The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Genesis 2:16-17, “The LORD God commanded the man, saying, ‘From any tree of the garden you may eat freely;
17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.’”

Genesis 3:1-5, “Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, ‘Indeed, has God said, “You shall not eat from any tree of the garden”?
2 The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat;
3 but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.'”
4 The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die!
5 For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Oh, how clever the adversary is! Yet the serpent’s tactic would never have worked, had the woman not added the phrase “or touch it” to what the LORD had said. How many self-proclaimed “ministers” add to and thereby remove the very essence of the LORD’s Word! Further, they do it at their own risk and at the risk of those who follow their teachings. They will be held accountable!

This and much more requires that we read carefully what the LORD says in His Word. That also requires that we listen with extreme care what those who claim to represent Him teach and preach as well. I am amazed at how many preach and teach their own gospel under the guize of being ministers of the LORD!

It is the LORD’s teaching that we withdraw from any and all ministries that do not strictly adhere to the clarity of His Holy Word. Spiritual men alone are qualified to serve as pastors! It is abominable what some thoroughly unqualified people will cite as their “right” to lead others in the understanding of God’s Holy Word! How crafty is that adversary!

Listen and adhere to the biblical words of David: “Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering” (Ps. 26:1).

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,

Deuteronomy 17:1-6, “You shall not sacrifice to the LORD your God an ox or a sheep which has a blemish or any defect, for that is a detestable thing to the LORD your God.”
2 “If there is found in your midst, in any of your towns, which the LORD your God is giving you, a man or a woman who does what is evil in the sight of the LORD our God, by transgressing His covenant,
3 and has gone and served other gods and worshiped them, or the sun or the moon or any of the heavenly host, which I have not commanded,
4 and if it is told you, and you have heard of it, then you shall inquire thoroughly. Behold, if it is true and the thing certain that this detestable thing has been done in Israel,
5 then you shall bring out that man or that woman who has done this evil deed to your gates, that is, the man or the woman, and you shall stone them to death.
6 “On the evidence of two witnesses or three witnesses, he who is to die shall be put to death; he shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness.”

Morality, it would seem, has become a thing of the past. There was a time when a person’s word was his bond. If he said he would do something, he meant it as a promise, and in time he would actually do what he said. Thus, morality and responsibility were bonded.

Today, however, few and far between are those who actually do what they promise they will do. Words have largely become empty words! Promises, therefore, have largely become meaningless. With such losses, have come the loss of simple truthfulness. And when one cannot trust his fellowman, it is not long before he fails to trust in his God!

The Scripture declares “the love of money” to be “a root of all sorts of evil” (1 Tim. 6:10). When men long for money, they “wander away from the faith and pierce themselves through with many griefs.”

As terrible as it is for one to leave “the faith,” it is even worse when it leads others to do the same. Our world must return to the ways of our spiritual fathers. We must love truth more than we love money. We must obey the tenets of Scripture and love the LORD Jesus Christ. There is a path that leads back to Him! We must pray that we find it before it’s too late!

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,

Leviticus 23:1-6, “The LORD spoke again to Moses, saying,
2 ‘Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, “The LORD’S
appointed times which you shall proclaim as holy convocations—
My appointed times are these:
3 “For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there
is a Sabbath of complete rest, a holy convocation. You shall not
do any work; it is a Sabbath to the LORD in all your dwellings.
4 ‘These are the appointed times of the LORD, holy convocations
which you shall proclaim at the times appointed for them.
5 ‘In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight
is the LORD’S Passover.
6 ‘Then on the fifteenth day of the same month there is the Feast
of Unleavened Bread to the LORD; for seven days you shall eat
unleavened bread.”

What would you say about an email that read “Your appointment
is confirmed”? Undoubtedly, you would first want to determine the
nature of the “appointment.” Was it a medical appointment, or a
lunchen date with a friend that you had forgotten? Or could it be
something your banker needed to know?

