The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Mark 1:1-8, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: ‘BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY;
3 THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.’
4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
5 And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
6 John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey.
7 And he was preaching, and saying, ‘After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals.
8 “I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’”

Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are the Gospels. They initiate the
telling of the “Good News,” which is what the word “gospel” means. Exactly when John Mark was converted is not known. His writing of the gospel, however, is believed to have been the first written of the four gospels.

In the verses above, John cites the words of Isaiah 40:3, where the prophet introduces a forerunner of the LORD Jesus Christ. He is known in the New Testament as John the Baptist.

When a notable personality comes on the scene, we often observe someone of lesser rank introducing him to the congregation. Such was John the Baptist, nominated by the Father to introduce the Savior, the LORD Jesus Christ.

Someone once wrote a little limerick that says,

John the Baptist was a preacher;
John the Baptist was a Jew;
Some folks say he was a Christian,
But he was a Baptist, too.

The word “baptist” literally means, “the baptizing one,” or “the one who baptizes.” The word “baptize” is the Greek word ?????????, meaning “to immerse” or “to dip.” In was an early, spiritual sign that identified one’s transition from a previous religion into the spiritual family of Jesus Christ.

That the water, per se, had no “saving efficacy,” is clearly noted in
the experience of Philip with the eunuch in Acts 8:35-38:

35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him.
36 As they went along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?”
37 And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
38 And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.

A number of churches with varying doctrinal beliefs hold to full immersion as the proper mode of baptism. Nevertheless, it is not the water that saves, it is one’s personal faith in the LORD Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for our sins, that saves! It is so utterly simple that many stumble over the simplicity. I pray that you will not stumble. A simple prayer, confessing your sins to Jesus, will result in your salvation.

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 3:1-5, “Now Moses was pasturing the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian; and he led the flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
2 The angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed.
3 So Moses said, ‘I must turn aside now and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burned up.’
4 When the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, ‘Moses, Moses!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’
5 Then He said, ‘Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.’”

Without question Moses was a very conscientious individual. Despite his having been reared in the palace of the King of Egypt, he is now humbly pasturing the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law. Surely, it was not an easy adjustment for him after living on the level he had previously known.

That may also account for his curiosity with respect to the angel of the LORD. For the angel’s appearance came to him from “a blazing fire” from within a bush. What is more, the bush burned, but was not consumed! What a phenomenal experience! He had to have a look!

Yet, when he turned to see what was occuring, the LORD clearly counseled him against coming near the fire. It was then that the LORD also cautioned him to remove his sandals, for the place where he was standing was holy ground.

I have to wonder what I would have done, given the same situation. Probably, I would have tried to ignore the counsel to stay away from the fire. It is such an unusual occurance! Yet trounsing on holy ground was absolutely forbidden. Why was it so? That is not for me to question. The LORD has spoken! That should be sufficient. Yet, here I am but a mere mortal, and all the less for questioning the LORD, even in my mind.

Do you have experiences like that? Do you have times when you
want to do other than what the LORD will allow? Why are we not content to “shepherd the sheep” He has alloted us? Why do we
need to know how the fire burns without consuming a substance?
Should we not seek to behave as He commands? Should we not simply be thrilled that He has spoken to us?

Dear LORD, teach me to obey. Let me be satisfied that You have
spoken to me without having to know all the details. I will be satisfied to understand it better by and by.

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,

Joshua 1:5-11, “No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.
6 “Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.
7 “Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go.
8 “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.
9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,
11 “Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, saying, ‘Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you are to cross this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you, to possess it.'”

After 40 years of Moses’ leadership, Joshua is replacing Moses as the physical leader of the Children of Israel. Now, as the Israelites stand before the Jordan River, preparing to enter the Promised Land, the LORD commands Joshua to tell the people: be “strong and corageous.”

Sometimes, we ignore the LORD’s commands, thinking that all courage is required only of the pastoral leadership of the local church. Certainly, the pastor is to give direction and encourage the people; but all courage in any venture lies with the people as well as with the leadership.

All worthy leaders possess courage. If they do not, discouragement fills the ranks of those they seek to lead. At the same time, the ranks must follow courageously, for failure there provokes discouragement in the human leadership.

I often email my pastors what I believe to be encouragment. They need to know that we are praying for them daily. The next time you hear what you assess to be a poorly-studied or poorly-delivered message from the pulpit, my guess is that you’ve not been seriously praying for your pastor. Pastors are leaders; but they are not without the need of congregational prayers and encouragement.

We are directed in Scripture to “meditate on (the Scriptures) day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it, for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.” Making your pastor spiritually prosperous promises to make you spiritually prosperous, too. What can be more desirable than that?

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,

Joshua 5:13-15, “Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us or for our adversaries?”
14 He said, “No; rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the LORD.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, “What has my lord to say to his servant?”
15 The captain of the LORD’S host said to Joshua, “Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.”

For 40 years Moses had led the children of Israel from Egypt. When he died, Joshua was commissioned to replace Moses as Israel’s leader. Now, Joshua had reached the outskirts of
of the Promised Land and met a Man with a drawn sword. “Are you for us or for our adversaries?” Joshua asked.

The Man replied that He was the Captain of the LORD’s host, the pre-incarnate Christ. He then commanded Joshua to remove his sandals from his feet– the same command God had given Moses at the burning bush (Ex. 3:5).

When we follow the LORD’s leading in our lives, we can always be assurred of His presence with us. It is not wrong for us to ask Him to assure us, but it is wrong for us to advance without His presence.

Many years ago, I had the privilege to stand on the ruins of
old Jericho and look down upon the ruins of that city. The LORD was with me then, as He was with Joshua. He is always with us when we are trusting Him. And it is vital that we not advance in any endeavor without His permission.

Knowing Christ Jesus as our Savior and Lord is primary. Following Him in every activity is our assurance of vistory. He does not fail. Yet, we must surrender to Him as Joshua did.
Have you done that? Have you accepted Him as your Savior?
Are you following Him as your LORD? It our only assurance
of life and peace.

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,

Joshua 1:1-4, “Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, that the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying,
2 “Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel.
3 “Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses.
4 “From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory.
5 “No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.”

If you were asked to identify Israel’s greatest leader, who would it be? The answer is simple: whomever the LORD Him-self nominates. Undoubtedly, there were those in Israel who viewed Moses as their supreme leader. There will never be another leader like Moses! Yet, in time –the LORD’s time—their leadership changed. Moses died and the LORD replaced Moses with Joshua. He would lead that mighty nation of some millions of people. The LORD never allows His people to be without a leader.

I was a young preacher, serving in a small Missouri church. When I returned home from church that Sunday night, I learned that my home-church pastor had that day tendered his resignation. We were close friends, and I was pained at the thought of losing him. The next morning, I knocked on his home door and gave my best effort to dissuade him from resigning. Yet, my efforts were all in vain.

In time, my home church called another pastor. His leadership
style varied considerably from the former pastor; yet, I learned that when the LORD moves one man out, He moves another man in. The LORD is not without His servant-leaders.

Leadership styles do vary; yet when the predominant emphasis comes consistently from Scripture and focuses upon the LORD Jesus Christ, the responsibility of the congregation is to faithfully and prayerfully follow the leader.

Are you praying for the pastoral leadership of your church? You should be! For unless you’ve “walked a few miles in his shoes,” you have no idea of the multiple pressures that fall upon leadership.

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