The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Psalm 122:1-9, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to
the house of the LORD.’
2 Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem,
3 Jerusalem, that is built as a city that is compact together;
4 To which the tribes go up, even the tribes of the LORD—
an ordinance for Israel– to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
5 For there thrones were set for judgment, the thrones of the
house of David.
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: may they prosper who love you.
7 May peace be within your walls, and prosperity within your palaces.
8 For the sake of my brothers and my friends, I will now say, ‘May
peace be within you.’
9 For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your
good.”

Do you attend church services? Do you attend regularly? Do you listen
to the Biblical message from the pastor? It is good for all of us to do so.
You may not know this, but responsible, spiritual pastors spend serious
time in prayer and Scriptural study to bring us true and practical
instruction from the Word of Almighty God.

Worship is a time of spiritual service both that of the pastor and of those
to whom he is responsible. We are equally responsible to pray for him
and listen carefully to his instructions –for if the pastor is instructing his
people, as the LORD has instructed him, and it is all biblically accurate,
we are equally responsible to adhere and obey the instruction, since
it essentially comes to us from the LORD.

Worship should be reverent. We have not joined together as ranglers
in the Chicago stockyards. We are submissive servants of our LORD.
Our singing should honor the LORD both in word and in harmony. Music
should never dominate; prayer should always be preeminate.

There are surely times when we need to leave ahead of congregational
dismissals. In such instances, we need to be as inobtrucive as possible,
so as not to distrub the spiritual, worshipful thoughts of others.

How wonderful the LORD is to allow us to have his Word for our instruction!
How faithful the LORD is to give us ministers, who love Him and His Word –ministers who joyfully mingle with the people, yet “spank” us all with the
Word when necessary. May the LORD be praised for providing all we need
to love and demonstrate faithfulness to Him! That’s our dutiful response to
our loving Heavenly Father.

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,

Matthew 24:14-22, “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in
the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will
come.
15 “Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which
was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place
(let the reader understand),
16 then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.
17 “Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out
that are in his house.
18 “Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak.
19 “But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing
babies in those days!
20 “But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath.
21 “For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred
since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.
22 “Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved;
but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.”

The hymn, “Jesus Saves,” was written by Pricilla Hayes back in the 1800s.
Radio itself was not invented until 1894, leaving me to wonder if the song’s
final verse “Give the Winds a Mighty Voice,” might have related to radio.

What is far more important, however, is the song’s refrain, “Jesus Saves!
Jesus Saves!” We’re nearing the year 2024, meaning that Miss Hayes’
hymn was ahead of our time by 130 years. Yet, the message of her song
on radio continues ringing true throughout the world.

Yet, as the song rings true, there is an Abomination of Desolation that will
ring true, also. As with the very current war between Hamas and Israel,
there is coming a vicious and vile outpouring of the wrath of God upon the
world He Himself created! And it is a state of destruction of which He warns
us in the Scripture passage above.

Isaiah records the extreme wrath of Almighty God when he writes:

“I will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for
their iniquity; I will also put an end to the arrogance
of the proud and abase the haughtiness of the ruthless.
I will make mortal man scarcer than pure gold and mankind
than the gold of Ophir. Therefore, I will make the heavens
tremble, and the earth will be shaken from its place at the
fury of the LORD of hosts In the day of His burning anger”
(Isa. 13:11-13).

All of that has yet to be realized. Still, the LORD will not forget His promises.
Thus, we must take His Word extremely seriously. We must “Give the winds
His mighty voice” in every possible way. We must share Him and His Word
with those whom He brings to us for our witness.

Many years ago, I conducted an open-air evangelistic meeting in India! I gave
the message in English, followed by interpreters of two other languages. One
of the ministers on the platform gave his life to Christ in that meeting. It was a glorious experience!

I remember the crowds in the streets, and I thought, “If only I could speak their
language, I could witness to the gatherings in these streets.” I still think of that
time, and my conscience condemns me for not speaking to those I meet daily!
Time is running out! Today it’s Hamas v. Israel; tomorrow the LORD may come
and time will be no more. Where are you in your relationship with Jesus Christ?

Heartily yours 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,

Matthew 24:3-13, “As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples
came to Him privately, saying, ‘Tell us, when will these things happen, and
what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?’
4 And Jesus answered and said to them, ‘See to it that no one misleads you.
5 “For many will come in My name, saying, “I am the Christ,” and will mislead many.

6 “You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.
7 “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in
various places there will be famines and earthquakes.
8 “But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.
9 “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be
hated by all nations because of My name.
10 “At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate
one another.
11 “Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many.
12 “Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.
13 “But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.”

