The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope.

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.

15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, and remain until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep.

16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first.

17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord.

18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.”

There’s a lot of talk these days in secular as well as Christian circles regarding whether and when Jesus Christ will

come again. Let me say as definitely as I can that 1) He is Coming Again, and 2) that no one knows when –even Jesus Himself said He did not know when (Matthew 24:36; Mark 13:32).

Paul wrote this epistle (letter) so all believers of his era and ours might be informed. When Paul uses the word asleep, it’s an euphonisim. He means physically dead. The spirit of man never dies, whether he believes in Jesus or not. Paul further states that those of us who may still be living when Jesus Comes will not get a head-start on those who are believers and are buried. Jesus will descend from Heaven, accompanied by a loud shout from the archangel and the trumpet of God. At that point, the graves of all believers will be opened and they will arise alive and be caught up to meet Jesus in the air.

Thus, when we hear news reports or sermons from liberal or “activist” pastors, we are not to be discomforted. We are to use the above words of Paul to bring comfort to other believers. “But what,” you ask, “is to happen to unbelievers?”

Those who are alive but without Christ, will remain on Earth and face the Great Tribulation. Those who died without Christ will remain in their graves until the Great White Throne Judgment, whereafter they will be cast into Hell for eternity. Salvation in Jesus Christ alone will satisfy God the Father. He alone brings comfort to all believers. “Choose your this day whom you will serve. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15).

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. If your church is not onliine, you may hear my pastor, Dr. Nick Floyd, at www.crosschurch.com/live/ at 9:30 or 10:55 A.M (CST).

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 4:1-8, “Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as you received

from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you may excel

still more.

2 For you know what commandments we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality;

4 that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,

5 not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God;

6 and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these

things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you.

7 For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification.”

8 Consequently, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.”

How good is good? If our spiritual and moral attitudes and actions are pleasing to God, how can they be improved?

As we read through the verses above, we have to acknowledge to ourselves (if not to others) that we indeed have room for improvement. Paul cites the “commandments” the LORD gave the Thessalonians by way of Paul. These

are not the Ten Commandments. They are further instructions that the LORD gave Paul to pass on to the Thessalonians.

It is the will of God that we be sanctified; i.e., that we improve more and more with each day. We are to abstain from

immoralities by learning how to control ourselves. Thessalonica was a city in Greece, and the Greeks were Gentiles.

So, Paul is citing the difference here between Greek Christians and the Greek pagans, who “do not know God.” Spiritual control commences with the mind, and the Christians were not to defraud or take advantage of others, whether they be believers or not. They were to yield their minds to LORD, who is the avenger in all things that go against His will.

Finally, Paul notes that the person or persons who continue in impurity are not going against him, but against the LORD! It is the LORD who gave us the Holy Spirit; and it is that same Holy Spirit who teaches us to conform to the will of the Father. So, we all need to “listen up!” We have to be something before we can do anything. And we have to become nothing before we can become something, that is pleasing and glorifying to the LORD! Yes, it takes effort; still, the LORD provides all of that. We are just required to trust and obey.

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 Thessalonians 5:16-23, “Rejoice always;

17 pray without ceasing;

18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

19 Do not quench the Spirit;

20 do not despise prophetic utterances.

21 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good;

22 abstain from every form of evil.

23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Of the 14 epistles (letters) Paul wrote, First Thessalonians is the first. It was written to the Church in Thessalonica in A.D. 52. As with all writings in every age, the verb is the most important word in the sentence. That’s why I embolded them in the passage above. They set the pace and emphasis for our understanding of the Word; and they ought to set the pace and emphasis for our lives and our witnessing.

Christians ought always to be glad. We ought always to immerse ourselves in prayer; and in that prayer, we ought to always give thanks to the LORD. Why? Because it is God’s will that we do so. There are a host of things that change when we simply follow God’s will. I am not the first to experience it, but I will acknowledge that His will for us is infinitely greater than our will for ourselves. That’s why we ought never to quench or supress the will of the Spirit.

Things contained in the Scriptures are to be understood and followed. That’s why the examination of everything –especially what’s contained in Holy Scripture – is vitally important. When we learn what the Word teaches about truth, we will neither despise nor render useless its prophecies. Instead, we will “hold fast” to it. That includes abstainence from every form of evil. We’ve all read books that contain evil words and ungodly schemes. Evil there is the word kakos. But, the word evil used by Paul in verse 22 (poneros) means “evil producing.” It’s bad enough to read and think the bad words; it’s worse when we repeat them to someone else. “Did you hear what he said?” Just leave it alone. To talk about the evil language someone said is to reproduce it.

