“And there came a leper to him (Jesus), beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, ‘If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean” (Mark 1:40).  A simple act of faith.  The leper came to Jesus fully acknowledging His power and His Sovereignty.  The leper believed fully that Jesus was able to cure him.  His question was not whether He could heal him.  The question was whether Jesus desired to.  If the answer was no, would that have changed his faith in Jesus?  There are moments in our life when we face that same question.  Do you and I really trust God when His answer is no?  What if, in His Sovereign Grace, He says no to our petition?

Faith is knowing God IS and that He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.  What if His reward is quite different than what we believe we desire?  Does that change your faith?  Or do you still hold fast to the truth that He is Sovereign, Omnipotent, All Powerful and knows what is best for you, no matter what?  That was a question Paul also had to answer.

When His answer is no, but I AM enough

Continue reading Do You Really Trust God when His Answer is No? →

Through the battles we face both from those that surround us and those within, where do we find the strength to stand?  Our only hope lies within our relationship with Jesus Christ, as we lean on Him.  He is our strength, our hope, our Savior and our King. In Him we find the Grace to Stand.

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God (Romans 5:1-2)

THE GRACE IN WHICH I STAND

by Effie Darlene Barba

Oh, feeble heart, Oh fragile soul

Where is the hope on which you hold?

With all the failures of your past

Where is the faith to make you bold?

Where is the faith to make you bold?

 

There was a King though blameless He

That came to pay my penalty

And in that act, He set me free

To follow Him in liberty

To follow Him in liberty

 

It is His love that drew me out

And in His Grace, I shall not doubt

That He who started this work in me

Will finish it with a Glorious Shout

Will finish it with a Glorious Shout

 

One day the finished work be done

That I might look then like God’s son

Sifted, shined just like pure Gold

As Glory shines forth, Glorious One

As Glory shines forth, Glorious One

 

And in this hope my faith conformed

I know my life will be transformed

I stand upon this future grace

So, for His work my passion warmed

There, for His work my passion warmed

 

So, in this faith I firmly stand

That formed in me as God had planned

No force on earth can shake me free

My future held by God’s great hand

My future held by God’s great hand.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR?

If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. Because there is nothing more important than this, I urge you to seek Him today.

OR ARE YOU IN OF NEED PRAYER?

If you have a prayer request email me by clicking here or comment here

JUST RELEASED

You can find this and all my books on Amazon.com, search Effie Darlene Barba or click this link to be taken there

Recently released Books Available

ABIDING, STEADFAST JOY

A labor of love, this book provides you with 3 foundations of truth from the scripture which once known will provide you with abiding, steadfast joy. Undaunted by the storms of life; your joy will overflow.

 

 

 

WHEN INJUSTICE AND VIOLENCE REIGN:
Through a study of Nahum, Habukkuk, and Zephaniah; I brought their message into our modern times. Answering the questions of “Why, God?”

Providing a foundation of faith and hope; even, as we see so much evil in the world and in our nation. With so much sorrow and despair, this book I wrote to guide you into discovering God’s Perfect Plan of love; amid this chaotic world filled with life’s storms.

You may click on the picture for more information on either of these books.

OTHER RESOURCES AVAILABLE

If you want to know more about other books I have written: You can read more about each one at: Book Resources.

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2017
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Footnotes and Credits:

Photo by adrian on Unsplash

As Jesus began his ministry, teaching and preaching in the synagogue.  Everyone was amazed by how He taught with authority. Furthermore, “there was in the synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, saying: ‘Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? Art thou come to destroy us? I know thee, who thou art, the Holy one of God.’ And Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Hold thy peace, and come out of him.’ And when the unclean spirit had torn, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him” (Mark 1:23-26).  The demons saw what even the people did not.  They knew He was the perfect Holy Son of God who had authority over them. He came to free mankind from the clutches of sin. Still, in verse 35 we find Jesus rose up early to pray.

Jesus was God in flesh, carrying within Him all power and authority.  (See further the discussion of the trinity in the post: How to Understand the Trinity and the Temptation of Christ).  The message within Mark 1:21-39 is rich with messages for each of us.  Each and everyone of us battle demons, whether our demons are those of Satan’s lies whispering to us or the demons of our own hearts.  We have no power or authority to win these battles alone; but, in Christ Jesus we do.  Prayer is the key that unlocks all of heavens power within us.

Overcoming the Demons in Your Own Life

Continue reading How to Pray with Power so your Demons Flee →

No book could include all of the works and words of Jesus in His ministry; because, His ministry was broader than any book could contain.  Each gospel presents portions of that journey that we might see Him, clearly.  The book of Mark did not include the ministry of Jesus in Nazareth prior to His arrival in Capernaum.  We know from Matthew and Luke, that He did and that there was a crowd following after Him, seeking to hear His message and to receive miracles of healing.  Mark only told us as we noted in the previous post that Jesus preached the gospel of the Kingdom of God calling men to repent and believe. Neither are we told in Mark about the miracle of fishing that Peter had witnessed; because, Mark wanted to present one question. Will you leave all and follow when Jesus calls?

God presents Himself to all humanity.  He presents Himself in the heart of men, women, and children through many ways.  Yet, the question always is the same: “Will you forsake all else to follow when Jesus calls?”  Jesus, Himself spoke of what true discipleship means in Luke 9:23: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily to follow me.” What is the cross that He has asked you to bear?  Has He asked you to lay aside some desire or dream to follow Him?  Do you see Him as so great a treasure, that you are willing to forsake all to follow Jesus?

When Jesus Calls

Continue reading Will you leave all and follow when Jesus calls? →

The Jewish nation had long awaited the Day of the Lord. The time when God would establish final judgement upon individuals and nations, establish justice and redeem His people. The arrival of Jesus brought with it, the beginning of that truth.  What the nation failed to understand fully was that Jesus would have to take upon Himself the sins of the world to provide the way of salvation.  Despite Isaiah’s message pointing to that truth, they wanted Him to establish His Kingdom immediately.  Jesus began His ministry, “saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15).  Jesus speaks often of the Kingdom of God being at hand.  The Kingdom of God refers to God’s reign, which is both future and present.  As John Piper explains:

Since God’s purpose for the world is to save a people for himself and renew the world for that people, his kingly rule implies a saving and a redeeming activity on their behalf. This is why the coming of the kingdom in the New Testament is called good news.

 

In and through Jesus, God, the king, is coming in a way — a new way — into the world to establish his saving rule. First, in the hearts of his people and in their relationships by triumphing over sin, Satan, and death. Then by the exercise of his reign, gathering a people for himself in congregations that live as citizens of a new allegiance of the kingdom — not of this world. Then Christ comes a second time and completes the reign by establishing a new heaven and a new earth.[1]

The Kingdom of God is at Hand

Continue reading What is the Kingdom of God? →