The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Luke 11:1, “And it came about that while He was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.’”

Years ago, when I was just commencing my ministry in a country area, I recall Sunday School classes I attended that were being taught by obviously unprepared teachers. After reading the lesson around-and-aloud in a verse-by-person method, the teacher would re-read the first verse and ask a member of the class, “Now, what does that verse mean to you?” You can only imagine how often we received a variety of responses to the meaning of a single verse. Quite frequently, when a verse seemed to defy interpretation, the class member would respond to the teacher’s directive by saying, “I believe that verse is self-explanatory.”

While I was engaged in overseas evangelism, a New Zealand pastor remarked that the adult Sunday School class in his church was the strangest he had ever encountered. Believing that I had already encountered the strangest in my earlier ministry, I inquired as to exactly what he meant. “They vote on the meaning of the Scriptures!” he exclaimed. “Whenever a difficult passage arises, and someone offers an explanation not previously agreed upon, someone reminds them that ‘we had this lesson four years ago, and we voted then that it meant…’” Notwithstanding their “votes,” I continue to believe there is a better way.

Hermeneutics is the art and science of Biblical Interpretation; and my study has led me to believe that prayer possesses a divine design just as man possesses a divine imprint.

One salient principle in hermeneutics is that there is but one interpretation; yet, there may be many applications. It is to an application that we now turn for our understanding of the mechanics of prayer.

Jesus had just witnessed Simon Peter’s testimony. In a portion of His reply, Jesus said,

“I shall give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven; and whatever you might bind on Earth shall have been bound in Heaven, and whatever you might loose on Earth shall have been loosed in Heaven” (Matthew 16:19, Gk tr.)

In His reply, Jesus revealed more than what is contained on the face of the statement. I have quoted it literally from the Greek New Testament in order that you might see the tenses of the verbs. Note carefully that the NASB translates the verse with

…whatever you shall bind on Earth shall be bound (future tense) in Heaven…

but the translation of the Greek text is,

…whatever you might bind on Earth shall have been bound (future perfect tense)

in Heaven…

The English future tense simply projects the action of the verb into the future. The Greek perfect tense indicates an action that is complete, but has continuing results that reach into the future. The word “might” also appears in our translation to indicate the Greek subjunctive mood of the verb “bind.” The subjunctive mood indicates potentiality. That is, Peter might bind something, or he might not. But he is able.

Here now is the crux of the situation: While Peter’s action has potential, it has yet to occur. But, when his binding occurs, it will have already occurred in Heaven. And what has been bound in Heaven will remain bound unto all forth-coming generations.

This clearly gives us understanding that what we see happen on Earth –those events have already occurred in Heaven. It is as if we were seeing it on Earth as a mirrored replay.

It is vitally important, however, to remember that there is no answer to prayer without the occurrence of prayer. We cannot, therefore, simply acquiesce in the hope that everything will work out satisfactorily. We must understand the urging of the Holy Spirit within us to exercise prayer and engage in praying.

The word prayer occurs more than 200 times in the Bible. It occupied a place of supreme importance in the lives of the patriarchs and the prophets, and was fundamental to the life of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the lives of His apostles. Such occupancy of importance –especially in the life of Christ— thus constitutes it as vital to the maintenance of our spiritual lives.

Of the multiple passages addressing the subject, none have so gripped my heart and life as that of John 15:7,

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish,

and it shall be done for you.

It seems strangely appropriate that our Lord would address this subject with His disciples during an era that was increasingly hostile toward Him and His message. Surely, that is His word for believers today: in the midst of trial and tragedy, resort swiftly to prayer.

And we do that; yet, our problem lies in the failure to understand that it’s not sufficient to go merely through the motions of prayer, however intense the hurt; rather, His teaching requires that our lives be in spiritual order before we pray. In all truth, His teaching clearly is that unless our lives know a perennial fellowship with Him, we cannot pray, the utterance of words notwithstanding.

The most important word in any sentence is the verb because the verb denotes the action of the subject. The key word that unlocks the meaning of John 15:7 is verb abide. An aorist, active, subjunctive, second person plural, it renders µ?????? (abiding) potentially available to all believers. “If you all are continuing to remain and make your home in Me…”

Abiding is not available for a privileged few; it is available for all, who are privileged to be in Christ. The subjunctive mood of the verb indicates that it is possible for every believer to be all that Christ intends him to be. Additionally, He has given us the Scriptures to this very end (cf. II Timothy 3:16-17).

Without question, in Me (?? ?µ??) constitutes the precise place of our abiding. Edersheim highlights the spiritual significance of Christ to us when he notes that Jesus’ question regarding His true identity, as recorded in Matthew 16, was issued to the disciples outside the area of the Promised Land, as had been settled by the Hebrew tribes. There, away from the Holy City, away from the temple, the priesthood, the Scriptures, Jesus asked them plainly, “Who am I to you?”

A modern context further clarifies the meaning: Away from the home church, away from the pastor, the Sunday School teacher, the literature, the hymnbooks –cut off even from the Bible— who is Jesus Christ to you? While I am studiedly unmoved from my pre-tribulation, pre-millennial position on eschatology, should the Church be required to encounter severe persecution prior to the Rapture, we may have opportunity to test the significance of who Jesus Christ is to us and whether we are truly abiding in Him!

The LORD doesn’t play games! Don’t ignore your responsibility as a believer. Be what

He saved you to be! Be faithful in all ways and at all times. And “pray without ceasing.”

I am praying for you. Please pray for me as you pray for others. God takes notice of our

lives when we pray.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

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.”