The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Colossians 1:28-29, “And we proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that

we may present every man complete in Christ.

29And for this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.”

I’m sure you have someone (maybe more than one) of whom you are exceedingly proud: a mother, a dad, a son, daughter, grandson, granddaughter. Maybe a close and endearing friend. You were so thrilled, so pleased, that you wanted everyone to see and meet the one you loved so much! Well, what if you were in jail? Or “imprisoned” with the virus? How would you manage for your dearly beloved and others to meet?

Paul faced just such a dilemma. He had appealed to Caesar and was imprisoned in Rome awaiting that audience. Days had gone by, weeks on end. Would he ever meet Caesar that he might share his Beloved Savior, Jesus?

In the meantime, he wrote letters. Four of his 14 writings in the New Testament (Philemon, Colossians, Ephesians, and Philippians) are known as “Prison Epistles.” And whether or not he would ever meet Caesar, he could write to his beloved friends and tell them more about this Special Friend, his LORD and Savior, Jesus!

Paul loved the Word of God, but His proclamation was the person of Jesus! Fastened to a Roman guard for hours, the guard had only to listen, as Paul admonished (????????, noutheteo, instructed) and taught (???????, didasko, preached to every visitor he had. Do you believe you would do that? We (and I include myself) probably would be talking with an attorney, seeking every possible means for our release. Yet, bound or released, Paul’s driving force was to preach Jesus to everyone that they might be “complete,” having reached the end fit to stand before the LORD.

Paul had but one purpose: that others might know Christ Jesus as fully and completely as he did. Wow! That really

stimulates my soul! I need to be more like that! I need to be the LORD’s “prisoner,” free only to share Him with others!

What about you? Would you like to be free? –really FREE? Then, become a “prisoner” of our loving LORD! There’s

nothing like it in all the world.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. Please remember to pray for the salvation of Whitney Tilson, the New York millionaire, who carried mulch for Samaritan’s Purse?

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Philippians 4:10-13, “But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me;

indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity.

11 Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.

12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every

circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering

need.

13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

How many things can you do? You can read and write. You can count. You can catch and throw a ball. And you can do many other things –things I do not know or cannot suppose just now. The Apostle Paul was a tentmaker by trade.

Jewish boys were taught a trade as well as the teachings of Old Testament Scripture. When he became a believer in Jesus Christ, he began to travel extensively. That meant he often did not have time to mend tents for a living. It was

then that the Churches contributed to he needs. Here in the verses above he thanks the Philippian believers for their

upkeep of him in his ministerial engagements.

This Letter, however, will not focus on those provisions. What I found interesting was things that Paul said he could do. First, he “…rejoiced in the LORD greatly,” concerning the financial assistance the Church had given him. Do you rejoice in the LORD over things that you have? Do you use what it given you to bless the lives of others? Moreover, we should rejoice over the graciousness of those who give, for it is the LORD who puts such thoughts in their hearts.

Second, Paul knew how to utilize to the glory of God all things that were given to him. Is that true of you? He knew how to live with little and with much. Do you seek the LORD’s guidance with regard to your spending, or do you just buy on sight whatever you want? In other words, are you a good steward of what the LORD has given you? Does the manner of your use of the things you buy bring glory to Him or to just to you?

Third, there is a secret of having an abundance or of suffering need. Paul learned how to conserve when he had plenty; he learned also how to suffer patiently when he had nothing. Have you learned his secret? Paul then told the

secret that captivated his life: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” I have lived both kinds of lives.

I’ve eaten luxuriously and abundantly as the LORD provided through many hosts. I also know what it is to eat cooked potatoes sprinkled with tiny bits of meat. Through it all, we always bowed in prayer and thanked the LORD for His blessings! It’s “all things through Him.” That’s the secret. How will you endure, now that you know it? Yes, you can

“do all things through Him who strengthens” you!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. Please remember to pray for the salvation of Whitney Tilson in New York City.

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Philippians 4:4-7, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!

5 Let your forbearing spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made

known to God.

7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all human comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

The word “rejoice” means to be glad, to be joyful. But, how is that possible when everything that surrounds us is

gloomy and dark with insecurity? There’s an old hymn that responds well to the times in which we live.

Sometimes the day seems long,

Our trials hard to bear.
We´re tempted to complain,
To murmur and despair.
But Christ will soon appear
To catch his bride away!
All tears forever over
In God’s eternal day!

If you have a forbearing (gentle) spirit, let everyone know it! It is in just such a time as we now live that the LORD Jesus will come and call all believers to His Eternal Home! Let your thoughts be on Him, not on the gloomy, woeful surroundings we find on this sinful Earth. Focusing on our worldly surroundings simply produces anxiety. We then find ourselves worrying about things over which we have no control and we grind ourselves to dust, feeling absolutely worthless! Such negative thinking all-too-often leads to drinking, drugs, and the vile things of this world – things that destroy individuals, families, cities and nations.

