The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

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

Reading the short passage above several times, I could not clear my mind of the
phrase, “Elijah…with a nature like ours…” That means that Elijah was human. That
is all. He was not super-human, just human, no more, no less than you and I.

Have you ever thought of yourself as possessing a nature like the prophet Elijah?
That’s heavy stuff! But James is saying that we have the same abilities as Elijah!
He prayed specifically for rain to come and cease — and the rain occurred and
ceased –right on time! How did he do it? Is it possible for us to do the same?

First of all, Elijah was sold out to the LORD! We have to be something before the
LORD can do anything through us. Too often we just mosey along through life
not thinking about prayer until something catastrophic occurs; then we get all
excited and urge everyone to pray!

That’s like a small boy who ignores the coach’s order to practice until a few
moments before the game! Then, who’s surprised that he strikes out! Let’s be
honest: most of us don’t really pray until something gargantuan comes along;
then we find ourselves behind the curve.

James’ advice is that we not stray from the truth, and that we endeavor to turn a
sinner from his errors and lead him to faith in the LORD Jesus Christ. Think of
this as GOOD NEWS for yourself as well as for the one you’ve led to Christ.

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

Dear Grands,

James 5:14-16, “Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to 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.”

It is indeed unfortunate that in a day of such enormous gains in the field of medical science, we have lost sight of many spiritual things, especially that of prayer.

Sickness is often, but not always, the result of sin. Sometimes sickness exists that the LORD may assess where and how often we seek out only a remedy ministered by a physical doctor. Don’t get me wrong! I am not prejudiced in any way, shape or form against what medical science has produced for humanity’s mutual benefit. My late wife experienced an extention of physical life through the able assistance of the medical community. Nevertheless, her trust in the medical realm was exceeded by her trust in the LORD God Almighty!

Why does it so often take physical illness to bring us to the brink of serious, spiritual prayer? Perhaps it is to draw us closer to the Great Physician Himself. It is often disapointing to hear a doctor say, “We’ve done everything we can…” Perhaps it’s even more disapointing for us to say, “We’ll just have to pray.” We must remember that it is “the prayer offered in faith” that “will restore the one who is sick.” It is the LORD Himself, who can resurrect the sick. One day, too, He will resurrect from the grave all those who have believed in Him!

Reading the Scriptures gives us the hope of the Resurrection! Jesus Himself
arose from the dead! And one day (perhaps, not so far in the future), He will visibly Return and we will understand how “faith” makes us free indeed!

As I pen this Grands Letter, my sweet sister, Carol, is tottering under illness,
with her husband seriously ill in hospital. Our entire family would sincerely
appreciate your prayers for Garrett and Carol Conner, who through spirtual, Christian music have have brought joy and hope to thousands. Thank you for
your faithfulness.

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

Dear Grands,

2 Chronicles 20:14-17, “Then in the midst of the assembly the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, the Levite of the sons of Asaph;
15 and he said, “Listen, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: thus says the LORD to you, ‘Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s.
16 ‘Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the valley in front of the wilderness of Jeruel.
17 ‘You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for the LORD is with you.”

Multiple are the battles we face in life. It has always been so, and will likely be so in the future.
At the same time, we are to put our faith and trust in the LORD. Notice that the “Spirit of the
LORD” came upon “all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.” The battle was the LORD’s, if
only they would believe it.

We are so much like the ancients before us. We have multiple battles to face, and we fear
rather than trust in the LORD. The battles we face are truly not ours. If we would only learn to
believe and trust in Him! We are to show faith in Him! We are to believe in His power and leave
everything in His Hands!

Is it not possible that the LORD allows us to face opposition we cannot overcome in order to
prove to us that He alone is able to deliver us? There’s an old song we used to sing,

“Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”

Face the battles that lie before you with full trust in the LORD! He alone gives the victory!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

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

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

Dear Grands,

1 Kings 8:33-36, “When Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy,
because they have sinned against You, if they turn to You again and confess
Your name and pray and make supplication to You in this house,
34 then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring
them back to the land which You gave to their fathers.
35 “When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain, because they have
sinned against You, and they pray toward this place and confess Your name
and turn from their sin when You afflict them,
36 then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of Your servants and of Your
people Israel, indeed, teach them the good way in which they should walk.
And send rain on Your land, which You have given Your people for an inheritance.”

Sin always brings defeat. It may not appear so on the front end of things,
but it will eventually prove to be so as things move along. Notice that the
Biblical writer above says, “When your people Israel are defeated before
an enemy, it is because they have sinned against the LORD.”

It is so with Christians as well. What kind of god would God be if He were
to allow His people to get away with sinning? What kind of Savior would
the LORD Jesus be for us, were He to allow us to get away with sinning?

Ah, but the best is yet to come! Yes, Christ Jesus hates sin! Yet, His love
for His people is greater than His hatred for sin. So, when we sin and
confess it to Him, He forgives it instantly! Furthermore, the hurt we
receive for sinning is overwhelmed with the love and forgiveness He shows
us.

Forgiveness then intiates the pattern we are to follow. Our Deliverer now
becomes our Teacher. He shows us “the good way in which (we) ought
to walk. As we eagerly learn from the Teacher, He now sends the rain He
previously withheld because of our sin. Now, the Land which He has given
Israel is productive as part of our spiritual inheritance! Oh, what a Savior!

Please pray for the nation of Israel. They are not Christians, but they are
what we were before we trusted in Jesus! Incidentally, my view of some
Israelis on television is that they are prayerful, and are looking to God
for deliverence, even as they exhort us to pray for their nation. Thank you!

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

Dear Grands,

1 Kings 8:26-30, “Now therefore, O God of Israel, let Your word,
I pray, be confirmed which You have spoken to Your servant, my
father David.
27 “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and
the highest heaven cannot contain You, how much less this house
which I have built!
28 “Yet have regard to the prayer of Your servant and to his
supplication, O LORD my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which Your servant prays before You today;
29 that Your eyes may be open toward this house night and day,
toward the place of which You have said, ‘My name shall be there,’
to listen to the prayer which Your servant shall pray toward this
place.
30 “Listen to the supplication of Your servant and of Your people
Israel, when they pray toward this place; hear in heaven Your
dwelling place; hear and forgive.”

There’s always more to prayer than we think. These words of King
Solomon were prayed against the background of the LORD’s blessing
and from a sincere heart. The prayers of kings are no more honored
than the prayers of the weakest and poorest of the land. The LORD
is LORD of all.

Our hearts may be weary of the sin that infests our lives, but the
warm and sincere Heart of the LORD is always present to attend to
our needs. Solomon was not without sin; yet, he prayed earnestly
and the LORD heard and answered his prayers.

None of us, whether reader or scribe, are free from sin; yet our
hearts and lives are cleansed when we pray. The Blood of our
LORD Jesus Christ cleanses us from sin, whether a slippage or
intentional, whether omission or commission. We are centuries
this side of Solomon, yet the LORD deals with us as surely as
He dealt with the king.

Prayer is the unique opportunity we are afforded to hold others
before Him with the assurance that what He does is best. We
all know someone who needs our prayers. We all know with
certainty that we ourselves need to pray in faith and in trust.

Hear us, oh LORD. You know the burden of our hearts. We
believe in Your ability and we trust in Your power. Thank You
for being faithful in adhearing to our prayers. Amen.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

With this email, my brother-in-law, Garrett Conner, is in hospital in St. Louis. He
is in very serious condition, and we all would appreciate your prayers for him.
Thank you.

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