The disciples had doubtlessly been stymied by the contents of all that
Jesus had just said (chapter 23). So they asked “…when will these things
happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the
age?” Jesus could doubtlessly have told them precisely what and when
these things would take place; yet, had they known, it could have been
a self-imposed reason to delay getting ready. Isn’t that the way things
work with us? We wait as long as we are able.

Jesus’ reply included their need to observe the rumors of pretenders
to Messiahship in addition to wars that lead to the confiscation of true
believers. Further, there will also be nations waring against nations,
famines, earthquakes and personal tribulations against believers, who
hold that Jesus Christ is the true Messiah.

Personal betrayals, false prophets, increased crime, personal pretense
to being the Messiah and much, much more. “Where did you get all of
this?” you ask. It’s in the Word, as cited in this Letter. It’s just that we are
so involved in worldly relationships ourselves, that we’ve neglected the
Word of God! May we learn what the LORD instructs rather than having
to undergo such heinous trials, as described in the Biblical text.

May we learn and then teach the nuances of God’s Holy and Truthful Word!
God bless you as you learn and then instruct others.

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 122:1-9, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the
house of the LORD.’
2 Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem,
3 Jerusalem, that is built as a city that is compact together;
4 To which the tribes go up, even the tribes of the LORD– an ordinance
for Israel– to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
5 For their thrones were set for judgment, the thrones of the house of
David.
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘may they prosper who love you.
7 May peace be within your walls, and prosperity within your palaces.’
8 For the sake of my brothers and my friends, I will now say, ‘May peace
be within you.’
9 For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your good.”

As I write, the State of Israel is under military attack from Hamas. Already
I have written to family and friends, urging them to pray for Israel. Yet, as
I was writing, I received this note from a friend in Papua New Guinea:

“A couple (of) very strong earthquakes this evening, about
7 minutes apart. Probably equal to some of the strongest I
have felt here in PNG. I am currently in Goroka and the
shaking was very strong.”

“For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against
kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and
earthquakes. 8″But all these things are merely the beginning
of birth pangs. 9″Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and
will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of
My name” (Matthew 24:7-9).

There is no mention in Scripture of the United States being bombarded
by her enemies, simply because when the Scriptures were written, there
was no United States. But there is mention of “wars and rumors of wars.”
We have the obligation of prayer whether for a member of our own family,
or for friendly nations, or for innocent people in hostile nations.

“Gracious, loving, Heavenly Father, we bow our heads
and hearts before You, asking for Your tender mercies
toward our Jewish friends in this time of desperate need.
We pray, too, for our blessed United States. Lacking as
we are, we confess our sins personally and nationally.
Forgive us of pride and our failure to be what You saved
us to be. And may our dedication to You be all that You
wish it to be –and more! We ask it all in Jesus’ blessed
Name, Amen.”

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 21:10-14, “As we were staying there for some days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
11 And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands,
and said, ‘This is what the Holy Spirit says: “In this way the Jews at Jerusalem
will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.”’
12 When we had heard this, we as well as the local residents began begging
him not to go up to Jerusalem.
13 Then Paul answered, ‘What are you doing, weeping and breaking my
heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for
the name of the Lord Jesus.’”
14 And since he would not be persuaded, we fell silent, remarking, ‘The will
of the Lord be done!’”

This passage is one of the most remarkable in all of the New Testament.
Agabus is mentioned only twice in the Bible: here and in Acts 11:28. What
is remarkable is that in both instances Agabus cited prophesies that related
to the Holy Spirit; and in both situations, his prophesies proved to be true.

In the passage above, Agabus cited the Holy Spirit’s prophecy in a visual
message. He took Paul’s belt, bound “his own feet and hands,” and audibly
announced that the Jews in Jerusalem would “bind Paul’s hands and feet
and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.”

In a strange twist of things, and despite the Holy Spirit’s pronouncement,
Paul insisted that he was going to Jerusalem, even if he were required to
die for the LORD Jesus! Luke, who authored the Book of Acts under the
Holy Spirit’s directive, says Paul’s friends wept profusely –yet, Paul was
determined –even to the death!

I am certain that I have insisted on doing many things that the Holy Spirit
had not led me to do. That’s exceedingly dangerous! I warn against it!
Then, why does Paul’s decide to go against the Spirit’s leadership? I can
only point to the reality of Agabus’ warning. From this point onward, Paul’s
ministry narrowed as it moved toward its climax.

Be extremely careful going against the Spirit’s leadership! Just don’t do it!
You may even continue to be a witness for Christ, but there is a price to
pay for turning aside from the Spirit’s clear directive! “But Paul did it,” you
say. Just remember that neither you nor I are the Apostle Paul.

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