The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Philippians 2:1-4, If therefore there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship

of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,

2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.

3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important

than himself;

4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”

Anytime we say or do anything honestly, we want to be clearly understood. The Apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians concerned

unity within the Church. He is writing them in Greek and Greek is the most expressive language known to man, even to this day.

There were four “conditional sentences” in Greek. The First Class reads, “If…and it is true…” The Second Class reads, “If…but it is not true…” The Third Class reads, “If…maybe it’s true, maybe it’s not…” The Fourth Class reads, “If…, and I wish it were true, but it is not.”

The first four “ifs” in verse one above are all First Class Conditional sentences. Thus, they read, “If therefore there is any encouragement in Christ –and there is…” and the othere three are all positive that “encouragement,” “consolation,” “fellowship of the Spirit,” and “affection and compassion” are genuinely available to all believers. All of that is God’s part. He sees to that.

Paul then cites the parts that are the responsibility of the believer; namely, “being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, being united in spirit, and being intent on one purpose. With God’s part all positive and certain, man has to agree with God; and it is required that those four spiritual agreements among the believers work toghether smoothly in agreement with God’s part. “Selfishness” and “emphy conceit” must give way to humility; and the regard for others of the same profession of faith must supersede each one’s regard for himself. We have to cease thinking so much about ourselves and what we want and show interest in the needs of others.

Working together under the LORD’s direction is what provides for everyone’s needs. See how easy it is. Now, let’s try it.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. Prayers for our President and his team are showing an increasingly positive result. Keep all of them in your prayers.

This battle with COVED-19 is not over, but it’s showing improvement right along. Keep the faith!

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.”