The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Romans 8:28, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are
called according to His purpose.”

Philippians 2:13-14, ““…for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Do all things
without grumbling or disputing;”

Ephesians 2:10, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand,
that we should walk in them.”

2 Timothy 3:17, ““…that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

Biblical interpretation requires that all Scripture must be understood in the context in which it is written. Making Scripture say something it does not intend or mixing verses to read as we might want them, is itself a violation of the principle of interpretation.

At the same time, Scripture demonstrates its validity throughout, as various human writers often state the same themes. This is what the four Scriptures above are intended to demonstrate. All of them have but one human author, the Apostle Paul. Each book, however, was written at a different time in history: (Romans: A.D. 58; Ephesians: A.D. 61-62; Philippians: A.D. 63; 2 Timothy: A.D. 68) Yet, each verse can easily stand alone in its teaching; and bundled together they expand a singular meaning. There are no contradictions!

The LORD God is the Divine Author of each biblical book. It is He who works all thing together for good, and realizes the outcome of His perfect will. He utilizes human personalities in the process of achieving His will; thus, those, who have been spiritually born again are His children through whom He works. We were created from the beginning for His purpose. And we who are His have been made adaquate for whatever He intends, for He has made us so.

Inasmuch as the LORD is supreme in His intention; and inasmuch as we, who have been saved by His grace, are forever His, we may safely believe that whatever He calls us to do, He has already adequately prepared us to accomplish. We may sometimes stumble and appear to fail; but He knew ahead of our stumbling how it would work toward His ultimate purpose. Trust in the LORD! Yield to His loving call upon your life. Remember that you belong to Him, and it is His will that will ultimately prevail. May God bless you abundantly! You are in my prayers; and I need your prayers as well!

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 12:6-11, “And on the very night when Herod was about to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping
between two soldiers, bound with two chains; and guards in front of the door were watching over the prison.
7 And behold, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared, and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter’s side and
roused him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And his chains fell off his hands.
8 And the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap
your cloak around you and follow me.”
9 And he went out and continued to follow, and he did not know that what was being done by the angel was real,
but thought he was seeing a vision.
10 And when they had passed the first and second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which
opened for them by itself; and they went out and went along one street; and immediately the angel departed
from him.
11 And when Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent forth His angel and
rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”

Did you ever have a dream that was so real you believed it was actually happening? That’s exactly what Peter
experienced. Bound with two chains, positioned between two guards, and with other guards watching over the prison, it seemed impossible for anyone to escape. Yet, the best efforts of man are futile when challenged by the
power of Almighty God! Peter’s chains melted as if they were but wax, and he followed the angel, still thinking that it was a dream. Why, when we have once experienced the LORD’s power, do we doubt Him in anything? The angels of the LORD do His bidding; we people of the LORD should believe and obey.

Peter obeyed. The iron gate that guarded the city then opened without any human help and Peter was guided to the very street where his Christian friends were praying. We mortals sleep to escape the knowledge of danger; God fears nothing! He never sleeps! He is always awake to rescue us. Though at times He allows us to encounter danger, His rescue produces in us a future trust in His love and power.

What difficulties –what dangers—are you currently encountering? Their severity does not matter. The LORD is our strength and stay, just as the psalmist reminds us:

God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;
3 Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains quake
at its swelling pride. (Ps. 46:1-3)

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 12:1-5, “Now about that time Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church, in order to
mistreat them.
2 And he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword.
3 And when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. Now it was during the days of
Unleavened Bread.
4 And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him to four squads of soldiers to guard him,
intending after the Passover to bring him out before the people.
5 So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God.”

The Church of Jesus Christ has always been under attack! In early centuries, rulers feared no one; and those who questioned them were subjected to all sorts of inhumane tactics, intended to silence them completely by erasing them from the face of the Earth! The plan was simple: erase the leaders and the Church will be silenced! James, the brother of John had already been put to death; now Peter was imprisoned, as his fate was being planned. The Church had but one avenue of hope: it was prayer.

Careful exploration raises the serious question of whether the Church today has forgotten how to pray? The measly “now I lay me down to sleep” type prayers appear to have replaced the deep, forceful, Spirit-moving prayers known in the past. Spiritual leaders within the Church often replace prayer with political-like movements intended to accomplish what we once looked to the LORD to do.

