Robert Jeffress - Grace Gone Wild!: Getting a Grip on Gods Amazing Gift

In Hell? Yes! Robert Jeffress approaches the Goliath-like issues of our time with the calm, dead-eye aim of a contemporary David. If you want an encounter with the truth, read this book! It is so timely for this generation.

J OSH D. M C D OWELL , author and speaker

I have no doubt that many will come to a place of hope and will find peace for their souls as they read Hell? Yes!

D ENNIS J ERNIGAN , author of Giant Killers, song writer, and Doxology recording artist

I Want More! weighs the limited experience of the average believer against the dynamic promise of the Holy Spirits work and power in his or her life. Robert Jeffress reminds us that Spirit-charged living is not the result of an occasional high-voltage worship experience, but rather a daily reliance on the Generatorthe Holy Spiritworking on behalf of regenerated men and women. If you want more, this is a book that answers the cry of your heart.

J ACK G RAHAM , pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church, Plano, Texas

The reader of I Want More! steps into a chapel of warm reverence where the Fathers invitation to come to Him is explained not in theological jargon but with an assuring explanation. The life-changing work of the Holy Spirit is neither hyped nor hidden, simply made available to those who seek His presence.

H OWARD G. H ENDRICKS , Distinguished Professor and chairman, Center for Christian Leadership, Dallas Theological Seminary

Robert Jeffress is a talented pastor and gifted writer with a heart for God. Once again he has done a masterful job in presenting practical principles that every man and woman can apply. The Solomon Secrets is filled with pure gold. So enjoy the hunt for treasure as Robert helps unlock the vast riches of Gods wisdom found in Proverbs.

D R . E D Y OUNG , senior pastor, Second Baptist Church, Houston, Texas

Dr. Jeffresss book is a compilation of hard-hitting, practical wisdom for daily living. You will profit greatly from studying The Solomon Secrets. The study guide included in the book will aid small-group study of this helpful volume.

D R . K EN H EMPHILL , president, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Coming Home

The Solomon Secrets

Hearing the Masters Voice

When Forgiveness Doesnt Make Sense

I Want More!

Hell? Yes!

G RACE G ONE W ILD !

P UBLISHED BY W ATER B ROOK P RESS

12265 Oracle Boulevard, Suite 200

Colorado Springs, Colorado 80921

A division of Random House, Inc.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New American Standard Bible. ( NASB ). Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org). Scripture quotations marked ( KJV ) are taken from the King James Version. Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New living Translation, copyright 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Italics in Scripture quotations reflect the authors added emphasis.

Details in some anecdotes and stories have been changed to protect the identities of the persons involved.

eISBN: 978-0-307-83069-2

Copyright 2005 by Robert Jeffress

Published in association with Yates & Yates, LLP, Attorneys and Counselors, Orange, California.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

W ATER B ROOK and its deer design logo are registered trademarks of WaterBrook Press, a division of Random House, Inc.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Jeffress, Robert, 1955

Grace gone wild! : getting a grip on Gods amazing gift / Robert Jeffress.1st ed.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references.

1. Grace (Theology). I. Title.

BT761.3.J44 2005

234dc22

2005014142

v3.1

To my trusted mentor and faithful friend Dr. Howard G. Hendricks, whose impact on my life for the past thirty years is one of the clearest evidences of Gods grace. Thanks, Prof.

Thank you

Steve Cobb and the wonderful team at WaterBrookfor your support, especially when it comes to tough messages like Grace Gone Wild! and Hell? Yes!

Bruce Nygren, Alice Crider, and Jennifer Lonasfor suggesting ways to soften the blow without compromising the message.

Sealy Yates, my agent and friend for the past decadefor your valued insights.

Carrilyn Bakerfor your persistence in tracking down the dozens of sources for this book and youre still smiling!

UNDERSTANDING GOOD GRACE

B rian Gilmore desperately needed some grace, but few in his church were willing to offer him any. For the past four years, Brian had led the mens ministry program at Grace Church. Although Brian was employed as a software specialist for a local accounting firm, his real passion was discipling men. He devoted lunch hours, evenings after work, and Saturdays to small-group Bible studies, personal mentoring, and marital counselingwhich is how Brian met Susan and Randy Johnston.

Susan, a committed Christian, had finally persuaded her husband, Randy, to start attending Grace Church. Randy had very little interest in spiritual matters, but he attended Grace to appease his wife and, perhaps, to expand his client base in the increasingly competitive cancer-insurance business. So Susan was pleasantly surprised when Randy signed up for a mens small-group Bible study that Brian was leading.

Over the next few months, Brian could sense by some of Randys blunt and often sarcastic comments that he and his wife, Susan, were struggling in their relationship. So he asked if Randy would be open to the three of them getting together over coffee to discuss their issues. Randy agreed, hoping that Brian might be the much-needed ally he was seeking to help get Susan off his back. Perhaps a few strong words about submission from a neutral third party would do the trick.

But the sessions did not turn out as Randy expected. Instead, Brian directed most of his comments to Randy, encouraging him to love his wife as Christ also loved the church (Ephesians 5:25). About two sessions of that kind of advice was all Randy needed before he bolted. He not only refused to attend any more counseling sessions with Brian, but he stopped attending Grace Church altogether. However, Susan asked Brian if she might continue meeting with him so she might better understand how to be a godly wife.