The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Samuel 18:5-9, “So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and prospered; and Saul set him over the men of war. And it was pleasing in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.

6 And it happened as they were coming, when David returned from killing the Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy and with musical instruments.

7 And the women sang as they played, and said, ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.’

8 Then Saul became very angry, for this saying displeased him; and he said, ‘They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but to me they have ascribed thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?’

9 And Saul looked at David with suspicion from that day on.”

It’s hard sometimes to see some people prosper and receive great applause while others (others meaning you) are pushed to the rear and discounted altogether!

Every orchestra has multiple instruments. Those who occupy the “first chair” in each section are the ones who demonstrate superiority in playing a particular instrument. At the conclusion of a selected musical number, the director often calls upon those who played solos to stand in recognition of their exceptional performance.

There were vast musical expressions in King Saul’s day; however, it was young David who demonstrated exceptional bravery; Saul was not even present for the battle! Yet, when Israel returned victoriously, the greater praise went to David instead of to Saul. This weighed quite heavily upon Saul. He was jealous beyond belief!

We need to be careful here. None of us possesses talent superior to others. Some time ago, I attended a local orchestral concert. Two musicians were featured with the orchestra. When the piece was completed and the applause had died down, one of the two featured musicians humbly sneaked into the second violin section to play with them in yet another featured number. It was indeed an act of humility.

Saul could have learned a good lesson from that violinist! So can we! Don’t look to be noted; just look to see where you can help. Your applause will come later, much later!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Job 4:1-8, “Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,

2 ‘If one ventures a word with you, will you become impatient? But who can refrain from speaking?

3 ‘Behold you have admonished many, and you have strengthened weak hands.

4 Your words have helped the tottering to stand, and you have strengthened feeble knees.

5 ‘But now it has come to you, and you are impatient; it touches you, and you are dismayed.

6 ‘Is not your fear of God your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope?

7 ‘Remember now, whoever perished being innocent? Or where were the upright destroyed?

8 ‘According to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity and those who sow trouble harvest it.'”

The background of these few verses arises from the troubles of Job. He was a righteous man, yet for reasons totally unknown to him, his family and his wealth were suddenly struck down, all without apparent cause.

The scenario could be duplicated again and again today. A godly servant of the LORD, faithful in worship, faithful in caring for others, who loves the LORD and serves Him with full dedication, is suddenly struck down with an illness that mystifies the brightest medical minds, who work feverishly to bring him to wellness.

What are the godly to do? They commence by prayerfully removing from within themselves every minute possibility of the cause. They then immerse themselves in confessional prayer, throwing themselves mercilessly upon the LORD, as they seek resolution to the dilemma.

How can a loving, merciful Heavenly Father ignore such human contrition? He cannot. He does not, although the indicators of all prior maladies would have us believe that He does not. No, He is a merciful, loving Heavenly Father, who loves to hear His children pray.

18 “Then Moses said, ‘I pray Thee, show me Thy glory!’

19 “And He said, ‘I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the LORD before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.’

20 “Still, He said, ‘You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!'”

As Christian believers, we ought to periodically check up on our spiritual lives, lest we be “the blind helping the blind.” No one can do this for us. It is a prayerful action that believers alone can embrace.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

2 Kings 18:1-8, “Now it came about in the third year of Hoshea, the son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah became king.

2 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Abi the daughter of Zechariah.

3 And he did right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father David had done.

4 He removed the high places and broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah. He also broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the sons of Israel burned incense to it; and it was called Nehushtan.

5 He trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel; so that after him there was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor among those who were before him.

6 For he clung to the LORD; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the LORD had commanded Moses.

7 And the LORD was with him; wherever he went he prospered. And he rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him.

8 He defeated the Philistines as far as Gaza and its territory, from watchtower to fortified city.

It’s exciting to read of a young man following the LORD! Those who learn to follow Him while they are young will doubtlessly follow Him throughout their lives.

Sometimes, however, older men come to know Him, and they wish they had followed Him when they were young. Those who learn to follow the LORD while they are young usually follow someone who has previously followed Him.

We need to think seriously and act according to the pattern the LORD has set before us through His own Life. In that way, we will also establish a spiritual pattern for others to follow. What we often don’t know is that there is someone who is watching us and patterning what they see in us.

