The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Acts 4:27-32, “For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,
28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur.
29 “And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence,
30 while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your 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.
32 And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them.”

If you stop and think about it, many people in today’s world are simply living to attack and destroy the Name and work of our LORD Jesus Christ. What is often missed is that everything they are doing against the LORD, He has predicted as having been previously ordained of God.

At the same time, the same LORD has prepared His servants to stand in the midst of all opposition and declare His Word! It’s similar to an athletic coach sending in his team to score and win. Threats are shouted to weaken the opposition; but they are merely threats! They weaken in the wind.

No harm will come to the LORD’s servants because He has poured into them His courage and truth. What enables the servants to ignore the opposition’s threats and discouragements is the indwelling strength of the LORD Himself. Although the way of victory is not clear to the servants, their belief is centered in their Coach, the LORD Jesus! And in the end, they were unified in Him!

All of this speaks clearly to us. Daily we face opposition: some is intentional from those who deny Jesus; other is occasional to discourage us. Yet, Christ’s promised strength is always available to us! May we ever be strong in standing for Him! He is always victorious!

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,

Ephesians 3:14-19, “…I bow my knees before the Father,
15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name,
16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,
17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.”

It was characteristic in ancient times for everyone to bow before another, who was recognized to be of superior social standing. That custom continues to be followed in social circles of most countries today.

In this passage, the Apostle Paul, who himself was of greater spiritual height than any of his readers, acknowledges the LORD God as supreme over “every family in heaven and on earth…” Inasmuch as the LORD is supreme in all things, those who belong to Him are allowed to call upon Him for strength to overcome every negative situation.

Belonging to Him indicates one who possesses the Holy Spirit and is sufficient in faith so as to believe in His ability to instill and sustain all His spiritual children, who have trusted Him as LORD and Savior. Christ sustains us (I write as a true believer!) in any and every situation. In fact, those who have accepted Christ as their LORD and Savior, know the unlimited spiritual dimensions of His Divine love and protection.

This means that knowing Him, He will share with you knowledge and ability that you’ve never previously known. Believe me, it is awesome! We ask in faith! We receive in fulness of blessing! Give Him your life. He will return it to you without the kinks! Believe me; believe Him! It’s the only way to live!

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,

Ephesians 1:1-8, “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love
5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,
6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace
8 which He lavished on us…”

I first met Dr. Adrian Rogers when he led a revival meeting in a church where I was
just a member. The admiration I have had for him and his preaching over the years
started first with my admiration of him as a humble, sincere man of God. Asked how he was, as he neared death in the hospital, he responded, “I am at perfect peace.”

The Apostle Paul understood that “perfect peace” as he spoke of “grace…and peace”
in the salutation of this Letter to the Ephesian Church. Someone has well said that
“grace” is “God’s Redemption At Christ’s Expense.” That is so true! What’s more, the LORD has “every spiritual blessing” reserved for us when we are ready to receive it.

Paul assures us that before the world was created, it was His studied intention to bestow “every spiritual blessing” that He had prepared for each one of us, who would by faith become one of His children. That’s what I would call “perfect peace.”

Have you ever thought of God as being “limited”? Probably not; yet, it is He who limits the bestowal of His own salvation upon those who trust His death and resurrection and accept Him as LORD and Savior of their lives. Upon us, who receive Him, He forgives our sin and lavishes us in the glories of His grace! Are you there? Are you in His grace? Have you trusted Him as your personal Savior? Death awaits all of us; but will you at that moment be able to say, “I am at perfect peace”? I pray 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,

3 John 1:9-12, “I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say.
10 For this reason, if I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with wicked words; and not satisfied with this, he himself does not receive the brethren, either, and he forbids those who desire to do so and puts them out of the church.
11 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.
12 Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself; and we add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.”

It’s a terrible situation when churches have self-appointed “bosses” that govern what can and what cannot be accepted. I’m not talking about pastors, because they are charged with preaching the Word and withholding, from time-to-time, certain matters from the congregation. Yet here, the Apostle John is not speaking of the pastor –just an egotistical member who views himself as “number 1” in the church! There’s undoubtedly someone like this in every church, thus, we need to pray for out pastors and the members who attend because they love the Word of God!

John then cites Demetrius as one who has “a good testimony from everyone” –as well as a good testimony of the truth. Thank the LORD that every true church has a true and faithful “Demetrius” in its membership. If your church doesn’t, accept the spiritual challenge and become a Demetrius!

If you’re keeping up with the times, you know the problems true churches have today.
Believe me, I could fill a number of pages with “the good, the bad, and the ugly” in almost every church I’ve known. Still, I thank the LORD for the good and sincere members! They always make it all worthwhile! I’m sure the LORD smiles upon them.

Churches today, however, need to recover the concept of “reverence.” God is not deaf; nor is He pleased, I am sure, with our “thunder.” I have yet to understand a
positive contribution of drums at the time of the pastor’s invitation. Pray for your pastor and your church.

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 John 1:7-11, “Now I ask you, lady, not as though I were writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another.
6 And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.
7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.
8 Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward.
9 Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son.
10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting;
11 for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.”

Biblical commentator Ellicott says, that the name of the “chosen lady” is not given probably because of the dangers of the times. Persecution may have made it advisable that her name as well as that of the writer should be withheld. (This is sound advice as well for all who utilize the internet).
The term “lady” would also reveal nothing about the woman’s social position. Epictetus, a Greek philosopher, says that men of that day addressed all women above fourteen years of age with the term “lady.” (That could be good advice, too – something well worth adopting.)
Love and the commandments are the best indicators of of our Christian faith. We should demonstrate both genuinely and at all times. True Christian love touches the unsaved more readily and sincerely than anything. There is so much insincerity in the world that true love always captures the souls of the lost and the hurting.

If you have trusted Christ Jesus’ death on the Cross for your salvation, start allowing His love that is in you to be seen by others. There is so much hate in the world, that
those without love are longing for something genuine. Christ’s love is genuine, and it
shows through our lives when we allow it.

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