The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Ephesians 6:10-13, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.
11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.”

A small boy was asked whom he liked best, the pastor or the bishop. “The pastor,” he said without the slightest hesitation.

“Do you really?” asked his surprised mother; “Why?”

“Well,” the boy said, the pastor says ‘finally,’ and it’s final. The bishop says “lastly,” and it lasts and lasts and lasts.”

That boy would have had mixed feelings about the Apostle Paul. Paul was not quite through writing to the Christians at Ephesus when he said, “Finally…”

Paul, however, was not just draging out his instructions. He truly wanted his readers to “be strong in the LORD…” At the same time, he understood the opposition. The Ephesians had not ceased to be adverse to the Christian Gospel, but there was true need for spiritual armor.

It’s the same with us today. “…our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

The offensive weapons we use are truth, righteousness, peace, and the Gospel (the Good News of Jesus Christ), His death for our sins, and resurrection for our righteousness.

Further, we need the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit (all 66 books of the Bible) and the utilization of sincere spiritual prayer.

Are you armed? Satan would discourage you from trusting God. He wants you to leave off reading the Bible, whereby you are able to check all that you hear from your pastor. Not all pastors can be trusted; or have you not read the news lately?

Those who teach only the Bible and praise only the LORD Jesus –they can be trusted! Read your own copy of the Bible. And listen only to preachers who emphasize the goodness of the Lord Jesus!

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