The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

2 Timothy 2:7-10, “Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel,

9 for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned.

10 For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.”

Have you ever been asked a question that you could not answer? I sure have! If we fail to submerge

ourselves in study, it can happen again. Paul is not suggesting to Timothy that he need not study the Bible; nor is he saying that God will just give you the answer that is needed at a given time. Rather, he is saying that we must be prepared as well as possible; then the Holy Spirit will give the understanding and bring to mind when it is needed.

On a few occasions, I have been given a spontaneous answer; but it was not without having previously studied. I think I told you in a previous letter about witnessing to two American Indians. They asked questions, and the LORD gave me immediate Scripture –Scripture that I had not previously studied. I even opened my Bible to the right verses when I had no idea what I was doing! It was miraculous! Yet, I would never suggest that you try that without the Spirit’s leadership.

Jesus Christ died for our sins –yours and mine– and then He physically arose from the dead! Remember that!

Use the Word. Paul was bound in prison in Rome when he wrote this second letter to Timothy. He was awaiting his execution. But he assured Timothy and us that “the Word of God is not imprisoned.” Quoting Scripture excells everything! The Bible cannot be imprisoned! No psycological argument can outweigh it; and none can stand up against it. Jesus said, “You must be born again (anothen, from Above” (John 3:3). This is our message to those who do not know Him, “that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus.”

On Day soon Jesus Christ will return for us believers. It is then that we will experience “eternal glory.” Those who do not know Him need our witness so that they, too, might experience that “eternal glory.”

We are praying for you as you help us tell His Story to others,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

P. S. Rose Marie is gaining strength. Her appetite is returning. Please keep her in your prayers.

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 Timothy 1:14-18, “Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.

15 You are aware of the fact that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.

16 The Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chains; 17 but when he was in Rome, he eagerly searched for me, and found me– 18 the Lord grant to him to find mercy from the Lord on that day– and you know very well what services he rendered at Ephesus.”

At one point in my life, I worked as a salesman for cooking products: pots and pans. I showed and showed the products to family, friends, and to “cold contacts,” as we termed those who saw them for the first time. I met a salesman in Australia and asked him how many times salespeople had to show or display the wares to someone before he bought them. What he told me was not encouraging! I have read that actual research shows that the “magic number” lies in the range of five to twelve. Some researchers say seven.

We do not always appear “successful” when we witness to others about Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, when we are faithful, we are spiritually successful. The “treasure” of which Paul speaks relates to the doctrine that we learn from Scripture. The Holy Spirit, Who indwells every committed believer in Christ, has deposited the Word in us. That Word is the treasure. Not everyone who hears the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus Christ, comes to faith in Him. That’s what Paul meant when he said “all who are in Asia turned away from me.” He did not appear to be “successful” with the Asians, but when he ministered God’s Word faithfully, he was successful in the eye of the LORD.

As a Christian, you may sometimes appear to be in the minority, maybe even alone; but there are always a believer who will stand with you. Phygelus, Hermonogenes and Onesiphorus stood with Paul. They were true friends, whom the LORD placed alongside Paul to encourage him in the work of the ministry. Don’t ever fear of being alone. When you share the Word, publicly or privately, the truths of Isaiah 55:11 are always operational. Just be faithful. The LORD sometimes tests our spiritual stability against the world’s resistance. Just keep on being faithful! Jesus is Coming Again and He will richly reward you!

May the Holy Spirit guard and preserve you for Christ’s glory,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

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,

1 Timothy 1:5-8, “For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.

6 And for this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.

8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me His prisoner; but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God…”

My hobby is genealogical searching. I have traced my father’s family back to 1792, and my mother’s to 1760.

The further one goes in searching, the less information exists; thus, I know more about my great-grandparents

than those further removed.

What’s most interesting and important is that my parents, grandparents and great-grandparents all possessed a true faith in our LORD Jesus Christ. Timothy had a mother and grandmother who were committed to Jesus, and they taught him of the Savior. I hope you have a heritage like Timothy’s and mine. But, sometimes those of us who are believers in Christ Jesus, need to “kindle afresh the gift” God has given us.

