The Grands Letter

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.”

Scripture is always exciting! You don’t fully realize the excitement until you spend time analyzing it. Take, for instance, the three timeframes in these four verses. Verse 11 addresses the past; verse 12 addresses the present; and verse 13 addresses the future.

Past: God has already brought the opportunity of salvation to all men. The word all (???, pas) speaks of the highest privilege man has ever received from the LORD. It occurred at the Cross, when Jesus died for us, making salvation possible for everyone.

Present: The same grace we discover in verse 11, now instructs us 1) to deny A) ungodliness and B) worldly desires and 2) to live A) sensibly, B) righteously and C) godly in the timeframe He gives us.

Future: The Blessed Hope is the Rapture (snatching up) of the Church as Jesus comes back and draws us to Him in the air. Verse 14 then repeats the matter of redemption, where He forgives our sin and purifies us for Himself. This final phase of redemption will come when He comes again to gather us to and for Himself.

Remember when you were a kid, how you played outside and got dirty? The first thing your mother did when you came in was to clean you up and make you presentable for the meal or for company or whatever. So, it is with the LORD and us. Salvation requires our repentance (being sorry for our sin and asking God’s forgiveness). When we repent, God cleans us up (saves us), making us presentable for Himself. No dirty, old cracked glass vase serves well as the centerpiece of the dinning table. Neither do we serve and honor the LORD well until we are clean. Let’s start cleaning up! Jesus could come for us at any moment!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. Haley writes appreciatively of all of our prayers. All the nurses in

her group in Quito are believers; so they are ministering

spiritually as they minister medically.

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 3:13-17, “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.

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;

17 that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

If you’re keeping up with these readings, you will notice that Paul seems to be obsessed with “evil men and impostors.” Indeed he is! –and so should we be. They are getting worse as the days go by, and they are continually deceiving as well.

What is strange is that Paul gives no instruction or advice as to how we should confront and defeat these imposters. Instead, he simply says, “…continue in the things you have learned.” By the way, just whom would you believe, the impostors or your mother and grandmother and me, Paul, your friend? Who has your best interest at heart? Who has the LORD’s interest at heart? We are all best persuaded by those who have our best interest at heart. And the best witness is the witness of a transformed life.

In verse 16, Paul says, ???? ????? ???????????, “all writing (is) God-breathed!”

The word grapha, writing, is limited to Holy writing in the New Testament. It is “…the communication that has been ordained by God’s authority and produced by the enabling of His Spirit…” (Barnes). It is divinely inspired and totally without error!

Moreover, this Scripture is profitable for instruction, as a means of testing and giving proof, for correction of errors, and for rearing a child in the way of

righteousness.

And why all of this? In order that the true “man of God might be adequately fitted and equipped for every good work.” Only then is Jesus Christ glorified. And that’s what it’s all about! God bless you as you fulfill your calling!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. Haley and all the other nurses arrived safely in Quito, Ecuador last night.

They launched into their task of ministering to people both physically and

spiritually. They will be there for 11 days and will appreicate 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 3:8-12, “And just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected as regards the faith.

9 But they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all, as also that of those two came to be.

10 But 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 delivered me!

12 And indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

Have you ever wondered why some Christians seem never to suffer while other Christians are always being persecuted? Well, it’s nothing new. But there is an answer to the question, and Paul will give it to us in a moment.

Who in the world are Jannes and Jambres? you ask. If you really want to know, look at Exodus 7:10-12:

So Moses and Aaron came to Pharaoh, and thus they did just as

the LORD had commanded; and Aaron threw his staff down before

Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent. 11 Then Pharaoh

also called for the wise men and the sorcerers, and they also, the

magicians of Egypt, did the same with their secret arts. 12 For each

one threw down his staff and they turned into serpents. But Aaron’s

staff swallowed up their staffs.

Paul is drawing a comparison between the sorcers of Moses’ time and men of depraved minds, who reject faith in Christ even today. Some reject Christ today, just as some rejected Moses’ instruction in his day. Yet, the ultimate power of God cannot be smothered by the power of the devil.

