The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Peter 1:13-16, “Therefore, gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace

to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance,

15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;

16 because it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’”

It has been said, “Christianity has not been tried and found difficult; it has been tried and found impossible!” There

is no way that any of us are living exactly as Jesus intended; but we can and must do better than we are! Peter knew

this and wrote it for the instruction of as many believers who would endeavor to follow his teaching.

First, it’s a matter of our mental focus. There is nothing in the Christian faith that we cannot be or do if we keep

focused on the LORD and His purpose. That is true whether you hunting deer or escaping from a wild dog. You have

to keep mentally focused to accomplish the task. At the same time, Peter says we must keep sober and focus in hope on the grace of God that saved us through our LORD Jesus Christ.

Second, we must be obedient to the teachings of Christ and be done with the various lusts we left behind when we first trusted Him. Satan is very clever and calls us back again and again to our old ways of life. He then feeds us with

excuses for not being what Christ has saved us to be. Christ saved us and called us to obedience. Through love, He called us to holiness, saying, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

When my daughter was a small child, I could have set her on my lap and prompted her to say, “I love you, daddy,”

over and over again. But my compelling her to repeat words not from her heart would have been senseless and futile. So, I loved her and my love drew her to love me. God loved us and sent His Son. Now, what could be more magnetic

In drawing us to Him than the love He Himself has shown us? Fix your mind on that and you will please 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 Peter 1:3-7, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy

has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven

for you,

5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by

various trials,

7 that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire,

may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ…”

With the “run” on the stores to purchase items suspected to become scarce in the days ahead, it is needless to say that some people are indeed in a mode of panic. I, for one, have stayed dutifully home, obeying the orders of those who know much more about this situation than I. Those who raid stores to deplete their shelves of items, are either selfish or thoughtless of others, or both!

The verses above reminded me of standing near Peter’s home in Israel. For it was Peter who praised the LORD for our being “born again to a living hope.” Come what may, the LORD is our strength and shield.

We are “protected by the power of God through faith…,” despite the trials that war against our minds and souls. Peter notes quite clearly that “the proof of (that) faith…(is) more precious than gold,” because gold perishes, and true faith does not! Do you have that kind of faith?

In the end, Peter says, “even though (we be) tested by fire,” –and is there a testing more horrendous than fire? — we will “praise and glory and honor (the LORD), whether at the Coming of our LORD Jesus Christ or at our going to meet Him. President Franklin D. Roosevelt was more correct than possibly he himself knew when he said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Fear is the antithesis of faith. I, for one, was excited to hear President Trump call our nation to into a Day of Prayer. Prayer in faith is the key to everything! May our gracious and blessed LORD Jesus grant us increased faith as we increase our prayers.

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,

Exodus 11:1 “Now the LORD said to Moses, ‘One more plague I will bring on Pharaoh and on Egypt; after that he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will surely drive you out from here completely.’”

Revelation 16:21, “And huge hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, came down from heaven upon men; and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, because its plague was extremely severe.”

The world in which we live today is obsessed with the Caronavirus (COVID-19)! According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, this may in one way be the most devastating virus in our lifetime. From a medical standpoint, COVID-19 will infect more people, but with less probability of death.

What makes the most “devastating” is that it replicates itself and spreads more rapidly that previous plagues. Guidelines from the CDC and the World Health Organization (WHO) are giving mankind important information on how to combat the virus. Although the promise is that “it will all get worse before it gets better,” we will survive if we take the warning seriously and follow directions for adverting the virus.

Plagues are not new to our world. History is replete with plagues that covered large areas of our globe.

Fifty times the word plague is mentioned in the Bible. Forty-seven times we find the word n the Old Testament. The LORD brought severe plagues upon Egypt in the successful effort to force Pharaoh to release the Israelites from bondage. Sometimes the Hebrew word means pestilence; sometimes, slaughter; sometimes, a blow. Plague (?????) is found only three times in the New Testament: once in

Revelation 11:6, and twice in Revelation 16:21. In each instance, the word relates to the LORD’s activity in the face of man’s blasphemy against God.

