The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Judges 8:21-23, “Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Rise up yourself, and fall on us; for as the man, so is his strength.” So Gideon arose and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and took the crescent ornaments which were on their camels’ necks.
22 Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, both you and your son, also your son’s son, for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian.”
23 But Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the LORD shall rule over you.”

There is a lot to be said of what occured prior to the few verses we have noted above. Gideon was the leader of 300 men, who marched around the camp of the Midianites carrying pitchers with torches inside. They routed the camp of the Midianites with their blowing of trumpets and hoisting lamps, bringing a marvelous victory in the Name of the LORD.

Gideon’s bravery notwithstanding, his spiritual life was even greater. They wanted to exalt him and make him their ruler. Yet, he knew the victory had come from greater hands than his. And because of that, he refused the position, exalting the LORD God as the One who produced the victory.

Gideon, however, was far from perfect. You’ll discover that if you choose to read the following chapters. Nevertheless, he stood spiritually tall when he insisted that the LORD was the true Victor.

We have today (8 November 2022) elected some people to govern us over these next few years. Hopefully, we have prayed over our selections; nevertheless, the LORD is in charge! He has given us either the leaders we need for returning our nation to what it once was, or He has given us the leaders that we deserve.

Throughout Scripture we can find strong, Godly men, whom the LORD allowed to lead His people; yet, even they often turned aside from the LORD’s desire. It can happen so with us. We must simply get our lives in order and continue to pray for His Leadership. In the end, we will then say, “He has done all things well” (Mark 7:37).

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,

Numbers 27:18-23, “So the LORD said to Moses, ‘Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him;
19 and have him stand before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation, and commission him in their sight.
20 ‘You shall put some of your authority on him, in order that all the congregation of the sons of Israel may obey him.
21 ‘Moreover, he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before the LORD. At his command they shall go out and at his command they shall come in, both he and the sons of Israel with him, even all the congregation.’
22 Moses did just as the LORD commanded him; and he took Joshua and set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation.
23 Then he laid his hands on him and commissioned him, just as the LORD had spoken through Moses.’”

The verses listed above seem appropriate to the time in which we live. The LORD appointed (elected) Moses to appoint Joshua to stand before Eleazar, the priest of the congregation. The appropriate authority was then vested
in others, who, in turn, worked more directly with the people.

We are at this very time engaged in an off-year election. It’s difficult not to believe that the way our election procedures are arranged came originally from the passage above or other like-passages of Scripture. Were that so, we would be all-the-more responsible to research the candidates and then vote for those most honoring to God.

Searching the Scriptures reveals that those, who were charged with spiritual responsibilities, but neglected to properly attend to them, were disenfranchised from their responsibilities. Our enablement of that today would be called “term limits.” What business tolerates employees who doddle around instead of tending to matters for which they were hired? It should be so in government. Elections will take care of indigent office-holders, if “we the people” pay attention to what’s going on!

I have long been an advocate for “term limits!” Your representative or senator (state or national) may be –without question— excellent in representing and voting for your views. Yet, when he (or she) is elected again and again and again, it says in point-of-fact that there is no other person in your city, county or state who can represent your views as well. And, in my view, that is just not so!

One more thing… we the people lack Biblical morality! Thus, we send those who lack it also to represent us. Then, we wonder why we are so inundated with “trans-this” and “trans-that”!! The Constitution that has a Biblically moral basis, is by-passed and trampled upon, as if the LORD Himself did not exist! Well, He does exist! And those who ignore Him will one day “cry for the rocks and the mountains to fall upon them,” so heinous and reprehensible they are!

Pray for our Beloved United States! Vote for Godly office holders! And remember that you and I are responsible to to God for what we 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,

Luke 12:16-21, “And He told them a parable, saying, ‘The land of a rich man was very productive.
17 ‘And he began reasoning to himself, saying, “What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?”
18 ‘Then he said, “This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.
19 ‘And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.”‘
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’
21 “So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

What do you do to relax? Some people engage in household duties, like cutting grass and taking care of flowers. Others, prefer to read a book or research things on the Internet. People who are involved in mathematics or statistical things find it relaxing to find something different.