What we all need is to pray and entreat the LORD for His help, simultaneously thanking Him profusely for His mercy and grace! The LORD’s promise comes through His assurance that positive, loving, consistent prayer will result in the LORD’s peace within our hearts. How does all of this happen? We don’t have to know the intracacies of “how”; we only need to trust in Him for our provisions. His peace surpasses all knowledge. We only need to believe that His divine shield guards our hearts and minds and keeps us secure in Him!

Oh, there’s a chorus to that song, too. I think you’ll like it.

It will be worth it all
When we see Jesus!
Life’s trials will seem so small
When we see Christ.
One glimpse of His dear face,
All sorrow will erase.
So, bravely run the race
Till we see Christ.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. Remember to pray for the salvation of Whitney Tilson!

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Job 23:12, “I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.”

There’s nothing like words to bring shock-waves into our innermost parts! In the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic, and all that the Task Force is telling us, the CEO of Tyson Foods gave a warning that we just might have a shortage food, due to this virus thing. That’s all we need: a shortage of food.

I’m teasing a bit because we’re all sufficiently resourceful that it would be a HUGE PANDEMIC for us to run out of food. In all fairness, he didn’t say “run out”; rather, he said there might be “a shortage.”

The Book of Job in the Old Testament shows a man (Job), who had everything one’s heart could desire. The Bible says that Job was “the greatest of all the men of the east” (Job 1:3). He had a great family, great livestock, great riches that many still today say makes a great man. And then, in a flash, he lost it all! Most of us would moan and groan and look for someone to take the blame. Not Job! Instead, he said, “The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1:21b).

Further on in the book of Job we find the verse cited above. Despite the critical accusations his “friends” levied at him, Job said, “I have not departed from the command of His lips.” The LORD has His own means of communicating with us. One of my friends, a retired Navy Seal Commander, told me that Muslims are coming to the church he attends, saying that they had had dreams from the LORD telling them they needed to hear God’s Word. Unusual, to say the least’ but God has His own methods of communication.

Furthermore, Job added, “I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.” Sorry, Mr. Tyson! We do love your chicken; but there’s more to life than food. What is your treasure? Is it the LORD’s Word, the Bible? How necessary is that Word to you for your daily life? It’s that Word that gives us hope in the midst of despair. Every day I receive prayer requests. Some are extremely serious and come from persons I don’t even know! If I am to fulfill the LORD’s call upon my life as a minister of His Gospel, I must take those requests seriously –and I do! They are more valuable than my necessary food. Get into His Word! Spend time with Him in serious prayer! He is in the life-changing business.

God bless you abundantly, as your grow spiritually in His loving grace.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Philippians 3:15-19, “Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a

different attitude, God will reveal that also to you;

16 however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.

17 Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.

18 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of

Christ,

19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on

earthly things.”

Did you ever in your life hear as much about “testing” as you’re hearing today? What kind of test? Who is evaluating the tests? Test, test, test! I’m certainly not against testing, and I’m not criticizing tests or those who administer them. Hering it so often just kind of numbs the mind.

Paul certainly was thinking about tests when he wrote the verses above. “As many as are perfect (???????, teleios, mature, have reached completion), have this attitude (??????, phroneo, understanding)” –the same attitude as that of the apostle. And if you have a differing attitude, the LORD will reveal it to you. We all need to submit to His testing, because Jesus is the True Standard of Measurement.

All of this brings to mind a little boy who said to his mother, “Mom, I’m as tall as Goliath.” She smiled, and said,

“You’re just a small boy. Goliath was 9 feet, 6 inches tall.”

“But, Mom,” he replied, “I made myself a yardstick and I measured myself; and I’m as tall as Goliath.” It was indeed a “test,” but it was not a proper standard.

Not everyone is following the standard of the LORD. Some are actually enemies (??????, echthros, hostile) of the Cross. Watch out! They may be popular; they may pastor huge congregations; they may have many books to sell; but they don’t preach the Gospel. They are enemies, hostile to the ways and teachings of our LORD. Popularity, and what some call “success,” are not the ways of the LORD. Have you not observed how genuinely humble Jesus was? He even had only one garment to His name!

Those who honor only themselves as gods are enemies of the Cross of Christ. They will ultimately be destroyed! Their “glory” will diminish and ultimately fade away because their minds are only on earthly trinkets. They fail the true test.

Have you been tested? Perhaps you are being tested now. I sense that testing in my life. Is everything I do in accord

with the way of the LORD? Are my thought-processes in keeping with His glory? The virus of sin is everywhere! Only

Jesus is our perservation! Study His Word! Spend precious time in prayer! Let your life be lived for Him! He will help

you prepare for the final exam. And I will be praying for each of you as you take His test.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”