The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Acts 3:1-10, “Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer.
2 And a certain man who had been lame from his mother’s womb was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms of those who were entering the temple.
3 And when he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms.
4 And Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze upon him and said, “Look at us!”
5 And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.
6 But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene– walk!”
7 And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened.
8 And with a leap, he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.
9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God;
10 and they were taking note of him as being the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.”

I once heard it said that this miracle happened when “two men of prayer went in a spirit of prayer to the place of prayer at the hour of prayer.” It is true that the LORD still performs miracles. It is also true that there are different kinds of miracles. The change of an attitude is just as miraculous as the change in one’s physical abilities. The LORD knows what is needed and supplies that need in His own way and in His own time.

Some time ago, a friend of mine shared that Muslims were attending his church, saying that they had
been instructed in a dream to learn about Jesus. Many years ago in India, I prayed for a boy held in the grip of a disease, learning months later that the boy had made remarkable progress in healing.
We often become discouraged when our prayers are not answered quickly, yet it is the persistence
in prayer that demonstrates our genuine concern.

Perhaps, we’ve become too used to doctors; but doctors pray, too. Even doctors, who do not know the LORD, I have heard say, “If you believe in prayer, you had better pray because…” Notice, too, that even after Peter’s instruction, he took hold of the man’s hand and assisted him in standing upright. Sometimes the LORD guides us to others who can help.

Prayers offered by truly born-again believers in Christ will surely be answered. However serious, however simple, the LORD taught us all to pray. As parents, we are delighted when our children ask something of us; even so, our LORD delights in our asking things of Him. Don’t be discouraged.
Just keep praying, remembering that the “effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much” (Jas. 5:16).

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need
until He becomes all that we have.” –Corrie ten Boom