The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Acts 4:23-31, “And when they had been released, they went to their own companions, and reported all
that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.
24 And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, “O Lord, it is
Thou who didst make the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them,
25 who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Thy servant, didst say, ‘Why did the
Gentiles rage, And the peoples devise futile things?
26 ‘The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the Lord, and
against His Christ.’
27 “For truly in this city there were gathered together against Thy holy servant Jesus, whom Thou didst
anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,
28 to do whatever Thy hand and Thy purpose predestined to occur.
29 “And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Thy bond-servants may speak Thy word
with all confidence,
30 while Thou dost extend Thy hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of
Thy holy servant Jesus.”
31 And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were
all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak the word of God with boldness.”

A few days ago we noted that Peter and John had been imprisoned for healing a crippled man. When their accusers could find no evidence against them, they were released. They then went immediately to their fellow believers where they found solace and they reported all that had occurred. But they would not be silenced; rather, they believed the Scriptures and prayed fervently to the LORD, acknowledging that it was He who had created all thing in Heaven and on Earth.

Further, they openly and forthrightly acknowledged the prophecy of David that foretold the rage the Gentiles and Jews alike would express “against the LORD and against His Christ.” It would appear that David’s prophecy is applicable to our own day as well. The Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University recently released statistics that noted that three-fourths of Evangelicals and Mainline Christian denominations willfully reject the biblical teaching that all people are basicly sinners!

Despite the formidible opposition, these early Christians prayed and the LORD heard and answered their prayers. How did they know He heard their prayers and that they believed Him? A great shaking, like an earthquake, occurred and they were all controlled by the Holy Spirit; thus, they continued to share the Gospel with boldness! Oh, that we believers had such faith and courage today! We desperately need a “divine shaking” by Almighty God! Maybe that would come, if we were as prayerful and bold as those early believers.

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,

Psalm 37:7-11, “Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers
in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret, it leads only to evildoing.
9 For evildoers will be cut off, But those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land.
10 Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more; And you will look carefully for his place, and he
will not be there.
11 But the humble will inherit the land, And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.”

If you’ve paused to take note of people around you, you have doubtlessly become aware of the hurry and frustration that encumbers their lives. Fear, too, grips many because there is an increasing number of wicked people, some of whom threaten and willfully snuf out the lives of others, even those innocents, who are waiting to be born. How then, are we to rest with all of this wickedness swirling about us?

It is debatable, but possible, that few in the Bible ever suffered more than David. Yet, it is he who says to us here, “Rest in the LORD…” When you think about it, there are different kinds of rest. Physical rest comes first to mind. But it is mental rest that truly dominates us. We look at others who prosper, and seem not to worry, yet they are wicked. Still, they seem to prosper. Anger and rage then well up within us until we become as mentally wicked as those we despise. What is the answer? We need spiritual rest.

Spiritual rest comes when we truly believe in the LORD and simply wait upon Him to rescue us. We acquire that trust when we read and believe the Scriptures. Evil people will not ultimately triumph! Oh, they may appear to be prospering, but the LORD says that in time –His time– they “will be no more.” So, relax in the LORD. He is in control. Spiritual rest enables mental rest and together they enable physical rest. One day, and on the LORD’s own schedule, we “will delight (ourselves) in abundant prosperity.” Think on that! When we’re truly His, we have a rest that the world knows not of.

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,

Revelation 21:3-5, “And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He shall dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be among them,
4 and He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”
5 And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”

Every New Year we make new resolutions. Most of them last a few weeks, some even less. It’s not that we’re not serious at the time; rather, it’s that we have no genuine belief that we can actually keep them.
Therefore, why try?

With God, however, things are entirely different. Yes, He makes resolutions; what’s more, He keeps them! The Scriptures say that it is “impossible for God to lie” (Heb. 6:18). Therefore, read again the verses above. Read them slowly and allow their salient truths to sink into your mind and heart.

Jesus is the Tabernacle of God. He dwells among us spiritually. We are now and are to become His spiritual people. We are His by creation, but we must become His by faith. The timeframe of which He speaks in the verses above, has not fully come. Sickness and tragedies continue to plague us; yet, He enables us to ultimately shake free from earthly mourning. He now allows us a limit to pain. Yet, His promise is that one day we will be totally and forever free from all anguish and devastation that we now experience in this life. “Behold, (He is) making all things new.”

And for those who are tempted to doubt His resolutions, He emphasizes “…these words are faithful (reliable) and true.” In our hearts, we want to believe Him. Just do it! We have earthly friends in whom we place trust; surely, we can trust our Creator and Savior! To whom else can we pray? On whom else can we rely? Just pray and trust Him. Confess your unworthiness. Confess your sin. Ask Him simply and sincerely to forgive you of all wrong in your life. He will make “all things new” for you right now.

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