The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Acts 12:5, “So Peter was kept in the prison,

but prayer for him was being made fervently

by the church to God.”

Herod had imprisoned Peter, fastened him with

chains and guarded him with 16 soldiers. The

probability factor of his escape was beyond

belief. What was he to do? He slept. Think you

could have under such conditions? I don’t. But

Peter rested in confidence. He had seen the

LORD work before; and besides, his friends in

the Church would surely be praying. Prayer was

the only way to deal with Herod. It’s the only way

to deal with a host of things, yet we resort to protests,

to communication with governmental officials –

we do everything except pray! Peter’s church

prayed fervently! Theirs was no now-I-lay-me-

down-to-sleep prayer. It was intense! And it

prevailed!

Did you ever feel like you were in prison? Things

that captivated your mind were wrong, but you

could not seem to shake them? What do you do?

Yes, it is true that the LORD does not always

answer our prayers as quickly as we would like.

We have to leave the timing to Him. Yet, it is

also true that we don’t pray as intently as we

ought. He knows just how serious we are with

wanting to be free. Do we not know the inevitable

consequences of sin? “LORD, teach us to pray.”

For His promise is: “Thou wilt keep him in perfect

peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he

trusts in Thee” (Isa. 26:3).

Our prayers of love ascend for each you daily,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Acts 11:23, “Then when he had come and witnessed the grace of God,

he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain

true to the Lord.”

Simply stated, history is a record of past events. The Book of Acts is

an accurate record of the origin and development of the Christian faith.

Once the LORD Jesus had arisen from the dead and returned to Heaven,

the Church burst open on the world with the Good News, sharing it

everywhere! Not only the Jews, but the Greeks (Gentiles), too, were given

the Good News and were coming to faith in Jesus as the Christ.

The Church at Jerusalem sent Barnabus (“son of encouragement”) to

Antioch to witness and encourage new converts, telling them “to remain

true to the LORD.” As difficult as it may be for some to come to faith in

Christ, once they are saved, it often becomes equally difficult for them

to remain true to Him and His teachings. I’m sure each of us has

experienced that. Barnabus may have been a Class A personality, we don’t

know. What we do know is that he was a first class encourager. I want

to be that to you! I’ve seen a lot of change in the world during my lifetime.

If the LORD tarries, you will see the same in your lifetime. Just never lose

faith in the LORD. Always remain true to Him, however difficult times

become. Nothing will ever occur that He cannot control. Just “remain

true to the LORD” and He will preserve and protect you.

We love and pray for you every, single day,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Acts 7:58, “And when they had driven him out of the city,

they began stoning him, and the witnesses laid aside their

robes at the feet of a young man named Saul.”

Romans 11:33 says, “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the

wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His

judgments and unfathomable His ways!”

Nowhere in Scripture is there a clearer example of the LORD’s

unsearchable judgments or unfathomable ways than in Acts 7.

Stephen was a man of great wisdom because he was controlled

by the Holy Spirit. The only way the enemies of his teachings

could refute him was to lie about what he said. Their charges

brought him before the Jewish Council. His rehearsal of the

history of the Jews in Acts 7 is outstanding! But when he

concluded by charging them with resistance to the Holy Spirit,

they stoned him to death. And even while he was dying, he

cried out, “LORD, do not hold this sin against them.”

Where are the LORD’s unsearchable judgments and

unfathomable ways in all of this? They lie embedded in His

allowance of Stephen’s death in order that Saul of Tarsus

might become an even greater witness than Stephen. What

is occurring in your life right now may not be clear. Why is this

occurring? may be a question you will not understand until later

if at all. You may never understand it, but the LORD has His

purposes. Be faithful. Trust Him. Do and be and go where He

leads you, and your life will overflow with joy and gladness!

Praying for His fulfillment in your life every day,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Acts 4:17-20, “’But in order that it may not spread any further among the people,

let us warn them to speak no more to any man in this name.’

18 And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or

teach at all in the name of Jesus.

19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, ‘Whether it is right in the sight

of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge;

20 for we cannot stop speaking what we have seen and heard.’”

It’s the nature of war that men seek to kill each other. “Might makes right,”

as the saying goes. Interestingly enough, it is the same with spiritual

warfare. Satan’s nefarious means include intimidation of those whose

sole purpose is to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. “…let us warn

them to speak no more to any man in this Name.” The warning came

in the form of a command. Yet, Peter and John stood fast! “It’s on

you,” they said, to determine before God what is right for you; but

“we cannot stop speaking what we have seen and heard.”

Let me be clear: if you are not under Satan’s attack, you are not in

the battle! “Woe to you when all men speak well of you” (Lk. 6:26).

But, what are we to do? We are to keep on keeping on, following the

directive of the Holy Spirit of God. Whatever else, never compromise!

“Of all the things that I despise,

The foremost one is compromise.”

“And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Thy

bond-servants may speak Thy word with all confidence…” (Acts 4:29).

We pray that you will be strong in the LORD,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Acts 4:8, 12, “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them,

‘Rulers and elders of the people… And there is salvation in no

one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been

given among men, by which we must be saved.’”

President Trump gave what some have called the boldest address

ever before the United Nations yesterday. He called out North

Korea, Iran, Venezuela, Cuba and others by the names of their

rulers. I heard the speech. It was very bold and to the point.

Simon Peter called out the rulers and elders of the people in

our verses above. The Scripture says that Peter was “filled with

the Holy Spirit.” The Greek word, here translated “filled,” means

“controlled.” John 3:34 says, God “gives the Spirit without measure.”

No believer has half or two-thirds of the Holy Spirit! That’s absurd!

The Holy Spirit is a Person and no person is divisible into fractions.

This is important to notice because of what Peter goes on to say:

“…there is salvation in no one else,” other than Jesus Christ.

What President Trump said was good; but if the world is to be

delivered from the influx of evil from the countries he mentioned,

it will not be done with weapons of warfare. It will be done by the

Hand of the Creator. In just the same way, each person who is

imprisoned by sin, must look to Jesus Christ for his salvation. And

the place once occupied by Simon Peter must be filled you and me.

Think about that! We have a HUGE responsibility! But, the power

In us will always come from the LORD.

You are loved and held in our prayers daily,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”