The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Philippians 3:12-14, “Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order

that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.

13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and

reaching forward to what lies ahead,

14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Slowly, but surely, the Apostle Paul is moving toward the end of his letter to the Philippians. He has been steadily

instructing them to be joyous regarding the Coming of the LORD Jesus Christ. He admits without hesitation that

he is not perfect (???????, teleioo, meaning complete. At the same time, he is adamant that the LORD has a reward

for him and he is anxious to receive it. Paul speaks of a runner, who is straining and stretching to reach the goal,

because that’s what’s required to gain the prize.

Paul may actually have two goals in mind. One, of course, is that of coming face-to-face with his LORD, Jesus Christ. The other, a lesser goal to be sure, is that of successfully carrying out the ministry to which the LORD has called him.

The word “press” (?????, dioko) means both pursue and put to flight. When he speaks of “forgetting what lies behind,” he doubtlessly means “put to flight.” He wants to pursue them in the sense of chasing the away. Those are the hindrances he has encountered to his work on Earth. At the same time, he is chasing the the ultimate goal of seeing and being with Jesus eternally in Heaven.

The “call of God in Christ Jesus” has both meanings to us, as well. It is simultaneously an “upward call.” We can both be and do better than we have. There is also a prize awaiting us in Glory –a prize that will be presented by the LORD Jesus Christ Himself! It would be an honor for any American to be summoned to the White House to meet the President. It would be an even greater honor if the President were to present him an award. That’s the idea Paul has in mind.

How do we receive what Paul has in mind? It’s contained in verse 15 – a verse reserved for our conclusion.

“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…”

Stay close to the LORD; and may He use, bless, and preserve you unto the Coming of our Great King!

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,

1 Corinthians 9:22-23, “To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men,

that I may by all means save some.

23And I do all things for the sake of the gospel, that I may become a fellow partaker of it.”

I have no doubt whatsoever that there are readers of this Letter that would love to win someone to Christ Jesus.

At the same time, fear strikes the heart and mind, and we back off thinking as we do so that we don’t know how to start, don’t know what to say, fear that we’ll be asked a question that we cannot answer, and the list goes on and on.

The secret to being a soul-winner is first-and-foremost to be and behave as Christ did. Paul introduces us to this by

saying that he became like those he wanted to win to faith in Christ. That doesn’t mean he involved himself in their

actions and conversations that demeaned the LORD. No, it means that he didn’t act superior in any way; rather, he

“became a fellow partaker of” the Gospel, demonstrating a Christ-like spirit in all situations.

At this point in our discussion, I want to introduce something that demonstrates precisely what witnessing is. It may

surprise you. In the link below, you will hear a wealthy 5TH Avenue New Yorker, who is NOT a Christian, defend a

Christian group who went to New York to assist people infected with the Coronavirus. The man’s name is Whitney Tillson. His wife is Jewish and he has “no particular religion.” Here is the link: https://youtu.be/a1cMV1myHWA

The point I want to make is that while NONE of the workers gave him the plan of salvation or prayed with him, they WITNESSED loudly and clearly. What’s more, it made an impression! Please, let’s join in prayer for Mr. Whitney Tillson, “that by all means, we might save one.” It seems certain that this is the closest he has ever come to the Gospel.

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,

Job 1:1-3; 18-21, “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job, and that man was blameless, upright,

fearing God, and turning away from evil.

2And seven sons and three daughters were born to him.

3His possessions also were 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and very many

servants; and that man was the greatest of all the men of the east.”

Then a servant came to him and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s

house, 19and behold, a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the

young people and they died; and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

20Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped.

21And he said, ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken

away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.’”

The Scriptures abound with men and women of great character, but I cannot name one that surpasses Job. He was

blameless (???? tam, a man of integrity, guiltless, ?????? yashar, conscientious; ) ?????yare, reverenced God, and turned

aside from all evil. Still, when he suffered the loss of everything material, along with his sons and daughters, he never blamed God! Most people would have said, “Why did God do this?” or “Why did God not do something to stop this?”

Not Job. He tore his robe, as ancients did to show their deepest grief, “and fell to the ground and worshiped” God!!

Job’s reasoning was: I came into this world with nothing, and I shall leave this world the same way. Everything I have, I received from the LORD; now, He has taken it back. “Blessed be the name of the LORD.” What a man! –a truly spiritual man of God! Try that on for size. It honestly doesn’t fit me. Oh, I know the truth he stated: Everything worthwhile in this life has come from God. And He has the absolute right to remove from us what He has given us.

We are forced to admit that, but we sure don’t act like we believe it, when He takes what He has given.

One year ago tomorrow, the LORD took from me the precious, loving girl He had given me for 64 years. So many had prayed so fervently for her healing. Yet, His timing was not my timing. I understand; yet, I could not say with Job, “Blessed be the Name of the LORD.” I can say it now, but grief would not allow it then. The LORD has yet to reveal to me (and He may never do so) precisely why He took back the love of my life. Yet, when I view things from her perspective, I can say, “Blessed be the Name of the LORD!”

Just ponder this thought: Everything good that you currently have is from the Hand of the LORD. You didn’t earn it; it was His gift. If, having given to you what He has, He now takes it from your possession, who can charge Him with any guilt? The entirety of the Universe is His! He designed it; He made it; He controls it. It is His! Furthermore, He made you! And in that sense, you belong to Him. But, we never really belong to Him until we yield our lives fully and completely to Him and His cause. If you have yet to yield to Him, do it now! For when He Comes – and He is Coming-it will then be too late. Pray with me…

Dear LORD, I know you love me; and I know Jesus died on the Cross to save me from my sins.

