The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Mark 7:5-8, “And the Pharisees and the scribes asked Him, ‘Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with impure hands?’

6 And He said to them, ‘Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, “This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me.

7 ‘But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.”

8 “’Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.’”

Driving home last night, I caught a broadcast from Moody Church in Chicago. Dr. Erwin Lutzer, pastor of Moody Church, told that on the night spiritually lost, young Charles Spurgeon attended a Bible study. The

pastor who was to conduct the study, never arrived, and a layman shared the Word that started young Spurgeon thinking about Christ and his need for him.

I had to wonder how many young men might become another Charles Spurgeon if some pastors were absent more often from their churches. Yes, it’s a cynical thought, but it parallels Jesus’ remarks concerning the scribes and the Pharisees in our verses above.

When I was a child, we had set Bible verses that were to be read every night. Then we checked little boxes within the booklets to show that we had read the verses that were assigned. All of that was excellent! But none of the readings “counted” if they were read after midnight. Why? Why, because midnight started yet another day! How foolish! It was a page out of the Pharisaical Handbook.

Of all the things that needed spiritual consideration, the Pharisees focused in on the disciples’ unwashed hands! Jesus called them hypocrites! In ancient Greek plays, the hero and the villan were often played by the same person. Each character was masked according to his part. Thus, a hypocrite was one who disguised himself with a mask of pretence. And that’s what Jesus meant when He called the Pharisees hypocrites! They pretended to be spiritually minded, but they were not.

Their hearts were far from Him; they neglected the commandments of God, and they taught the precepts of men as if they were the teachings of God –but they were not! We have some “pastors” doing the same today.

They teach a moral-uprightness, but neglect the heart of the Gospel, which leads to eternal salvation.

We need to attend faithfully to the BIBLE that gives the LORD’s own instruction! We need to wash our hands of pastors and churches that teach a feel-good religion because it is not the teaching of Christ! May the LORD, who is always faithful, lead us by His Truth. He is that faithful pastor, who is always present to teach the True Word to his people. Who knows but that he might be teaching another Spurgeon!

Pray for your faithful pastor, just as you pray for us and we for you,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Mark 6:31-32, “And He said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a lonely place and rest a while.’

(For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.)

32 “And they went away in the boat to a lonely place by themselves.”

Tragedies often drain us of strength. The death of a loved one is just such a tragedy. John the Baptist

(literally, John the baptizing one) had just been put to death by King Herod. It was that same John, and a

cousin of Jesus, who had earlier come out of the wilderness to introduce Him to the multitudes. John was

a bold and righteous man. The agony of John’s death was heavily upon the minds and hearts of those

early apostles.

Thus, Jesus said, “Come away / by yourselves / to a lonely place / and rest a while.”

Here is the first part of Jesus’ four-part command: “Come away…” At first, it may seem as if Jesus is signaling a retreat for His men. But, in reality, He is not calling them to forsake their work altogether. They just need to cease work for a time and in order to rest their minds and emotions.

He also said, “by yourselves.” We are social creatures. We tend to share our worries and joys with others. We tend to be suspicious of hermits, who steer clear others. There are occasions when we just need to be by ourselves. We have to think things through without the well-meaning direction of even the closest of friends.

Further, we need to withdraw “to a lonely place.” That means, we don’t need a crowd to confuse our thinking. We need to be alone. Crowds are distractions, and within a short time we will find ourselves siding with their thoughts and their involvements concerning things that are neither their business nor their knowledge. All of that is a distraction from the purpose for which we have come to “a lonely place.”

Additionally, Jesus’ instruction indicates that our “rest” is not a total relinquishment of the work He has assigned us; it is just the right amount of “withdrawal time” we need to work out the problems we face. Nor is it inconceivable to believe that when our work is resumed, it will offer a better result and a more efficient product.

Subsequently, the disciples obeyed and “went away in the boat to a lonely place by themselves.” A runner who prepares himself to race is more apt to win over those who have not prepared. So it is spiritually. When we obey the LORD’s commands, we win over those who neither know Him nor know to obey His will. Think about this with respect to your own life. Are you too much in the fray of things? –too much to take time to hear Him and to obey Him? Start today to discipline yourself according to His Word. Anxieties will vanish, and you will be refreshed for the work to which He has called you.

You will be in our prayers,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Genesis 2:2-3, “And by the seventh day God completed His work which He had done; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.”

Generally speaking, those of us who have work look forward to the days when we will have none. But those, who have no work, look expectingly for it. We were made for work, and work was made for us.

The word “work” is mentioned in Scripture 574 times. God did His initial work of Creation, and then He rested.

He created man to work. That’s what He meant when He directed Adam to care for the Garden of Eden. It would have been easy, had Adam not sinned. But he did; and the burden of the otherwise enjoyable work prompted the need for strength.

As we engage in work (???????? melakah, occupation, work) we are doing exactly what the LORD intends. He leads us in various ways into the kind of work that is best suited for us. Fast forward from Creation to 1705 BC, the era of Joseph, and interestingly enough, the Bible uses the same word for Joseph’s work (Gen. 39:11) that was used for the LORD’s. Thus, we can conclude that the work we are doing is precisely what the LORD intends for us to do.

There is yet another Hebrew word for work () ????????maaseh, a deed, accomplishment). We are always heartened when the tasks before us are completed, and on time and in good manner. Thus, there is joy in the work the LORD has set before us. Work is of far greater value than the financial reward we receive. Especially is that so, when we remember that we are doing His work.

The LORD’s rewards will be like trophies for a game well played –only far greater! Not everything we will be asked to do in this life will be pleasant. There is a Day of rest and reward coming. So, remember to view it as His work and attend to it with diligence and good will. Just hearing Him say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” will be more than sufficient on that day.

We are praying for you as you work,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

James 5:17-20, “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain; and it did not rain on the Earth for three years and six months.

18 And he prayed again, and the sky poured rain, and the Earth produced its fruit.

19 My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth, and one turns him back,

20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death, and will cover a multitude of sins.”

Prayer works for him, it just doesn’t work for me. Did you ever feel like that? In the verses just previous to those above, James encourages us to pray. Our response is often that we don’t have what it takes. God just

doesn’t hear our prayers like He hears the prayers of other people. James’ response is that we’re no different from anyone else. Then he cites the example of Elijah.

Sometimes we get the idea that people in the Old Testament were quite different that we are. But, it’s not true. Take Abramham for example. He was a worshipper of the moon goddess before the LORD called him to leave his paganism and follow Him. He left everything –his family, his fields, his flocks— everything! He then became the father of the Jewish nation. Moses was called to lead Israel out of Egypt. He protested that he “could not speak”; so the LORD sent his brother, Aaron, to speak for him’ and he freed Israel from Egyptian bondage. Look at David: he committed adultery with Bathsheba, and murdered her husband; but when he repented, God turned him around and he became the leading force for God among His people. There are a host of people –Solomon, the Apostle Paul, Simon Peter, John –who became godly after the LORD forgave their sins. You and I are not different.

But why did James select Elijah as an example of prayer? Perhaps it was because no one before him had ever prayed for such a magnificent undertaking. He declared that there would be no rain on the earth (upon Palestine) for three and a half years, and the LORD withheld the rain for exactly that time! Without a doubt, Elijah prayed in faith! Then, toward the end of the the time, he prayed that it would rain. And it did!

We often pray and then wonder if the LORD will do what we ask. We must be spiritually clean and pray without doubting. James then applies his teaching to our leading back to the LORD those who have strayed from His truth. We are to lead the lost to saving faith in Christ; but we are also to lead the saved, who have wanderd from the LORD, back to Him.

Are you a witness for the LORD? Don’t let yourself be intimidated by others. Do what the LORD commands! Trust Him implicitly! Look at those about you who need encouragement. Never be afraid to share Him with those around you. One day, you –and they! –will be glad you did.

We are praying for you as we pray for ouselves to be faithful,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

James 5:13-16, “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praises.

14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; 15 and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”

There are many ways to suffer. One may be suffering physically; another may be suffering emotionally. Prayer is the answer to both. There is nothing to be compared with prayer to the LORD –prayer for help from the Great Physician.

Once prayer to the LORD has delivered us from suffering, our anxiety is gone and we are naturally cheerful. We then have increased courage, and sing praises to the LORD, Who has delivered us. If our suffering is due to sickness, we are to call for the leading men of the Church to pray for us “anointing as a means of healing…” There are no limits that can be set on the power of prayer. It is the channel through which the strength and grace of God flows.

Tennyson wrote, “More thing are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.” Prayer is the believer’s first line of defense against all matters of spiritual and physical concern. We ought always turn first to Him. He may then directs to another for assistance. It was Luke the physican who travelled with the Apostel Paul. Surely, he would not have been mentioned as a physician, except that he ministered helpful healing among others who likewise believed upon Jesus. To say that the LORD does not use others and that He does not commend those whom He has called to the medical field, is to deny their faith that He has indeed called them to it.

Oil was frequently used in healings in New Testament days. Yet, James notes that it was “…the prayer offered in faith (that) will restore the one who is sick…the LORD will raise him up….” Thus, whatever sources may be utilized for whatever ailments one may have, the LORD is to be the primary One upon whom we are to rely.

Sufferings are often the result of our sin. Thus, James advocates our confession of our sins and the offering of prayer for others’ healings. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. Note that there are two elements that constitute the fulfillment of prayerful requests: one is that we be righteous. We must be emptied of sin. God does not hear the feeble prayers of unrighteous people. Another element of effective prayer is that we must believe as we pray. Still another element of prayer is that we must be genuinely concerned for others. It must be forceful, energetic prayer (???????, energeo). All too often, our most energetic praying is offered for ourselves and our needs. We must be concerned and show it toward others.

There is no situation where the prayer of a righteous person is uneffective. God always answers prayer! Sometimes, He says, “No.” Sometimes, He says, “Yes.” And sometimes, He says, “Wait.” Patience, therefore, is always required as we pray. Has this helped your praying? Sometimes we pray, but ask wrongly. It’s not the words we use, it’s the clean and earnest heart we possess when we ask the LORD’s intervention.

We endeavor to pray for you and for those who are under your care,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”