The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Philemon 1:7-11, “For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

8 Therefore, though I have enough confidence in Christ to order you to do that which is proper, 9 yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you– since I am such a person as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus– 10 I appeal to you for my child, whom I have begotten in my imprisonment, Onesimus, 11 who formerly was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me.”

There is no book in the Bible that is as clever as Philemon. You simply must read

the entire 25 verses to grasp the genius of it all. Onesimus was a slave of Philemon.

He had escaped and ministered to Paul, who was imprisoned. Paul ultimately sends

him back to Philemon with a carefully worded letter that disarms Philemon completely.

Paul plays upon his own age and his imprisonment, as he “appeals” for the “child.”

Further, Paul puts Philemon back in the “driver’s seat,” saying “without your consent,

I did not want to do anything…” and “if he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything… I will repay it” (vv. 14, 19). Just don’t forget how much you owe me (v. 19).

Then, comes the capstone, when Paul says to get things ready for a visit. He’s going to

see whether Philemon has dealt rightly with Onesimus! This is pure genius!

All of this reminds me what Dr. Pounds’ shared with me many years ago.

HOW TO CRITICIZE SOMEONE WITHOUT OFFENCE

1. Compliment them – You are a very intelligent person.

2. Hint at a criticism – Yet, even the most intelligent have flaws in areas of their thinking.

3. Criticize them outright – Your problem is that you think you know everything

when you don’t!!!

4. Relate the criticism to yourself – I know, because I was just as egotistical as

you at one time.

5. Complement them – You still have a very intelligent mind and will come to the Truth.

What is amazing is that with all of the above being said, what the person remembers are numbers 1 & 5! Truly, it works!

God bless you all abundantly,

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,

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.”

As with all of Paul’s writings, the Epistle to Titus is packed

with instructions that accompany the grace of God.

Salvation is our rescue from the ungodliness and impurities

of the world. Only stupid, self-willed people would return

to participate in something that had threatened their lives.

Believers are to anticipate the Return of our LORD Jesus.

It is called the Blessed Hope! And remember that “hope”

in the New Testament means “future certainty.” There is

nothing uncertain about His Return, except that we do not

know the precise time. He saved us from unrighteousness,

and we joyfully await His Return. We are His possession!

Some years ago in Australia, I met a man who was affiliated

with the British and Foreign Bible Society. He drove a truck

and sold Bibles and Christian literature in the Outback. I

joked with him that I opposed his affiliation because it

intimated that everything not British was foreign. He laughed.

His name slips me at this moment, but the pastor of the

church where we were conducting our meeting, prompted

him to share his heritage. I was fascinated as he told how

his great grandfather had literally sat at kings’ tables. Being

overwhelmed with what I heard, I blurted out, “What a

glorious heritage you have!” He smiled and said, “Oh, I have

a more glorious heritage than that!” And so do we! Thus,

we must ever live “to the praise of His glory” (Eph. 1:12).

Our love and our prayers for you persist,

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,

2 Thessalonians 2:7-10, “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work;

only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. 8 And

then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath

of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; 9 that is,

the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power

and signs and false wonders, 10 and with all the deception of wickedness for

those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to

be saved.”

Anyone who follows the news these days is well aware that wickedness

is literally pervading the Earth! Name a country that is at peace. The

Apostle Paul calls it “a mystery,” which, by definition, is “any truth that is

unknowable except by divine revelation.” The Holy Spirit is currently

“restraining,” or “holding back” evil. In time, He will remove Himself, and

then there will come an unprecedented avalanche of evil that will flood the

whole Earth.

At that point, the Antichrist will come clothed as a righteous redeemer.

He will be believed as the one who will bring peace to the Earth. His coming,

however, will be in “accord with the activity of Satan.” He will deceive the

world’s people, especially Israel. But, he will be destroyed at the Coming of

our LORD Jesus Christ, who is the True Redeemer. The sadness in all of this

is that the Antichrist’s miraculous power will deceive the lost, and they will

perish “because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.”

Make no mistake about it! We are living in the Last Days. We have a calling

to share the Gospel with those who do not know Jesus Christ. Let us be

faithful in being about our Father’s business!

Love and prayers always for each of you,

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,

Colossians 4:2-6, “Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it

with an attitude of thanksgiving; 3 praying at the same time for us

as well, that God may open up to us a door for the word, so that we

may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been

imprisoned; 4 in order that I may make it clear in the way I ought to

speak. 5 Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making

the most of the opportunity. 6 Let your speech always be with grace,

seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should

respond to each person.”

The News today is literally dominated by the Church shooting in Texas!

Hearts are broken over the tragedy brought upon those unsuspecting

victims. What can we do –we who are far removed from the scene?

We can pray. The word “devote” means “constantly attend to.” But

how can we be “thankful”? We can be thankful that we have the

ability to pray. Paul’s prayer and encouragement were that a “door

for the Word” might be opened. May the LORD use this tragedy as

an awakening to “those outside,” those not saved. And may those

who address this situation be clear in their word to others.

Behave with wisdom, Paul says, as you witness to the lost. Always be

kind and gracious. Speak lovingly. People are different. The Spirit will

lead and guide you in your approach and in your conversation. Moreover,

“let your speech always be…seasoned…with salt.” You’ve noticed, I’m

sure, the difference salt makes with some food. Eggs, for instance, taste

yukky without salt. The Gospel needs to be seasoned with love and

kindness to be effective. Someone in that Texas church last Sunday may

have been there at the invitation of a Christian friend. We never know

what tragedies lie around the corner. Always be prepared to share the

Gospel.

We pray in love for you and your preparedness,

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,

Colossians 3:1-2, “If then you have been raised up with Christ,

keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the

right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on

the things that are on Earth.”

I still remember when my dad bought a car from a neighbor.

The deal was made on Saturday and on Sunday morning, I

could hardly wait to go to church, so my cousins and friends

could see the “new” car. I was not-at-all thinking about

Sunday School or church or the Bible or Jesus, IT WAS THE

CAR that dominated my thoughts! How old was I at the time?

Oh, maybe nine or ten. I was saved at seven, before our old

church building burned. Anyway, I was old enough to have

known the difference between what was important. Still, I

was wrongly focused.

Paul was writing to more mature believers than I when he

admonished them to keep their focus on Jesus Christ. “Set

your mind on the things above,” he said, “not on the things

that are on the Earth.” Boy, that is hard! The sparkle of

trinkets, the excitement of electronics, and money! –oh,

money can buy so many things!!! I saw a BMW convertible

for sale the other day. It belonged to Steve Jobs, the brain

behind Apple products. What came to my mind was not the

car, but that Steve Jobs was dead. He left that spiffy car

behind when he died! Do you reckon he misses that car?

(I’m crazy to even say that!) What ULTIMATELY matters in

life? Only Jesus! Especially, that is true for us who believe

in Him. So, put away your smart phone, and focus on what

is of ultimate worth!

We pray daily for those we love, and you are in that group!

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.”