The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

James 3:1-5, “Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we shall incur a stricter judgment.

2 For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.

3 Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they may obey us, we direct their entire body as well.

4 Behold, the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder, wherever the inclination of the pilot desires.

5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. Behold, how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!”

James begins this chapter with a stern and valuable caution! Believe me, I am paying close attention, too. But why would he say that to teachers? Because teachers have a proclivity to behave as if they know what they’re saying. If they don’t know what they’re saying, why are they in a position that says that they do? Further, those who listen to teachers,

accept that the teachers know what they are saying, whether or not they do. So, if the teacher misinterprets what he teaches, his listeners will never come to rightly understand the subject. Being a teacher is a huge responsibility!

James further emphasizes that none are perfect, even if they are teachers. Thus, they must submit to discipline. He then uses several illustrations from practical, everyday life. Bits are placed in horses’ mouths to force them to obey their riders. Ships have rudders that guide them when strong winds would carry them off course. The human tongue is very small when compared to other body parts, but it’s often boastful and causes difficulties like small fires cause in forests.

The tongue is controlled by the mind; and the mind is controlled by the Spirit. I’ve always been a “talker!” My mother said that I talked before I walked. I honestly believe that it is the LORD’s gift –but it must be under the Holy Spirit’s control or it can be my greatest curse! There is a time and an opportunity for everything. Just as I completed writing that last underscored line, my watch signaled me that it was time to “breathe.” Since I was talking about submission, I stopped and did a breathing exercise. I don’t know what my watch knows about my breathing, but if I cannot submit to little mechanical things, I will never learn to submit to the Voice of my LORD. Take a tip from a talker: Don’t talk too much! Listen to the Holy Spirit! If you’re not prepared for a task, don’t undertake it! Get prepared! Share only what you know. Be cautious as to whom you listen! Check everything out with the Spirit of the LORD Jesus Christ. He makes NO mistakes!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Titus 3:1-5, “Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed,

2 to malign no one, to be uncontentious, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.

3 For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.

4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared,

5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit…”

When I’m reading a passage of Scripture, I like to outline it. Outlining is like seeing the bones without the flesh. Often it helps in understanding the passage as a whole. This passage outlines like this:

1. Instruction given (vv. 1-2)

2. Confession made (v. 3)

3. Transformation occurs (vv 4-5).

It’s always best to commence with the positives. Keep your atttitude positive. Show respect to those who are in authority. I once an author overseas. A friend kindly introduced us; but I had to add that I had read his book, but didn’t find anything with which I could agree. STOP!!! Not the right thing to say. While it was the truth, it flew in the face of Paul’s positive instructions.

Then, in verse 3, Paul cites things he had done that he ought not to have done. (This is where my comment on the man’s book should be found –if it needed to be referenced at all.) Paul’s mention of negatives in his past life has the purpose of drawing a picture of what he once was in variance to what he is at the time of writing. In other words, he was saying, “I know what you are and what you’ve done because that’s how I was and lived before I met Jesus Christ.”

*Notice that Paul says less about what he was then, than he does about what he is now because of Christ.

The ultimate emphasis is on what Christ Jesus did to and for him and that it is all Christ’s doing, not his own!

Thus, the glory all goes to the LORD! We who know Him have been saved, spiritually washed, forgiven of our past indulgences and made spiritually new and indwelled by the Holy Spirit. It is He who will keep us on the right path and keep our attitudes soft, but positive regarding what the LORD can and will do!

Please don’t ever give up! Even as a saved person, you won’t live totally outside of sin. But, that will require you to seek continual forgiveness. When you’re hungry, you keep going back for food. When you sin, you keep asking the LORD for forgiveness. Each time, however, He will give you added strength until you conquer that transgression! This happens to me on a daily basis! And I’ve been a Christian for 77 years! Surprised? Stay in the Word (Bible) daily! Pray specifically and often! The LORD wants to know that you are serious about being a true Christian.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Titus 2:11-14, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,

12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,

13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus;

14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.”

The theme of Paul’s letter to Titus is “God’s Ideal.” Earlier in his letter, Paul laid down the principles of righteousness that were required of those who were to hold leading positions in the Church. Here in these verses he sums up how all believers are to live, what they are to do, and why they are to do it. Paul does not take for granted that all believers live as they ought to live, but cites how we are to be to the praise and glory of the LORD Jesus Christ.

It is by God’s grace alone that we have (or can have) salvation. Once saved, we must then turn 180 degrees away from all ungodliness and worldliness and live to the pattern of Christ Jesus Himself. “But it’s hard,” you say. Yes, it is; but it is not impossible! Keep “looking for the blessed hope,” the coming of our LORD Jesus Christ. He died as the Sacrifice for our sins –something He alone could do! Trusting Him to forgive us, He then redeems us (literally, buys us back) and purifies us for Himself. We then become His personal possession, and we become excited to be and live zealously the

way the LORD desires.

