The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Psalm 5:8-12, “O LORD, lead me in Your righteousness because of my foes; make Your way straight before me.
9 There is nothing reliable in what they say; their inward part is destruction itself. Their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue.
10 Hold them guilty, O God; by their own devices let them fall! In the multitude of their transgressions thrust them out, for they are rebellious against You.
11 But let all who take refuge in You be glad, let them ever sing for joy; and may You shelter them, that those who love Your name may exult in You.
12 For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O LORD, You surround him with favor as with a shield.”

How long it took the author of this psalm to discover these gems of truth, we do not know. We can only say that we, and those who oppose us, simply don’t know how to purely discern truth.

Having identified those who comprise our opposition. We appeal to You, LORD, to hold guilty those who oppose You. Let them be caught in the traps they set for us! Notice, LORD, how openly they oppose and rebel against You!

On the other hand, we who are in agreement with You, wish our opposition would “take refuge in You.” Hopefully, the expressions of our lives will exhibit the love we have for You! May Your Name always be exalted! You are the LORD; and You bless and protect all of those who are righteous in your sight.

Grant to us, who are sheltered within You, the hearing of our earnest prayers for those who are not yet yours. Let Jesus Christ, our Savior, be glorified for whom He is and for all He has done. Together, we long to sing for You the ancient Songs of Zion.

Heartily Yours 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,

Jeremiah 36:1-7, “In the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
2 ‘Take a scroll and write on it all the words which I have spoken to you concerning Israel and concerning Judah, and concerning all the nations, from the day I first spoke to you, from the days of Josiah, even to this day.
3 ‘Perhaps the house of Judah will hear all the calamity which I plan to bring on them, in order that every man will turn from his evil way; then I will forgive their iniquity and their sin.’
4 Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah, and Baruch wrote on a scroll at the dictation of Jeremiah all the words of the LORD which He had spoken to him.
5 Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, ‘I am restricted; I cannot go into the house of the LORD.
6 ‘So you go and read from the scroll which you have written at my dictation the words of the LORD to the people in the LORD’S house on a fast day. And also you shall read them to all the people of Judah who come from their cities.
7 ‘Perhaps their supplication will come before the LORD, and everyone will turn from his evil way, for great is the anger and the wrath that the LORD has pronounced against this people.’”

Are there times when preachers simply don’t want to go to church? Yes, there are. Probably, the worst time is when they have to deliver bad news to people they’ve grown to love.

Such was the situation with Jeremiah. He lacked the boldness of Elijah, the eloquence of Isaiah, and the wisdom of Ezekiel. Yet, despite all he lacked, it was his responsibility to pronounce judgment upon a people because of their sin. It is often more hurtful to a pastor to denounce a people’s sin than it is for the people to hear the LORD’s judgment on it.

Still, when we sin, we want to avoid having to face the LORD and His Word –which is why some people often avoid going to church at all. This is precisely how we become so mired in sin. We don’t want to be told that what we’re doing is wrong, or how evil those things are in which we are engaged.

Going to church is not wrong; but those things we’re doing are wrong if they are what’s keeping us out of church. We eagerly seek a doctor when we are hurting physically. Yet, we run from the pastor when we know his message will hurt and condemn us for what we’re doing.

Think of the sermon as God’s medicine to make us spiritually well. Sound a bit better now? So, are you going to church today? The LORD has given the pastor the very message we need to hear. How about it? See you in church?

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,

Isaiah 14:13-20, “How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, you who have weakened the nations!
13 “But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly In the recesses of the north.
14 ‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’
15 “Nevertheless you will be thrust down to Sheol, to the recesses of the pit.
16 “Those who see you will gaze at you, they will ponder over you, saying, ‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble, Who shook kingdoms,
17 Who made the world like a wilderness and overthrew its cities, who did not allow his prisoners to go home?’
18 “All the kings of the nations lie in glory, each in his own tomb.
19 “But you have been cast out of your tomb like a rejected branch, clothed with the slain who are pierced with a sword, who go down to the stones of the pit Like a trampled corpse.
20 “You will not be united with them in burial, because you have ruined your country, you have slain your people. May the offspring of evildoers not be mentioned forever.”

There’s an old children’s song that says,

“Be careful little feet where you go;
Be careful little feet where you go;
For the Father up Above,
Is looking down in love;
Be careful little feet where you go.”

Satan was once the most exalted angel in the heavens. He would have done well to have learned that little children’s song. Instead, he exalted himself in pride and was defaulted from his position.

The prophet Isaiah cites five turbulent attitudes that occasioned his fall –attitudes that we would do well to avoid, lest we fall as he did. Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer expands on each of them in in Dr. Dwight Pentecost’s invaluable work, THINGS TO COME.

