The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Ephesians 1:15-18, “For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you, and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.

18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints…”

Sometimes strange things happen to us –things we don’t understand at the time and may never understand. Something

like this happened to me last night. It was not a vision; it may have been a dream. But my mind would not grasp the full

significance of the words “knowledge” and “enlightened.” Time is hard to evaluate in dreams, but when I awoke, those two

words were still in my mind, and I knew I had to come to grips with their meaning and share it with you.

As I look at those two words (knowledge and enlightened) in the passage above, they are encompassed by prayer. Paul

was giving thanks for the Ephesian believers, and he prayed that the LORD would give them a spirit of wisdom and an uncovering of the true knowledge of God. Quite honestly, we know very little about God. We believe that God exists, but we are a hundred million miles from uncovering a scintila of His being!

Paul knows the limit of his own knowledge of God, so he prays that our finite knowledge of God might be enlightened. Why are we so devoid of the knowledge of God? Ask yourself that question. My guess is that we spend more time washing our hands every day than we do thinking about God. I’m sure we all spend more time with our cell phones and with television than we do with God’s Word. Paul was unequivically devoted to knowing Christ, “I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Phil. 3:8). Now, there’s a standard for each of us!

Yet, there’s a further prize I think I see in Paul’s admonition. He wants all believers to know “the riches of the glory of Christ’s inheritance in the saints.” None of what Paul wants and has prayed for is solely for our benefit. We are Christ’s inheritance! And the glory of that is beyond all comprehension! The more we know of Christ, the more we will become like Christ; and the more be become like Him, the greater will be His glory throughout Eternity! Breathtaking, when you truly think about it.

We love you all and pray for you every single day,

Nana & 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,

2 Corinthians 10:3-6, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh,

4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.

5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, 6 and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.”

Although I’ve forgotten the man who said it, I remember well his saying, “It is amazing how many proud and haughty people claim to be followers of the lowly Nazarene.” Even church people have serious differences from time-to-time. The Corinthian Church was a scrapy lot. Sin was rampant in the church and those who opposed one wrong were themselves guilty of another. Paul was not physically present during these differences, but it’s not hard to understand what he would have done had he been there.

This is not the right attitude for Christian people, Paul said. We’re not to be fleshly and act like unbelievers. Yes, it was a battle, but the secret to success and harmony is the spiritual reliance on Divine Power. Don’t “duke it out” with others; let the LORD handle the situation. “True knowledge makes men humble. Where there is exaltation of self, the knowledge of God is wanting.” Bring your thoughts and arguments into captivity in Christ. He alone can destroy what is opposed to Him.

Paul closes a measure of his argument when he says, “…we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.” Paul was the LORD’s ambassador in the situation. He was charged with authority from the LORD over all the matters that troubled the Corinthian believers. He knew those who were wrong and he was ready to secure justice for those who were right –but only when they would give up their self-righteous battle and let the LORD take full charge.

Making an application of this instruction to your own life may take some serious thought. Don’t overlook it! The LORD will fight all the battles for us who are committed to Him; but, He waits for us to turn to Him for help and give up trying to do it all by ourselves. Are you in a battle? Do you seem to be losing? Well, now you know what to do, just do it!

We love you and pray for you ever day,

Nana & 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,

2 Corinthians 9:6-8, “Now this I say, he who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully. 7 Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.”

As time moves on in life, it seems natural to look back and examine how the wrongs might have been avoided and how the

rights might have benefited others. It is easy to know how the gifts of others have benefited us, but it is not always easy to know how our gifts have benefited others. One thing is certain: if we give sparingly, we will reap sparingly. If we give bountifully, we will reap bountifully. We must not give, however, with the view to receiving.

Previously, I mentioned the Australian attorney’s gift to us. It arrived when we were “at the bottom of the barrel” financially.

I’ve told you, too, of the woman, who said she would remember me in her will. She did, even before she died. I remember a generous gift from my cousin when we returned to the States. I remember a man handing me $50, never knowing how timely it was. I was totally out of money and trusting the LORD for gasoline for my car. Even now, the LORD continues to give and give abundantly!