It should be said here that the Cretans were arguably the toughest and most ungodly people on Earth at that time. Titus was charged with a monumental task. His abilities alone were not enough. He needed to rely fully and completely on the LORD for his strength and wisdom. So it is with us. We live in a tough and ungodly era of life. We have problems that world leaders seem impossible to solve. Only those who know and live as born-again believers in Christ are capable of turning our world around. Keep your eyes on the LORD! Listen to the indwelling Holy Spirit. And charge ahead with the confidence the LORD is ever and always with you. He never fails!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

2 Corinthians 13:5-6, “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you– unless indeed you fail the test?

6 But I trust that you will realize that we ourselves do not fail the test.”

The last letter I wrote to you dealt with “transcripts” –spiritual transcripts. This letter deals with the test that led to that transcript. .At first thought, it may seem to you that I have things backwards. Normally, the test comes first; then, if we pass the test, we get the transcript. But, in defense of myself I must call to your attention that I am following Paul’s own order. The transcript is found in chapter 11, the test in chapter 13.

If you’re “normal,” –and I’m sure that you are! – there are times that you wonder if you’re really and truly saved. Such feelings are normal, because Paul himself said “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith…” The Corinthian Church had innumerable problems! There were a lot of false teachers that had led to their confusion. There are a lot of false teachers today that cause the same kind of confusion. Barnes says, “Faith in Jesus Christ, and in the promises of God through Him, is one of the distinguishing characteristics of a true Christian; and to ascertain whether we have any true faith, therefore, is to ascertain whether we are sincere Christians.”

What we need is to recognize that upon our repentance of our sin against God, and our belief and trust in His saving grace, Christ comes to live within us in the Person of the Holy Spirit. “But, how do I know He lives in me?” you ask.

Barnes has a method that should kick-starts the test for us all. He says, “The best way to prove our (life is in Christ) is to subject it to actual trials in the various duties and responsibilites of life. A man who wishes to prove an axe to see whether it is good or not, does not sit down and look at it, or read all the treatises which he can find on axe-making, and on the properties of iron and steel, valuable as such information would be; but he shoulders his axe and goes into the woods, and puts it to the trial there. If it cuts well; if it does not break; if it is not soon made dull, he understands the quality of his axe better than he could in any other way. So if a man wishes to know what his (faith) is worth, let him try it in the places where (faith) is of value.”

So, I conclude this letter by saying with Paul, “I trust that you will realize that I have not failed the test.” And I trust that you have not failed it, either. Be alert that the Holy Spirit is in you and with you at all times. The LORD will allow you to be tested, and He will exert His power through you in the midst of the test. God bless you! You will not fail because He never fails!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

2 Coninthians 11:22-28, “Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.

23 Are they servants of Christ? (I speak as if insane) I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death.

24 Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.

25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep.

26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren;

27 I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.

28 Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure upon me of concern for all the churches.”

Once I finished school, I found I had to present the transcript that demonstrated that what I had learned in school had prepared me to do the job for which I was applying. Not always did a potential employer see the actual, official transcript, but there had to always be something official to back up my contention that I was prepared to accomplish what they were hiring me to do.

Such was the way with the Apostle Paul. No, he didn’t always rehearse the difficulties he had conquered en route to where he was he was headed. But there are always times and people who need such information, if only to “cover” themselves if you or I don’t achieve the requirements employers expect and demand.

In the verses above, Paul cites the following:

1. His physical birth and ancestral heritage (v. 22)

2. His spiritual birth and physical impairments (vv. 23-25)

3. His multiple and diversified dangers (v. 26)

4. His physical labors and hardships (v. 27)

5. His heavy mental and emotional pressures (v. 28)

Let me challenge you to read those seven verses again. Read them slowly. If you’ve read much of the New Testament, you will commence to think of the times and places where many of these troubles occurred. You might ask, “Why are you wanting us to read those verses again? And why are we to read them slowly? Those are fair questions; let me answer them the best I can.

First, we need to understand that these are not mere lines on a page in a book. These are REAL dangers, some of which are being experienced by Christians today –right while you are reading! Second, we need to compare the heavy burden Paul bore, with what little we encounter when we seek to witness. Paul ultimately gave his life for preaching the Gospel. We often get discouraged and feel upset when someone smirks at our witness and cracks a smart remark that hurts our feelings.

Try making a transcript of your spiritual work for the LORD. List in one column on your paper the times you remember being ridiculed and laughed at and endured snide remarks. List in the other column what Paul notes of his persecutions. THERE IS NO COMPARISON between the two! It may be time we quit feeling sorry for ourselves and actually get into the battle! I can guarantee you that you will not be alone –unless you forget the LORD who fights by your side!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”