The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Acts 16:27-31, “And when the jailer had been roused out of sleep and

had seen the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to

kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried

out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Do yourself no harm, for we are all here!’

29 And he called for lights and rushed in and, trembling with fear, he fell

down before Paul and Silas, 30 and after he brought them out, he said,

‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ 31 And they said, ‘Believe in the Lord

Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your household.’”

What a night! Paul and Silas had been singing hymns and praising the LORD.

But the jailer had been asleep. When he awoke and saw what had occurred,

he realized that he would be blamed and determined to kill himself. But Paul

SHOUTED to him to STOP! While all of this was actual, two things could be

easily allegorized: one, the world, like the jailer, is asleep to what’s really

going on. They see the melee, the chaos, in the world, but they have no idea

that everything is winding down and headed to the LORD Jesus’ Return! The

only way out they know is suicide. And suicide is NOT the way out! It’s the

way in to Hell itself. The second allegory is that Paul shouted with a LOUD

voice. Sometimes we think the lost world should just “see” us living out our

faith. They may see that we are different, but they have no idea why. And

just “seeing” is not knowing. ~ Ultimately, the jailer asks the universal

question: “What must I do to be saved?” In all probability, he was only

concerned about the salvation of his human life. Yet, Paul replied with a

decidedly spiritual answer: “BELIEVE on the LORD Jesus Christ!” People want

to be “saved” from bankruptcy, from illness, from the loss of loved ones –

from every conceivable physical and mental aberration. Yet, true salvation

is first spiritual and always and only from the LORD. Just think about it.

Our Love and prayers are always for you,

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 16:25-26, “But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying

and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening

to them; 26 and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the

foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the

doors were opened, and everyone’s chains were unfastened.”

Everyone occasionally experiences difficult times. But when you’re

conducting the LORD’s business, those times are more frequent.

Paul and Silas give us the “what-to-do” when things are really bad.

Midnight is the darkest hour; and it was their’s for sure! Beaten

severely, falsely imprisoned, fastened with chains and unattended

as to their wounds, what were they now to do? “They prayed and

sang hymns of praise to God.” Imagine! When the local authorities

were corrupt, they called on the Higher Power. Perhaps they were

remembering the LORD’s Words: “”Rejoice, and be glad, for your

reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who

were before you” (Matt. 5:12). The LORD’s response was an

earthquake (seismos) that shook the very foundation of the prison.

The LORD always gets to the root of things. Nothing superficial here.

And the doors were opened (fresh air now replaced a stale environment),

“and everyone’s chains were unfastened.” Remember the prisoners, who

were listening? Apparently, they, too, believed, because they were now

freed. Had the LORD not done more than his servants asked? He always

does when we look upward to Him instead of concentrating on the trouble

that surrounds us. “If, therefore, the Son shall make you free, you shall be

free indeed” (Jn. 8:36). Never forget it!

Love and prayers always,

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 16:19-21, “But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone,

they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market place before the

authorities, 20 and when they had brought them to the chief magistrates, they

said, ‘These men are throwing our city into confusion, being Jews, 21 and are

proclaiming customs which it is not lawful for us to accept or to observe,

being Romans.’”

It unbelievable how some people act! Paul had just freed a demon-possessed

girl from slavery. You would have thought that the men associated with the

girl would have been amazed and wanted to know more about Paul and this

Jesus, by whose name he had done it. Not even close! What concerned them

was that “their hope of profit was gone.” Elsewhere in Paul’s writings he

warns about being preoccupied with money. The miracle that should have

caused them to think about their spiritual condition, went right over their

heads. Instead, they immediately pounced on Paul and Silas and physically

“dragged them into the market place,” before the governmental authorities;

then they lied, used the “race card” (“being Jews”), and accused Paul and

Silas of teaching things contrary to Roman law –all of this without a single

scintilla of proof! Sound like things today?

Years ago, I did a favor for someone I met online. We emailed and later

spoke on the phone. Then, one day he phoned me, saying that there

was an opportunity I should inspect. Long story short, I did, and I’ve been

with Liberty University now for 11 years! The LORD led me to help him;

then the LORD led him to help me. And in this situation, I’ve been enabled

to invest in the lives of hundreds of students from all over the world, and

receive the LORD’s provision in my “retirement” years. Lesson: focus on

what you can do for others –physically and spiritually. The LORD will care

for you.

You are ever in our daily prayers,

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 16:14-18, “And a certain woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. 15 And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us. 16 And it happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a certain slave-girl having a spirit of divination met us, who was bringing her masters much profit by fortunetelling. 17 Following after Paul and us, she kept crying out, saying, ‘These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.’

18 And she continued doing this for many days. But Paul was greatly annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, ‘I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!’ And it came out at that very moment.”

This is a contrast of two women: Lydia was a free woman, who came to faith in Christ

through the preaching of the Apostle Paul. The other woman was a slave, who was

controlled by a demonic spirit. It is a contrast that exists today. Some people are free

in Christ and others are controlled by the devil. Both women heard the same Gospel.

Lydia was amenable to Paul’s message of Christ because she was already God-fearing.

The salve-girl taunted Paul and Silas by ridiculing their message of salvation. Note that

Paul was patient, putting up with the slave-girl’s taunts for “many days.” But enough

was enough! Recognizing that it was not the slave-girl herself, who was speaking these

things, but a demonic spirit, he addressed the spirit in the Name of Jesus Christ,

commanding it to come out of the girl –and it did!

While these two experiences are real and true, they also represent the kind of people

we have in the world. Some are open to the Gospel, and they trust the LORD quickly.

Others, are skeptical and often ridicule and argue against our witness. We must be

careful not to blame the individuals entirely. Satan still infests the lives of people, who

rail against our message. Patience and prayer are our keys to victory. Just don’t give up.

Like digging a well, it takes time, energy, and faithful patience. But the water of salvation

and freedom is there, and the break-through lies in the Hands of the LORD.

Faithfully praying for you each 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 16:6-7, “And they passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region,

having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia;

7 and when they had come to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia,

and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them…”

The New Testament is literally filled with commands to GO, to SHARE,

to WITNESS. We’ve all read them many times. So, it seems somewhat

out of place that we should ever be stopped from doing what we are

being urged to do. I’m sure Paul wondered about this when he was

twice hindered from sharing the Gospel that had fundamentally changed

his life. ~ When we were all little children, we often heard the words “NO!

STOP! DON’T DO THAT!” (Sometimes we still hear that, don’t we?) But

when did you last hear a parent, and older sibling, or a pastor say, “Don’t

tell him about Jesus”? Cars have to have brakes. It would be disastrous

if they didn’t. We need brakes, too; and the Holy Spirit serves us as both

an Accelerator and a Brake. We don’t always know why. Paul didn’t

know, either. But he obeyed. Stop and Go are learning instructions.

Sometimes we want to go before we are ready. Sometimes we are

ready, but hesitant to go. Listening to the Holy Spirit is the all-important

lesson. He “sees” from afar; we don’t. Practice listening to Him and

pray for His guidance. Then go when He tells you. Lydia was glad they

did!

May His Love and always guide you is our prayer,

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.”