The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

2 Corinthians 12:3-5, 7-10, “I know how such a man– whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows–

4 was caught up into Paradise, and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.

5 On behalf of such a man will I boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses….

7 And because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was

given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me– to keep me from exalting myself!

8 Concerning this I entreated the Lord three times that it might depart from me.

9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will

rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s

sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.”

In the providence of God, Paul was “caught up into Paradise,” where he experienced things he was not permitted to share.

The magnificence of this experience, however, could have easily caused him to boast. Therefore, the LORD gave him a

“thorn in the flesh” to keep him mindful of his weakness. Three times he entreated the LORD to remove the “thorn,” yet the LORD’s response was “My grace is sufficient for you…power is perfected in weakness.”

Theologians have long debated what that “weakness” was. Perhaps it is better that we focus on how the LORD’s power is

perfected in human weakness. Notice first that the LORD’s power is enormous and well beyond all human comprehension! “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the Earth” (Gen. 1:1). He spoke, and it was done! The entirety of the Universe was completed by the power of divine declaration!

Consider, too, the multiple acts of mercy the LORD performed in His three years on this Earth. Eyes of the blind were opened, deafness was corrected, distorted limbs were straightened, the dead were raised to life –all by the mere commands of the voice of our LORD Jesus Christ. Such power is humanly incomprehensible!

The weaknesses of man are clearly imbalanced by the strengths of the LORD. Thus, all that we accomplish must be credited to His will. Were the LORD to allow us sufficient strength of our own, we would naturally exalt and boast of our own accomplishments. The imperfections of knowledge and speech and mobility and health require our reliance upon Him. We are forced to conclude that all accomplishments result from His will and His work –not from our own! When we openly acknowledge Him and the accomplishments as His, and admit that all weaknesses are ours alone, He is glorified! And at that

juncture, we are prepared to be and do what He desires. Are you ready? There really is no other way.

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,

2 Corinthians 1:3-5, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort;

4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with

which we ourselves are comforted by God.

5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.”

If you’ve ever seen a small boy fall off of his bicycle or a small girl trip and skin her knee, you’ve probably witnessed others a bit older race to offer help and comfort. If you’ve been an on-looker at such an unwelcome event, you may even have thanked the one who helped those who were in need.

Follow that little boy or girl through life and note that afflictions are still with them. Yet, instead of a skinned knee or fright of some kind, it’s a lost job or the separation from a loved one. Often, afflictions come because some have chosen to yield their lives to Christ and share the joys of knowing and loving Him. Still, the joy they share often results in the loss of friends. They then suffer affliction of a different kind.

Paul’s emphasis is upon the LORD, whom he calls “the Father of mercies…and…comfort.” The word comfort (?????????? (paraklesis) means encouragement. So, whether the one rushing to assist the injured is able to attend to his physical needs or not, he is first and foremost an encourager. The LORD sees us in tragic circumstances and is always there to encourage us. He encourages us by His very presence; and He is always able and willing to help.

Thus, whether your suffering (??????, thlipsis, affliction, tribulation) is trivial or severe, the LORD is our encouragement. How

then, are we to treat the afflictions of those around us? Is there a better way than by sharing with them the tribulations of the LORD Himself –or of those who have been afflicted because they loved and followed Him? Just remember: “…as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.”

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,

1 Corinthians 15:57-58, “…thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our LORD Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the LORD,

knowing that your toil is not in vain in the LORD.”

Graduate schools generally require a significant paper from their students before they are granted a degree. Most biblical scholars point to Paul’s letter to the Romans as his magnum opus. Yet, I would submit First Corinthians (especially the 15th

chapter) as a near, if not clear, rival to the Romans letter. That 15th chapter of First Corinthians is the clearest argument for

the Resurrection in all of Scripture. Furthermore, it supports the uncontestable conclusion in verse 58 above.

Notice first, that Paul is speaking only to truly born-again believers in Christ Jesus: “my beloved brethren (brothers).” If you

are a truly born-again believer in Christ Jesus, he is speaking to you. Undoubtedly, you believe in God; however, if you have never confessed your sins to Christ and asked His forgiveness, you need to do so immediately! There is no victory over sin

and death without the forgiveness of the LORD Jesus.

Subsequently, Paul admonishes his brothers-in-Christ to be steadfast in the faith. With the advent of the internet, we have

virtually unlimited access to all sorts of preaching. Some preachers are exceedingly sound in the faith; some are miserably

mistaken in their understanding; and it is the mistaken who lead many away from the Christ they themselves purport to follow.

