The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

2 Timothy 3:10-15, “Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance,

11 persecutions and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me!

12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

13 But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

14 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them,

15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Thus, Paul warned young Timothy, and in that warning, warns us as well. He cites nine specific situations that occurred in his ministry, and through those citations, warns us all of what is coming our way if we decide to follow the LORD Jesus. Christianity is not a bed of roses. It involves persecution! It requires faith, patience, and love.

Paul is not talking about things foreign to himself. He has indeed suffered multiple times and in many ways. He is telling Timothy that he, too, will suffer if he shares as Paul has shared of his faith. Could it be that the thought of suffering is what hinders us from sharing Christ? Perhaps we could start by handing out gospel tracts. People like to receive things. Only once or twice have I had someone refuse to receive a Gospel tract. You may not think of it as witnessing, but it’s a start. The further you go, the harder it becomes. Yet, the greater and easier it becomes. God bless you for being faithful.

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need, until He becomes all that we have.” –Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Acts 3:22-26, “Moses said, ‘THE LORD GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN; TO HIM YOU SHALL GIVE HEED to everything He says to you.” God’s promises are unwavering, and His enduring love is a constant source of strength. No matter the challenges we encounter, He remains with us, guiding and supporting us every step of the way.

23 ‘And it will be that every soul that does not heed that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’

24 “And likewise, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and his successors onward, also announced these days.”

25 “It is you who are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘AND IN YOUR SEED ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED.’”

26 “For you first God raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.”

News in our time and from foreign countries supports the competence of the passage quoted above. Although the quotation is from Moses and considerably antedates the factors that exist in our own day, the principle is everlasting: “You can’t do wrong and get by!”

It is of vital importance that we live by the justice our LORD promotes! It is of vital importance that we examine and elect those who promote only true justice. Promises are often spontaneous and thin. Those who live and abide by the principles of Christianity are those who will promote the ways of Jesus Christ our LORD. Think and vote accordingly!

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need, until He becomes all that we have.” –Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

1 Kings 1:5-10, “Now Adonijah, the son of Haggith, exalted himself, saying, “I will be king.” So, he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen with fifty men to run before him.

6 His father had never crossed him at any time by asking, “Why have you done so?” And he was also a very handsome man, and he was born after Absalom.

7 He had conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest; and they helped him.

8 But Zadok the priest, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and the mighty men who belonged to David were not with Adonijah.

9 Adonijah sacrificed sheep and oxen and fatlings by the stone of Zoheleth, which is beside En-rogel; and he invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah, the king’s servants.

10 But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, or Solomon, his brother.”

Remember the boy I referenced a few letters ago – the one who wanted to play baseball but insisted on being first at bat? Well, he must have heard of Adonijah because they were cut from the same “cloth.” Adonijah exalted himself by simply announcing, “I will be king.” How did he get away with such declarations? It’s simple: “His father…never crossed him…” There was no discipline in the family. Add to that, Adonijah was a handsome lad; so, what he wanted, he simply got; never mind the means by which he got it.

Sometimes Adonijah eliminated those he didn’t like – take Nathan, the prophet, the very person needed; he just wasn’t asked. Let’s pause and do some self-evaluation. Don’t we often intentionally neglect to ask the LORD what we should or shouldn’t do? Could it be because we’re sure we know what He would say?

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

Dear Grands,

Zephaniah 1:7-13, “Be silent before the Lord GOD! For the day of the LORD is near, For the LORD has prepared a sacrifice, He has consecrated His guests.

8 “Then it will come about on the day of the LORD’S sacrifice that I will punish the princes, the king’s sons and all who clothe themselves with foreign garments.

9 “And I will punish on that day all who leap on the temple threshold, who fill the house of their lord with violence and deceit.

10 “On that day,” declares the LORD, “there will be the sound of a cry from the Fish Gate, a wail from the Second Quarter, and a loud crash from the hills.

11 “Wail, O inhabitants of the Mortar, for all the people of Canaan will be silenced; all who weigh out silver will be cut off.

12 “It will come about at that time that I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are stagnant in spirit, who say in their hearts, ‘The LORD will not do good or evil!’

13 “Moreover, their wealth will become plunder and their houses desolate; yes, they will build houses but not inhabit them, and plant vineyards, but not drink their wine.”

Without question, the LORD is foretelling His wrath against Judah! His wrath is authentic (1:1), complete (1:2-a), justified (1:b-6), and calculated (1:7-13). Judah would do well to remember that the LORD’s wrath is both irresistible (1:14-18) and avoidable only through repentance (2:1-3).

Other nations have suffered His justifiable wrath and will continue to do so unless and until they repent of their sin and commence to follow His mandated leadership. So-called “Christian nations” are no exception! We must never, ever forget that!

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need, until He becomes all that we have.” –Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Hebrews 13:7-14, “Remember those who led you, who spoke the Word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

9 Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited.

10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.

11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin are burned outside the camp.

12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate.

13 So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach.

14 For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come.”

I recently received a phone call from a dear and valued friend, who was the one who initially shared with me that Liberty University was hiring teachers. Many of the friends I have today were at one time students of mine.

With the highest respect for the numerous students who suffered under my tutelage, I am eternally grateful. My first teacher was my mother. It was she who instilled within me the desire to learn. In time, that desire transitioned into teaching. But first, I had to learn!

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need, until He becomes all that we have.” –Corrie ten Boom