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…”

The Church at Corinth was about as worldly as a church can get. They were not only at odds with the LORD,

they were at odds with the Apostle Paul. In fact, when any church is at odds with a godly pastor, they are at

odds with the LORD. They criticized Paul for being strong and bold in his letters them, but not so tough when

he came to them in person. Some of the outspoken “worldlies” in the Corinthian Church accused Paul of being

worldly himself, i.e., living a fleshly lifestyle.

Paul’s response was that he did live in a human body and was subject to human ways, but he did not battle

in human, physical ways. His battles were spiritual, not physical. His weapons were “divinely powerful” and

could destroy spiritual fortresses. In fact, Paul assesses he was “destroying speculations (reasonings) and

everything that was working against the knowledge and will of God. And what was Paul’s starting point?

It was in “taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”

Just pause for a moment and think about that –“taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”

I see two “doors” in Paul’s thinking: one is that every thought not obedient to Christ was imprisoned; and

two, every thought that was obedient to Christ could be loosed and become operative for His glory! Give that

some careful thought. What is there in your thinking that ought to operate to the glory of God? And what is

there in your thinking that ought always to be captive and never acted upon? Humm…

Whether the LORD uses us, clearly depends upon our spiritual cleanliness and willing availability to Him.

Are we clean (I say “we” because I’m involved in this, too.)? Are we willing to be used of Him for His glory?

Every person who enlists with a team wants to play in the game! So, every person, who has signed on with

the LORD, wants to be used. Are you being used? If not, why not? And, if you are, what points have you scored

for His glory? Let’s pray for each other; and let’s hold ourselves –not someone else—accountable unto 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 Samuel 30:1-6, “Then it happened when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, that the

Amalekites had made a raid on the Negev and on Ziklag, and had overthrown Ziklag and burned it with fire;

2 and they took captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great, without killing anyone, and

carried them off and went their way.

3 And when David and his men came to the city, behold, it was burned with fire, and their wives and their sons

and their daughters had been taken captive.

4 Then David and the people who were with him lifted their voices and wept until there was no strength in

them to weep.

5 Now David’s two wives had been taken captive, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the widow of Nabal

the Carmelite.

6 Moreover David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all the people were

embittered, each one because of his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the

LORD his God.”

Sometimes it is severely difficult to understand the ways of Old Testament personalities. Take David, for example. Almost from the time he first met King Saul, he was on the run to keep the king from killing him. Yes, it can easily be attributed to the evil spirit that plagued Saul’s life; but it was much more than that. David had only about 600 men, who traveled with him –men of war! They often went without sleep, without food, even without water! What’s more (if we need more!), just about every pagan nation was out to kill David.

On the occasion of our verses above, they discovered that the Amalekites had devastated the city of Ziklag, set it on fire, and had carried away captive all of the women and children. Do hardened soldiers cry? If you have read the verses above (if you haven’t, do it now!!), you know that David and his men “wept until there was no strength in them to weep.” Yes, even hardened soldiers cry! But David’s problem was not erased by tears. His own people talked about stoning him because of what had happened to their loved ones. How inconsiderate even close friends can sometimes be!!!

What was David to do? The last sentence of verse six reads, “But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.” Subsequent verses tell us how he did it, but the message to us has already been laid out. When the worst possible situation looms angrily before us –when we survey our surroundings and find there is no way out—we strengthen ourselves in the the LORD. But how is that accomplished?

David’s life had already been committed to the LORD. That fact, however, did not hinder the adversity of the situation. David already knew the LORD was with him. Our LORD is with us when we have committed our lives to Him in salvation. We further strengthen ourselves when we read and study the Bible every day. We strengthen ourselves when we spend quality time with the LORD in earnest prayer. And we must cover everything in the cloak of faith! If you needed to borrow something, from whom would you borrow it? Yes, from a friend. But the friendship has to precede the borrowing. So it is with Christ. First, you must be saved; then you must faithfully trust in His closeness and help. Try all that on Jesus! You’ll be amazed at what He will do to erase your worries and depression!

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 8:1-5, “Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given

in the churches of Macedonia,

2 that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of

their liberality.

3 For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability they gave of their own accord,

4 begging us with much entreaty for the favor of participation in the support of the saints,

5 and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.”

One method of procuring money is to point to others who have given. “See that poor man with shabby clothes and worn out shoes? He gave five dollars!” The psychology behind such fund-raising is to cause one to think: “If he can give, when it obvious he has very little, I should be able to give something, too.” And so he does.

Paul was not operating a shenanigan when he appealed to the Corinthian Church. Rather, he was challenging them to trust the LORD in their giving. The Churches of Macedonia were very poor. Paul was challenging the

Corinthian Church to give to the Mother Church in Jerusalem. He pointed to the attitude of the Macedonians in the effort to encourage the Corinthians. “In a great ordeal of affliction,” he wrote, “their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality.” They didn’t have much money at all, but they possessed an abundance of joy and were wealthy in their liberality.