The man in Jesus’ parable was quite rich. You would think he would find it relaxing to avoid business elements. Instead, he elected to tear down the barns he had and build new ones. I’ve often wondered why he didn’t just build new barns and leave the old ones standing. Maybe it’s my frugal nature that thinks that.

Whatever your calculation regarding this rich man, Jesus called him a “fool.” The man’s foolishness had little-to-do with building. His problem was that he neglected the spiritual aspects of life –and death.

When I was young, I worked for a funeral home. I’ve seen the poorest of the poor and the richest of the rich. Death was the leveling factor to all of their lives. The LORD required the souls of those in both groups, even when they denied in life the reality of the LORD and His Word.

The basis of God calling the man a “fool,” lay in his neglect of spiritual matters –the chief matter being trust in the LORD Jesus Christ! Once life slips from us, all that truly matters is whether we have trusted Jesus as our Savior and Lord. Have you done this?

It’s not which church you attend; it’s not how nice you are to your neighbors; it’s not whether you have contributed to the physical needs of others. It’s totally whether you have trusted Jesus Christ as LORD and Savior of your life. Death comes unexpectedly! Even as I write, I am aware that this could be my last Grands Letter. So, I plead with you to repent of your sin and accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. You do this through prayer. Talk to Him as you would to me –only put your trust in 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

Dear Grands,

Ezekiel 22:11-14, “One has committed abomination with his neighbor’s wife and another has lewdly defiled his daughter-in-law. And another in you has humbled his sister, his father’s daughter.
12 “In you they have taken bribes to shed blood; you have taken interest and profits, and you have injured your neighbors for gain by oppression, and you have forgotten Me,” declares the Lord GOD.
13 “Behold, then, I smite My hand at your dishonest gain which you have acquired and at the bloodshed which is among you.
14 “Can your heart endure, or can your hands be strong in the days that I will deal with you? I, the LORD, have spoken and will act.”

It is difficult to believe all that is happening around us. Ministers of the Gospel forced to leave their pulpits because of indescent activities with women and children. Teachers at elementary and high school levels engage in sexual activities with their students. Politicians, known for their scandalous activities, glibly mention God, and then ask for still another opportunity to prove that given the chance, they can be scandalous again! What kind of world has surrounded and infiltrated our thinking?

Ezekiel lived in times like ours. The promise of the LORD was that their enemies would fall upon them in victory. In fact, the very Hand of the LORD would be against them. They wilfully sinned against Him; now it is His opportunity to hold them accountable!

“Can your heart endure, or can your hands be strong in the days that I will deal with you?” the LORD asks. Yet, to ask the question is to answer it. He charges the people with failing to be what He willed them to be; and He promises losses to match their faithlessness.

What leads us to believe that the LORD might deal negatively with us? We have no claim on His protection when we openly fail to reverence Him for all He does. Yield your heart and life to Him. He cares for you.

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 Thessalonians 1:6-12, “For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you,
7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire,
8 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
10 when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed– for our testimony to you was believed.
11 To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power,
12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

“Retirement” (whatever that means) offers a great deal of time for study — time that seemed never there before. Recently, I’ve been reading Pentecost’s book, Things To Come –an indepth study of the Second Coming of Christ. It is clear that the Second Coming was in the mind of the Apostle Paul when he scripted the verses above.

