LOVE PROCLAIMED

by Effie Darlene Barba

What Love so great you have for me

More than this heart could ever see

That you would suffer on the cross

And never shirking from the cost

Your bleeding flesh torn from the bone

Darkness fell, You ne’er did groan

As Spirit, Soul ripped from your chest

You proved your love, no greater test

Alone and trembling from the pain

With body drenched in blood’s dark stain

You whispered then and called my name

Forgiveness, love You did proclaim

Oh, never let my passion die

Though pain of life would cause me cry

When facing pain, oh let me see

Thy face of Grace, your love for me

Oh never let my joy despair

And when in darkest, deepest lair

So, let this heart forever sing

A song of loving praise, my King

© 2014 Effie Darlene Barba

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

What can I say that hasn’t already been said?  Is there any words beyond those spoken at the cross which can truly open your eyes to the magnificent beauty, majesty and glory that is found in Christ?  Where can I find the words that would cause you to see Him as your greatest treasure that you might desire to seek Him with all your heart, body and soul?  So, today; let me share with you some words of Jonathan Edwards and some sermons I urge you to go and listen.

Below are excerpts from Jonathan Edwards sermon "The Excellency of Christ–I urge you to go and read the entire sermon by clicking on the link.

The Excellency of Christ by Jonathan Edwards

         “There meet in Jesus Christ, infinite justice and infinite grace.

As Christ is a divine person, he is infinitely holy and just, hating sin, and disposed to execute condign punishment for sin. He is the Judge of the world, and the infinitely just Judge of it, and will not at all acquit the wicked, or by any means clear the guilty.And yet he is infinitely gracious and merciful. Though his justice be so strict with respect to all sin, and every breach of the law, yet he has grace sufficient for every sinner, and even the chief of sinners. And it is not only sufficient for the most unworthy to show them mercy, and bestow some good upon them, but to bestow the greatest good; yea, it is sufficient to bestow all good upon them, and to do all things for them. There is no benefit or blessing that they can receive, so great but the grace of Christ is sufficient to bestow it on the greatest sinner that ever lived. And not only so, but so great is his grace, that nothing is too much as the means of this good. It is sufficient not only to do great things, but also to suffer in order to do it, and not only to suffer, but to suffer most extremely even unto death, the most terrible of natural evils; and not only death, but the most ignominious and tormenting, and every way the most terrible that men could inflict; yea, and greater sufferings than men could inflict, who could only torment the body. He had sufferings in his soul, that were the more immediate fruits of the wrath of God against the sins of those he undertakes for…..

There are conjoined in the person of Christ infinite worthiness of good, and the greatest patience under sufferings of evil. He was perfectly innocent,and deserved no suffering. He deserved nothing from God by any guilt of his own, and he deserved no ill from men. Yea, he was not only harmless and undeserving of suffering, but he was infinitely worthy; worthy of the infinite love of the Father, worthy of infinite and eternal happiness, and infinitely worthy of all possible esteem, love, and service from all men And yet he was perfectly patient under the greatest sufferings that ever were endured in this world. Heb. 12:2. "He endured the cross, despising the shame." He suffered not from his Father for his faults, but ours; and he suffered from men not for his faults but for those things on account of which he was infinitely worthy of their love and honor, which made his patience the more wonderful and the more glorious. 1 Pet. 2:20, "For what glory is it, if when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently, but if when ye do well. and suffer for it, ye take it patiently; this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called; because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: who when he was reviled, reviled not again, when he suffered, he threatened not, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we being dead to sin, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." There is no such conjunction of innocence, worthiness, and patience under sufferings, as in the person of Christ.