Learning commences in the home. And believe it or not, we obtain our earliest words and our ways from there. It’s not too late to become a true and enthusiastic follower of Jesus. Get into the Scriptures today!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

II Chronicles 5:11-14, “And when the priests came forth from the holy place (for all the priests who were present had sanctified themselves, without regard to divisions),

12 and all the Levitical singers, Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and kinsmen, clothed in fine linen, with cymbals, harps, and lyres, standing east of the altar, and with them one hundred and twenty priests blowing trumpets

13 in unison when the trumpeters and the singers were to make themselves heard with one voice to praise and to glorify the LORD, and when they lifted up their voice accompanied by trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and when they praised the LORD saying, “He indeed is good for His lovingkindness is everlasting,” then the house, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud,

14 so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God.”

Have you ever wondered what music would be like in Heaven? Well, there are 21 references to “music” in the Bible; yet, only two references are in the New Testament, and all of them refer to music sung here on earth.

When King Saul said to his servants, “Provide for me now a man who can play well, and bring him to me,” one of the young men who stood nearby said, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is a skillful musician, a mighty man of valor, a warrior, one prudent in speech, and a handsome man; and the LORD is with him. So Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, “Send me your son David who is with the flock” (1 Sam. 16:18-19).

“So it came about whenever the evil spirit from God came to Saul, David would take the harp and play it with his hand; and Saul would be refreshed and be well, and the evil spirit would depart from him” (1 Sam. 16:23).

Bear in mind that everything that can be used to glorify the LORD can also be misused to glorify people and spirits that exist outside of the LORD God. There’s an old saying that goes, “All that glitters is not gold.” Satan is clever! He wraps his efforts in what appears to be godly; yet it is not!

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

It will be healing to your body, and refreshment to your bones” (Prov. 3:5-8).

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

THERE ARE EIGHT REASONS WHY THE CHURCH

WILL NOT GO THROUGH THE TRIBULATION!

I. The purpose of the tribulation is one of Divine Judgment upon the Jewish nation.

1. It is the seventieth week of Daniel and determined against “this people” –the Jews! (Daniel 9:24).

2. It is “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7).

II. The nature of the tribulation is a period of divine wrath and judgment. The Scriptures teach that God’s wrath is not directed against His Church!

1. I Thessalonians 5:9: “God hath not appointed us unto wrath, but unto the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

2. Romans 8:1: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus…”

III. The Tribulation is a time of wrath and judgment throughout its seven years. It is inconsistent with the Scripture to subject the Church to the wrath of God from which she has been delivered: “…and to wait for His Son from Heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come” (I Thessalonians 1:10).

IV. The Antichrist will reign during the Tribulation, according to Revelation 13:7. Everyone will be in subjection to him. If the Church were on Earth during that time, she would also be in subjection to him rather than unto Christ. Because of His union with His Church, Christ would then be in subjection to the Antichrist! Such is totally unthinkable –and impossible!

V. The New Testament Church is instructed (Romans 13, et al) to pray for those in governmental authority and to be subject to them. Revelation 13:4 states that the Tribulation government will be controlled by Antichrist and carry out his desires. The Church could NEVER subject herself to such a government!

VI. The Thessalonians were in confusion regarding the resurrection. Paul wrote to them that believers who were alive at Christ’s coming for His own would have no advantage over believers who had died. If the Thessalonians had believed the Church would go through the Tribulation, they would either 1) have rejoiced that some had missed the Tribulation, or 2) have reasoned that it was better to be with the Father in Heaven than to suffer on Earth. Hiebert expresses it, “…if they had been taught that the church must go through the great tribulation, the logical reaction for them would have been to rejoice that these loved ones had escaped that great period of suffering which they felt was about to occur.”

VII. The New Testament epistles are amazingly silent regarding the Great Tribulation. This silence itself argues for the Church’s absence during the Tribulation era.

VIII. The Tribulation foretold by the Old Testament prophets ALWAYS relates to Israel (Malachi 4:5-6). Note that the Fiery Furnace experience typifies the Great Tribulation –and only Jews were represented as being in the fire.

While unconverted, unbelieving Gentiles will doubtlessly experience the Great Tribulation along with the nation of Israel, Gentilic absence in the fiery furnace experience of Daniel serves to emphasize that the Great Tribulation is primarily a judgment upon the Jews for their having rejected Jesus Christ as their Messiah! Have YOU accepted Him as your Savior?

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom