The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Acts 1:13-15, “And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were

staying; that is, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and

Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James.

14 These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the

women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

15 And at this time Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren (a gathering of about one hundred

and twenty persons was there together.”

Jesus Christ, who had died upon a cross and been resurrected from the dead, had just ascended into Heaven. The eleven (Judas Iscariot having died by his own hand) had returned to the Upper Room where they were staying. Doubtlessly saddened by the loss of the One, who had led them for the past three years, they had only His promise that the Holy Spirit would come and would lead and teach them, although in a manner different from that of Jesus.

Now, one of the most powerful events in the history of Christianity was about to occur. The Holy Spirit, who was eternally destined to reveal Himself to the eleven, was about to reveal Himself to them in mighty power. The Holy Spirit’s revelation of Himself was only the beginning. What the eleven did in that upper room prepared them to be used of the Spirit in furthering the spread of the Gospel.

Notice first, that they were “with one mind.” Nothing is ever accomplished if those responsible are divided in their thoughts of what should be done. Second, they “were continually devoting themselves to prayer.” It was many centuries later that Alfred Lord Tennyson said, “More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.”

Could it be that we’ve lost those secrets to revealing prayer? Something serious must occur to bring us together in “one mind.” Further, we must be “devoted to prayer.” The mere “Now I lay me down to sleep” kind of prayer will never open Heaven’s gates. The three-minute “hurried prayer” will never prevail, either. It must be devoted prayer. True Heaven-moving prayer is the emptying of the heart in praise to Almighty God, adoring Him, praising Him. He already knows what we want; He just has to know He can trust us with what He is able and willing to give. Pray for our country and her leaders. Pray for His ministers, whose responsibility is to reveal the truths of His Word to us. Pray that we will empty ourselves of all thoughts contrary to His revealed will. Then,

LOOK OUT! For it is then that the Holy Spirit will commence to move! God bless 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.”