from a lady who was having great difficulty
constructing something on a rather complicated divice. Things were just not going
well. After finding no answer to her dilemma, this Christian lady decided to pray. She
then revisited the difficult situation and it was immediately resolved!

There’s an old song that Christians use to sing. We would do well to take it off of the
shelf and sing it again:

“What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear;
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer.”

What makes old hymns invaluable is that they were often borne out of life situations
that were impossible to bear without the LORD. We call on our pastors to pray for us;
how often do we pray for them? They face the same crises we all face. Pray today
for your pastor. You’ll both be glad you did!

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,

Job 37:19-24, “Teach us what we shall say to Him; we cannot arrange our case because of darkness.
20 “Shall it be told Him that I would speak? Or should a man say that he would be swallowed up?
21 “Now men do not see the light which is bright in the skies; but the wind has passed and cleared them.
22 “Out of the north comes golden splendor; around God is awesome majesty.
23 “The Almighty– we cannot find Him; He is exalted in power and He will not do violence to justice and abundant righteousness.
24 “Therefore men fear Him; He does not regard any who are wise of heart.”

As you would expect, it is impossible to read with understanding the Holy Scriptures
without knowing their meaning. Further, it is impossible to know the meaning of the
Scriptures without the LORD’s spiritual light. This is precisely why Job says, “Teach
us what we shall say to Him…” Simultaneously, he admits that he “cannot arrange our
case” with sin in our lives. Sin is always synonymous with darkness.

Without light, we cannot see. Yet, it is not merely physical light; it is spiritual light that
we need. It is the spectacular, Spiritual Light that comes from the LORD alone. It’s a
golden splendor that encircles the LORD in “awesome majesty.”

The LORD is encompassed with a powerful Light that arises from Him alone! Yet, the same “encompassing Light” locates us and reveals our works to Him. What are we to
do when His Light reveals our true selves? Will He not also require that we give account
of all that we have done and not done? His power can forgive us; yet, He will surely also hold us to account!

As if our awareness in that Hour of Confession were not sufficient, the LORD’s
personal presence will itself undoubtedly be sufficient to frighten us beyond words! To
lessen our condemnation in that hour, does it not seem best that we commence to do
right today? Teach us, O LORD, that we may be prepared to stand before 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,

Genesis 6:5-8, “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.
7 The LORD said, ‘I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.’
8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.”

Have you ever suffered from sorrow? When was the last time? How long did your sorrow
last? Did you know that God Himself experiences sorrow? The New Testament tells us
of the sorrows of the LORD Jesus; but this is a passage from the Old Testament. Thus,
it was many, many years prior to the LORD Jesus’ time here on earth.

The dictionary defines “sorrow” as “the characteristic feeling of sadness, grief or
regret associated with loss, bereavement, or sympathy for another’s suffering…”

Now, everything was going well until Jesus revealed to His disciples that He was preparing
to return to His Father in Heaven. They were then filled with sorrow. It was the news of His
intention that produced sorrow in their hearts. I’m certain that we’ve all experienced
sorrow at loosing somone dear to us –even if only for a brief time.

Death is severe separation! Especially, is that true with loved ones. Yet, in the true measure of time, it is but a brief moment. For when we know that He promised to return,
each moment of each day makes it all the shorter. But, are you ready? Are you ready for
the LORD Jesus’ return? Are you prepared, if He should come today? He will come, you
know? What’s more, He has given us directions for preparing for Jesus’ return.

As the world grows more cruel by the day, we have hope in the Return of our LORD!
Do you have that hope? You can have it by confessing your sins to Him and asking His
forgiveness. You will then know immediately that your sins are forgiven. You will then
look eagerly for His Return! I’m 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,

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.”

A few days ago, I used the above Scripture in a different context. This passage, simply calls attention to the clear and unmistakable fact that when we pledge ourselves to the LORD to either be and/or do certain things, but fail (intentionally or unintentionally) to do what we’ve pledged, He will always hold us fully accountable until we’re forgiven.

We might suppose that our habit of committing certain sins we know to be wrong, lie well outside of the LORD’s stated will for truly born-again people. Yet, knowing that our LORD forgives repentant sinners, we consciously do what we know is wrong, believing that He will forgive us, as He has previously. Such is known as “presumptuous” sin. It might also be called “presumptuous forgiveness.”

Moses’ warning, however, was that no one dare go ahead and sin, knowing that it was
clearly against the LORD. “Be sure your sin will find you out!” Further, allowing sin to
reside within our lives, does not mean that a later confession of sin will change previous things. “I’m sorry for this!” says a boy who then strikes another with an intentional blow. He’s not truly sorry or he wouldn’t have struck the other boy at all. The fact that he went ahead and struck the other person, clearly demonstrates that he was not at all sorry. Instead, his intentional act clearly “found him out.” Be careful. Sin pays consequences!
Jesus died upon that cross to pay for your sin, if you’ll only trust and obey 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