The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24, “16 Rejoice always;
17 pray without ceasing;
18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
19 Do not quench the Spirit;
20 do not despise prophetic utterances.
21 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good;
22 abstain from every form of evil.
23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body
be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.”

‘Get ready for bed; brush your teeth; and don’t forget to say your prayers.” How many children grew
up hearing those nightly directives! Quite probably, not enough. Nevertheless, a contentious parent
would seek to keep the child “on course” with health and cleanliness and spirituality.

The Apostle Paul sought the same for the Christians in Thessalonica. He commences with three
positives: “Rejoice always”; “pray without ceasing”; and “in everything give thanks.” Paul then
informed the Church that these three positives were indeed God’s will. They still are His will!

He then solemnly warns them against “quenching” (???????? sbennumi, extinguishing or ignoring) the
Holy Spirit’s directive over their lives. At the same time, he issues a positive warning against (?????????
exoutheneo, treating with contempt or ignoring) the prophecies of the Old Testament. Further still, he
instructs them to “examine everything carefully.” Then he closes with a prayer that the LORD will
preserve the Thessalonians’ Spirit, Soul, and Body.

Notice on the diagram that the Holy Spirit always works first to conquer the Spirit, then with the Soul,
finally winning the battle over man’s body. Satan, on the other hand, commences his battle with the
body, then with the soul, and finally with the hope of conquering the spirit. Salvation in Jesus Christ
unleashes the Holy Spirit’s power and He crushes the devil’s attempt to conquer the whole of man.

Our only effective weapon in resisting the devil’s onslaughts is prayer and resistance. May we will
to resist the Adversary and yield fully and completely to the LORD Jesus Christ! He won the victory
at the Cross and in the Resurrection. Our only hope of victory lies in 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