The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

I Timothy 3:15, “…I write so that you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the household

of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.”

“Don’t run in church!” That was a firm directive I recall receiving from my mother. I have no idea what causes kids to run in church, but we all did –and they still do! What is worse is that adults often just get up and go out and return, sometimes to-and-from the middle of the third or fourth row from the front. I’ve witnessed such in large arenas, but in relatively smaller churches? Mark it well: there is a decorum that should be followed wherever and whenever the Gospel is being expounded from the pulpit.

Timothy had experienced good instruction from his mother and grandmother. Now he receives more from his mentor, Paul. The word “behave” is the Greek ?????????????. It always carries the sense of moral or religious coloring (Gingrich); therefore, our behavior as believers ought always to be moral, whether in the formal sense of being “in church” or elsewhere. We believers today have the tendency to divorce “being in church” from “elsewere.” Our conduct ought to be the same everywhere.

God Himself is both the pillar (??????) and the support (????????) of the church. By pillar, Paul means the LORD, who is ultimately in charge of the church’s doctrines and practices. Far too many churches today are “governed” by pastors and boards, who are themselves far too lenient in both doctrine and personal deportment. The Church needs prayerful, dedicated leadership that shows responsibility in both the teachings and practices of Scripture. The LORD Himself is the supreme and steadfast support (????????) of the Church. Man can do no better than to rely upon Him.

We all need to remember that wherever we are we are always “in Church.” Still, it’s more: we are the Church. Could that be the reason more people don’t attend? Paul told the Church at Corinth, “…we have regard for what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men” (2Cor. 8:21). Excellent advice! Let’s practice doing it this week. And don’t be

surprised if some people notice and start attending church with 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,

II Thessalonians 1:6-8, “…it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.”

I have always had an optimistic outlook on everything! Some days, of course, are less given to optimism than others; still, much of the gloom we suffer comes from outside ourselves rather than from within. The “gloomy Gus” (and I have no known Gus in mind) has no one to blame for his affliction but himself. There are those, of course, whose “brightness” comes from spreading gloom on everyone else.

If someone is pouring gloom all over your life –gloom that refuses to be erased by your inward

optimism— you will simply have to trust the LORD to deal with them. The Scriptures promise He will repay them in His own way and in His own time. That eliminates our standing on the sidelines and cheering over their misery in repayment.

We should be focused on the thought of Christ’s coming “from Heaven with His mighty angels…” At that time, He will pour out His wrath in “retribution upon those who do not know Him” and who did not “obey the gospel of our LORD Jesus.” Just think of the people you know, who do not know Him! They are going to suffer for not having trusted Him as their Savior! What’s more, you and I will be responsible for not having told them of the LORD and His salvation.

Our richest optimism will not be sufficient for us in that day. Nor will those who suffer do so because of anything they have done to us! Rather, it will be because they rejected Christ. There are those who believe Christ’s Coming is very near! The calousness of human hearts, even toward their fellowman, are beyond belief. Riping babies apart at birth for a profit; random killings and crowds cheering that people may die is simply beyond the pale. We have lost all human dignity. And for that, God will repay them all without mercy!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

I Thessalonians 1:10, “…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.”

The hardest thing I ever had to do as a kid was to wait! “When is she coming?” “How long before he gets here?” “I thought they were coming right after lunch!” These thoughts, and probably many more, swirled in my head. I just had a difficult time waiting on anyone or on anything! (Don’t tell anyone, but I’m still a bit like that today.)

No subject seems more prevalent or more timely today that the Coming of the LORD Jesus. That may be because we know less about it; but it also may be a thought that He has placed in our minds –something to awaken us and to draw us away from the mundane things of everyday life.

However that may be, the fact remains that He IS coming and we must be ready to meet Him!

My mother knew how to get me ready for visitors. “Wash your face and hands,” she would say; “and for goodness sake, put on a clean shirt.” Oh, she knew what “getting ready” was all about! She also knew that Jesus was going to return; and, along with my father, she helped me get ready for that.

Just how do we get ready for Jesus’ Coming? First, we must truly recognize Jesus as God’s Son, and that He died on the Cross as the Sacrifice for our sins. “Our sins” means that we are not ready to meet Him until they are washed away. Of course, He is the One who washes them away. We must recognize that those who meet Him, and are still in their sins, will not be looked upon as “properly dressed” for the occasion.