The early church that identified with Simon Peter prayed “fervently, intently.” The burden of the Holy Spirit that called them to prayer rested upon them until the LORD assurred them of victory! Their prayers were governed by the Holy Spirit, not by the clock. Still, the absence of intense prayer cannot be laid solely at the feet of Church’s leadership. Nothing prevents us from personally engaging in true, Spirit-moving prayer.

Peter’s ultimate deliverence traces directly to Almighty God, as a result of the Church’s prayer. May the LORD burden each of us to engage more fervently and more often in true Spirit-induced prayer.
Only then, will we experience the needed deliverence that He alone can provide.

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 103:1-6, “Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits;
3 Who pardons all your iniquities; Who heals all your diseases;
4 Who redeems your life from the pit; Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
5 Who satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.
6 The LORD performs righteous deeds, and judgments for all who are oppressed.”

It is granted, that we do not live in the most delightful days of our existence. It becomes easier by the day to fall into line with the critics, who preach doom and gloom. But I awoke this morning with this opening verse
on my mind: “Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name!”

It so easy to “think downwardly.” Why is that? Could it be because we are fallen creatures? Do not those without hope languish in the swamps of doom and gloom? Swamps are never that deep, but how do we extracate ourselves from them? David teaches that we should think of the multiple blessings and benefits of the LORD. Focus on the good He has done for us. We who know the LORD have a sensitive conscience. But the LORD pardons those inquities that seek to pull us down.

There are a host of BIG MEN in our world. Occasionally, I encounter them in what could be a collision. I then say, quite apologetically, “Don’t worry, I never mess with guys who are bigger than I am!” It always brings a laugh. Big Men know they are big and they want you to know it, too. If we can have that attitude toward other beings like ourselves, why cannot we have such an attitudinal encounter with God?

We have been rescued from various diseases over the course of our lives. We have no fear of death because we know the LORD God resurrected His Son Jesus from death! Focus on His love and His compassion – those factors that bring blessings and produce satisfaction in life. There’s an old saying that “you’re as young as we feel.” David possessed that feeling. His youth was “renewed like th eagle.” Nothing keeps an eagle down! It soars higher and higher and then floats freely and majestically through the air without a care.

Let’s put the “doom and gloom” behind us. Let’s focus fully on the LORD! Greater days lie ahead! Bless the LORD! Praise His Holy Name! He will continue to “perform righteous deeds,” and He will properly arrange things for all who find ourselves currently oppressed.” May God bless us abundantly –and our nation!

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 10:38-43, “You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power,
and how He went about doing good, and healing all who were oppressed by the devil; for God was with
Him.
39 “And we are witnesses of all the things He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. And they also
put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross.
40 “God raised Him up on the third day, and granted that He should become visible,
41 not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us, who ate and
drank with Him after He arose from the dead.
42 “And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been
appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead.
43 “Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives
forgiveness of sins.”

However dark things may seem, the LORD is at work to rescue those who believe in Him! It was so of Peter. The very people that walked and fellowshipped with Jesus did not understand the full meaning of His death until they were directed to the Gentiles with the message of salvation. It was so also of Cornelius, who was believing in God and was praying to Him, but had yet to believe in Jesus and His death and resurrection. Both Peter and Cornelius were for awhile in the dark concerning the ultimate purpose of God; and they remained so until the LORD revealed His will to them.

Even now, centuries removed from the actual event of Christ’s death and resurrection, we who are believers, scramble to fully understand the entire scope of His life and ministry. Is it not possible that He is now leaving us somewhat in the dark in order that we might continue to walk by faith and not by sight?

We cannot and will not deny the findings of His love and protection we have uncovered in His Holy Word! Yet, we fully and faithfully admit our lack of understanding of these recent adversities He has allowed to fall upon us and our nation. As with those first century disciples, we must learn to walk by faith until the LORD gives us full sight. What we can know and must do is believe that “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God…(and) are called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28). As with Peter, He has called us to share His Good News. Even Jesus, our LORD and Savior said, “…I must be about my Father’s business” (Lk 2:49 KJV).

Therefore, we must not despair! Let those who rage continue to do so. Our responsibility is not to extinguish rage, but to share the Good News! Tell someone about Jesus today! You’ll both be better off when you do!

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