1. “I Will Ascend into Heaven” (Isaiah 14:13). In this, the first aspect of Satan’s sin, he apparently proposed to take up his abode in the third or highest heaven where God and the redeemed abide (2 Cor. 12:1-4)… Satan has no right either by position or redemption to claim that sphere as the place of his abode. His self-seeking intention as disclosed in this declaration is an outrage against the Creator’s plan and purpose.

2. “I Will Exalt My Throne above the Stars of God.” By this statement it is revealed that Satan, though appointed to the guardianship of the throne of God, aspired to the possession of a throne of his own and to rule over the ‘stars of God’. The angelic beings…are obviously in view…The sinful character of Satan’s purpose to secure a throne is quite apparent.

3. “I Will Sit Also upon the Mount of the Congregation, in the Sides of the North.”…“the mount” is a phrase which evidently refers to the seat
of divine government in the earth (Isa. 2:1-4), and the reference to “the congregation” is as clearly of Israel. Thus, this specific assumption seems to aim at a share at least (note the word also) in the earthly Messianic rule…

4. “I Will Ascend above the Heights of the Clouds.”…Of upwards to one hundred and fifty references in the Bible to clouds, fully one hundred are related to the divine presence and glory… Satan is evidently seeking to secure for himself some of the glory which belongs to God alone.

5. “I Will be Like the Most High.” This…may be considered as a key to the understanding and tracing of his motives and methods. In spite of an almost universal impression that Satan’s ideal for himself is to be unlike God, he is here revealed as being actuated with the purpose to be like God.”

May the LORD aid us with His divine power in our effort to avoid human pride! He alone is the One worthy of praise and glory!

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,

Galatians 1:3-9, “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,
4 who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
5 to whom be the glory forevermore. Amen.
6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel;
7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.
8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!
9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!”

“You heard what I said, Stop it!” Repetition always carries an emphasis. You can probably hear your mother’s voice as she said it to you, despite the fact that it was voiced many years ago. Here in the final verse of our passage today, it is especially so!

The apostle Paul is frustrated that the Galatian Christians had deserted the LORD and His Gospel for a “gospel” that wasn’t really good news at all. It is hurtful to God-called pastors when they witness members of their own congregations being drawn away from the faith.

The word “gospel” means “good news.” And today, some are being drawn away from the true faith to follow teachings that are contrary to what Paul taught in the Scriptures. A warm smile, accompanied by smooth phraseology, is an effective tool of the devil even today.

Physical warning signs are posted for the safety of those who pass nearby. Those who read them, but ignore them do so at their own peril.

It is the same with the Gospel. You may not want to obey God’s Good News; nevertheless, you will do well to obey it! Jesus Christ gave His life on the cross to save you from sin and its consequences. He is the only avenue of true salvation. It just makes good sense to follow the One who knows where He’s going. Trust Jesus today! He is the only way!

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,

John 6:1-14, “After these things Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (or Tiberias).
2 A large crowd followed Him, because they saw the signs which He was performing on those who were sick.
3 Then Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat down with His disciples.
4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near.
5 Therefore Jesus, lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?”
6 This He was saying to test him, for He Himself knew what He was intending to do.
7 Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little.”
8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him,
9 “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?”
10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So, the men sat down, in number about five thousand.
11 Jesus then took the loaves, and having given thanks, He distributed to those who were seated; likewise also of the fish as much as they wanted.
12 When they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments so that nothing will be lost.”
13 So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.
14 Therefore, when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”

Israeli kids are everywhere! I will never forget the lad that asked me if I knew where America was. I tried to look puzzled as I asked him, “Where is it?” He grinned as he said, “It’s right in the middle of Jerusalem!” Do you see what he meant?

It is kids like that who followed the crowds that followed Jesus. We will never know the parting words of that mother to her son; but my guess would be that she said, “Don’t go too far and don’t forget to take a lunch.” She would never have guessed the value of that meager amount of food.

What does it take to convince people of the love and concern that Jesus has for them? Would what Jesus then did have convinced you? It caused His disciples some concern when they discovered the lad had only five small barley loaves and two very small fish.

Still, it’s not how much do you have; it’s how much power does Jesus have! First, everything was set in order. At Jesus direction, the nearly 5,000 people were ordered to sit on the ground. Jesus then prayed over the food, recognizing His Heavenly Father’s
provision.

When we have too much, and it costs us nothing, we have a tendency to waste what is left over. So, when the multitude had eaten as much as they wanted, Jesus orderd that what was left be gathered, so that nothing was wasted.

“When the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, ‘This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.’”

Have you ever thought that the LORD provides the food that you eat? That’s why we pray over our food. Have you ever thought that the LORD, who provides your food, provides everything you have –and for your good? Do you thank Him for it?

“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow” (Jas. 1:17). Just don’t forget to thank Him.

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