Whether in a local church or on the Internet, find the preacher who clearly follows the Scriptures and become immovable from the faith.

Then, abound in the work of the LORD youself! Become a witness! Share the Gospel! It’s not a matter of argument; it’s

simply telling others of Jesus and what He has done in your life. Be loving; be concerned for the souls of others. None of us

know everything. You may be asked questions you cannot answer. Don’t worry. I’ve been in ministry for over 60 years, and

I still get questions I cannot answer. The Bible is a deep study. Just keep on keeping on, knowing that your labor is not for

nothing. It is the LORD’s work; and it is His responsibility to minister to the hearts and lives of those who do not know Him.

Stay in the Word! Stay connected with Christ in prayer! Be active in ministry for Him! God 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

Dear Grands,

1 Corinthians 10:12-13, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted

beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.”

Earlier in this letter, Paul insisted that many things that occurred in the Old Testament era occurred as examples to the

Corinthians and to us. Things such as idolatry, immorality, and grumbling were but a few of the things that brought the anger

of the LORD down upon His own people. How much of that occurs today, we have no idea. Things that might well be God’s judgment, we call “catastrophes of nature.” At the same time, we need to “watch our steps,” lest they be His judgments!

Temptation is the devil’s solicitation for us to do evil. “Come on, nobody will know. You’ll like it! This is fun! Come on!” The magnitude of a temptation is insignificent, except that it tends to increase with each occurance. Sometimes we think that nobody has ever encountered a temptation like we’ve encountered. Yet, Paul clearly states that Satan tempts everyone much in the same way.

We’re not told in this passage whether there is any value to us in being tempted. To be sure, it is an experience; and if it’s successfully overcome, we are potentually strengthened to meet the next one. What we are told is that the LORD will not allow Satan to tempt us beyond our ability to withstand it. Remember Job? The LORD set parameters beyond which Satan was not allowed to venture. It is the same with us. Sometimes we see temptation coming. When we do, we should always look to the LORD for His enabling. Failure to overcome a temptation, only invites it to come again –and with added strength!

The LORD desires that we learn to lean upon Him. He knows the “escape route” for every temptation Satan throws in our pathway. Thus, there is no excuse for us to fall into Satan’s devious routes. Yes, sometimes temptation is enjoyable. But it is never profitable! Solomon warns, “At the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like a viper” (Prov. 23:32). What does that mean? It means that when we’re involved in sin, it smothers our witness for our LORD Jesus Christ. The bite and the sting of sin diverts our attention from God’s purpose for our lives, and it punctures the joy He brings, and leaves us with more than a “bad taste in the mouth.” Learn to love Him! Learn to live for Him! Think about it: He is really the only One you have!

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,

1 Peter 2:13-16, “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority,

14 or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.

15 For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.

16 Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bond-slaves of God.”

The true history of the United States reveals that people from throughout the world left their home countries to settle here because here they had freedom. Yet, even those early settlers and those who subsequently authored the Constitution, found

that freedom is never totally free. There are necessary laws that serve as boundaries, assuring that one’s “freedom” does not ignore and override the freedom of others.

Peter understood that human institutions were necessary. He also understood that the LORD was infinitely superior to all human institutions. Therefore, Christians were never to be antinomian, against the law. Further, if every governmental

official (local, state, and national) were submissive to the LORD, evildoers would be punished and the obedient would be

praised. It is ever and always the LORD’s desire that all men everywhere live correctly and in peace. Even when others do

not live as they ought, the legally obedient lives will silence the foolish, who ignore the law and live outside of freedom.

Only those who are bound to the LORD in true salvation can be considered “totally free.” And even they are not free from

their allegiance to the LORD. Peter admonishes us all to “act as free men”; yet, we are not to use our freedom as an excuse for doing wrong or evil. To say, “I am free in Christ; therefore, I can do whatever I want” turns freedom on its head. I remember so well a teacher saying, “You can do as you please –so long as you please to do right.” She understood Peter quite well. And our entire world would be at peace if every nation subscribed to Peter’s inspired insight regarding freedom.

Join with me in prayer for your nation and for mine. Presidents, Prime Ministers, Leaders, by whatever official designation, need to know and bend their wills to that of our LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ. In that way, we can all live more freely.

“”If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed” (Jn. 8:36).

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