Such should be the same with your appointments with the LORD.
The Scriptural verses above clearly depict the nature and value
of the LORD’s appointments with the children of Israel. They were
His children; thus, He possesses every right to require
adherence to His directives.

The same is true of every born-again believer of Jesus Christ!
There are spiritual directives that He gives that will fulfill our lives.
Even medical directives are given for our benefit. How much more beneficial are the LORD’s directives for us!

Yes, the verses above concern Israel, not the church. Yet, the
parallels are always valid observations. We need to fellowship
with other believers in church each week. We need to witness of
our LORD to those with whom we come into contact each day.

We need to secure a time and place for daily prayer with the LORD. And we need to be sensitive to His communication with us concerning all things throughout the activities of the day. How much more He will bless us, if we adhere to His commands!

Are you listening to Him? What is His appointment for you today?

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,

Matthew 25:5-12, “Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they
all got drowsy and began to sleep.
6 “But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom!
Come out to meet him.’
7 “Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.
8 “The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for
our lamps are going out.’
9 “But the prudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us
and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’
10 “And while they were going away to make the purchase, the
bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to
the wedding feast; and the door was shut.
11 “Later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up
for us.’
12 “But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’”

Reading the first verse of this chapter, expresses how marriages were conducted in biblical times. It was also a teaching of the
LORD Jesus Christ –not an actual marriage event. The moststartaling expressing in this passage is: “and the door was shut.”

Everyone I know has at least one door that leads into and out of
his house. Most of us have both a front and a rear door. When
someone rings the doorbell, we look to see who it is and whether he is likely seeking entrance into the house. If I am not aware of
who it is, I may elect to exit my house and converse with him on
the front porch. If I do not know him, I may elect not to answer his
inquiry at all.

Jesus knocks at the heart-door as He seeks entrance into your
heart and life. His purpose is to offer you His Eternal Life. It is free
to you, of course, and so is the option of opening the door. Most of us would be honored to welcome a notable guest, and Jesus is the most notable who will ever knock on your heart’s door!

The option you have is to accept His “Life Everlasting.” Refusal is “Eternal Separation.” Jesus alone can forgive your sin and give
you Eternal Life! Just know, however, that someday He may
cease to knock on your heart’s door. What will you do then?
“..how will you escape, if you neglect so great a salvation?” (Heb.
2:3). Trust Him today while He’s knocking at your heart’s door.

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,

Exodus 15:1-7, “Then Moses and the sons of Israel sang this song to the LORD, and said, ‘I will sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted; the horse and its rider He has hurled into the sea.
2 ‘The LORD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise Him; My father’s God, and I will extol Him.
3 ‘The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is His name.
4 ‘Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has cast into the sea;
And the choicest of his officers are drowned in the Red Sea.
5 ‘The deeps cover them; They went down into the depths like
a stone.
6 ‘Your right hand, O LORD, is majestic in power, Your right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy.
7 ‘And in the greatness of Your excellence You overthrow those who rise up against You; You send forth Your burning anger, and it consumes them as chaff.’”

It is a mark of human nature to rejoice over things that are pleasant and productive. And there is no greater way of rejoicing
than in song!

This occasion of rejoicing comes at the Red Sea. Moses’ obedience to the LORD’s directive separated the waters,
enabling the Israelites to cross through the midst of the waters and reach safely to the other shore.

The separated waters then closed in death upon the pursuing Egyptians. What was a miracle of deliverance to Israel was a disaster to the Egyptians! The LORD always preserves His people!

The only people with whom I am acquainted that are currently living in Israel are believers in our LORD Jesus Christ. Undoubtedly, there are more. The picture of Israel that graces
the foyer of my home was a gift from a friend, whose is buried
in Israel. Jesus is alive! His people will survive!

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they
prosper who love you. May peace be within
your walls, and prosperity within your palaces”
(Psa. 122:6-7).

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