The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Philippians 1:12-14, “Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, 13so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the

whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, 14and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear.”

Some days are just filled with trouble! Those that ought to be in jail are not; those that shouldn’t be in jail, are!

What can we say about that? What can we do about it? Complaining doesn’t help. We simply have to do the

best we can and leave the results up to God.

Nobody suffered more than Paul, except for Jesus. He dutifully engaged in ministry that would work to the advantage

of the very people he was trying to help. What is Paul’s response? “Look on the bright side!” he says. “The whole

praetorian guard” knows him and knows the message he is proclaiming. That’s progress! What’s more, the believers,

seeing Paul, have gained courage “to speak the Word of God without fear.”

Are you not encouraged when you know that Vice-President Pence is a true, Bible-believing Christian? Does it not

give you additional hope to know that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is a born-again Christian, too? He speaks

quite openly about his faith.

I was pastoring a church in St. Louis County when Billy Graham launched his third Greater St. Louis Crusade. A lot

of people found it easier to talk to others about Jesus because Billy Graham was in the area. We shouldn’t need

the presence of famous Christian people before we talk to others about Him –but, it helps! When was the last time

you talked to someone about accepting Jesus Christ as LORD and Savior? Share your faith! Tell others how Christ

forgave your sin and became part of you life. Love Him and you will soon love them. Watch out for Love! It’s really

contagious! God bless you abundantly!

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,

Colossians 1:8-12, Epaphras “informed us…of your love in the Spirit.

9For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you

and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

10so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every

good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

11strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously

12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.”

We often pray for those whose lives evidence the absence of the Holy Spirit. That’s certainly not wrong; however,

Paul mentions the other side of the pattern for our prayers when he notes that he prays for those who “love in the

Spirit.” Maybe we take for granted that believers don’t need prayer like unbelievers do. Well, they do! The author

here prays that believers “may be filled (controlled) with the knowledge of His will…” and with a focus on “spiritual

wisdom and understanding.”

His purpose in saying that we should be controlled by the Spirit is “so that (we) may walk in a manner worthy of

the LORD.” We should want to please Him in everything we say or do. “But I’m so weak,” you say. Not if you

depend upon Him, you’re not. He strengthens us with His power, in proportion to “His glorious might.” Don’t be

impatient! He provides the steadfastness (???????, hupomone, endurance). Do everything joyously! Give thanks

to the Father. Remember that it is He who “qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.”

In summation: Learn all you can by daily reading of God’s Word. Acquire wisdom in the process by allowing His

Spirit to instruct and control you life. Pray for the lost and the saved. Remember that it’s all accomplished by His power, so give Him the glory! Not only will CHRISTmas have new meaning; your life will have new meaning! He is

not only “the Reason for the Season,” He is “the Reason for All Seasons!” God bless you abundantly!

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 Thessalonians 1:8-10, “For the Word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything.

9 For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God,

10 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.

First Thessalonians was written in approximately A.D. 52. It was the first of the fourteen letters the Apostle Paul wrote that are recorded for us in the New Testament. In most of his letters, Paul admonishes the Church to clean up their act and do only those things that glorify the LORD Jesus Chist. He does that in this letter, too; but it’s interesting to note that he is here commending the Thessalonians for all they have done!

You have witnessed of the Word of the LORD “not only in Macedonia” (which was to Greece’s north), and

Achaia (which was to the west and south of Greece). So extensive was their witness that Paul had nothing to add, except to praise them! Isn’t it great when we see believers today talking to others about the LORD? In fact, the Thessalonian witness was so vast and so inclusive that they even told how they themselves had

turned from idols to serve the Living Christ!!

What could be better? Just one thing: these Thessalonians were waiting on the LORD Jesus to return. They were under pressure to stop witnessing, but they elected to continue, knowing that the LORD Jesus was going to come again, and when He does, He will deliver us “from the wrath to come.” The word ????? is the

Greek word meaning wrath. It is used 14 times in the New Testament. But the words ??? ????? mean “the

wrath,” and refer to the time of Tribulation that will come upon all unbelievers. The Church, meaning “all believers,” will not suffer God’s wrath. Those who are “born again” (born from Above, true believers), will be “caught up to meet the LORD in the air…”; and they will thereafter “always be with the LORD” (1 Thes. 4:17).

Christ is our Hope! He is our Salvation! It’s not sufficient to simply be a member of a church or be baptized or be doing “the best we can.” Jesus said, “You must be born again (literally, “born from Above,” that is, be spiritually born by accepting Him as LORD and Savior of your life. Have you done that? If not, you need to! For if He comes and you are not ready, you won’t be meeting Him or going to Heaven where He is. If, on the other hand, you have trusted Him and know He is your Savior and LORD, are you sharing Him with others? There’s no better time to share Him than this time when we celebrate His birth in Bethlehem. God bless you! Have a Merry CHRISTmas!

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,

Colossians 3:16-17, “Let the Word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and

admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in

your hearts to God.

17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through

Him to God the Father.”

There are numerous things that I simply cannot do. One of them is draw. I recall a teacher, who wanted me in her class. It was an art class and I told her I couldn’t even draw a straight line with a ruler! “You’re just the kind of student I want,” she said. I spared her the frustration; I didn’t go.

If I’m to be as honest with you, my readers, as I was with that teacher, I will have to admit that Paul’s

admonition to “let the Word of Christ richly dwell within” is even harder than drawing. Such “dwelling” has

to be constant. To read the Word, gain the instruction, and then forget it when things go wrong, won’t work!

Paul says that we need to acquire wisdom along with the Word, learn to sing! Drawing is out; singing is in!

Furthermore, we’re to sing spiritual songs and give thanks as we sing –all to the LORD! My dear, sweet

Grandmother (Mimi) used to go about her house and farm work singing “He is so precious to me; Yes, He

is so precious to me. ‘Tis Heaven below, My Redeemer to know; For He is so precious to me.”

Mimi had it right. Everything she said and did was always in the Name of the LORD. What a Christian lady!

She was a role model. I never heard a single inappropriate word come from her mouth. She had a loving and forgiving heart. LORD, help me to be to others what Mimi was to me. Amen.

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,

Colossians 3:1-3, “If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above,

where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”

I talked with a friend today about parenting. Her children are now adults, so it was not as if she needed advice or even encouragement in that matter. Yet, we both agreed that good children are not good by accident; and children who have not learned good behavior are more likely than not either to have never had good parenting or self-elected to ignore the good teaching they had received.

When Paul says “If then you have been raised up with Christ,” he is saying, “If…, and you have.” He is encouraging those who are true believers to “keep on seeking the things above…” (He could hardly encourage them to “keep on” with anything unless they had already been doing it.) And it’s the “things above” that really count because that’s where Christ is!

Our minds can and must be trained to follow the LORD. That’s why we’re instructed to keep our minds focused on things above. There are so many glittering, but evil attractions on this Earth, that we must determine the LORD’s course for us and follow it assiduously –constantly, diligently! Satan subtly seeks to convince us that our LORD’s direction in life is wrong. He tells us that the world is having all the fun, and we’re missing it because we’re following Jesus. But, we cannot allow ourselves to follow Satan’s deception because we “have died” to the world and its ways. Our lives are hidden with Christ in God.” That’s what Christianity is all about! One might as well speak of “heavenly devils” as to speak of “worldly Christians.” Use the time the LORD has allotted you to glorify Him! Share Him boldly!

Share Him often! There’s a Great Day Coming; and the LORD Jesus is leading the pack.

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.”