Below are sermon links I urge you to listen to: 

Begin with:

The Friday Night Service from the Crossing–"The Seven Last Words of Jesus

 

And,

The Cross with Billy Graham

The Cross – Billy Graham’s Message To America

View on www.youtube.com

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And, then:

Alistair Begg  He is Risen

He Has Risen! – Broadcasts – Truth For Life

View on truthforlife.org

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Continue this sermon journey with:

Michael Youssef  The Four Words of Easter

Home – Leading The Way

View on www.leadingtheway.org

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Perhaps a song to sing today?  Matt Maher  Christ is Risen

Christ Is Risen – Matt Maher

View on www.youtube.com

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Hallelujah,  Christ loved me with all my blemishes, sins, failures and brokenness enough that he was willing to pay a price greater than I can even imagine that I might forever be in the presence of His great beauty, love, joy, and Glory.  What about you?  Do you know Him as your Savior?

© 2014 Effie Darlene Barba

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

Proverbs 8: (NIV) “Does not wisdom call out?
Does not understanding raise her voice?
² At the highest point along the way,
where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
³ beside the gate leading into the city,
at the entrance, she cries aloud:”

Don’t you hear her cries, calling to us as we continue down our roads to destruction?  We watch as our nation drives itself into financial bondage with China.  We watch as violent crimes continue to rise.  We watch silently as poverty throughout the world rises.  We watch while teenage suicide is on the rise.  We watch as our own life spirals down into desperation, agony, and defeat.  Don’t you hear the cries of wisdom and understanding bidding you to hear her voice?  It is that voice that began before the world was formed—born out of the very essence of God Himself and flowing forth through the very image of Christ.  An ever flowing light of truth, righteousness, and unimaginable beauty; wisdom was personified in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.  Just as wisdom was born in the essence of God—Christ being forever the display of the “body” of the trinity—the Word of truth is the perfect display of wisdom in its fullness.  Apart from God there is no true wisdom.

Drawing used with written permission of Ronald Barba. © 2011 Ronald Barba and is protected under copyright laws. If you desire copies please go to:

There is no greater beauty than that of Christ’s love and righteousness.  His righteousness demands a hatred of sin; for it is that sin which separates each of us from His presence.  Sin, born within the hearts of our own self-exaltation and desires to be wise within our own self, blinds us completely from enjoying or seeing the magnificence of His perfect love, wisdom, joy and glory.

How else could Adam have not recognized what he had with God?  By all that it is, God must hate evil—for evil and sin is the absence of God; just as darkness

Continue reading Wisdom Crying Into the Darkness-A Study in Proverbs Part 13 →

As we move into chapter 7, which concludes the first section in the book of Proverbs which has been the letter of Solomon addressed to his sons; we see Solomon now try to illustrate the importance of wisdom by telling a story.  He uses this story to conclude his letter; and, much like a parable bring the truth of what he had been writing into a format to “drive home the point.”  Throughout the first 7 chapters he had referred to wisdom as “she” as though wisdom was like a pure, righteous woman like as ones mother or older sister who guide the hands, train the hearts, and leads one closer to God. 

Drawing used with written permission of Ronald Barba. © 2012 Ronald Barba and is protected under copyright laws.

That wisdom is a gift from God which must be sought after, clung to, written on ones heart, and wrapped tightly about ones neck like a collar to lead you in the right direction.  Without wisdom and understanding, the heart is easily swayed to follow after folly. 

How easy for lusts and desires to draw one away and toward a path of destruction? To ascertain that his sons understand this, he tells them the story of a foolish young man wandering the streets at night and is

Continue reading TIDBITS OF WISDOM: A STUDY IN PROVERBS PART 12 —God or Folly, which do you choose? →

Thus far as we are looking at the books of the Proverbs, the first 7 chapters are written and directed by Solomon to his sons. He has pleaded that they desire and seek the Wisdom of God with all their hearts. He knew that the only truth and wisdom was that which comes from God.

Drawing used with written permission of Ronald Barba. © 2012 Ronald Barba and is protected under copyright laws

Joy in this life can only be found in a close, trusting relationship with God. The creator of the Universe is omnipotent and omniscient. Why would we ever trust anyone else?

Some of the first chapters include exhortations with their promises. Now as we begin chapter 6 we begin a group of warnings followed by their consequences. They are as follows:

Continue reading TIDBITS OF WISDOM-A STUDY IN PROVERBS PART 11-Broken, Dark Hearts In Need of Grace →