The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Jude 1:1-5, “Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James,
To those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ:
2 May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you.
3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation,
I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith
which was once for all handed down to the saints.
4 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand
marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God
into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
5 Now I desire to remind you, though you know all things once for all, that the Lord,
after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did
not believe.”

Have you ever started to speak or to write to someone about something you considered
important, only to have something more important come to mind? I’m sure you have. I
know I have! Read the first two verses above and note how, in verses 3-5, the author
changes his thoughts altogether. Jude’s original intention was to write about the salvation
he and his readers (presumably, including you and me!) held in common.

Then came the discovery of “certain persons,” –unsaved individuals– who stood staunchly against the teachings of Jesus and His true disciples. They sneaked in without notice, but
with the determination to turn the believers against the Lord Jesus Christ! (Whoever
heard of such a thing?) The non-believers’ purpose was to destroy the message of Christ Jesus, as well as those believers, who had surrendered themselves to Him.

I have no individual in mind, but would you be surprised if there were people who “worship”
in your midst, who do not subscribe to the teachings of the Christ? I’m not on a witch hunt–
nor am I seeking to make a “witch-hunter” out of you—but you are naïve if you think they
don’t exist in your very midst every Sunday.

Satan has his “plants” within our LORD’s Church. They seek to discourage those who are committed by faith in the LORD Jesus Christ. And why would such “non-believers” not exist
in our churches? Was not Judas Iscariot himself a traitor to the faith? Remember, too, that
while Judas existed within that early group, not one in the group “fingered” him as a traitor.

Caution!! Don’t start looking for unbelievers in your church! That would take your eyes off of
Jesus Christ and His teachings in the Scriptures. Stay true to the Word! Keep your thoughts on Christ and His Scriptures! In due course, the Holy Spirit will identify the unconverted. We
were all unconverted at one time! His purpose is our purpose: to win the lost to Jesus! So,
“don’t spook the horses!” Pray and let the Holy Spirit convict the lost. That’s the first step in
bringing them into the faith. God bless you abundantly!

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 5:14-17, “Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
15 “If a person acts unfaithfully and sins unintentionally against the LORD’S holy things, then he shall bring his guilt offering to the LORD: a ram without defect from the flock, according to your valuation in silver by shekels, in terms of the shekel of the sanctuary, for a guilt offering.
16 “He shall make restitution for that which he has sinned against the holy thing, and shall add to it a fifth part of it and give it to the priest. The priest shall then make atonement for him with the ram of the guilt offering, and it will be forgiven him.
17 “Now if a person sins and does any of the things which the LORD has commanded not to be done, though he was unaware, still he is guilty and shall bear his punishment.”

Have you ever read through the Book of Leviticus? It virtually overflows with details regarding sin and how one can repent by offering a sacrifice, be forgiven, and once again come under the goodness and forgiveness of Almighty God. Leviticus is Moses’ book on the Holiness of God.

We live this side of the Cross, and are forgiven through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He replaced the animal sacrifices noted in the Book of Leviticus. What Leviticus tells us is that the LORD God is Holy and our worship of Him is always required.

Sacrifices listed in the Old Testament have been superseded by the death of Jesus Christ on the Cross. When we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive them. Still, we must not forget that God is Holy and our worship of Him must be reverent and sincere. Holiness is mentioned in the Book of Leviticus more than 85 times!

It is excellent protocol to greet a dignitary with a gift. It is a sign of honor to him. The same applies to our LORD. The yieldedness of a clean life to His service is what He requires. Our lives are to be faithfully laid upon the Altar of Sacrifice as a worshipful sign of honor. That’s what we are supposed to do in every church service. It is to be a solemn time, as we yield our all to Him; for on that Cross, He yielded His Life for us. Think of this as you attend the services of your church. It will enrich your life; obedience to the LORD always does!

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,

1 Peter 1:1-5, “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen
2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Nothing is quite so amazing as the transformation of an individual. What we read of Simon Peter in the Gospels is quite different from what we read of him in his own letters! In his earlier years, he was impetuous, courageous, restless, buoyant, and ambitious. Here toward the end of his life, and recorded in the first of his two letters, we find him patient, restful, forbearing, trustful, loving, courageous and spiritually pure.

Peter’s transformation is surely what the LORD desires for each of us. Not to compare myself with this great apostle, but I was certainly more aggressive in my earlier years than I am now. I was then quick to challenge error in anyone; now, I more closely assess things and often leave challenges to younger companions.

In all, however, we can rejoice in our association with Peter as he praises our LORD Jesus Christ for the “imperishable and undefiled” reservation the LORD has obtained for us in eternity through His monumental sacrifice on the cross. Of this, we need never be reserved.

Only this week, I listened to a man speak of how well-treated he had been by the company he once served. When the opportunity presented itself (i.e., when he drew a breath!), I asked him where he went to church. He mumbled the church’s name and quickly bolted for the door! In younger years, I would have followed him to his car. What we have in Christ Jesus is certainly worth sharing. Moreover, our sharing the only way some will ever hear. May Peter’s courage and swiftness ever and always be ours!

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 10:1-10, “Now these are the records of the generations of Shem, Ham, and
Japheth, the sons of Noah; and sons were born to them after the flood.
2 The sons of Japheth were Gomer and Magog and Madai and Javan and Tubal and Meshech and Tiras.
3 The sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz and Riphath and Togarmah.
4 The sons of Javan were Elishah and Tarshish, Kittim and Dodanim.
5 From these the coastlands of the nations were separated into their lands, every one according to his language, according to their families, into their nations.
6 The sons of Ham were Cush and Mizraim and Put and Canaan.
7 The sons of Cush were Seba and Havilah and Sabtah and Raamah and Sabteca; and the sons of Raamah were Sheba and Dedan.
8 Now Cush became the father of Nimrod; he became a mighty one on the earth.
9 He was a mighty hunter before the LORD; therefore it is said, “Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the LORD.”
10 The beginning of his kingdom was Babel and Erech and Accad and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.”

None of the above verses ever made much sense to me until I read the late Dr. Bill Cooper’s book, After the Flood. Being an Englishman, Dr. Cooper was primarily concerned with his own historical genealogy. He examined closely the Table of Nations, knowing that we are all descendants and ultimately traceable back to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

Doubtlessly, you will recognize Nimrod and Babel (emboldened above). Nimrod is identified in Scripture (v. 9) as having been “a mighty hunter before the LORD.” In time, however, he followed the way of Cain and rebelled against the LORD, prompting the LORD to mingle the single language of the people into many languages.

Today, if we travel into a “foreign” country, we are either required to learn the language of that country or use the skill of an interpreter. Missionaries living and working in remote jungles of the world encounter and learn the strange-sounding languages of the native people. In India,
I preached to several thousands of people of varying languages. I used two interpreters to enable everyone to hear and understand the message.

Those of you who live in countries of varied languages have an awesome responsibility. We all, however, have that same responsibility with the language(s) we know and speak. I recall standing in a marketplace in India thinking, “If I only knew their native language, I could tell them of the LORD Jesus Christ.” Regretfully, however, I often neglect to share Christ with those who speak and understand English. May the LORD embolden us all in sharing the Good News of Jesus! The time of His Coming becomes closer day-by-day. Pray to be emboldened,
and share Him with someone 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,

Joel 1:11-15, “Be ashamed, O farmers, Wail, O vinedressers, for the wheat and the barley; because the harvest of the field is destroyed.
12 The vine dries up and the fig tree fails; the pomegranate, the palm also, and the apple tree, all the trees of the field dry up. Indeed, rejoicing dries up from the sons of men.
13 Gird yourselves with sackcloth and lament, O priests; wail, O ministers of the altar! Come, spend the night in sackcloth, O ministers of my God, for the grain offering and the drink offering are withheld from the house of your God.
14 Consecrate a fast, proclaim a solemn assembly; gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land To the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD.
15 Alas for the day! For the day of the LORD is near, and it will come as destruction from the Almighty.”

Scholars tell us that nothing is known of the prophet Joel except for what he gives us himself in verse 1. His name means “Jehovah is my God.” He may have been the very earliest of the prophetic writers. If so, he would undoubtedly have known the prophets Elijah and Elisha.

It was common in those early days for plagues of locusts to swarm and devour the land. They left nothing but ruin in their wake. Both Moses and Solomon had spoken of locust plagues as being the LORD’s divine chastisements on a disobedient people. But, Joel was speaking of a plague that has yet to come. It is not to be a plague of literal locusts, as in earlier days, but an invasion of human armies that would swarm upon the people, because they refuse to obey the words of the LORD their God!

As with Joel’s prophecy, so is the Word of God to us. Currently, we face multiple intrusions into both our nation and our personal lives. The concern of the LORD remains the same for us as it does for Israel. He is as personally concerned for our individual lives as He is for whole of the nations that would look to Him for deliverence.

The history of the LORD’s people is that He always delivers them from their adversaries when they repent of their sin against Him. It is now the same for us and for all countries who will repent of their sins and trust Him for their deliverence. No nation is knowledgable of the day of its demise. The locusts swarmed in judgment when He allowed it. So will it be with us. Just as we have no knowledge of the day of our departure from this life, so is it with penitent nations of the world.

When we see the clouds begin to gather and darken, we know that a storm is on its way. Spiritual clouds are darkening; we have the great and final storm on the horizon. If ever there was a time to confess our sins and pray, it is now!

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