“(1) He will appear on the scene in the “latter times” of Israel’s history (Dan. 8:23). (2) He will not appear until the Day of the Lord has begun (2 Thess. 2:2). (3) His manifestation is being hindered by the Restrainer (2 Thess. 2:6-7). (4) This appearance will be preceded by a departure (2 Thess. 2:3), which may be interpreted either as a departure from the faith or a departure of the saints to be with the Lord (2 Thess. 2:1). (5) He is a Gentile. Since he arises from the sea (Rev. 13:1) and since the sea depicts the Gentile nations (Rev. 17:15), he must be of Gentile origin. (6) He rises from the Roman empire, since he is a ruler of the people who destroyed Jerusalem (Dan. 9:26). (7) He is the head of the last form of Gentile world dominion, for he is like a leopard, a bear, and a lion (Rev. 13:1). (cf. Dan. 7:7-8, 20, 24; Rev. 17:9-11.) As such, he is a political leader. The seven heads and ten horns (Rev. 13:1; 17:12) are federated under his authority. (8) His influence is world wide, for he rules over all nations (Rev. 13:8). This influence comes through the alliance which he makes with other nations (Dan. 8:24; Rev. 17:12). (9) He has eliminated three rulers in his rise to power (Dan 7:8, 24). One of the kingdoms over which he has authority has been revived, for one of the heads, representing a kingdom or king (Rev. 17:10), has been healed (Rev. 13:3). (10) His rise comes through his peace program (Dan. 8:25). (11) He personally is marked by his intelligence and persuasiveness (Dan. 7:8, 20; 8:23) and also by his subtlety and craft (Ezek. 28:6), so that his position over the nations is by their own consent (Rev. 17:13). (12) He rules over the nations in his federation with absolute authority (Dan. 11:36), where he is depicted as doing his own will. This authority is manifested through the change in laws and customs (Dan. 7:25). (13) His chief interest is in might and power (Dan. 11:38). (14) As the head of the federated empire he makes a seven year covenant with Israel (Dan. 9:27), which is broken after three and one-half years (Dan. 9:27). (15) He introduces an idolatrous worship (Dan. 9:27) in which he sets himself up as god (Dan. 11: 36-37; 2 Thess. 2:4; Rev. 13:5). (16) He bears the characterization of a blasphemer because of the assumption of deity (Ezek. 28:2; Dan. 7:25; Rev. 13:1, 5-6). (17) This one is energized by Satan (Ezek. 28: 9-12; Rev. 13:4), receives his authority from him, and is controlled by the pride of the devil (Ezek. 28:2; Dan. 8:25). (18) He is the head of Satan’s lawless system (2 Thess. 2:3) and his claim to power and to deity is proved by signs wrought through satanic power (2 Thess. 2:9-19). (19) He is received as God and as ruler because of the blindness of the people (2 Thess. 2:11). (20) This ruler becomes the great adversary of Israel (Dan. 7:21, 25; 8:24; Rev. 13:7). (21) There will come an alliance against him (Ezek. 28:7; Dan. 11:40, 42) which will contest his authority. (22) In the ensuing conflict he will gain control over Palestine and adjacent territory (Dan. 11:42) and will make his headquarters in Jerusalem (Dan. 11:45). (23) This ruler, at the time of his rise to power, is elevated through the instrumentality of the harlot, the corrupt religious system, which consequently seeks to dominate him (Rev. 17:3). (24) This system is destroyed by the ruler so that he may rule unhindered (Rev. 17:16-17). (25) He becomes the special adversary of the Prince of Princes (Dan. 8:25), His program (2 Thess. 2:4; Rev. 17:14), and His people (Dan. 7:21, 25; 8:24; Rev. 13:7). (26) While he continues in power for seven years (Dan. 9:27), his satanic activity is confined to the last half of the tribulation period (Dan. 7:25; 9:27; 11:36; Rev. 13:5). (27) His rule will be terminated by a direct judgment from God (Ezek. 28:6; Dan. 7:22, 26; 8:25; 9:27; 11:45; Rev. 19:19-20). This judgment will take place as he is engaged in a military campaign in Palestine (Ezek. 28:8-9; Rev. 19:19), and he will be cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 19:20; Ezek. 28:10). (28) This judgment will take place at the second advent of Christ (2 Thess. 2:8; Dan. 7:22) and will constitute a manifestation of His Messianic authority (Rev. 11:15). (29) The kingdom over which he ruled will pass to the authority of the Messiah and will become the kingdom of the saints (Dan. 7:27).”

If this says to you what it says to me, we are both captured by the urgency of witnessing to lost friends while there is time. Even just a Gospel tract that says “Jesus loves you” is relevant for the time! God bless you!

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