We believers are not to be timid in sharing our faith! We posses the power and the love of the Holy Spirit, but we must also be disciplined. Where we live in Arkansas, people are friendly. I joke a lot and people respoond in kind. That brings us closer together and opens the door for talking about Jesus. Never can we be ashamed to talk about Him!

If someone had saved you from drowning, would be be ashamed to introduce him to others? Of course not!

If a pedestrian had rescued you from being hit by a car, would you be ashamed to introduce him to others? Absolutely not! Well, Jesus Christ went to the Cross and died for our sins. Why would we then be afraid to tell others about Him?

Paul is not misleading Timothy or us. There is suffering that often accompanies the sharing of the Gospel. But, when we recognize the power of God –power He has placed in our lives through the Holy Spirit—we rise

beyond suffering. Besides, Christ suffered for us; how can we not suffer a little for Him?

Praying for you daily,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

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,

Matthew 25:21, “…’Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful

over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy

of thy Lord.’”

If you were able to witness the President’s State of the Union Address last night,

you saw him, his cabinet and virtually the entire Congress applaud several vetarans

of the military and law-enforcement personnel, who risked their lives to save others.

While I watched the and listened to the sustained applause of elected officials, I

could not help but think of the Day that is coming –a Day when we, who know Him

in the free pardon from sin, will hear him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant…”

In order to stand before Him and hear His accolation, however, we must first have

shown ourselves “faithful” in His service. Undoubtedly, numbers of persons in the

House Chamber last night had done service for our country. But those who were

outstanding were the ones who received the praise of the President.

We who are born-again in Christ must look toward that Day –the Day when we

will stand before the LORD Jesus Christ. All born-again persons will live with Him

for eternity in Heaven; still, we want to hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful

servant…”

Stay daily in the Word; pray faithfully throughout the day; listen to the Holy Spirit’s

voice as He leads you to share your faith with others. The key to the LORD’s

appraisal is not in how many souls we lead to faith in Christ, or how much money

we give to missionary efforts, as they witness to those who have never heard.

The key is His appraisal is to learn His will for your life and be as faithful as possible

in what He has called you to do. The big question is: Where do you stand with Him now?

We love and pray for you to live in His will,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

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 Thessalonians 1:8-12, “…dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

9 And these will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,

10 when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed– for our testimony to you was believed.

11 To this end also we pray for you always that our God may count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power;

12 in order that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Somewhere around the turn of the last century, a composer by the name of Will Thompson wrote these words and the music to a great old hymn:

“There’s a great day coming,
A great day coming,
There’s a great day coming by and by;
When the saints and the sinners shall be parted right and left,
Are you ready for that day to come?”

The Apostle Paul looked eagerly for that Day to come! At the same time, it is to be a sad day, because the saints, the redeemed, will be separated from the unbelievers. “And these (unbelievers) will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.”

Could you be happy to see your friends –maybe members of your own family—go out into eternal destruction—because they had not believed in Jesus Christ as their LORD and Savior? Yet, that is what will occur if He comes before they accept Him. Paul prays earnestly that all believers will be able to be counted

worthy of their calling. We are we worthy? We have a job to do, and it is to share the Gospel with lost people.

Why is leading people to Christ so important? It’s important because when men and women and boys and girls receive Christ as their LORD and Savior, not only do they have the guarantee of Heaven for eternity, but the Name of our LORD Jesus will be glorified. We love Him because He first loved us and gave His life on the cross that we might be saved.

Other than Jesus, there is no spiritual leader in all of human history who so loved others that he gave his life for their redemption –and then arose from the dead to vindicate the power of His sacrifice! What a marvelous message we have to tell! You might start by forwarding these Letters to those you know need Christ in their lives.

We pray with Paul that we all my be “to the praise of His glory,”

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

P. S. Rose Marie is now home from the rehab hospital! She’s gaining strength daily, for which we praise the LORD!

Thank you for your prayers for her. I’ve attached a paper that will help you to better understand Heaven and Hell.

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.”