What’s most notable is that God, who sanctifies (makes us holy) only does so when we have put away the evil from within us. Notice how Paul puts it: “Now, may the God of peace…make you holy entirely.” He can do it; He will do it –but only when we follow His teachings and steadfastly resist all evil. May God help us all to resist evil and embrace His love.

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,

Psalm 73:25-28, “Whom have I in Heaven but Thee? And besides Thee, I desire nothing on Earth.

26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

27 For, behold, those who are far from Thee will perish; Thou hast destroyed all those who are unfaithful to Thee.

28 But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all Thy

works.”

Were you ever called into the principal’s office? Remember the quizzy feeling you had? “Just sit there,” his secretary said; “the principal will be with you in a moment.” That quizzy, uneasly feeling grew larger. You felt sick. What was this all about? Have I done something wrong? Enough has been said for the reader (you) to know that the writer (unnamed) has indeed experienced this situation.

Who would stand up for you and say to the official, “I was there. I saw it all; and the one you’ve called in was not in any way responsible for what happened. I will witness for him!” In a lesser fashion from an earlier time, this is what was swirling in the head of the psalmist. “Whom do I have on my side but the LORD?” I’m weakened in my body, and my heart is poundting like it’s never pounded before! Still, I will rely on the LORD. He “is the strength of my heart”; what’s more, He always will be. Nothing on Earth compares with Him! Nothing ever could!!

He will protect me from those who are far from Him. They will die both here on Earth and throughout eternity. Oh, how good is the LORD’s nearness to me! God alone is my good! When problems encompass me, He alone is my protector. The LORD protects me in order that I might tell others of all His good works!

Could you picture yourself in a troubling situation with the knowledge that the LORD alone was the One who could save and protect you? Is your dependence solely on Him? Do you not know that He is your only Protector? Do you know why? Just yield your heart and life –all your emotions— upon Him. He alone cares for you! Trust Him; thank Him; love Him forever! Nothing else matters.

There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus;

No, not one. No, not one.

None else could heal all our souls’ diseases;

No not one. No, not one.

Jesus knows all about our troubles;

He will guide ’til the day is done:

There’s not a Friend like the lowly Jesus;

No, not one! No, not one!

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,

Psalm 33:1, 6-9, 12, “Sing for joy in the LORD, O you righteous ones; Praise is becoming to the upright….

6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, And by the breath of His mouth all their host.

7 He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap; He lays up the deeps in storehouses.

8 Let all the earth fear the LORD; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.

9 For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast….

12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.”

Were I outlining this Psalm, it would be like this:

1. Praise to the LORD – 33:1-5

2. Power of the LORD – 33:6-11

3. Preservation of His People — 33:12-22

This Psalm is very close to Moses’ praise back in Exodus 15. There is so much there – much more than we can

cover in this Letter. Moses and this Psalmist say virtually the same thing. Ever want to know how the LORD created the world? Verse six says it was “by the Word of the LORD the heavens were made.” Then he parallels that thought with the second half of the verse: “And by the breath of His mouth (He made) all their host.” In other words, it was not through “a BIG BANG,” but through a “BIG BREATH” – God’s Breath! — that He created it all. The LORD just spoke, and it was done!”

Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth.” Before there was anything, there was God. Yes, I know; I was taught differently by some of my professors; but, you know what? Their theories about the

origin of the Earth and the solar system had to have a beginning, too; and none of what I heard from them made a scintila of sense! They weren’t there; so, what they offered me was only what someone else had offered them. They just guessed, and called it “truth.”

What grips my heart is that last verse above: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD!” Have you noticed that

some of our Congressmen and White House officials have been mentioning “God” and “prayer” lately? Even some who possibly don’t know Him in a personal relationship are nevertheless acknowledging Him respectfully as infinite.

At the time of this psalm’s writing, the nation whom he references is Israel. Talk to a born-again Jew today, and discover that he is the proof that the people the LORD has chosen for His own inheritance are all those who are truly ”born-again!” Are you truly born-again? Have you committed your life by faith into the control of Jesus Christ? If not, I urge you to turn to Him today. He does make a difference in your life; but you have to commit to find that out. God bless you!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. Remember to include Whitney Tilson in your prayers. And remember that tomorrow night (Wednesday 13 May at 8:00 P.M. CST)

Sight & Sound Theater’s presentation of “JESUS” will be aired on TBN television network. Pray that many will come to faith in

Christ as they view this faithful presentation. (If you have taping capabilities, you might tape it and use it evangelistically later.)

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.”