I’ve never given what the LORD prompted me to give without receiving a blessing and often a remuneration.

Simply put, you cannot out-give God! In truth, what we call “our own,” is actually His! Whatever you do to support yourself and your family, God gives you the strength and the knowledge necessary to accomplish it.

Paul was not urging the Corinthians to give without the LORD’s blessing. But, he knew that the LORD would bless, if their giving was initiated by the LORD Himself.

Some years ago, I challenged some senior young people to prayerfully select a missionary and commence to give to their support. Whether they followed my instructions, I never knew. Knowledge of what they did was not my business; I simply felt the Spirit’s leadership to challenge them. I sought to follow that instruction myself. And I can truthfully say that I have never “lost money” giving to the LORD as He directed. Give yourself to the LORD! Follow His biblical and spiritual instructions daily. Solomon said, Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you will find it after many days” (Eccl. 11:1). You’ll be amazed at what He will do!

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 7:1-4, “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh

and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

2 Make room for us in your hearts; we wronged no one, we corrupted no one, we took advantage of no one.

3 I do not speak to condemn you; for I have said before that you are in our hearts to die together and to live together.

4 Great is my confidence in you, great is my boasting on your behalf; I am filled with comfort. I am overflowing with joy in

all our affliction.”

One of the problems we have in understanding the Bible is that we tend to pick out certain Scriptures whose meaning is only revealed when they are read in their context. I may have made that mistake by not listing the last two verses in Second Corinthians 6. For it’s there that we learn of advantages to being a Christian. Yes, we have to leave sin behind and learn to serve the LORD alone. At that point, He pledges to us that He will “welcome” us, be a “father” to us, and consider us to be His “sons and daughters.” Only then are we prepared to calim His promises.

Paul clearly understood this. His claim was clear: he had wronged no one, corrupted no one, taken advantage of no one,

and condemned no one. Therefore, he can and does claim the promises the LORD gives to those who do likewise. He then explodes, saying, “Great is my confidence in you; great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort.” That sounds and looks quite good, but then he adds, “I am overflowing with joy in all our affliction.”

Joy amid affliction? Are you sure, Paul? Yes, he is sure. And so can we be, if we seek to live free from sin, and if we allow Him to comfort us, even in our afflictions. Shortly before my wife died, someone asked her if she had any fear of dying. “NO!” she shouted. “I KNOW WHERE I’M GOING; AND I’M READY!” Confidence! Great confidence, and a joy that supersedes all affliction. Is it possible to have joy in the midst of affliction? The answer of every true believer is “Yes!” But it only comes to believers who have resisted evil and are willingly resident in the comfort of our blessed LORD Jesus Christ. Meditate on these thoughts; make adjustments in you life –adjustments that you find imperative. And may God bless you in the process.

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 6:14-18. “Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and

lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?

15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?

16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said,

‘I will dwell in them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

17 Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘And do not touch what is unclean;

And I will welcome you.

18 And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me,’ says the Lord Almighty.”

Businesses of all sizes and all industries take inventory at least once a year. The purposes of inventories vary, but basically they exist to tell the owners whether the business is profitable. If it is, the business may expand physically or it may share its profits with various members of that business.

In the above verses, the Apostle Paul is sharing with the Corinthian believers the pattern for a spiritual inventory. Its purpose is to simply separate believers from unbelievers in the context of partnerships. As an example, consider the

ACLU and the ACLJ. According to Wikipedia, the American Civil Liberties Union exists ‘to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in…the United States.’” The ACLJ, on the other hand, “is a … politically conservative, Christian-based social activism and watchdog for corruption organization in the United States.”

On paper, they look to be very close in many ways, but they are not! For one thing the ACLU supports abortion; the ACLJ opposes abortion. They cannot be linked together because they have opposing views on many issues.

Paul’s admonition throughout his ministry is separation. He is not teaching us merely to “stay away” from those with different opinions –otherwise, how would we win them to Christ. Rather, he is admonishing us not to be in league with those whose beliefs are separate from the Scriptures. In support of his position, Paul contrasts “righteousness with lawlessness, light with darkness, Christ with Belial (Satan), the believer with the unbeliever, and the temple of God with idols.

In verse 17, Paul admonishes believers to withdraw from all business affiliations with unbelievers. That does NOT mean that one cannot work in a business or factory that is owned by an unbeliever. It DOES mean that we are not to co-own a business or a factory with an unbeliever. If we do, we are to withdraw immediately (v. 17). Just imagine the difficulty if one owner wanted to give a portion of the profits to a Christian missionary organization and the other owner wanted to support
a terrorist group whose aim was to destroy Christian churches!

The LORD’s promise to His own is that He will be a Father to us. What do good fathers do for their children? They provide food and shelter and protection, and they shower their children with love and an example of righteous living. Withdrawing from sinful worldliness means gaining wholesomeness and righteousness. That’s a good trade indeed! And it’s one that is possible and profitable with the LORD as the Owner. Take a careful, spiritual inventory of your life today. Nothing can take provide more profit and joy than Jesus!

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.”