The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Ezra 4:1-5, “Now when the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the people of the exile were building a temple to the LORD God of Israel,

2 they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of fathers’ households, and said to them, “Let us build with you, for we, like you, seek your God; and we have been sacrificing to Him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us up here.”

3 But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the heads of fathers’ households of Israel said to them, “You have nothing in common with us in building a house to our God; but we ourselves will together build to the LORD God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia has commanded us.”

4 Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah, and frightened them from building,

5 and hired counselors against them to frustrate their counsel all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.”

It never fails! Just let someone endeavor to accomplish something for the LORD, and opposition forces arrive in a flash! Sometimes the opposition is subtle (“Let us build with you…”); yet, when rebuffed, their tactics alter: (“Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah…and frightened them”).

I’ve encountered numerous people over the years who rallied with excitement to discourage whatever progress was taking place. “It won’t work! You can’t fix it; you don’t have permission! – and the list goes on!

Whatever you do, don’t stop to engage in debate with these people. They love that! It’s exactly what they want and how they slow things down. You don’t have time to argue – not even to explain why you’re doing what you are! Not even a supreme countermeasure will work against such people. Besides, what you’re doing is what the LORD has given you to do. Time is the only other chief factor; and the LORD is surely in control of that, too!

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,

Colossians 3:1-11, “If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.

6 For it is on account of these things that the wrath of God will come,

7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.

8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.

9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices,

10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him

11 — a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.”

+

Have you ever eaten anything that tasted so delectable that you just had to have more of it? Abundance and frequency are the “more-more” twins! It’s the same with the Apostle Paul. ‘Keep on seeking,’ he said. The more you seek, the more you will find. And the more you find, the more eagerly you will seek it yet again. Your soul will never become filled with the goodness and likeness of the LORD! There are some incredible things coming down the line – things that will greatly increase your spiritual activity!

When these things from the LORD commence to fill your life, there will be no empty space for those “former things” (immorality, impurity, passion, evil desires, and greed). They will have been displaced by love and all the qualities we find in the life of our LORD Jesus Christ. Displaced will be anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech—all qualities of the Devil, the evil one! Now, mind you, I didn’t say that you would lie idle. Not for a moment! How could anyone lie idle with this much excitement!? How about giving it a try?

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 15:1-13, “Then Moses and the sons of Israel sang this song to the LORD, and said, ‘I will sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted; The horse and its rider He has hurled into the sea.

2 ‘The LORD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; This is my God, and I will praise Him; My father’s God, and I will extol Him.

3 ‘The LORD is a warrior; The LORD is His name.

4 ‘Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has cast into the sea; and the choicest of his officers are drowned in the Red Sea.

5 ‘The deeps cover them; they went down into the depths like a stone.

6 ‘Thy right hand, O LORD, is majestic in power, Thy right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy.

7 ‘And in the greatness of Thine excellence Thou dost overthrow those who rise up against Thee; Thou dost send forth Thy burning anger, and it consumes them as chaff.

8 ‘And at the blast of Thy nostrils the waters were piled up, the flowing waters stood up like a heap; the deeps were congealed in the heart of the sea.

9 “The enemy said, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; My desire shall be gratified against them; I will draw out my sword, my hand shall destroy them.’

10 “Thou didst blow with Thy wind, the sea covered them; They sank like lead in the mighty waters.

11 “Who is like Thee among the gods, O LORD? Who is like Thee, majestic in holiness, awesome in praises, working wonders?

12 “Thou didst stretch out Thy right hand, the earth swallowed them.

13 “In Thy lovingkindness Thou hast led the people whom Thou hast redeemed; in Thy strength Thou hast guided them to Thy holy habitation.’”

Many are the troubles of life, yet the LORD is able and willing to confront them all. “Why then, does He not answer the difficulties I face?” you ask. Perhaps He spoke and you were not listening. Perhaps He allowed them to assail you, giving you the opportunity to witness His grace and His power. Trust in the LORD! There is nothing He cannot accomplish for the best in your life! Perhaps His allowance of your troubles is also to draw you closer to Him. There is no one like the LORD! Trust Him and see!

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,

Psalm 126:1-6. “When the LORD brought back the captive ones of Zion, we were like those who dream.

2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with joyful shouting; then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.”

3 The LORD has done great things for us; We are glad.

4 Restore our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.

5 Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting.

6 He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed, shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.”

Psalm 127:1-5, “Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain.

2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to retire late, to eat the bread of painful labors; for He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.

3 Behold, children are a gift of the LORD; the fruit of the womb is a reward.

4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth.

5 How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; they shall not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.”

It seemed to me that these two psalms belonged together. Of course, they are in proximity within the Bible; yet, it is encouraging that they are conjoined so as to be read in sequence. In the first psalm, we see Israel being freed from captivity and brought joyfully to her homeland. In the second psalm, there is additional praise and productive rejoicing in their lives and with each other. However, it seems that in the latter, greater emphasis is laid upon the worship of the LORD.

This placement in Scripture encourages us to rejoice over our opportunities, as well as over the salvation He has granted us! Challenging us to complete and full redemption? Indeed, the LORD has done great things for us!” And are we glad! Glad indeed!

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 15:1-7, “Then Moses and the sons of Israel sang this song to the LORD, and said, ’I will sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted; The horse and its rider He has hurled into the sea. The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation; This is my God, and I will praise Him; My father’s God, and I will extol Him.

3 “The LORD is a warrior; The LORD is His name.

4 “Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has cast into the sea; and the choicest of his officers are drowned in the Red Sea.

5 “The deeps cover them; they went down into the depths like a stone.

6 “Thy right hand, O LORD, is majestic in power; Thy right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy.

7 “And in the greatness of Thine excellence Thou dost overthrow those who rise up against Thee; Thou dost send forth Thy burning anger, and it consumes them as chaff.”

We read, but do we really believe? These things occurred in biblical times! Nothing like this occurs today! Oh, really? I just completed reading a biography that contained some of the most remarkable experiences one could ever encounter. They ranged from the LORD snatching people alive from the jaws of certain death to some of the most exciting encounters and preservations of circumstances you could read anywhere! What’s more, it’s true and happened in our own time!

We are so focused on concepts like “luck” and “good fortune” that we have forgotten how powerful and adept the LORD is at protecting and providing for His own! Yes, we have the Scriptures, and we read of His protection and provision for His people in biblical times. But the times are different today. That was then! Where is He for us today? Shame on us for even thinking such foolishness!

Oh, ye of little faith! How ashamed we will be when we stand before Him on that day in Glory! We will hear Him speak to us and ask, “Why did you not believe Me? Did you not know that the LORD, who hurled the Egyptian riders into the sea, was the same LORD who provided the way of escape for His people Israel?

We will learn on that day just how involved our LORD was in all of our menial affairs, bringing life, health, and provisions to us when it all seemed so impossible from our weak and faithless perspective. “THY RIGHT HAND, O LORD, IS MAJESTIC IN POWER!” Help us to believe You!

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