The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

James 5:13-20, “Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises.

14 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.

17 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.”

“It happened that while Jesus 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” (Lk. 11:1 NAU). Prayer has never been more needed than it is today! Yet, I suppose that thought has been circulated numerous times over the years.

James allows that some sicknesses occur because of sin. Who is to know whether sin is the cause of an illness? The elders of the church are to know! James alludes to the elders’ spiritual insight. The Holy Spirit awakens their insight, and they all pray for the one who is suffering.

I once knew a missionary who anointed someone with oil. When asked why he did so, his reply was: “That’s what the Bible says to do, and I had no other option.” Sounds right to me. Yet, in many instances, we’ve veered away from what Scripture says. Perhaps we need to start by confessing our own sin before we endeavor to help others.

James then cites Elijah. He was human just as we are. But when he prayed, the LORD responded mightily! If we would see answers to prayer, we must be men and women of prayer. We would do well to remember James’ admonition: “The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much” – much in our lives, much in our homes, much in our churches!

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need

Until He becomes all that we have.”

— Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

1 Samuel 3:2-10, “It happened at that time as Eli was lying down in his place (now his eyesight had begun to grow dim and he could not see well),

3 and the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD where the ark of God was,

4 that the LORD called Samuel; and he said, “Here I am.”

5 Then he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, lie down again.” So, he went and lay down.

6 The LORD called yet again, “Samuel!” So, Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he answered, “I did not call, my son, lie down again.”

7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, nor had the word of the LORD yet been revealed to him.

8 So the LORD called Samuel again for the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli discerned that the LORD was calling the boy.

9 And Eli said to Samuel, “Go lie down, and it shall be if He calls you, that you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.'” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10 Then the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”

Children are simply precious! Oh, I know they can be difficult at times; but when they are in a sweet mood, there is nothing in this world like a lovely, little child. Not all children, however, have the maturity of submission required to serve in a holy capacity, like the boy Samuel. A strange voice in the dark would scare most children. But Samuel was no ordinary child. His birth came from spiritually dedicated parents. His mother so desired a child that she begged the LORD for one! She simply would not take “No” for an answer – not even from the LORD. Such dedication and determination must have touched the LORD’s heart; thus, He gave her a son.

The Scripture is silent regarding how old young Samuel was at that time, or how long he had been with priest Eli, or whether, or how much, he knew of Eli’s two sons and their immoral behavior. We will have to await eternity to learn many things (if we even need to know them!). Notice, too, that Eli said to Samuel, “Go lie down, and it shall be if He calls you, that you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.’ Yet, Samuel dared not to speak the title “LORD,” but simply said, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.” What would you have said? How vital it is that we maintain communication with the LORD! Are you praying regularly?

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need

Until He becomes all that we have.” — Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

2 Samuel 5:6-10, “David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years.

5 At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.

6 Now the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, and they said to David, “You shall not come in here, but the blind and lame will turn you away”; thinking, “David cannot enter here.”

7 Nevertheless, David captured the stronghold of Zion, that is the city of David.

8 David said on that day, “Whoever would strike the Jebusites, let him reach the lame and the blind, who are hated by David’s soul, through the water tunnel.” Therefore, they say, “The blind or the lame shall not come into the house.”

9 So David lived in the stronghold and called it the city of David. And David built all around from the Millo and inward.

10 David became greater and greater, for the LORD God of hosts was with him.”

Just moments ago, I heard the late Charlie Kirk speak to a group of college-aged citizens. Yes, he was and is an excellent communicator! Yet, the content of his message to the huge audience awakened in me somewhat of the courage of King David.

David was but 30 years old when he became king, and it was then that he and his men went to Jerusalem and opposed the Jebusites. “David cannot enter here,” they cried. Yet, David entered the city and captured the Jebusites’ stronghold. As a result, “David became greater and greater, for the LORD God of hosts was with him.”

How often do we see wrong being done – things that are clearly in opposition to the LORD; yet we turn aside because we just don’t want to become involved! “It’s not my business,” we say. Yet, what would we think if we were being attacked in some manner? Should we not ask ourselves, “Why are we in this situation? Is there no one to help us?”

It was Edmund Burke, an 18th-century British philosopher, who said, “All that’s necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” What does the LORD have for us to do today…this week? Verse 10 above says, “David became greater and greater, for the LORD God of hosts was with him.” If we truly know the LORD, He will give us opportunities to speak on His behalf. He will put the very words in our hearts and mouths, just as He did with David. May the LORD give us courage as we venture to be His messengers of truth and of love!

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need

Until He becomes all that we have.” — Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Exodus 12:23-33, “For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to smite you.

25 “When you enter the land which the LORD will give you, as He has promised, you shall observe this rite.

24 “And you shall observe this event as an ordinance for you and your children forever.

26 “When you enter the land which the LORD will give you, as He has promised, you shall observe this rite.

27 “And when your children say to you, ‘What does this rite mean to you?’

28 you shall say, ‘It is a Passover sacrifice to the LORD who passed over the houses of the sons of Israel in Egypt when He smote the Egyptians, but spared our homes.'” And the people bowed low and worshiped.

29 Then the sons of Israel went and did so; just as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did.

30 Now it came about at midnight that the LORD struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of cattle.

31 Pharaoh arose in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians, and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was no home where there was not someone dead.

32 Then he called for Moses and Aaron at night and said, “Rise up, get out from among my people, both you and the sons of Israel; and go, worship the LORD, as you have said.

33 “Take both your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and go, and bless me also.”

34 The Egyptians urged the people to send them out of the land post-haste, for they said, “We will all be dead.”

Fear is a common emotion. It is, at times, the characterization of all nations of the world. Here, the LORD is preparing to lead Israel out of Egypt and to a land He had heretofore promised. This action had caused the Egyptians unprecedented fear throughout the land.

Nations of the world today have simultaneous reason to fear the LORD when He is focused on them. Yet, America herself has reason to fear Him if she ignores His commandments. At the same time, the LORD’s people have uplifted spirits! So, if you are one of His, rejoice!

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need

Until He becomes all that we have.”

— Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

James 5:11-16, “We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.

12 But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment.

13 Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises.

14 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.”

How long has it been since you read of the terrible encounters of the biblical man named Job? The LORD said of him: “there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil” (Job 1:8).

I have insufficient space left in this letter to expand on all that Job faced and suffered. It is sufficient, however, to say that “…Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped” the LORD!

Moreover, Job said, “The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.” Through “all this Job did not sin, nor did he blame God.”

All of this is to say that we need not worry or become frustrated over things that are not going as we would like – even when the things we desire are obviously right in the sight of the LORD. He is in charge of all things. He does everything well. Pray, trust Him! Be patient!

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need

Until He becomes all that we have.”

— Corrie ten Boom