The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Genesis 15:6, “Then he (Abram) believed in the LORD, and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.”

The Hebrew word for righteousness (tsedaqah) means rightness, justness, lawfulness. The “root (of the word) basically connotes conformity to an ethical or moral standard.”

One scholar states that the original significance of the Hebrew root, sdq, means “to be straight.” This is certainly in line with the character of Almighty God. It is upon Abram’s belief in Him that righteousness was bestowed. It is, therefore, reasonable that He should desire all of His children (all believers in Jesus Christ) to be just like Him, and for those who are to be declared “righteous.”

Another writer views righteousness from an ethical standpoint, saying, “Righteousness is the quality of relationships between individuals.” The Bible says,

The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much (James 5:16c).

This is precisely what made the prayer of Jabez effective.

And Jabez was more honorable than his brothers… (I Chronicles 4:9).

It was not that Jabez was all that he might have become; he was simply more righteous than his brothers. It’s to our advantage not to look too closely at other believers. Doing that causes us to excuse ourselves from being all that we ought to be and instead, measuring our “righteousness” by the standard we find in others.

Still, what constitutes righteousness? How does the LORD measure righteousness in each of us? One of the earliest tests is Scripture concern the brothers, Cain and Abel. Each brother was given Divine direction regarding the nature of the sacrifice he was to bring to the LORD. This is in evidence through what the LORD said in Genesis 4:7, where He reminded Cain “‘If you do well…’” How was Cain to “do well,” except that he had previously been so instructed? How would Abel have known to bring the “fat portions,” except that the LORD had so instructed him?

Three specifics come to light in this test of the two brothers: first, their activity; second, their attitude; and third, their motive.

Abel was a keeper of flocks, a shepherd; Cain was a tiller of the ground, a farmer. Although both men knew what God had directed them to bring as an offering, Cain ignored the Divine directive and brought the fruit of the work of his own hands. Abel, on the other hand, obeyed the LORD’s directive and “brought of the firstlings of his flock, and of their fat portions.”

Upon inspection, the LORD accepted Abel’s offering and rejected Cain’s.

And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard (Genesis 4:4b-5a).

Notice carefully that the LORD’s acceptance was both of Abel and of his offering –not the offering alone. Likewise, His rejection of Cain was of both the offering bearer and the offering he bore. What is involved here? Simply this: Abel brought the sacrifice the LORD had ordered. In doing this, he demonstrated a rightness in his activity. Cain, by refusing to bring the correct sacrifice, demonstrated a wrongness. The proper activity is very important. It demonstrates both obedience and subservience toward God.

Note that Cain became angry (Genesis 4:5b), and ultimately murdered his brother, Abel.

Not a good attitude at all. We must be careful in examining Cain’s motive. That’s one area that must be left to God. Yet, there must have been some self-centeredness in Cain, causing him to believe that he need not pay attention to the LORD. He was master of his own soul.

Are you and I really obedient and subservient toward God? I have included myself in this question because no one, who claims to be a Christian can avoid it. At the same time, none of us can avoid being and doing what we ought to be by looking at another person’s response to the LORD. Check your activities! Check your attitudes! Check your motives!

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the Word of Truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).

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.”

Dear Grands,

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.”

Matthew 7:7, “Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock,

and it shall be opened to you.”

Luke 11:9, “And I say to you, ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you

shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you.”

The Gospel of Matthew was written to the Jews. The Gospel of Luke was written to the Greeks. I quoted both above so you could see there was no difference. The LORD Jesus Christ died for all, so He reaches out to everyone with His Word of salvation.

The Greeks were far more explicit with language than we are with ours. They had four possible responses to their “if” questions. The “ifs” introduce what are called “conditional sentences.” The first-class is if, and it is so; the second-class is if, but it is not so; the third-class reads, if, maybe it is and maybe it’s not; and the fourth-class, if, and I wish it were so, but it is not. Differentiating these “ifs,” is accomplished from within the language; yet in the John 15:7 verse each if reveals a third-class conditional sentence: If you abide in Me (maybe you will, maybe you won’t)… If My words abide in you (maybe they will, maybe they won’t).

The second significant verb, ask (????? (aiteo), is a Greek aorist, middle, imperative. (Don’t give up on me here!) The aorist tense denotes action occurring in a point of time, decisively and with finality. The middle voice here carries the idea of personal involvement. And the imperative mood connotes a command. Thus, His Holy Spirit commandingly initiates prayer through those who are consistently living in the Lord.

What remains to be said in the verse is logically axiomatic. Still, we must never allow that truth will be automatically understood. Jesus is saying that when we abide in Him, we are in the right position for the Holy Spirit to use us as a corridor through which He communicates with the Father. Now, how is it possible for the Holy Spirit to request from the Father something that the Father cannot allow? Or, how can the Father reply negatively to what the Spirit Himself asks? The answer to both questions is the same: He cannot! To allow either would be to place the unity of the Godhead in opposition. Such is a theological and practical impossibility. “…He cannot deny Himself” (II Timothy 2:13).

The key to answered prayer, therefore, is for us to abide in Christ, moment-by-moment, that we might be obediently useful to the Spirit when He desires to address the Father through the medium of our mortal spirits. Further, it is for us to live in His Word (the Bible) daily, and soak up its treasures in our hearts. It’s not the words we use in praying, not the physical position we assume, not even how much time we take; it’s whether we are living daily in a moment-by-moment yieldedness to Christ. I cannot help but wonder whether Wesley knew this when he said, “God does nothing but in answer to prayer.”

