The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Ezra 4:1-5, “Now when the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the people of the exile were building a temple to the LORD God of Israel,

2 they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of fathers’ households, and said to them, ‘Let us build with you, for we, like you, seek your God; and we have been sacrificing to Him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us up here.’

3 But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the heads of fathers’ households of Israel said to them, ‘You have nothing in common with us in building a house to our God; but we ourselves will together build to the LORD God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia has commanded us.’

4 Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah, and frightened them from building,

5 and hired counselors against them to frustrate their counsel all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.”

Sometimes what looks good from the outside is no good altogether. Let’s say that you are engaged in a project that you had never before undertaken. A person sees what you’re intending and immediately offers to help. You appreciate his willingness to assist you, but soon learn that he has no idea whatever to do. He’s just going to hinder your progress altogether and ruin your day!

This is what nearly occurred when the tribes of Judah and Benjamin determined to build a temple to the LORD! Zerubbabel and Company wanted to oblige Judah and Benjamin with help which they neither asked nor wanted. When they were told no, they changed from “advocates” to “antagonists,” and brought discouragement and all manner of hindrances to the Judeans. This is a common derailment that occurs against Christian endeavors today. Someone somewhere learns of the LORD’s plan for His people and throws every possible obstacle in the way. Sometimes it’s financial; sometimes it’s simply political. Always it’s demonic! Satan is clever. He’s also brutal!

Nevertheless, the LORD will ultimately prevail! Thus, we, His people, must persevere. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psa. 46:1). When we have sincerely and prayerfully sought and received the LORD’s counsel to go forward, we may do so without hesitancy; for He goes before us, breaking down all barriers and enabling us to prosper. There is no power that can prevail against the LORD! Our trust must always be in Him alone!

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,

Titus 1:7-16, “…the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain,

8 but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled,

9 holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.

10 For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,

11 who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain.

12 One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”

13 This testimony is true. For this reason reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith,

14 not paying attention to Jewish myths and commandments of men who turn away from the truth.

15 To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.

16 They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed.”

The “overseer,” of whom Titus speaks, was a superintendent, who saw that everything and every-one was as they ought to be and in the proper place. Notice that there were five “negatives” that he was to avoid and seven “positives” that he was to employ at all times. Opposition to the LORD’s work was constantly present; thus, the superintendent was there to promote sound doctrine and to refute all who would seek to contradict it. Pastors and deacons today are charged with much the same responsibility.

If true believers will avail themselves of the opportunities, they, too, will serve well when they put down those who teach and promote false doctrine. That “they must be silenced” is, without a doubt, correct even today. Many a congregation has been virtually destroyed because of the hustlers, who upset the faithful with their false doctrine. Satan is real! And his efforts to thwart the work of the LORD are present wherever the LORD’s Truth is believed and taught. Be ALERT!

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,

Exodus 13:1-8, “Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

2 ‘Sanctify to Me every firstborn, the first offspring of every womb among the sons of Israel, both of man and beast; it belongs to Me.’

3 Moses said to the people, ‘Remember this day in which you went out from Egypt, from the house of slavery; for by a powerful hand the LORD brought you out from this place. And nothing leavened shall be eaten.’

4 On this day in the month of Abib, you are about to go forth.

5 It shall be when the LORD brings you to the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Hivite and the Jebusite, which He swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, that you shall observe this rite in this month.

6 “For seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to the LORD.

7 Unleavened bread shall be eaten throughout the seven days; and nothing leavened shall be seen among you, nor shall any leaven be seen among you in all your borders.

8 You shall tell your son on that day, saying, ‘It is because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.’”

What is your favorite day? Your birthday? Christmas? Thanksgiving? A special anniversary? Just about everyone has a day that counts as “special.” The day that Moses led Israel out of Egypt –that was indeed a very special day! I have spoken through the bars with prisoners, who were indeed looking for their day of release. To them, that is indeed viewed as a special day!

But, for the Israelites, who were imprisoned in Egypt, one day was viewed as a lifetime! For many it was indeed a lifetime! Yet, release is now imminent! The words, “Let My people go!” had reached the Egyptian leadership, and the humongous crowd of thousands were ready! Abib was the first month of the Jewish ecclesiastical year, corresponding to our month of April.

The journey from Egypt to Israel was not easy, yet the people were now free from the rigors of Egyptian slavery! It’s not easy for people today to translate from worldly lifestyles to the lifestyle of a born-again Christian. Yet, it’s more than worthwhile! There’s freedom in the air, and in everything that’s pure and clean. “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift!” (2 Cor. 9:15).

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,

Luke 22:39-46, “And He came out and went, as was His habit, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples also followed Him. When He arrived at the place, He said to them, ‘Pray that you may not enter into temptation.’

41 And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and began to pray,

42 saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.”

43 Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him.

44 And being in agony, He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.

45 When He rose from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow,

46 and said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

If we read the Scriptures carefully, we will quickly learn that the disciples of Jesus were very much like we are today. Previously, in this chapter, the LORD and His disciples had shared in the Supper where He gave thanks to the Father, likening the bread to His Body and the wine to His Blood, saying “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” It was a solemn time, followed by prayer that they might “not enter into temptation.”

Leaving them to themselves, He then withdrew somewhat and began to pray, knowing that the time of His death was rapidly approaching. His prayer was so earnestly fervent that He sweat profusely, much like blood when excessive energy is expelled from the body. Yet, when He concluded His prayer, He found His disciples sleeping –sleeping from sorrow!

Have we not all experienced the same? Our concerns turn first to sorrow; then we seek sleep to cover and expel that sorrow –at least for a time. Yet, sleep does not erase sorrow completely; it simply seeks to cover it for a time; and when we awaken, the sorrow rushes again into our mind and we, in need of that sleep, simply mask it again.

Earnest prayer is the only answer, for it lays our difficulty squarely in the Hands of the LORD. “Thy will be done” is the resolution. We trust a lot of things to a lot of people every day–things of much less importance. Why not put everything into those Hands that were nailed to the Cross?

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,

1 Chronicles 16:23-29, “Sing to the LORD, all the earth; Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.

24 Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.

25 For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; He also is to be feared above all gods.

26 For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the LORD made the heavens.

27 Splendor and majesty are before Him, Strength and joy are in His place.

28 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

29 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; Bring an offering, and come before Him; Worship the LORD in holy array.”

My recent readings from an ancient commentary on the Scriptures, produced the following. May these few words lift your spirit as they have indeed lifted mine!

“Whether the music of that age would be pronounced ‘classic’ in our own, we have absolutely no means of deciding. It is hopelessly lost, nor have we any power to reproduce with certainty even one of their numerous musical instruments. Yet, of this we may be certain, it was music. It had in it some of the harmony of sweet sounds; it had the power to lift up human souls to a true devotional enthusiasm. It bore on high the out-goings of devout thanksgiving, praise, and adoration; it stirred pious souls to their depths of love and grateful trust; and, best of all, was well pleasing to God.”

“Of the poetry of those songs, we fortunately have ample means of judging. If the music was worthy of the poetry—equal to it in beauty and in power, we can afford to wish it had come down to our age in all its glory. That it made the tabernacle worship attractive, inspiring, impressive –a most effective means of reviving true piety in Israel, there can be no manner of doubt. Such hallowed songs, embodying and impressing such lofty sentiments, bringing God so near to men and lifting men so near to God; and all this backed up by the earnest example and the noble enthusiasm of a king whom to know was to esteem and to honor—these influences and impulses must have brought a great reviving in the piety of the Hebrew people.”

“O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His loving kindness is everlasting.” (I Chr. 16:34).

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