The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Thessalonians 2:3-7, “…but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition.

3 For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit;

4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men but God, who examines our hearts.

5 For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed– God is witness–

6 nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority.

7 But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children.”

Recently a tenured professor was dismissed from a Christian university alledgedly for revealing that some of his colleagues were teaching heresy instead of truth. The professor alleges that they were teaching annihlism, which is that Hell is not forever and those thereto assigned will suffer only a short time until they eternally die. The British Anglican scholar, the late John Stott, taught this as truth and has garnered some disciples who now avow the same, despite its contradiction with the Scriptures.

Paul, however, said that his exortation did not come from error or impurity or deceit. It was pre-approved by God; and further, he did not preach to please men, but to glorify the LORD who saved and called him into the ministry. His speech was not intended to flater and please his hearers. In fact, it often caused him difficulty, as his hearers did not want to hear what he had to say. Some pastors today move from church-to-church in the effort to increase their salaries.

God is Paul’s witness that he did not do any of that! In fact, Paul often suffered loss of material possessions and refused to call upon his fellow-believers for help, although as an Apostle, he could have easily exercised his authority and done so. Instead, Paul dealt with other believers in a gentle fashion, like a nursing mother cares for her child.

It has been a long time since anyone became angry at me for sharing the Gospel. Perhaps it’s because I’ve learned how to share it more lovingly and less obtrusively. Maybe, too, its because I’ve passed up opportunities that the LORD put in my pathway. In any event, we must endeavor to clearly understand the teaching of Scripture and share it carefully, so that no one outside of Christ could misunderstand. Whatever happens as a result is then in the LORD’s own hands. Yet, we must not fail to do His will in reaching others.

Do you miss opportunities the LORD has given you? Is reaching the lost the most important thing in your life? If not, why not? I read the obituaries every day, and there are notices of the deaths of all ages. The worst “hell” a believer can suffer is hearing the ones we missed shouting, “No man cared for my soul.”

Prayerfully endeavoring to witness and win,

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 Thessalonians 1:6-10, “You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the Word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit,

7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

8 For the Word of the LORD has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything.

9 For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God,

10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come.”

“What are you doing dressed in those clothes? Those aren’t yours!” Most of us have, at some time, heard a question like this. We had dressed up in some of Dad’s (or Mom’s) clothes. Why? because we wanted to be just like them; and the closest we could get was to don some of their clothes.

Paul was reminding the Thessalonian Christians that they had been imitators (mimetes, mimics) first of Paul and his companions, but then of LORD. That’s how it should be. If we are living closely to Christ, we will absorb His attributes. Those who see us will see Him in us and will want to be like Him themselves. At that point, they will themselves become examples of Christ and bring others to faith in Him.

When we become examples of Jesus Christ, the lost don’t need anyone to tell them of the change in our lives. They can see it for themselves. And what joy when we see those who have served idols (money, pleasure, drinking, sex) –when we see them turn from the evil pleasures of this world to serve the true and living God. For they have learned that He is Coming, the very One who was crucified and buried and raised from the dead. And He is the very One who delivers us from “the wrath to come.”

We don’t need to dress up and pretend we’re anyone. We have a totally new life and are dressed in the righteousness of the LORD Jesus Himself. We want others to see Him in us and come to know Him as their LORD, too. Believe me, there is no greater joy!

We pray that you may know Him fully,

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 Thessalonians 1:1-5, “Paul and Silvanus and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.

2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers;

3 constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father,

4 knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you;

5 for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.”

First Thessalonians was the Apostle Paul’s first written letter. John, whom we’ve previously met, warned solemly against false teachers. Now, Paul commends the Church at Thessalonica for doing due diligence in sharing the Word of God with those who need His salvation.

Paul’s greeting is “Grace to you and peace.” Grace always preceeds peace, and the “to you” speaks of the advantage both grace and peace are to the Thessalonians, as well as to us. I like the acrostic: God’s Redemption At Christ’s Expense.” Grace is the most expensive gift God has ever given us. It clearly involved the sacrifice of His only humanly born Son, Jesus Christ.

