The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Romans 15:13-19, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

14 And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another.

15 But I have written very boldly to you on some points so as to remind you again, because of the grace that was given me from God,

16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God, so that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

17 Therefore in Christ Jesus I have found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God.

18 For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed,

19 in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.”

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if everyone spoke only of the things pertaining to God? Such would be true if we were always living under the control of the indwelling Holy Spirit! Our human nature too often lacks that control, permitting us to express concepts and emotions that do not originate with Him. Such things often offend others, leading them into further doubt regarding His ability to control anything.

How are we then to be representatives of His love and grace? Why should others not doubt His value for themselves when they fail to observe His love and grace in us? The apostle Paul embraced the right concept when he determined to speak of nothing except what the LORD had accomplished within him. Unbelievers can be excused for doubting what they do not see in us; yet, that doubt will work against all that the LORD desires for them.

Our lives should then always point others to Him! This is our greatest challenge!

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

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 10:18-21, “Then Jehu gathered all the people and said to them, ‘Ahab served Baal a little; Jehu will serve him much.’

19 “’Now, summon all the prophets of Baal, all his worshipers and all his priests; let no one be missing, for I have a great sacrifice for Baal; whoever is missing shall not live.” But Jehu did it in cunning, so that he might destroy the worshipers of Baal.

20 And Jehu said, ‘Sanctify a solemn assembly for Baal.’ And they proclaimed it.

21 Then Jehu sent throughout Israel and all the worshipers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left who did not come. And when they went into the house of Baal, the house of Baal was filled from one end to the other.”

Here’s an age-old question: “Is it ever right to do wrong to do right?”

It seems an easy answer when we discover we’ve been “snookered.” I have to confess that when I first read verses 18-19a, I was furious at Jehu! I had read the passage before, but had forgotten the part that said “But Jehu did it in cunning…”

Although the Scripture gives Jehu a pass (due to his good intention), it is not an “all-time ‘okay’” that we can squeeze in wherever we find it helpful for whatever we want.

Following the end of the Second World War, men who were Nazis sought to exclude their heinous acts under the banner of “…that was war; we were under the authority of our commanders. We had to do it!”

No, this age-old question brings up an age-old truth: “It is never right to do wrong to do right.”

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

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,

Numbers 32:16-23, “Then they came near to (Moses) and said, “We will build here sheepfolds for our livestock and cities for our little ones;

17 but we ourselves will be armed and ready to go before the sons of Israel, until we have brought them to their place, while our little ones live in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land.

18 We will not return to our homes until every one of the sons of Israel has possessed his inheritance.

19 “For we will not have an inheritance with them on the other side of the Jordan and beyond, because our inheritance has fallen to us on this side of the Jordan toward the east.”

20 So Moses said to them, “If you will do this, if you will arm yourselves before the LORD for the war,

21 and all of you armed men cross over the Jordan before the LORD until He has driven His enemies out from before Him,

22 and the land is subdued before the LORD, then afterward you shall return and be free of obligation toward the LORD and toward Israel, and this land shall be yours for a possession before the LORD.

23 “But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD, and be sure your sin will find you out.”

Working together was not always easy for the Israelites. It is true that the tribes often had mutual enemies outside their own nation; however, they were not always in agreement as to how to deal with them. Notice the “we will” in verses 16 and 17, in contrast to the “we will not” in verses 18 and 19. It is noteworthy that Moses ignored their negatives and transcended to the positive, avoiding a needless confrontation. After all, Moses knew the LORD’s directive, and he was determined to enact it. Still, churches are often like that. They have a common goal but cannot come together on how to achieve the objective. Many times it’s due to poor leadership. More often, however, it is due to members who refuse to yield to the leadership the LORD has put in control. Assuming “wrongs” to be true of both camps, prayer becomes all the more vital. Otherwise, “be sure your sin will find you out.”

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

Dear Grands,

1 Peter 4:7-11, “The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.

8 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.

9 Be hospitable to one another without complaint.

10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

11 Whoever speaks is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

The Apostle Peter is not announcing an immediate end of life, as we currently know it. He is, however, warning us all that there is an inevitable end coming!

When I was affiliated with Northeastern Bible College in New Jersey, I had several opportunities to speak on a metropolitan radio station. Interestingly enough, a speaker (now deceased) had made his reputation on that station by announcing the precise date of the LORD’s return! (I trust he’s now with the LORD and is regretful of his error.)

We are not to speak as if we possessed some unique knowledge, but to speak His very words, as they are contained in the Scriptures. In this way, He is certain to be glorified.

Further, people everywhere are never more open to hearing the Good News of Jesus than at this special time of the year! To that end, I have appended a Gospel Tract that you can attach to Christmas greetings you send to family and friends. Be prayerful. The LORD alone is responsible for reaching people when we are willing to be used in the process.

Click here to view the Gospel tract — “It’s Not How You Play the Game

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

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 Timothy 3:1-7, “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.

2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,

3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,

4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.

6 For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses,

7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

If you have read carefully the verses above, you have noticed that they indicate that “difficult times will come.” Let me assure you that those times are with us today!

Read slowly through this litany of 20-some things noted in the Scripture above! Every true Christian, as well as the pretenders, should engage in careful examination of his or her spiritual life. If you are not a truly born-again child of God, you need to trust Him immediately! Life is all too short. Good intentions will not do it! You can enjoy His forgiveness, but only upon the confession of your personal sin.

Yes, the times in which we live are difficult! That’s all the more reason why we all need Jesus Christ in our lives. It’s a matter of “surrender.” I gave my life to Jesus as a boy of seven. My three children came to faith at a younger age than I. You can accept Him! You can lead others to accept Him, too. Use the tract below. Attach it to the Christmas email you send to others. The LORD Himself only knows the ultimate value of your witness. God bless you abundantly!

Click here to view the Gospel tract — “It’s Not How You Play the Game”

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need,

Until He becomes all that we have.” –Corrie ten Boom