The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Acts 20:22-24, “And now, behold, bound in spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there,
23 except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me.
24 “But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, in order that I may finish my course, and the ministry which
I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.”

Military people understand that they are always subject to deployment without knowing where they are going or why.
It is much the same with the LORD. He doesn’t always tell us what He is doing or how our lives are involved. In all likelihood,
He conceals things from us to keep us from shirking our responsibilities.

En route to Jerusalem, Paul stopped at Ephesus to greet some old friends. He knows he is going to Jerusalem, but not
specifically what will occur when he arrives. He only knows that “bonds and afflictions” (imprisonments and tribulations) are
awaiting him. Undoubtedly, his stopover in Ephesus is to seek the prayers of old friends in the faith. Possibly, this will also be
his last opportunity to see them.

You and I may not be facing physical or emotional persecution because of our stand for our faith in Christ, but whatever lies
ahead for us is best faced with the supportive prayers of our friends in the faith. At the same time, we should never put the
preservation of ourselves ahead of our calling. We are not in charge of our lives! We committed ourselves to Christ when we
trusted Him as our LORD and Savior. We have a course to finish, a responsibility to which we must attend. Self-concern must
be laid aside. Christ is our Supreme Commander! His directive is uppermost. What has He called you to do?

The LORD wants each of us to be spiritually clean. He wants us to pray. He wants us to witness of Him. Whatever difficulties
we encounter simply do not matter! Our ultimate reward in Heaven supersedes all hurts we may encounter here on Earth.
Stay faithful! He is coming soon! “It will be worth it all when we see Jesus!”

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,

Acts 20:7-12, “And on the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to depart the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight.
8 And there were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered together.
9 And there was a certain young man named Eutychus sitting on the window sill, sinking into a deep sleep; and as Paul kept on talking, he was overcome by sleep and fell down from the third floor, and was picked up dead.
10 But Paul went down and fell upon him and after embracing him, he said, “Do not be troubled, for his life is in him.”
11 And when he had gone back up, and had broken the bread and eaten, he talked with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed.
12 And they took away the boy alive, and were greatly comforted.”

There’s a cute little story of a small boy who was asked which preacher he liked best: the pastor or the bishop.
He said he liked the pastor best because he says, “Finally,” at it is final. But the bishop says, “Lastly,” and it lasts and lasts and lasts. Well, the Apostle Paul could have been classed with the bishop because “he prolonged his message until midnight.” What’s more, no one is registered as having complained. We wouldn’t dare turn off the TV before the game was over, but we all-too-often wish the pastor had shortened his message.

The Greek word for “young man” is neanias. Friberg says it is an older, unmarried boy, somewhere around 24 or so years of age. In any event, it seems he was too old to have fallen asleep during Paul’s message –and on the very eve of his departure. It was probably quite warm in that crowded, upper room, and Eutychus had positioned himself on the window sill, blocking what cooler air there might have been from outside. All of this prompts me to ask: do you choose the best seat in church for yourself, despite the needs of others? And do you truly concentrate on what your pastor says in his sermons? Or does your mind wander as you wonder if and when he will conclude?

You will probably (and hopefully) will never suffer death, as with Eutychus. And were you to die, there might not be one present like Paul who could miraculously revive you. Was the young man, Eutychus, used of Satan to distract the people from Paul’s message? Probably. Do you allow distractions to steer you away from the message of the Word? Hopefully not! We are living in very troublesome times. We drastically need the message of God’s Word! Yes, ministers are responsible to teach and instruct us; and we are responsible to hear and obey.
I pray for my pastors daily, even as I pray for you. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psa 46:1).

Heartily in Christ,

(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,

Acts 19:13-20, “But also some of the Jewish exorcists, who went from place to place, attempted to name over
those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, “I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul
preaches.”
14 And seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.
15 And the evil spirit answered and said to them, “I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?”
16 And the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them and subdued all of them and overpowered them, so
that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
17 And this became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived in Ephesus; and fear fell upon them all and
the name of the Lord Jesus was being magnified.
18 Many also of those who had believed kept coming, confessing and disclosing their practices.
19 And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and began burning them in the sight of
all; and they counted up the price of them and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
20 So the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing.”

Evil spirits do exist! The Bible speaks clearly and accurately that Satan is the chief adversary of Jesus! Why, then, would we believe that what existed 2000 years ago (the New Testament era) does not exist today? Do you believe the teachings of everyone who claims that his or her teaching is from God? I sincerely hope not! The key to truth is what we learn of Christ Jesus from the Bible!

The power of evil is undeniable; yet, the power of the LORD Jesus Christ is greater! Seeing and experiencing this power of God is what persuaded many in Ephesus to believe upon Christ. And when they came to know Him, they did away with all of their books and implements regarding magical arts. Have you put out of your life everything that speaks against Christ? Books, filthy television programing, trinkets, pictures, necklesses, arm bands – everything that promotes evil or is worn to guard and protect you from evil—it all should be eliminated from your house and your life! Only Christ and His Word should be your guide! He alone is your guard and protector from evil.