I apologize for the technical aspect of this letter. But it is vitally necessary that we understand our LORD’s requirement of yieldedness to Him before He moves to answer our prayers. Sometimes it even takes a tragedy for us to learn this vital point. Learn it quickly!

My prayers continue for you; and I trust that yours continue for me.

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.”

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.”

Dear Grands,

James 1:5-6a, “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

6 But let him ask in faith without any doubting…”

Do you remember when you used to “play” your mother against your father in the attempt to get what you wanted? One of the two was “softer” and easier to give in to you than the other. Remember? Well, prayer doesn’t work that way. How does prayer work?

Previously, I have said that all true prayer originates with the Holy Spirit and is addressed to the Father through the agency of His Son, Jesus Christ.

If the above be true –and it is!– then how can the Heavenly Father, whose desire it is “to give what is good to those who ask Him” refuse to give what the Holy Spirit asks? Simply put, He cannot. Disharmony cannot exist within the Godhead. It is theologically impossible.

This is what the Apostle John meant when he cites Jesus’ argument,

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

and it shall be done for you” (John 15:7).

Had Jesus simply said, “Ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you,” some credence could be given to the “name-it-and-claim-it” theology. But Jesus prefaces man’s receiving upon two factors: first, man must be abiding in Christ. That is, man must settle down and make his home in the LORD and within His will. He must be a righteous person, having been born again in Christ; and he must live in the Word so that the Word – the Scripture– lives in him!

For several years I ministered as an itinerant evangelist. In the smaller church meetings, I often stayed in the homes of church members. It was there that I discovered the true meaning of abiding. In some homes, I was told, “We want you to be ‘at home,’ just as if it were your own.” That sounded reassuring until I heard the rest: “The only thing… please do not set any soda pop bottles on the coffee table. It’s an antique that belonged to my great-grandmother, and…” – well, you get the idea. Before the index of things I was not to do was completed, I felt very much not-at-home.

On the other hand, there were hosts who said, “Look, we keep a busy schedule. We’ll have some meals here, and they will be on time. But, if you get hungry, you know where the refrigerator is. Help yourself. If you don’t, you’ll have only yourself to blame. The house is yours. We’ll see you at 5:00 P.M.” Wow! In those homes I relaxed and I abode!

The “if” in Jesus’ word is conditional; that is, maybe one will abide in Him, maybe he won’t. But, if he does abide in Christ, and the Holy Spirit is allowed to guide and mold his life into Christlikeness, he can count on receiving whatever he wishes because what the Spirit wishes for him will be what he wishes for himself.

Timing is something that is certainly involved. Just remember that while time seems very relevant to us, with God there is no such thing as time. Oh, He is absolutely aware of what time means to us, it’s just that we’re not so aware that it means little if anything to Him. Be patient. Don’t get discouraged if the prayers the Holy Spirit led you to pray are not answered as quickly as you would like. He may be testing your faith, your belief that He is both able and willing to answer your prayers.

One of the shortest and most memorable speeches Winston Churchill ever gave was,

Never give in. Never. Never. Never. Never.

Let that apply to your prayers. I am praying for you; and may our LORD bless us all as we pray for others who are worse off than ourselves.

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.”

Dear Grands,

Romans 8:28, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

If we allow the Scripture verse above to be true –and I do!—then what is to be said about earnest and sincere petitions that are offered by earnest and sincere believers, but appear to not be answered? My late wife and I prayed for her healing, but despite excellent medical care, the LORD, in His wisdom, took her to be with Him.

Many Biblical personalities received no divine response to their prayers. Careful examination often reveals that where no response results, the character of the inquirer may be out of step with the will of God, his Creator.

One of the most notable such instances occurs in the life of King Saul. Saul’s life had slipped to a less-than righteous level when in vain he sought the LORD.

When Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him,

either by dreams or by Urim or by prophets (I Samuel 28:6).

In similar fashion, the LORD Jesus refused to respond to Pontius Pilate when asked to respond to the accusations against Him.

And He (Jesus) did not answer him (Pilate) with regard to even a single charge, so that the governor was quite amazed (Matthew 27:14).

Again, when standing before Herod, Jesus refused to respond.

And he questioned Him at some length; but He answered him nothing

(Luke 23:9).

Reason, based upon these few passages alone, would demand that we believe these men to have been righteous men in the eyes of our Heavenly Father; otherwise, what they prayerfully requested would have been forthrightly denied.

May we not, therefore, also conclude that it is not the wording of one’s prayer that arrests the attention of God, but rather the rightness of one’s life, giving vent to the indwelling Holy Spirit’s request that produces answered prayer?

Nor is it the physical position we assume that arrests the attention of the Father. Some persons are of the opinion we must be kneeling, while others believe we should bow our heads or fold our hands. All are respectful, and true prayer must be offered respectfully. Still, a study of the prayer lives of Biblical personalities, who lived righteously before God, reveals that there is no single, physical position assumed before God that affects a Divine response to prayer.

“…for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (I Samuel 16:7).

Let the reader be here reminded –and in no uncertain terms– that it is the righteous life of the born-again believer that alone knows the indwelling of Holy Spirit. Further, all true prayer originates with the Spirit and is addressed to the Father through the agency of the Son, Jesus Christ.

How many times I asked things of my earthly father before he responded “yes” to my requests! Can we not allow our Heavenly Father to answer according to His Divine will?

Don’t give up on prayer! And don’t give up on God! He is our only true and righteous hope!

I am earnestly praying for you.

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.”