The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Ephesians 6:10-13, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.”

Does life often seem like a struggle to you? Day after day, you strive to do better and to get more done; yet nothing seems to gain traction? (I can “see” that you’re experiencing this very thing!)

Well, the Apostle Paul has a remedy! It is something of a “dual role,” however. It’s not something you can do by yourself. Sounding better? Sure, it’s always better when someone stands with us in any venture, isn’t it? It’s an assurance that if something goes wrong, the other person will be there to help. Any added benefit is the comfort and fellowship we encounter.

Paul’s “suggested person” is the LORD! The LORD is incredibly stronger than you and I, and He is always ready and willing to assist. In fact, He’s been known to always carry the heavier end of the load. It’s certainly worth thinking about.

Are you worried about opposition? The LORD stands firmly against all evil opposition. Opposition often seeks to weary us into believing that we are totally incapable of attending to every business at hand. Sometimes, opposition seeks to discourage us from ever again trying to accomplish anything!

What does Paul suggest? Well, he suggests that we clothe ourselves in the strength of the LORD by putting on what he calls the “full armor of God!” What we encounter and discover to be beyond our strength, the LORD will handle sufficiently! He’s never lost a battle! Even in death, He ultimately won! He’s more than worth a try. How could we possibly lose by being on the LORD’s side?

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 19:9-13, “The sons of Ammon came out and drew up in battle array at the entrance of the city, and the kings, who had come, were by themselves in the field.

10 Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him in front and in the rear, he selected from all the choice men of Israel and they arrayed themselves against the Arameans.

11 But the remainder of the people he placed in the hand of Abshai his brother; and they arrayed themselves against the sons of Ammon.

12 He said, “If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the sons of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will help you.

13 “Be strong, and let us show ourselves courageous for the sake of our people and for the cities of our God; and may the LORD do what is good in His sight.”

Battles of any size are never encouraging. Death and devastation are always the result. It was clearly the same in this case. Hanun was the son of the late Nahash, king of the Ammonites. David had shown kindness to Nahash, but sons are often not like their fathers. Hanun dealt harshly with David’s servants and ultimately sought to defeat him in battle. Either he had not heard of David’s strength in warfare, or his opinion of himself outweighed all thoughts of defeat. Neither was to Hanun’s advantage.

On the other hand, David prepared himself well not only in the assembling of his forces but by way of prayerful encouragement of his men and the families left behind. Ultimately, David’s forces won the victory and ultimately made peace with the hostile Arameans.

Sometimes we have to overcome others before they come to peace with us. Certainly, we ought not to thoroughly devastate them. Rather, we ought to bring them to a spiritual way of thinking, such that results in their commitment to Christ and His teachings. Those kinds of “enemies” become far better friends. And in the end, friends are what we are seeking. “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity” (Prov. 17:17).

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,

John 16:21-24, “Whenever a woman is in labor she has pain, because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a child has been born into the world.

22 “Therefore, you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.

23 “In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you.

24 “Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.”

When was the last time you asked the LORD for something? Don’t give me that! It was today, wasn’t it? We are always in need of something; and for the Christian, asking his heavenly Father is his first line of defense.

Strange as it may seem, human fathers are often eager to hear their children ask for things. “Why, I didn’t know you even liked fishing!” a father jokes, as he basks in the boy’s joy over his new fishing rod. Dads know how it goes.

Just imagine how delighted the LORD is to hear us ask of Him those intangible things that only He can provide. Faith is but one intangible. It is trust in the LORD. “Without faith it is impossible to please Him,” the Scriptures say (Heb. 11:6). Have you never had your dad hint at providing something you had desperately wanted? Just knowing he could produce it was sufficient for him.

The LORD is like that. There is so much He can provide – and He wants to provide it! He just wants us to ask. “If you ask the Father for anything in My name,” Jesus says, “He will give it to you.” What do you desperately need – not just want—need?

If the fellowship with Christ Jesus is what it ought to be, and if it accrues to your spiritual benefit, and that of others, He will provide it. You only need to ask. Did He not say, “…whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive it all”? (Matt. 21:22). I’m trying to be patient. What about you?

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 27:25-31, “Now Azmaveth the son of Adiel had charge of the king’s storehouses. And Jonathan the son of Uzziah had charge of the storehouses in the country, in the cities, in the villages, and in the towers.

26 Ezri the son of Chelub had charge of the agricultural workers who tilled the soil.

27 Shimei the Ramathite had charge of the vineyards; and Zabdi the Shiphmite had charge of the produce of the vineyards stored in the wine cellars.

28 Baal-hanan the Gederite had charge of the olive and sycamore trees in the Shephelah; and Joash had charge of the stores of oil.

29 Shitrai the Sharonite had charge of the cattle which were grazing in Sharon; and Shaphat the son of Adlai had charge of the cattle in the valleys.

30 Obil the Ishmaelite had charge of the camels; and Jehdeiah the Meronothite had charge of the donkeys.

31 Jaziz the Hagrite had charge of the flocks. All these were overseers of the property which belonged to King David.”

I am aware that this is not the easiest reading; however, I have emboldened certain words to emphasize the areas of responsibility men had in the care of things belonging to the king. Have you taken inventory lately of the areas of responsibility assigned to you by the LORD?

We expect our pastors and staff to attend to their spiritual responsibilities. We have spiritual responsibilities, too. Prayer is always our first and foremost responsibility.

When difficulties harass our lives and families, we call on our pastors and the staff to pray for us. How often do we pray for them? We live among neighbors and friends. Are we praying for them? Government employees are working for us. Are we praying for them? Scores of military personnel are engaged in fighting for us. Are we praying for them?

I am speaking to myself as I am writing to you. I, too, am guilty of prayerful neglect toward my responsibilities. We are living in desperate times – times that are moving us rapidly toward the end of life as we know it. That being true, our responsibilities are all the greater. Let’s be alert! Let’s be prayerful! The LORD is in His Heaven. He longs to hear and answer our prayers.

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,

Psalm 92:1-5, “A Psalm, a Song for the Sabbath day. It is good to give thanks to the LORD and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;

2 To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning and Your faithfulness by night,

3 With the ten-stringed lute and with the harp, with resounding music upon the lyre.

4 For You, O LORD, have made me glad by what You have done; I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands.

5 How great are Your works, O LORD! Your thoughts are very deep.”

The Jewish nation was a nation of music! If you read the Scriptures carefully, you will soon discover that whether or not you are reading in the Psalms, you are reading of music! Read this psalmist carefully. He is first giving thanks to the LORD for all of His good works. It is of vital importance that we recognize that the LORD is the Author of all good music. He is indeed to be praised!

I recall those momentous days in church when we sang and sang to the glory of the LORD! Christmas radio always featured Handel’s Messiah, and I can remember lying in bed and listening via radio! Television, too, featured Christ-honoring music throughout the Christmas season. It is said that the King of England, at the commencement of the singing of the Hallelujah Chorus, physically arose from his seat and stood in honor of Jesus Christ!

We would all do well to take inventory of the blessings the LORD has bestowed upon us, and we should honor Him in the music of our lives by being faithful to His cause. Whether we sing or play musical instruments is not the measure we should seek. Our stand for Him in every situation and in the presence of others is the signal tribute!

There’s an old chorus we used to sing: “Let Others See Jesus in You.” Take inventory of your life. Make certain that Jesus is foremost in everything! In that way, we declare our love and devotion to the King of Kings! It will be worth it all when we see Jesus!

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