The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 John 5:12-15, “He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.

13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life.

14 And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.”

Everything in Scripture is there for a purpose. “The life” of which John speaks here is Eternal Life. That’s why the word “the” precedes the word “life.” We all have life, but only those who have believed in the LORD Jesus Christ have Eternal Life. You may not be sure whether you have Eternal Life. Some in John’s day had that insecurity, too. That’s why he wrote the letter.

Those who do possess Eternal Life have that confidence in the LORD Jesus Christ. Furthermore, they have confidence that

“if (they) ask anything according to His will, He hears (them),” that is, He hears their prayers. Notice carefully, that the key to receiving answers to prayers is that we pray “according to His will.” How do we know the LORD’s will? Mostly, I believe, His will is revealed in Scripture, the Bible. The Holy Spirit lives within every true believer, and He often impresses us internally with that which is His will for us. One thing is certain: He always hears us, and His will is always right. He knows things we do not know.

I have experienced praying when what I hardly more than mentioned was answered by the LORD. I have also prayed extensively day after day for weeks and months, only to have the LORD respond as if He had not even heard my prayers. He ultimately answered, but not in the way I had asked. All of us, I am confident, have asked our parents for things that we wanted, but things that were not good for us. They heard what we asked, but gave us something different –something they knew was better for us. God is like that.

If all that I have said above is true, how can John then say, “And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him”? The only precise answer to the question is that the timing of our request is not God’s timing. Prayers of His children are not lost on God. He hears them all, and answers “according to His will.” We have to learn patience; and we have to remember that His will is always best. In time, we will learn this, as He wills to reveal it. It is all a matter of trust, of faith, of confidence in the One who gave us Eternal Life. May we always be found faithful, and may He always be praised!

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 John 4:18-21, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.

19 We love, because He first loved us.

20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.

21 And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.”

The Greek language is arguably the most specific language known to man. To one who truly knows the language, it is virtually impossible to misrepresent or misunderstand another person’s meaning. So specific were the Greeks that they had four separate words that each translate “love” in our English language. Agape is the most familiar word to us. It is love that reaches out to another person whether the person is worthy of it or not; and it expects nothing in return. That’s how God loves us! Philos translates as “love,” but is rather intended as “friendship.” Storge also translates as “love,” but relates to love within a family, such as the love of a parent for a child. Eros is the word for licentious lust. It represents such vile and gross activities that it is understandably not found at all in the New Testament. Every one of the 10 words in our four verses above is agape.

Thus, the LORD’s perfect love (agape) produces no fear; rather, it casts out fear. So, when we are wrapped up in the love of God, we can share Him freely, knowing all the time that there is nothing to fear and there can be no failure. In fact, as love is practiced, it is perfected within us. At that point, His love has grown within us so that we are loving Him abundantly, and His love within us is reaching out in love to others!

John wants us to know that merely saying the words, “I love God,” does not constitute a true believer. If we truly love (agape) God, we will love others as well. Yes, there are those that make it difficult for us to love them. But, before we become judgmental of others, we need to consider that God loved us before we were His children. Parents do put up with a lot that we kids tend to forget.

The bottom line truth is that unbelievers are not all stupid! They can often out maneuver and out-think us as believers. What they cannot do is out-love us. So, if you find yourself getting tangled in a debate with an unbeliever, just keep loving him. That’s one key thing he cannot do without God!

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,

Romans 15:4-5, “For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

5 Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus.”

Have you ever just felt like quitting? The things you do, don’t work out; the things for which you pray, don’t come to pass.

You try and try, but nothing works! Nothing comes to pass –at least, not like you want it?

Well, the key is the 15TH word in verse four above: perseverance! Now that you’ve persevered with me this far, let me mention that the same word appears in seventh place in verse five above. Winston Churchill once gave a speech that contained the very same words repeated a number of times: “Never give up! Never give up! Never! Never! Never!”

Today, I received the following encouragement from the New Life, a Christian paper in Australia. Read and think about this:

“THE PHILIPPINES: Patience Bears Fruit A pastor who spent five months living in a canoe off islands in the Philppines is now seeing a thriving Christian community. Pastor Veds Subiaga felt a burden to share the Gospel with the people on a group of small, isolated islands. He set out for the islands in a canoe, a trip that takes 40 minutes in a motorised boat. But when he got there, the villagers wouldn’t let him land. Rather than go home, Pastor Veds, who can’t swim, lived on his canoe offshore for five months and built relationships. Eventually, he got to know one of the village leaders who became curious about the God he served. The leader responded to the Gospel and today there is a thriving Christian community on several islands in the region.– Mission Network News”

Our encouragement comes from the same Source: the Scriptures. They give us hope! Further, God the Holy Spirit encourages us beyond all else! I’ve asked some friends to pray for two specific things without their knowing what either of them is. Neither has yet to come to pass, but nothing for which I’m praying is close to the needs of Pastor Subiaga! He did not give up! I will not give up! And you must not give up, either! The LORD doesn’t neglect us; we must not neglect His Word or neglect to pray in faith. Believe and be patient! He will answer our prayers when they are offered in true faith!

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 Peter 4:15-16, “By no means let any of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler;

16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not feel ashamed, but in that name let him glorify God.”

When was the last time you suffered as a Christian? It is likely that some of you have encountered laughter, or ridicule of some sort “avoidance” or “smart-alec” remarks. Some of you readers outside the United States have encountered it, too. Only the “suffering” went further than than disdainful words; you have encountered beatings and much worse.

There were reports only today that American Pastor Bryan Nerren, has been arrested and detained in northern India, the area in which he has labored for the past 17 years! His activity that brought about his arrest and detention: Pastor Nerren is a Christian! Imprisoned with others, who were plagued with diseases, he was yet able to witness to a Nigerian, who wanted to know about the Bible.

The question that came to my mind as I read of this pastor’s dilemma was,

“If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?”

Do those who know you, know of your faith in Jesus Christ? Do they know you have and read a Bible? Do they know you to be honest and friendly, ready to come to the aid of anyone in distress, regardless of their skin color or poverty? Do they

see you leave for Church on Sunday? Do they recognize your wave as an indication of friendliness and heartfelt love? Do they view you as a person of trust?

How’s the evidence adding up?

Peter allows that Christians do suffer. What he urges is that we not “feel ashamed,” but view it as a privilege to suffer for the Name of our LORD Jesus Christ. For in our suffering, and at whatever level, we are glorifying God. May His Name ever be glorified in us! 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,

1 John 3:1-3, “See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is.

3 And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

There’s an old idea that says that the first child born into a family takes after the opposite parent. If the first child is a boy, he will tend to be more like his mother. If the first child is a girl, she will tend to take after her father. It doesn’t always work out like that, but it’s amazing how often it does.

John says that the great love of our Heavenly Father is bestowed on us. That’s why we’re called “children of God.” Yet, when those around us look at us, they don’t see the likeness of the LORD because they don’t know Him and because it’s sin that keeps us from looking like Him. When He comes –and He IS COMING AGAIN!—we will then be like Him and everyone will then know who our Heavenly Father was all the time.

Those who knew my parents always said that I looked like my mother. That was a compliment to me, but hardly to my dad!

As I look back on my childhood, I think my dad wanted me to be –maybe not to look—but to be like him. I think all dads want that of their sons. But, I know for certain that my parents both wanted me to look more like Jesus than like either of them. You know what? That’s just the way I feel now. Seriously, my three children, not withstanding the good and wholesome lives of their own spouses, would all do well to be like their mother.

Why would I say that? I say it because she wanted them all to look like Jesus! And that’s what each of us should want for our children, and grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. I receieved a lot from my parents. They modeled Jesus in their lives, and they led me to faith in Him. And that’s what I continue to live and pray for: His likeness in them and in me. There’s a GREAT DAY COMING! Jesus Christ will soon return and the Bible says that we who know Him will be caught up into the air to meet Him!

Are you one of “His children”? If not, I urge you to trust Him right now –right where you are! And if you have already trusted Him, do others know it? Can they discern your spiritual parentage –because you look and act in love like Jesus? Just don’t miss that last verse above:

“And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

May the LORD cleans and purify us and make us ready for His soon return!

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.”