The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Acts 9:36-42, “Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did.
37 And it happened at that time that she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an upper room.
38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him, ‘Do not delay in coming to us.’
39 So Peter arose and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him into the upper room; and all the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing all the tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them.
40 But Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body, he said, ‘Tabitha, arise.’ And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up; and calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.
42 It became known all over Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.”

It is only right and proper that we should open this Letter with a note of sincere condolence to our friends in Great Britain and throughout the British Empire with respect to the loss of their beloved Queen, Elizabeth II.

Tabitha, sometimes called Dorcas, was a woman of multiple talents. We’ve all known someone much like her. Those who knew her had witnessed her talents and now displayed some of the garments she had made in her lifetime.

Having heard of Simon Peter’s miraculous healing of the crippled beggar, they immediately sent for him that he might raise Dorcas from the dead.

When Peter arrived, he immediately cleared the room of all those who had gathered there close to Dorcas. This was not to become a demonstration of miraculous power, but a communication between Peter and his LORD. Then,
kneeling in reverence before the LORD, Peter prayed a two-word prayer – a
prayer that seems addressed as much to the lifeless woman as to the LORD:
“Tabitha, arise!” And she opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up. Taking her
by the hand, Peter then presented her alive to all the guests.

Today, we have some unorthodox scoundrels who mock Peter with their pretended prayers. They try to convince people in crisis that they can heal the sick and raise the dead. Yet, it is best to follow the example of Peter, who followed Christ Jesus.

If you know Him, pray earnestly for those who don’t! If you don’t know Him, there is still one prayer you can pray: “LORD, I know that I am a sinner, and I pray that you will forgive me my sin and accept me as one of your spiritual children.” You can become a new person by yielding yourself to Jesus Christ.

Heartily in Christ,

(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 4:7-12, “When they had placed them in the center, they began to inquire, ‘By what power, or in what name, have you done this?’
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers and elders of the people,
9 if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well,
10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead– by this name this man stands here before you in good health.
11 ‘He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone.
12 ‘And 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.’”

It was a time of “low ebb” in Israel –much like it is in our world today. The ritual of worship was still in place, but the hearts of spiritual rulers were not. Recent statistics tell us that a number of evangelical pastors have difficulty believing the full veracity of Holy Scripture. One pastor, who denies much (if not all) of the Bible, still emphasizes Jesus. Yet, all we truly know about Jesus comes from the Bible! Who would believe any unbelief to be pleasing to the LORD?

The argument that Peter and John put forth was simple: “…by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead…this man stands here before you in good health.” There was no theological argument, just the living evidence of the life of the man who had been healed.

Then, identifying the LORD Jesus Christ as “the Stone,” which the religious leaders had rejected, Peter added that there was no other means by which anyone could be saved other than by Jesus.

If you are not saved, know for certain that Jesus is your only means of salvation. If you are saved, know for certain that any and every witness of Jesus you offer to another person will be honored by the LORD! May the LORD bless you accordingly!

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 3:16-19, “And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.
17 “And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers did also.
18 “But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled.
19 “Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord…”

When sincere people, who are committed to the LORD, act upon the opportunities afforded them, it becomes immediately evident that the LORD is available to bless the lives of others. Thus, when Peter and John acted in faith toward the beggar who sought only for alms, he was healed, and others looked to the LORD to work in their lives.

A young lady testified recently of multiple sins in her life; but when she came to faith in Jesus, she wanted to share Him with others, who had not yet come to know Him. It is what we might call a “domino effect.” Can you imagine the change that would occur in the nation, if each of us were to share Christ Jesus with just one person?

The LORD multiplies His blessings and pours them out upon those who love Him and share Him with others. There’s nothing stagnant about it. You and I each share Him with others, who share Him with others, and before we know it, scores of people have heard the Gospel Message.

How do you think Peter and John felt when the beggar trusted Christ and started sharing Him with others? I can tell you from experience, they felt GREAT! And so will you when you share Him. But, it’s all more than a “feeling”; it is building rewards that He will give you on that bright and glorious day when His people stand before Him to be blessed! Pray, trust, share, and rejoice!

Trust and obey;
For there’s no other way,
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.

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 3:1-10, “Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer.
2 And a man who had been lame from his mother’s womb was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the temple, which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms of those who were entering the temple.
3 When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms.
4 But Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him and said, ‘Look at us!’
5 And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.
6 But Peter said, ‘I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene– walk!’
7 And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened.
8 With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.
9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God;
10 and they were taking note of him as being the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.”

Have you ever commenced something only to have it challenged by someone or something else? For example, you were intending to clean out a room when a nearby house caught on fire? You intention was immediately arrested, and you went to help a neighbor.

I once heard a pastor introduce this passage by saying, “Here are two men of prayer, in an attitude of prayer, going to the place of prayer, when they encountered a man who needed prayer.” There is truly something to be said in that; for if Peter and John had not been men of prayer, none of the rest would have been realized.

What the beggar wanted was not at what he needed. Life is like that. And once those arguably “needed” items have been possessed, even for a short time, they suffer displacement by something brighter and newer, though not-at-all more practical.

Who knows what that poor man was thinking when Peter said, “Look at us… I do not possess silver and gold…”? Yet, Peter had not completed his thought. How many times have you and I been disappointed when someone tendered to us something that was incomplete? We need always to listen carefully before we embrace any situation.

Peter then finished his thought by saying, “…but what I do have I give to you.” What Peter possessed and ultimately shared with the beggar was of infinitely more value than what the beggar had initially asked. Isn’t that just like the LORD? He always gives more than we expect –much more that we even deserve.

Peter then invoked the Name of Jesus saying, “In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!” Peter then seized the man by hand and raised him up. “Immediately, his feet and his ankles were strengthened…and he stood upright!”

If we only knew that “Jesus is everything; and everything is in Jesus!” Things impossible to us are possible only through Him. What do you know or possess or want to possess that is ultimately of greater value than Jesus Himself? Think about it. Then, give your heart and life to Him. There is no greater treasure.

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 2:36-41, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ– this Jesus whom you crucified.”
37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?”
38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39 “For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”
40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!”
41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.”

The Nation of Israel is the geographic central of the known world. It was designated so by the LORD Himself. Thus, it is highly appropriate for Simon Peter, himself a Jew and a believer, to cry out accusingly to his fellow countrymen that God the Father had made His Son, Jesus, both LORD and Christ.

This announcement on the heels, as it were, of the message of salvation spoken by those amazing “tongues of fire.” Yet, for the people who heard the message, it was not sufficient. Those who heard the message, cried out “What shall we do?” They were required to act with truthfulness upon the message itself.

Peter identified Jesus Christ as the One who died on the Cross –the Father’s atonement for the sins of all humanity, Jews and Gentiles alike. Yet, for that atonement to apply, mankind must act in faith, believing that Jesus died for them.
The baptism of which Peter spoke was not for salvation. It was intended then (as of now) as a public demonstration of one who has repented of his sin and, in full immersion, is identifying with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Salvation is not awarded for any “works,” regardless of how meaningful and sincere one might be.

“Jesus paid it all;
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.”

Have you turned from your sins and put your faith in Him? He died on the Cross for you! All He requires is that you repent (confess and turn from your sins) and yield your life to Him. He always does better for us than we can do for ourselves. May God help you to trust Him!

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