The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Acts 13:9-12, “But Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit,

fixed his gaze upon him, 10 and said, ‘You who are full of all deceit and fraud, you

son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to make crooked

the straight ways of the Lord?

11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and not

see the sun for a time.’ And immediately a mist and a darkness fell upon him, and he

went about seeking those who would lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul

believed when he saw what had happened, being amazed at the teaching of the Lord.”

Every time we endeavor to serve the LORD, we can expect to have conflict.

What do we do when conflict arises? Solomon said, there is “A time to be silent,

and a time to speak” (Eccl. 3:7). Paul said, “Be angry, and yet do not sin…” (Eph.4:26).

Neither Paul nor Barnabus went out spoiling for a fight. They were sharing the Gospel,

when Elymas, a demonically-controlled man sought to hinder them. This was a time

to speak, and to speak in anger, but without sinning. How does that work? Note that

Paul was “filled (controlled) with (by) the Holy Spirit.” I remember being challenged

regarding something I said in a sermon in Virginia church. My response was stern, but

so immediate that it had to be of the LORD. My “challenger” had no response.

Paul was not defending himself against Elymas. He was defending the Gospel against

Satan. The “fight” was the LORD’s and He simply used Paul in the process. It’s a good

feeling when you know the LORD has used you; and it’s an even better feeling when

there is a positive result. The belief of the proconsul was the intention of the Gospel.

Yes, you will encounter conflict whenever you’re on the LORD’s mission. Just remember

that it is He who is in control; He is the Victor and He alone is to receive the glory.

Always lovingly and prayerfully yours,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Acts 12:5, “So Peter was kept in the prison,

but prayer for him was being made fervently

by the church to God.”

Herod had imprisoned Peter, fastened him with

chains and guarded him with 16 soldiers. The

probability factor of his escape was beyond

belief. What was he to do? He slept. Think you

could have under such conditions? I don’t. But

Peter rested in confidence. He had seen the

LORD work before; and besides, his friends in

the Church would surely be praying. Prayer was

the only way to deal with Herod. It’s the only way

to deal with a host of things, yet we resort to protests,

to communication with governmental officials –

we do everything except pray! Peter’s church

prayed fervently! Theirs was no now-I-lay-me-

down-to-sleep prayer. It was intense! And it

prevailed!

Did you ever feel like you were in prison? Things

that captivated your mind were wrong, but you

could not seem to shake them? What do you do?

Yes, it is true that the LORD does not always

answer our prayers as quickly as we would like.

We have to leave the timing to Him. Yet, it is

also true that we don’t pray as intently as we

ought. He knows just how serious we are with

wanting to be free. Do we not know the inevitable

consequences of sin? “LORD, teach us to pray.”

For His promise is: “Thou wilt keep him in perfect

peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he

trusts in Thee” (Isa. 26:3).

Our prayers of love ascend for each you daily,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Acts 11:23, “Then when he had come and witnessed the grace of God,

he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain

true to the Lord.”

Simply stated, history is a record of past events. The Book of Acts is

an accurate record of the origin and development of the Christian faith.

Once the LORD Jesus had arisen from the dead and returned to Heaven,

the Church burst open on the world with the Good News, sharing it

everywhere! Not only the Jews, but the Greeks (Gentiles), too, were given

the Good News and were coming to faith in Jesus as the Christ.

The Church at Jerusalem sent Barnabus (“son of encouragement”) to

Antioch to witness and encourage new converts, telling them “to remain

true to the LORD.” As difficult as it may be for some to come to faith in

Christ, once they are saved, it often becomes equally difficult for them

to remain true to Him and His teachings. I’m sure each of us has

experienced that. Barnabus may have been a Class A personality, we don’t

know. What we do know is that he was a first class encourager. I want

to be that to you! I’ve seen a lot of change in the world during my lifetime.

If the LORD tarries, you will see the same in your lifetime. Just never lose

faith in the LORD. Always remain true to Him, however difficult times

become. Nothing will ever occur that He cannot control. Just “remain

true to the LORD” and He will preserve and protect you.

We love and pray for you every, single day,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Acts 7:58, “And when they had driven him out of the city,

they began stoning him, and the witnesses laid aside their

robes at the feet of a young man named Saul.”

Romans 11:33 says, “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the

wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His

judgments and unfathomable His ways!”

Nowhere in Scripture is there a clearer example of the LORD’s

unsearchable judgments or unfathomable ways than in Acts 7.

Stephen was a man of great wisdom because he was controlled

by the Holy Spirit. The only way the enemies of his teachings

could refute him was to lie about what he said. Their charges

brought him before the Jewish Council. His rehearsal of the

history of the Jews in Acts 7 is outstanding! But when he

concluded by charging them with resistance to the Holy Spirit,

they stoned him to death. And even while he was dying, he

cried out, “LORD, do not hold this sin against them.”

Where are the LORD’s unsearchable judgments and

unfathomable ways in all of this? They lie embedded in His

allowance of Stephen’s death in order that Saul of Tarsus

might become an even greater witness than Stephen. What

is occurring in your life right now may not be clear. Why is this

occurring? may be a question you will not understand until later

if at all. You may never understand it, but the LORD has His

purposes. Be faithful. Trust Him. Do and be and go where He

leads you, and your life will overflow with joy and gladness!

Praying for His fulfillment in your life every day,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Acts 4:17-20, “’But in order that it may not spread any further among the people,

let us warn them to speak no more to any man in this name.’

18 And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or

teach at all in the name of Jesus.

19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, ‘Whether it is right in the sight

of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge;

20 for we cannot stop speaking what we have seen and heard.’”

It’s the nature of war that men seek to kill each other. “Might makes right,”

as the saying goes. Interestingly enough, it is the same with spiritual

warfare. Satan’s nefarious means include intimidation of those whose

sole purpose is to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. “…let us warn

them to speak no more to any man in this Name.” The warning came

in the form of a command. Yet, Peter and John stood fast! “It’s on

you,” they said, to determine before God what is right for you; but

“we cannot stop speaking what we have seen and heard.”

Let me be clear: if you are not under Satan’s attack, you are not in

the battle! “Woe to you when all men speak well of you” (Lk. 6:26).

But, what are we to do? We are to keep on keeping on, following the

directive of the Holy Spirit of God. Whatever else, never compromise!

“Of all the things that I despise,

The foremost one is compromise.”

“And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Thy

bond-servants may speak Thy word with all confidence…” (Acts 4:29).

We pray that you will be strong in the LORD,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”