I’m sorry for my sin. Please forgive me. Right now, I turn my heart and life –everything!– over

to you. Come into my life; cleanse me completely and take charge of my life from this day forward.

I am trusting You, LORD, even as I pray. In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.

If you prayed that prayer and have truly trusted and received Christ Jesus as your Savior and LORD, please email

me, so I can rejoice with you. Your name will not be revealed, but I will pray specifically for you. 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 God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Virus Brings Unlikely Faith Fellows Together

April 23, 2020

By Tony Perkins

Whitney Tilson had come down from his Fifth Avenue apartment to walk the dog when he noticed the trucks. Right there, in Central Park, were stacks of tarps and white tents, all “bearing a name he had never heard of — Samaritan’s Purse.” He found out the group was building a field hospital for his fellow New Yorkers and asked if he could help. He hasn’t stopped, Yonat Shimron writes , since.

The Tilsons had never heard of Franklin Graham. Whitney says he’s never been particularly religious, and his wife, Shimron explains, is Jewish. But in a powerful story of people helping people, none of that matters. For four weeks, the Tilsons and their daughters have been spending hours a day at the field hospital, helping spread mulch, set up barriers, feed the volunteers, and any other job that needs to be done. He’s donated shovels, supplies, thousands of dollars of food, coffee, soda, potato chips, and other snacks. “It’s an incredibly impressive organization,” the retired financial expert tells Yonat. “I have no doubt they are delivering world-class critical care to my fellow New Yorkers stricken with COVID-19. Every single person I’ve met has been a genuinely nice person and very competent and good at their job.”

But not everyone was able to look past their own views to the greater good. When Whitney circulated a request to Central Synagogue, where he and his wife were members, asking for spare boots and socks for the medical team, some people balked. “The values harbored by this group and its founder just completely fly in the face of what Central stands for,” one person fumed to an online magazine. But despite the fact that Franklin and Whitney are “polar opposites” politically, he stood his ground. “I’m supporting a hospital that is saving people’s lives,” Whitney said. “I’m not endorsing [an] ideology…” And then he filled up his car with so much food for the workers that he couldn’t see out his rear window.

Franklin was so grateful that he called Whitney and invited the family down to Samaritan’s Purse headquarters — a trip they’re eager to make. “He’s a great human being,” Franklin agreed. “He might disagree with me, and I might disagree with him, but that’s not going to stop us from working together to help people.”

Near tears on a viral video he taped to Samaritan’s Purse, Whitney says, “Everyone’s been thanking me,” he choked up, “but I want to say, thank you. No one is paying you to help my city in our hour of deep, deep need.” New Yorkers, he believes, should be grateful for the group. “Their primary mission in life is not to go out and have hatred toward gays,” he said. “They believe what the Bible says, that homosexuality is a sin — yes. But it is not what drives them. What drives them is, ‘How can I do God’s work by healing people and saving lives?'”

Family Research Council

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,

Esther 4:13-14, “Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, ‘Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can

escape any more than all the Jews. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the

Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not

attained royalty for such a time as this?’”

Prejudice, especially racial prejudice, is devastating! We are all descendants of Noah’s sons, Shem, Ham, and

Japheth; so, in one sense, racial prejudice against anyone is genealogical prejudice against a distant relative. Esther

was a Jewish girl, who had become Queen to King Ahasuerus. Haman, who was a governmental official and close to the king, hated the Jews. At this time, Haman did not know that Esther was Jewish. What’s more, neither did the king.

Mordecai was a relative of Esther and Haman hated him. But Haman did not know that Mordecai and Esther were relatives.

Haman had tricked the king into allowing him to plot a genocidal war against the Jews. Esther was the only one who

could intercede for her people before the king. It was a slippery slope. Entering the king’s presence without being summoned could mean her death. Such lay in the king’s hands alone. Esther had sent and received messages from Mordecai. He said, Don’t think you will escape death, if Haman’s plan is exorcised against our people. Just consider that you just might be positioned where you are for “such a time as this.”

Our entire world is facing what might be considered its greatest challenge in history. I’m talking about the Coronavirus (COVID-19). At the same time, many people everywhere are looking beyond themselves for an answer. We all want to live! It’s another way of their asking, “What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30). The question believers should be asking is “What is my role in this dilemma? What is the LORD’s role for me?” First, we need to confess our sins as believers and spruce up our spiritual lives. Whatever our LORD has for us demands clean hands and clean minds. When our minds are rightly focused, our hands will quickly follow suit. We won’t have to look far to find people in need, and if we’re “in tune” with our Savior, we’ll know exactly what to do. His Spirit lives within us and prompts us without question. Now, ask yourself, “Why have I been called for such a time as this?” He has spoken to your heart. Now, go and do it!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. My church today put out a prayer list that numbered more than 70 indigent people. I’m sure your church has a prayer list. We can

all start meeting our LORD’s call by praying for others. Our President and his team desperately need our prayers! Say what you will,

the LORD’s pressure is on all of us. People I would never have guessed even thought about God, are speaking out about Him – some,

are even coming to embrace Him in faith as LORD and declaring themselves Christians. It’s an exciting opportunity for evangelism!

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.”