Paul commends believers who follow his instruction, his conduct, his purpose, faith, patience, love, and perseverance even, alongside persecution and suffering. Do you remember the first question I asked above, where Paul says boldly that “all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (v. 12). Well, there are some who live “on the edge” in order to escape persecution! Just imagine! Think of how greatly Christ suffered to bring us salvation; and then think of some saying “thanks” by living worldly in order to escape ridicule and harassment.

How do you live? Why do you live the way you do? Are you afraid of persecution? Don’t you believe that God’s power can deliver you? Soldiers who are afraid of battle are not worthy of the uniform.

Be strong! Trust the LORD! Dare to live for His glory! There’s a great day coming for those who do.

I am praying for your strength, as I pray for my own.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. Nurse Haley Marie Jeffries is currently in Quito, Equador caring for

the sick and sharing her faith in Jesus Christ. Please pray for Haley

and her fellow nurses.

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 3:1-7, “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.

2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,

3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,

4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God;

5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; and avoid such men as these.

6 For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses,

7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

Do you know what “hard times” are? No, it’s not when your cell phone has gone out and you’ve forgotten your charging equipment. I mean REAL HARD TIMES! My grandmother used to tell me what hard times were when she was a small girl. Cloth for dresses came from sacks that held the grain for the cows. Bread was only a few cents a loaf, but nobody had the few cents with which to buy it.

Paul is nearing the end of his life, and he writes the verses above to young Timothy. Difficult times are coming. He lists some 17 negative actions and attitudes that you can find online or in any newspaper today. Everything he lists is evil and they all prevail in our world today. Why would Paul list such evil things? He is warning Timothy and us against these things that will prevail in the last days on Earth.

Everyone wants to boss his own life. Everyone loves himself, thirsts for more money, causes all sorts of trouble, forsakes the teachings of his parents, hates everything that is good, has no self-control, pretends to be godly, but lacks what even indecent people would call good. These people are “always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

Know anyone like that? Are you like that? I surely hope not, because what is described above is what the culture of our nation and world looks like. We are to be different! We are to look more like Jesus to those around us.

No, it’s not easy! Jesus spoke of the two ways: one was the upper way that leads to life and Heaven; the other is the downward way that leads to death and Hell. Everyone is going somewhere! Just be sure you’re on the UPWARD Way!

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 Timothy 1:1-5, “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus,

2 to Timothy, my beloved son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

3 I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience the way my forefathers did, as I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day,

4 longing to see you, even as I recall your tears, so that I may be filled with joy.

5 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.”

There are some people that just demand being loved. It’s not that they ask for it, they just conduct themselves in ways that invite it; and they don’t seem to even notice their demands. At the same time, there are those so filled with love that they simply have to express it, despite their recipients’ not asking.

Paul loved Timothy immensely! He even called him “my beloved son.” We are not privileged to know whether Paul had ever been married, or whether he had a son somewhere in his past. Either way, he had one now!

Today (16 June) in the United States was “Fathers’ Day.” I recieved communication from my two sons and my daughter. I also had contacted my sons (who have children of their own) and wished them a Happy Fathers’ Day! I love my kids!! And they love me!

Paul prayed night and day for Timothy. He also expressed loving gratitude for Timothy’s mother, Eunice, and her mother, Lois. They both embraced faith in Jesus Christ, the same faith that Paul prayed others would embrace.

I remember when my children came to know Christ. I had the privilege of baptizing them; but it was their mother, who led them to faith in Christ. With all the privileges parents have, there is none like leading your children to faith in the LORD Jesus! Think about it: had Lois not come to faith in Christ, she could not have led her daughter, Eunice, into that faith. It was then Eunice, Timothy’s mother, who led him to faith.

Believe me when I say that there is no joy to compare with leading someone to a saving faith in the LORD Jesus Christ! Satan knows this, and his attack on the family is HUGE! Promiscuous young people find themselves becoming parents, and not wanting to rescind their lifestyle, abort their child. They have an evil culture that applauds their abortion, but they will soon learn –if they ever do!!—that they could have had a loving family and received loving greetings from their children on Mothers’ and Fathers’ Day.

There will be a day, if you haven’t already experienced it, when you will wish you had properly loved your children and taught them the true meaning of love!

I’m praying for you, and trust you are praying for me, as well.

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.”