The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

2 Corinthians 10:3-5, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh,

4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.

5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we

are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ….”

It’s difficult to be specific on some things. Christian History records innumerable encounters believers in Christ have had with those who objected to their Christian faith. The difficult part is not assessing the truth of Christian History, but whether the Christian opposition was greater in one era than in another. Paul talks about it all the time in his letters to the churches.

What is undeniable is the fact that Christianity is being assailed in today’s world as greatly, if not more so, than ever. Here in the United States, where Christianity is in the majority, opposition is largely verbal, as opposed to countries where it is heavily physical and deadly.

The big question is: how do we contend with opposition, especially in the light of Christ Jesus’ mandate that we “go into all the world and preach the Gospel”? We are physical beings; do we war against those who oppose our beliefs? Paul gives a resounding “NO!” to that question. We do not eliminate our opposition by using guns and armaments. Our responsibility is to win them, not to erase them! Our weapons are “divinely powerful!” They are the weapons of our LORD, weapons He has placed in us for the purpose of convincing them to throw down their opposition to Him and become disciples, as we are.

Sounds pretty straight forward, but how is it accomplished? They raise questionable thoughts about Christ and His followers; we are to take “every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” Think about that for a moment. They speak negatively about Jesus, and we are to take their thoughts captive? Taking one captive means taking them out of the discussion –out of the argument—much like a player who violates the rules of the game is made to sit in the penalty box for a specified time. Only, our captivity is for the duration.

But, suppose the “taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” means us and not them? Then, the meaning is that our thoughts are to be captive to what His Holy Spirit puts in our minds to say. In other words, victories like this are not fought on a human, intellectual level, but on the level of a warm, loving, spiritual concern for the soul of our opposition. We just need to be so yielded to Christ that His thoughts become our thoughts, and the opposition is then battling with Him, when they think it is us. When He wins, we win by default. Pretty nifty, huh? Don’t credit me; it was all Christ Jesus’ idea.

I love you and pray for you. The battle is the LORD’s!

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 Corinthians 4:15-18, “For all things are for your sakes, that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.

16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.

17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,

18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

Do you recall when Paul said, “All things are yours…”? It was back in First Corinthians 3:21. Well, he is repeating himself with a slight variation. The Corinthians could well stand some repetition. And the same is true of us, if we’re honest about it. Paul is emphasizing affliction that all believers receive if they stand firmly for the LORD Jesus Christ. It occurs in schools at every level; it occurs in the workplace; it occurs in the church. It even occurs in the political arena. Imagine! But, it always occurs to our advantage! That’s what he says. Because when we are belittled and battered because of our faith, the LORD Himself is glorified.

So, don’t let such things bother you. Yes, you may weary mentally because of some taunting; but it is all abounding to the glory of Almighty God! Just think of the Apostle Paul himself. He was 100 percent against the Church before he was saved. Then he turned the compass and was 100 percent for what he had been against. God turns things around!

Besides, the ridicule and pressure we receive is nothing when compared with Paul and others in Christian history. They “experienced mockings and scourgings…, chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated 38 (of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground” (Heb. 11:36-38).

Imagine people being lost at sea. It is night; the waves are high and heavy; the waters are cold and frigid. Those in life boats experience only the immediacy of the tragedy around them. But LOOK!! There’s a small, flickering light, barely visible in the far distance. Those people may not be able to control all that swrils about them, but they can hold out hope for rescue, because that light gives them hope.

So it is with us. We cannot always change the attacks and turbulence that surrounds us; but, we can hold onto hope for rescue that is signaled by that distant light. “The things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” Keep your chin up! Keep trusting in the LORD. “All things are yours” when you are secured in Him!

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 Corinthians 1:3-5, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort;

4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.”

I had just concluded a Sunday morning message when a terribly burdened GI rushed to the front and asked, “If God is as great as you say He is, why does He make my mother suffer so?” It was a legitimate question from an obviously painful heart. I answered the young soldier’s question as best as I could, leaning heavily on the LORD for my response.

Pain and suffering may be humanity’s greatest foes. Why is there so much pain and suffering in the world?

The answer, of course, is sin. Adam and Eve knew nothing of either trouble until they sinned. But sin is like a lot of things in that once it enters the arena (of humanity or one’s individual life), it multiplies and spreads and defies our best attempts to eradicate it.

