The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Philippians 2:3-11. “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;
4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,
6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.
8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

As a small boy, I often went to my parents to ask what I should do in certain situations. When I approached them, they often said, “Well, the one thing you DON’T want to do is this–!”

This was the parental position of the Apostle Paul when he wrote this letter to the Philippian believers. Paul was the spiritual parent to the Philippian Church, so, needless to say, he gave them exactly what the Church needs in every generation!

What Not To Do: Paul then transitions to verses 3 and 4, telling us not to act in selfishly, but to look out for the needs of others. How often do we do that? Oh, it’s easy to complain that the Church isn’t doing all it should in its community; but who is the Church? We are the Church! –we who are saved! And caring for people starts at home, maybe closer than we think or even want to think.

Do What Jesus Did: Thus far, we’ve been told what not to do; what ARE we to do? We’re told to DO WHAT JESUS DID! Look at this first: Jesus IS GOD, yet He did not view Himself as equal with His Father! Further, He went to the Cross at the behest of His Father. Imagine! Don’t we sometimes (too often?) view ourselves as more than we actually are? Let Him be God! Let Him act on our behalf. Just trust Him all the way!

What The Father Did and Does: The Father exalted His Son! Do you get the idea that He will do all the things we ask of Him, if we can bring ourselves to believe that He is in charge? There’s an old song that says in part: “Let go and let God have His wonderful way.” Isn’t it worth our finding out what He can and will do? Give Him the opportunity!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. My apology for the inability of some of our readers to open the Eternity to Eternity book by
Dr. John Ecob. An earlier edition is available for free on their website:
https://www.heraldofhope.org.au/publications/eternity-to-eternity/.

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 Thessalonians 5:1-11, “Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you.
2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.
3 While they are saying, ‘Peace and safety!’ then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.
4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief;
5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness;
6 so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.
7 For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night.
8 But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.
9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.
11 Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.”

My years ministering in Australia brought me into contact with some of that nation’s most outstanding clergymen. Many, of course, are now with the LORD; yet, while they lived, they emphasized eschatological truth contained in the Word of God.

Today, their legacy rests in the lives and ministries of their sons and protégés, not the least of whom is my long-time friend, Dr. John Ecob. It was his late father, the Rev. Russell Ecob, who arranged for me a worldwide evangelistic tour, where I witnessed scores of lost people come to faith in Jesus Christ.

The biblical passage of the Apostle Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians gives emphasis to the Rapture of the Church and the Second Coming of Christ –both subjects vitally needed today! Spiritual darkness surrounds us everywhere! The nations of the world are experiencing turmoil, as never in history! Yet, the Church with almost no exception is pandering to culture other than Christ.

In the light of the seriousness of our times, I have elected to attach the latest edition of Dr. Ecob’s “Eternity to Eternity.” I suggest that you read it slowly and prayerfully. As time goes by, there may be need for yet another revision of the book. If you’re abreast of the news, you will understand. Please pray for Dr. Ecob. He senses the essence of time, perhaps more than we all 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

Dear Grands,

Psalm 37:4-9, “Delight yourself in the LORD; and He will give you the desires of
your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He will do it.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light and your judgment as the noonday.
7 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.”

Godly things that come our way always create within us a joyful reception. So, when the psalmist says, “Delight yourself in the LORD…,” we can rest assured that He will ultimately give us “the desires of (our) heart.”

It’s important to realize that we often miss the LORD’s blessing because we ask things we desire instead of desiring Him! Re-read verse 4 above. It says that the LORD will give what we desire provided that our delight is first and foremost in Him!

As small children, our parents allowed us to engage in certain things so long as we were obedient to them. Obedience to God is first; what we desire otherwise, if allowed, is always secondary. Those lesser things that we desire will not be allowed until we have put the LORD first. First is His rightful place.

Simultaneously, we are to “rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him.” Oh, how hard that is! We’re often like small children: “WE WANT IT NOW !” –whatever “it” might be. It’s the nature of immaturity to be restless and even anxious. It is our LORD’s nature to be at rest. He is in control of everything; thus, we will do well to leave the timing of everything up to Him.

Yes, there are those who resist all of the above, yet they still appear to prosper. Just don’t worry about the evil-doers. They live for wickedness and its wicked schemes. “But those who wait for the LORD, will prosper in all things good. Just relax! Be calm. Trust the LORD! He does supremely well in bringing all good things to pass.

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,

James 2:23-25, “For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;
24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.
25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.”

The thought of a mirror comes to mind. There are various beliefs as to when, where and how the mirror first came into being. We could all agree, however, that such a device is very helpful. The “morning mirror” may not reveal all that we’d like, but it is invaluable when we think of our need to observe what we otherwise could not see. Mirrors on an automobile are also invaluable! And the list of values goes on and on…

The Apostle Paul ingeniously imports the concept of a “mirror” into his text. He “sees” what the Scripture says he should be, but he acknowledges that he falls short. If the foremost apostle of our LORD Jesus Christ can acknowledge that, you and I cannot escape acknowledging it! But, why are we like that – knowing to do good, but refusing to do it? Could it be sin within us? Absolutely, it could! Absolutely, it is!

When Christ Jesus died on the Cross, He shed His blood as the only possible atonement for our sin. Paul’s companion, Luke, writes of this:

“…there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name
under heaven that has been given among men by which we must
be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Keep your faith focused on Christ’s Perfect Law. Read of Him in the Scriptures. Apply what He says to your life. Ask Him to empower you to be and do what He demands.
Keep your focus on Jesus and study His Holy Word daily! Yes, it takes discipline. But holy discipline is invaluable to your life. God bless you abundantly! You are in my daily prayers. Please keep me in yours!

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,

Galatians 1:6-10, “I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel;
7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.
8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!
9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!
10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.”

The words of the Apostle Paul are as relevant today as they were to the day of their original writing. People who claim to know Christ one day deny Him as their Savior the next day. People who claim to embrace the Gospel one day, turn from it the next day. Moreover, there are “ministers,” who embrace truth one day and deny it the next. What are those who sit under such a ministry to believe?

We simply must pray for our pastors and trust the teachings of the Word of God. If your pastor alters his thinking as to the Word of God, you must seek out another pastor –one who “earnestly contends for the faith (that was) once delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3).

Paul earnestly contends that anyone who preaches “any other gospel” than what he has preached and continues to embrace it is to be accursed. “To be accursed” means to be set aside for divine destruction. Note well, too, that Paul uses the word accursed twice. He is serious!

Men who fail to proclaim the Gospel Paul proclaimed are not true men of God. Such men do not deserve to be heard! Nor are we spiritually enriched with teachings that come from outside the Word of God. We live in seriously desperate times. We need the LORD and His Word alone as our instruction.

May God richly bless those ministers, who are true men of God; and may He bless us
as we pray for them and live daily in His Word.

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