No man can ever offer a sacrifice equal to that of Jesus. You and I did nothing to warrant it. We only believed. And even the seed-faith needed for us to believe was itself God-given! For all of this, we should be exceedingly, eternally grateful. Such were the Thessalonian Christians. They exercised a “work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope” in the LORD Jesus Christ. And God saw it all. And so it is with us: He sees it all.

Again in concert with John’s warning against false preacher and teachers, Paul notes for us that his Gospel did not come with words alone. Rather it came “in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.” Paul lived what he preached! How necessary that is! Paul was aware that words were not enough; we who claim to have the truth, must express that truth through the way we live.

Someone may ask you if you are a Christian; but if you live the life, allowing the Holy Spirit to work through you, you give authenticity to what you say. People want to see Christ in you more than they want to hear about Him from you. Is that how you are living? Can others see Christ in your life? If we, who profess to know Him don’t show Him in the way we live, how do we think others will want to know Him? How we live speaks more loudly than what we say. Yet, both speak more loudly than the others alone.

Prayerfully yours, always,

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 John 4:1-4, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God;

3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; and this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.

4 You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”

It is not unusual for criminals to claim that a “spirit” spoke to him (or her) or to insist that the act he committed was well deserved by the victim. Be that as it may, evil spirits do exist, and that is why John instructs us “not to believe every spirit”…because many false prophets (preachers, teachers) have left the truth and gone the way of the world.

All spirits are subject to testing; and the test is whether those claiming to be from God confess that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah) and that He has truly come from God. Evil spirits know that Jesus is both the Son of God and God the Son. But the “confession” of which John speaks is more than simply admitting who Jesus is; rather it is an acknowledgment that Jesus is indeed LORD over all, and that He is their LORD. That test they cannot pass.

Satan has a trinity: Satan, the Antichrist and the False Prophet. He mocks the LORD while pretending to be more powerful, more authoritative than the LORD Jesus Himself. Of course, Satan’s power is miniscule when compared with that of the LORD God Almighty!

But, those who want to be their own god, find him a convenient substitute and one much easier to follow.

Having forbidden us, as born-again believers, to follow Satan, John admonishes us to follow Jesus alone. In Christ, we have overcome the devil and his trickery. Being indwelt and possessed by the Holy Spirit, we may consider ourselves as having overcome Satan in the long run of things. That does not mean, however, that he has given up. Remember that Jesus Himself had to resist Satan three times. Yet, “greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”

The next time you are tempted to think or do something evil, resist the devil! The Holy Spirit is far more powerful than Satan; and He will enable you to withstand Satan’s temptations. Further, our resisting of evil brings glory to God. And the starting point in resisting is refusing to listen to those who deny Jesus as the living, loving, Son of God. After all, it’s the truth that sets us free!

Prayerful and lovingly yours,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“e never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

1 John 3:18-24, “Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.

19 We shall know by this that we are of the truth, and shall assure our heart before Him,

20 in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.

21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God;

22 and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.

23 And this is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.

24 And the one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And we know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.”

It’s easy to say “I love you.” But, words themselves are often cheap. The proof of the true meaning of “love” lies in deeds, not in words alone. Knowing the needs of others weighs on the heart. Quite often those “needs” lie beyond what we are able to do. It is then that John reminds us that “God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.” We have to trust Him to care for the needs that are beyond our ability to provide.

What then, are we to do? Pray! Prayer is often one of those “cheap” words, too. It’s just as easy to say, “I’ll pray for you” as it is to say “I love you.” But both must be real and from our hearts. If we truly love (agape), we will truly pray (aiteo). And when the two merge, we are assurred that “whatever we ask, we receive from Him.”

But, how can we be assurred of our love and prayers being real? When we live in Him and keep His teachings, the Holy Spirit gives us that assurance. The LORD always keeps His Word! Love and prayer are not “cheap” words in God’s sight. So, we must treat them with

care. Pray earnestly that the Love of Christ may be real to you and in you. Then watch as He works and brings all good things before your eyes!

Prayerfully, lovingly yours,

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.”