Still, pain and suffering have their place. Paul says that the LORD comforts us in our affliction, so that we “may be able to comfort those who are in…affliction” themselves. That may seem to be an

unnecessary method of teaching us how to comfort others, but it works. As a pastor, I’ve had numerous opportunities to minister comfort to those who had lost a loved one. To the best of my recollection, I have said all the right and proper things to those in sorrow. Yet, when I lost my sweet wife of almost 64 years, I experienced the suffering for myself. Oh, I still repeat the same Scripture passages to those who suffer, but I do it as I relive my own suffering.

The secret, it seems, lies in the verse that says, “…our comfort is abundant through Christ.” Could it be that He is instructing us to focus on the comfort He provides instead of the suffering? It might even be that our suffering comes from selfishness, self-centeredness, whereas His comfort is Divine-centered? In other words, the LORD want us to focus on Him! Where else can we find and receive comfort? And that focus dispels all that sin delivers; and we live and rejoice again!

May God bless and comfort you regardless of where you are in your walk with Him!

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,

1 Corinthians 12:1-3, “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware.

2 You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the dumb idols, however you were led.

3 Therefore I make known to you, that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.”

To put it mildly, the Corinthian Church was a mess! It probably seemed to the Apostle Paul as if they had never even heard the Gospel, much less committed themselves to the LORD. So, once again, weary as he was, he commences to straighten out their misunderstandings.

Whenever you find a word or phrase in Scripture that is italicized, remember that it has been put there by translators to clarify the English meaning of the sentence; it is not a word that was in the original text. We could translate that first phrase as “Now, concerning spiritual things, brethren…” And indeed everything Paul mentions is spiritual.

Remember when you were pagans? he says. –a nation of people distinct from Israel. I’m sure they had no problem recalling that!

“4 Their idols are silver and gold, The work of man’s hands.

5 They have mouths, but they cannot speak; They have eyes, but they cannot see;

6 They have ears, but they cannot hear; They have noses, but they cannot smell;

7 They have hands, but they cannot feel; They have feet, but they cannot walk; They

cannot make a sound with their throat.

8 Those who make them will become like them, Everyone who trusts in them” (Psa. 115:4-8).

Whatever could possess a human being to trust an idol? Yet, without the knowledge of Almighty God, who

or what could they trust? It continues to this day. Those without Christ have gods of their own choice or their own making. Still, everyone has less excuse than the Corinthians. They had heard the Gospel! They had purportedly received Christ as their LORD and Savior.

Some were speaking disrespectfully of Christ, when they claimed to be followers of Apollos or Peter. Barnes explains Paul’s meaning when he says “…no one under the influence of the Holy Spirit could curse the name of Jesus, or denounce Him…as an impostor.” Nor can anyone acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah who is not influenced and led by the Holy Spirit.” These are spiritual principles that simply cannot be ignored.

At the same time, we believers often behave as if had never known the LORD Jesus, while simultaneously and vociferously claiming that we do! Knowing Christ Jesus is more than claiming; it’s behaving like Him!

Live in the Word and pray without ceasing! Yield to the Holy Spirit’s control in everything! That’s how we start to look more like Him than like ourselves. And that’s His glorification: that we look and behave like Him.

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,

1 Corinthians 10:13-14, “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.

14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

How often have you thought of your troubles as being an example to others? Troubles occur every day. Automobile accidents occur because drivers are driving too fast. People die from falling while taking a selfie at the edge of a steep cliff. Others get into fights that end up in death because they visited bars and drank alcohol –the mix that doesn’t prove advantageous to anyone. Okay, I hope you don’t engage in such devilry, because such things are examples that are noticed by others. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” you ask.

You sure are!

Temptation, reduced to its lowest common denominator, is simply a “solicitation to do evil.” In verses 1-12 in the passage above, Paul rehearses for us the sins of Israel after the LORD God delivered the people from the shackles of Egypt. Then, as he warns us not to engage in sin, he reveals that Israel’s punishment serves as an example for us. Twice he says that (10:6 & 11); that means it’s important!

“I know what’s right,” you say, “but I just can’t help it. I don’t have the strength to resist temptation.” You didn’t read the key verses for today. You don’t have the right to say that. Go back to the top and re-read verses 13 and 14. Everyone on Earth and in every generation has the same temptations that you and I have. We’re no different from others. BUT, with us, as opposed to those who are not saved, all temptations are resistable! God is faithful to those who are faithful to Him, to those who are His by being “born again.”

Yes, there is a way of escape – an exit from the claws of the devil! Remember that verse: “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31). James also says, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (Jas. 4:7). But, don’t forget: someone is watching how you respond to temptation. You’re more visible and more vulnerable than you know. And since God has provided an escape hatch, you have no excuse to ignore it.

May the LORD give you an understanding of His Word and His grace!

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.”