But, we are not to live that we might receive; we receive that we might give to others! Paul said, “God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.” How true it is! You simply cannot out-give God! I remember challenging a group of 20-somethings in Australia to pray for a missionary and send him support. The LORD laid an idea on their hearts that led to the salvation of numerous souls, one of whom was about to take his own life.

We will never know the full extent our giving will have in the lives of others until we stand one day before the LORD’s Judgment Seat. “But where,” you say –“where and to whom shall I give?” Just lay that request before Him in prayer. He will bring to your mind what you should do. Follow His leadership. Believe me, it is the way of blessing!

Our prayers continue for you every day,

Nana & 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,

Galatians 6:9, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

Life is not easy. There are times when we just want to quit and give up. We feel that our efforts are

not producing what we intend, so there’s no use in trying. Missionaries often feel like that. They start

out with great enthusiasm; then they have trouble with the language; their communication links are

down and they can’t get help; they get sick and there’s no doctor within hundreds of miles. What is

going on?

A missionary to Taiwan noticed an elderly Chinese woman as she was witnessing to others. He

asked if he might follow her and learn how she reached her people. She agreed and told him to

meet her at the train station at 5 o’clock in the morning. His eyes widened at the thought of the

early hour, but he agreed.

They boarded the train, carrying a supply of gospel material, and as the train left the station, the

woman began making her way car-by-car, handing out the gospel reading material. When they

reached the foremost car, they began returning car-by-car noting carefully the faces of the people

who had previously received the material. Here and there the lady noticed tears in the eyes, tears

that indicated a concern of the heart. And then she stopped and shared more of the gospel and

prayed with the person to receive the LORD Jesus Christ.

By the time the train reached its final destination, the missionary was exhausted. He asked where

he might find a hotel and get some rest. “No time for rest,” the lady said. “We must return.” And

while the train was turned around, a fresh supply of gospel material was brought and they again

went through the train, sharing the gospel and distributing Christian literature. “Don’t you ever

get tired?” the missionary asked the woman. “Oh, yes,” she replied. “But when I do, I just say,

‘Quicken me, LORD,’ and He gives me strength to go on.”

How often we’re tempted to give up. We’re tired. What we attempted didn’t work. It’s no use.

I’m just not cut out for this. When those thoughts come to mind, it’s the Adversary, the devil,

seeking to discourage you. Don’t give up! Just ask the LORD to “quicken” you – to give you

spiritual and physical strength to go on. “In due season, you will reap, if you don’t give up.

Our prayers are with you every day,

Nana & 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,

2 Corinthians 6:14-17, “Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a

believer in common with an unbeliever? 16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the

temple of the living God; just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and

they shall be My people.

17 “Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord. “And do not touch what is unclean;

And I will welcome you.”

Talk about a mess! The Corinthians were believers, but they were a long way from what the LORD wanted

them to be. Sound familiar? It should, because we’re all like that at times. But, we’re not to despair because

the LORD has not abandoned us, just as He had not abandoned them. We are just to be careful with whom

we associate.

Let’s say you’re building a business. You’ve got all the right ideas for making it successful –all but one! The

money with which to finance it. Then, along comes someone who says he will put his money into the business

and the two of you will become partners. There’s jut one problem. You’re a believer; he is not. STOP! Go no

further. You’re a believer; he is not. You are God’s light; he is the devil’s darkness. How are you going to get

along? But, how are you going to finance the business without him? Have you lost faith in the LORD Jesus?

Do you not think that He who arose from the dead is able to provide someone else who can work with you?

It works the same way in life. Sometimes, we just get in a hurry. We’re so anxious to get things done that we

forget that God has His own purpose, His own timing, His own people, His own finances. Slow down. Things

done too quickly are often not done well. Remember the LORD’s admonition: “Do not touch what is unclean;

and I will welcome you.”

Our prayers for your “success” are offered daily,

Nana & 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.”