But getting cleansed from sin is something that Jesus alone can do for us. You simply tell Him that you are a sinner and want to be forgiven for your sins. His death on the Cross takes care of the cleansing part. He applies His Sacrifice on the Cross to you and forgives you of your sins. This makes you clean and ready to meet Him when He comes.

When Jesus comes, those who are alive on Earth and have been forgiven of their sins, will be caught up into the air and go with Him to Heaven. Those people, who have died, but were already prepared to meet Him, will arise from their graves and join those alive with Him in the air.

“How is that possible?” you ask. Jesus arose from the dead three days after He was crucified on the Cross. If He can arise from the dead, taking us up in the air is no problem to Him at all. We just need to be forgiven of our sins before He comes! It’s simple. Just ask Him to forgive you and believe that He will. Don’t wait! Start getting ready now! The way things are looking in today’s world, He could come at any time.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

NOTE: I pray daily for many people. Some are lost; other still need “a clean shirt.” Pray with me for all of

them. You and I are not the only ones for whom Christ died.

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,

Colossians 2:8, “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.”

With all the troubles currently existing in the world-at-large, some ideas are so subtle that

we can literally become prisoners while we adamantly believe and argue that we are totally free! Even the mouse ignores the potential danger it faces by looking only at the cheese.

Paul warns us against humanistic philosophy, what Danker calls “learned blah blah.” It is

indeed “empty deception,” inviting us to an intentional focus on that which is dedicated to our destruction. What kind of books do you read? What kind of television do you view? What is the primary focus of your discussions with friends? Do those discussions help to build character, or are they just lead to ruminations on whatever comes to mind?

Tradition certainly has its value; but tradition has a darker side, too. Ideas handed down from

much earlier times, especially doctrinal traditions, may be loaded with superstition and lead us

down wrong and dangerous paths. Gingrich cites such as “empty in the sense without any basis, without truth or power.” The Apostle John warns, “…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” (1 Jn. 4:1).

There are many books in my library and many more available on line; yet, when I want to know the absolute meaning of something, I go the languages in which the Scriptures were originally written. God is the only One who doesn’t make mistakes. Only yesterday, I discovered an error in something I had written years ago. I moved quickly to correct it. None of us are without error; thus, staying exceedingly close to Scripture is a mandate we must always observe.

As Jesus Christ is our only hope, so His Word is our only impeccable Informant. Read the Bible daily. Pray for the LORD’s counsel as you read His Word. Compare Scripture with Scripture, “…that God may open up to us a door for the Word, so that we may speak forth

the mystery of Christ…” (Col. 4:3). May our LORD bless you abundantly with His Truth!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Philippians 4:1-3, “Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown,

so stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.

2 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord.

3 Indeed, true comrade, I ask you also to help these women who have shared my struggle in

the cause of the gospel, together with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers,

whose names are in the book of life.”

If you read anything in the news these days, it won’t be long before you’ll learn how much our world lacks of genuine love. There are a variety of “reasons” given for the instances of hatred

that are perpetrated against others, but they all come back to either a lack of knowing the LORD Jesus Christ or an unwillingness to “stand firm” in Him.

So, Paul’s first word to the Ephesians –and to us!—is to “stand firm (fast) in the LORD.” The verb here (stand firm) is an imperative, meaning a directive, a command –not a suggestion!

Even two Christian women within the Church were not getting along. (Oh, if we only had two!)

Further, the two women had in the past encountered struggles such as the apostle himself had encountered. Yet, now the devil had done a number on them to the extent that they were in serious disagreement with each other.

If you’re in a Bible-believing, Christ-exalting church, don’t be surprised if you encounter serious differences in some of the people, even some of the leaders. Just pray for them; and, as the LORD leads you, help them to reunite. The one simple directive is: don’t interfere unless the LORD puts it on your heart. Just pray! Satan is extremely concerned to hinder the spread of the Gospel; and as his time shortens, he becomes even more active. Where better, than to invade the Church itself?

Remember, all things concerning Scripture are important! Doctrine, witnessing, missions –all are vital because they are what the LORD commanded of His people. Whether the parking lot is on the north side or the south side of the church building is relatively unimportant. Little people concern themselves with little things; and Satan wants us to focus on the little things.

Pray for your pastor and the Bible teachers in your church! Listen carefully to all that they say.

Absorb thoroughly the teachings of the Bible. If you have questions, ask your leaders. Pray for all of them. Be a witness for Jesus Christ in every, possible way! There’s no small work in the LORD’s business. Jesus is what it’s all about! Keep clean, so that God may bless you abundantly!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom