The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Hebrews 13:15-17, “Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.

16 And do not neglect doing good and sharing; for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

17 Obey your leaders, and submit to them; for they keep watch over your souls, as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.”

Earlier verses in this chapter assure us that the “Him” in verse 15 is in reference to our LORD Jesus Christ. It is through Him that we are to offer praises to Almighty God. Our thoughts, as well as the words we utter, are to give thanks and praise to His Name! We do this not only through speaking in praise directly to Him, as in prayer; but we do it by good deeds we do and the Gospel we share with others.

I think I told you of a young girl greeter at Walmart. She had become “disenchanted” with her former religion. I had given her a Gospel tract I had written, so today I asked her if she had read it. She had, yet she said there were some things in it she did not fully understand. (It’s difficult to get into an extended conversation with a Walmart employees, because they have numerous responsibilities; still, they are there to help customers.) I asked her if she had prayed the prayer at the end of the tract. She said yes. I encouraged her to start reading the Bible. She does have a small Bible, so I will continue to encourage her, as often as possible. She smiled and said she could show me what she didn’t understand, but she had passed the tract on to a friend who was also in spiritual need.

But, is she really saved? Right now, God alone knows that with certainty. However, the words of the Scripture will speak to her heart. If she is not saved, the Word will convict her and bring her to salvation (Isa. 55:11). If she is already saved, the Scripture she reads will help her to grow. I intend to encourage her at every opportunity.

In that moment, some weeks ago, when we first met, I became her “leader” –only because I was “keep(ing) watch over (her) soul.” I pray for her every day (along with the lot of you) and I want to see her “grow in the grace and knowledge of our LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen” (2 Peter 3:18).

Find someone without Jesus. They’re all around you. Love them, share the LORD with them, pray for them, and continue to dialogue with them concerning what the Scriptures are saying. God bless you in your witnessing! None of us can reach everyone, but each of us can reach someone! Pray for her. The LORD knows her name.

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,

Hebrews 13:7-9. “Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever.

9 Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were thus occupied were not benefited.”

Do you remember who was the first to tell you about Jesus? Well, don’t forget them! They did exactly what the LORD wanted. They believed in Him and that’s how you came to know about Him. Now, He wants you to imitate their faith, and do the same for others.

Were you to tell about anyone else, there is always the possibility that person would change. But not Jesus! He is “the same yesterday, today, yes, and forever.”

Be aware, however, that there are others who pretend to be His followers, but have strange teachings (doctrines) they want to share with you. Don’t listen to them! Don’t follow their teachings! There is only One whose doctrines are true and changeless: Jesus!

Your life can only be strengthened with joy when you follow Jesus. The Bible is Jesus’ Word. It is true and without error. It was written by 40 some Spirit-inspired authors over a span of some 1500 years and covering three continents. Yet, there is not one error in all that they wrote! It is a Book you can trust. Read it! Believe it! Share it! Jesus Christ’s teachings will change your life and theirs. The LORD will bless you for sharing Christ; and He will bless them for believing!

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,

Hebrews 13:5-6, “Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, ‘I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,’

6 so that we confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What shall man do to me?’”

Have you ever wondered where “faith” comes from? I’ve had a lot of people say to me, “I just don’t have the faith to do that.” Hearing that helps me to know where they have not been. Faith is not the same in all people. First of all, to have faith, you have to have been

with Jesus. You have to believe that He is God and that He gave Himself on the cross for your sins. When He becomes reality in your life, faith grows. Quite often after you receive faith, money creeps in and comes into focus, crying out that money is what you need.

Paul argues against believing that money is the answer to your needs. He said in a letter to Timothy that the “love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” Paul further says to keep your “character…free from the love of money.” Just be content with what you have, for the LORD has provided you with faith sufficient to believe that He, not money, is all you need. Look at verse five above: “…He Himself has said, ‘I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake (abandon) you.’” His promise enables us to depend upon Him, and

say in return, “The LORD is my helper, I will not be afraid…” Of course, we should take care of what provisions we have and not expect that we can just squander them and He will replenish our losses. He expects us to use good judgment and trust Him, like we did when we were saved. After all, if the LORD Jesus Christ can save us spiritually, He can certainly provide for us materially. Remember: He says, “I will never desert you.” And we are to respond: “The LORD is my helper, I will not be afraid.”

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,

Hebrews 12:7-8, “It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.”

Discipline is a word often misunderstood. It comes from the word “disciple,” and a disciple is a pupil, a learner. As children, when we failed to learn (usually intentionally), our parents administered some form of punishment, punishment we called dicipline. Thus, the word itself has come to us carrying a distinction that was not originally intended.

This 12TH chapter of Hebrews employs the word “discipline” no less than nine times! The Word tells us that “it is for discipline that (we) endure.” Paul is not saying that the LORD wants us around so we can be punished. No, endure whatever comes our way that we may learn. Some things we learn to do, and some things we learn not to do. It’s all a learning process.

Fathers are responsible for the discipline – the learning – of their children. Children who do not learn what their fathers teach them, grow up without resembling their fathers. If we fail to learn what the LORD teaches us, we grow up without resembling Him. Sometimes we have to endure the other meaning of discipline (punishment) from Him in order to stay spiritually in line. That’s when we are made to endure His punishments.

Verse eight should shake us all to the core! For it is there that the Apostle reveals that if the LORD fails to discipline us, we simply do not belong to Him! Imagine going through life thinking that you are a Christian, but coming ultimately to realize that you have never had the LORD as your Father!

It’s not rituals or church attendances or even memberships that make us Christians. It’s loving Jesus Christ and being committed to Him with the whole of our heart. It’s not a religion; it’s a Relationship with the LORD Jesus Christ. If you’ve never trusted Him or are not sure about your relationship with Him, STOP right now and ask Him to forgive you of your sin and take charge of your life. It’s then that He will make you aware that you do indeed have a Heavenly Father!

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,

Hebrews 11:37-40, “They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated

38 (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.

39 And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised,

40 because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect.”

It is more than pathetic what’s going on in the world today. Christians, especially, are marked for torture and death. Christianity is expanding most greatly in Africa; yet, it is in Africa that Christian churches are being burned, adult believers are being slain, and children are being subjected to unspeakable evils at the hands of demonicly infested people, who have been assigned to deal out fear and death to all who name His name.

Reading the verses above (written in New Testament times), you can learn that such inhumane treatment has always been the lot of true followers of the LORD; for that of which Paul writes occurred in Old Testament times, as well. Comparing the faithful and fearless servants of the LORD with those among whom they lived and ministered, it is easy to understand Paul’s meaning: “of whom the world was not worthy.” Do those who misbehave and engage in the purposeful suffering of man be considered “worthy” of the ministry of the true and faithful? That is why it is easy for us to say, “Away with them! They do not deserve to live!” True believers, however, are more apt to say, “God loves you and will forgive the wrong you have done against Him and against us.”

In an earlier letter, I told you that the faithful (you and I, if we are faithful) will receive the promises of God. Paul affirms that, but notes, too, that even those who lived faithfully in the past “did not receive what was promised.” Why should they not receive the promise? Did they not live faithfully as the LORD intended? Yes, but Paul’s meaning is that Old and New Testament saints had not yet received the promise. He has work for us to complete and without our completion of that work, the entirety of the promise will not be fulfilled.

With faithful Christians throughout the world being tortured, brutilized, raped, and murdered, does it not seem to you that we should take up the Cross and stand true in their place? What would they think if they knew that our time and effort was spent playing video games? We need to get into the battle! There are lost people all around us, and no one is threatening our lives if we tell them of Jesus! Let’s get cracking! Carry a Bible! Fill you pocket with Gospel tracts! Smile! Be loving! And above all, share Jesus with those who do not know Him!

Would you do it if the LORD gave you $1,000 per person? It’s worth more than that to reach a soul for Him!

Be one of those “of whom the world is not worthy.”

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. The cat is out of the bag! For months I had convinced you that I was perfect, that everything I said could only be true. Then, it

became necessary that I should correct an error and tell you that Gideon and his 300 men surrounded the Midianites, not

Jericho (in yesterday’s Letter). I should also say that it was Joshua, who battled Jericho. Both were errors on my part, but

only ONE PERSON wrote to me and said he noticed the mistake. I DO make mistakes, occasionally. When you notice my

mistakes, please write me. I’m here for you! So, let’s work together! I will write; you tell me when I’m wrong. Okay?

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.”