What is interesting is that when the Ephesians eliminated evil from their lives and trusted the LORD, the Word of the LORD began to increase mightily, and their lives took on new meaning. The Word of God still prevails in our day! His power and presence have not been diminished over time. What has been diminished is our faith and trust in Him. But that faith and trust in Him can be restored! He will renew your life as you yield it to Him.

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,

Acts 17:22-31, “And Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I observe that you are
very religious in all respects.
23 “For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this
inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ What therefore you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you.
24 “The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in
temples made with hands;
25 neither is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all life and
breath and all things;
26 and He made from one, every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their
appointed times, and the boundaries of their habitation,
27 that they should seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each
one of us;
28 for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His
offspring.’
29 “Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an
image formed by the art and thought of man.
30 “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all everywhere should
repent,
31 because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has
appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”

This Scripture passage is rather long, but I wanted you to grasp as much of this momentous occasion as possible. Paul’s message on Mars Hill, delivered amid the surroundings of Athens’ magnificent structures, is itself an oratorical masterpiece. He never chides them or ridicules their idols of worship. Rather, he warmly acknowledges their religious awareness, while simultaneously exalting the LORD Jesus Christ as Creator and Controller of all things.

Think about that for a moment. He could have ridiculed as thoroughly nonsensical all of those stone idols. He could have chided them for believing in such lifeless imitations of non-existent deities. Rather, he segued into the Truth with love instead of with ridicule. Think of this when you have opportunity to share Christ with someone. Instead of ridiculing their tattoos, as lifeless imitations of nonsense, tell them how you were tattooed in your heart by the LORD Jesus Christ. Yes, it may shock them at first mention, but you will have channeled a way by which they could commence thinking of the LORD.

Paul’s concluding emphasis foretells man’s need to repent because the LORD has “fixed a day in which He will judge the world.” If you were going to court on a serious charge and had the opportunity to admit to wrong and forego imprisonment, wouldn’t it make sense to confess and avoid the punishment? That’s what everyone is ultimately facing: standing before the LORD when He asks, “What did you do concerning my Son Jesus?”

Those of us who now speak for Him have ourselves faced that question. We have believed and been born-again.
We have been received a spiritual release from the LORD. Now, we speak to you as Paul spoke to those in ancient Athens, where “some men joined him and believed” (v. 34). Will you believe and join with them and with us? I am praying that you will.

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,

Acts 17:1-8, “Now when they had traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where
there was a synagogue of the Jews.
2 And according to Paul’s custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the
Scriptures,
3 explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This
Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.”
4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a great multitude of the God-fearing
Greeks and a number of the leading women.
5 But the Jews, becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from the market place, formed a mob and
set the city in an uproar; and coming upon the house of Jason, they were seeking to bring them out to the
people.
6 And when they did not find them, they began dragging Jason and some brethren before the city authorities,
shouting, “These men who have upset the world have come here also;
7 and Jason has welcomed them, and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another
king, Jesus.”
8 And they stirred up the crowd and the city authorities who heard these things.”

Being Jewish by birth, it was natural for Paul to seek out the Jewish places of worship to bring his message of
faith in Jesus Christ. When we come to faith in Christ, it is natural that we seek out close friends and share our new-found faith with them. Yet, even within our own family and friends, we often encounter opposition. What are we to do in such circumstances? We are to lovingly explain and give evidence from the Scriptures that Jesus is the one and only way of salvation.

Our opposition is not likely to be as severe as Paul’s. The Jews in Thessalonica were ruthless! It took them three weeks to get traction, and then they raged against Paul and his company. They took what appears to be legal action against all who would believe in Jesus. Still, there were a number of Jews and Gentiles who were persuaded to believe in Jesus. We must remember that our calling is to tell others about Him. It is the Holy Spirit who will persuade them to believe in our message.

We are not all called to share Jesus in the same way. Not everyone is called to be a pastor or an evangelist or a missionary in the way we normally understand their calling. But, we are to share Him with others, as the Holy Spirit leads us! We live in an electronic age. We can share the Good News of Jesus through email and texts. All of us receive postal mail that contains reply-paid envelopes. I have often put a Gospel tract in these envelopes and returned them to the sender. We can speak verbally to others by way of the telephone.

At the same time, we must be loving and gentle. We must use the Scriptures; therefore, we must read and study them daily. We must listen faithfully to the teachings of men whom we know to be godly. We must be prayerful, holding the lost before the LORD, and trusting Him to touch their hearts with His Truth. And when He does, we must be thankful. We must then encourage those who have come to know Him to grow in His likeness! What a joy it is to hear from those who have been saved by His grace! May the LORD help us to keep on keeping on until He comes again!

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