The Grands Letter

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

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