Medical personnel can identify such problems as we have before us, and suggest what we can do to avoid contagion. But, could it not be that the LORD has had sufficient patience with abortion and homosexuality and so-called “transgenderism,” that He is pouring out His righteous wrath upon stubborn and blasphemous mankind? Even some churches today have turned away from Holy Scripture and surrendered to an “acceptability” of our ungodly culture.

We would do well to view our current situation as a judgment of Almighty God, because when we do, we will look to Him for the solution and, simultaneously, we will turn from our sin. The LORD alone has and is the solution! Even when He allows man the discovery, we are likely to praise man and ignore His almighty power and Person. May those of us who know Him, prayerfully submit our lives to Him in a new and sincere repentance. He alone can still the storm.

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,

Acts 1:13-15, “And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were

staying; that is, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and

Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James.

14 These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the

women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

15 And at this time Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren (a gathering of about one hundred

and twenty persons was there together.”

Jesus Christ, who had died upon a cross and been resurrected from the dead, had just ascended into Heaven. The eleven (Judas Iscariot having died by his own hand) had returned to the Upper Room where they were staying. Doubtlessly saddened by the loss of the One, who had led them for the past three years, they had only His promise that the Holy Spirit would come and would lead and teach them, although in a manner different from that of Jesus.

Now, one of the most powerful events in the history of Christianity was about to occur. The Holy Spirit, who was eternally destined to reveal Himself to the eleven, was about to reveal Himself to them in mighty power. The Holy Spirit’s revelation of Himself was only the beginning. What the eleven did in that upper room prepared them to be used of the Spirit in furthering the spread of the Gospel.

Notice first, that they were “with one mind.” Nothing is ever accomplished if those responsible are divided in their thoughts of what should be done. Second, they “were continually devoting themselves to prayer.” It was many centuries later that Alfred Lord Tennyson said, “More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.”

Could it be that we’ve lost those secrets to revealing prayer? Something serious must occur to bring us together in “one mind.” Further, we must be “devoted to prayer.” The mere “Now I lay me down to sleep” kind of prayer will never open Heaven’s gates. The three-minute “hurried prayer” will never prevail, either. It must be devoted prayer. True Heaven-moving prayer is the emptying of the heart in praise to Almighty God, adoring Him, praising Him. He already knows what we want; He just has to know He can trust us with what He is able and willing to give. Pray for our country and her leaders. Pray for His ministers, whose responsibility is to reveal the truths of His Word to us. Pray that we will empty ourselves of all thoughts contrary to His revealed will. Then,

LOOK OUT! For it is then that the Holy Spirit will commence to move! God bless you!

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,

Acts 1:6-11, “And so when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, ‘Lord, is it at this time You are restoring

the kingdom to Israel?’

7 He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority;

8 but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem,

and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.’

9 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their

sight.

10 And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was departing, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside

them;

11 and they also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you

into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.’”

Why are we always more concerned about the things that we don’t know than we are about the things that we do know?

Students in school are often more worried about how many tests are required for the course than they are about studying

for the test that is forth-coming day after tomorrow. There was nothing wrong with the disciples’ question regarding the

restoration of the kingdom to Israel; however, I cannot help but believe that Jesus was more concerned about their being witnesses throughout the world.

There are some things that the LORD God had determined that are not to be known by anyone until the right time. Jesus

focused upon their receiving the Holy Spirit’s power. It was that power that would thrust them out into the entire world with

the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ. One of the observable problems in many churches today is that pastors are

focusing on twisted theological minutia rather than practical, biblical teaching that feeds the needs of their congregations.

Of course, many congregations want what doesn’t disturb their activities.

Jesus ascended into Heaven in the sight of His disciples; and angels gave a quasi answer to their original question.

The lesson is: focus on what you know to be the LORD’s will, not on questions He reserves for future revelation. Oh,

He IS Coming Again! But, even the Son, Jesus Himself, does not know the precise time. Read His own words in Matthew 24:36. Share Him prayerfully, lovingly and regularly with those who need to know Him. And that’s everyone who doesn’t!

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.”