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One All Pursuing Powerful God Can Transform the Most Wicked, if Only

February 6, 2022 Effie Barba Leave a comment

Nebuchadnezzar was considered the most powerful King of the Babylonian Empire. Shrewd, intelligent, and ruthless; he marched the Babylonian empire into a successful reign of the region. Babylon was felt to be a great seat of learning and culture. The Assyrian Empire essentially fell when a Babylonian-Medea coalition overtook Nineveh. The last Persian King tried to restore his power by making an alliance with Egypt (as did also Judah, despite Assyria overtaking Northern Israel). Nebuchadnezzar conquered Egypt as well as Judah, making himself a great war hero. Soon after he became King in his father’s place. But he was about to meet God. Hence one all pursuing powerful God can transform the most wicked, if only their eyes open to the truth. It may begin slowly, but step by step God presents His case even to King Nebuchadnezzar.

It is said that in his inaugural speech, Nebuchadnezzar gave tribute to Marduk (one of the false gods of their day. He is quoted as saying, “O merciful Marduk, may the house that I have built endure forever, may I be satiated with its splendor, attain old age therein, with abundant offspring, and receive therein tribute of the kings of all regions, from all mankind.” (Kerrigan, 39)[1] King Nebuchadnezzar was unaware that he was about to meet The All Pursuing, Powerful God-the great I AM, creator of the universe who allowed and orchestrated even King Nebuchadnezzar ability to rise to power. Nothing can happen on earth, but God permissive will allows it and God will even use that which is evil to accomplish what He loves—the redemption of His own.

A First Glimpse of One ALL Pursuing Powerful God

In chapter 2 of Daniel, we find King Nebuchadnezzar very disturbed by a dream. Yet, the details of the dream escape him, only the essence of its terror. He calls in all his wisemen and magicians, asking them to tell him the dream and the interpretation. When they said they could not do it, even on threat of death, they make a very important statement.

“There is not a man on earth who can meet the king’s demand, for no great and powerful king has asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean. ¹¹The thing that the king asks is difficult, and no one can show it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.” Daniel 2:11

But they did not know the real God who does dwell with man.

Therefore, it appeared that all would be put to death. Well, but God had another plan. Daniel asked the King to give him one day to ask God for the answer. So, that night Daniel and his three friends (Hananiah, Mishel and Azariah) prayed all night and in the morning, Daniel knew the dream and the interpretation. That is what he presented to the King but not before having thanked God.

Daniel 2:20-23

“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
    to whom belong wisdom and might.
²¹He changes times and seasons;
    he removes kings and sets up kings;
he gives wisdom to the wise
    and knowledge to those who have understanding;
²²he reveals deep and hidden things;
    he knows what is in the darkness,
    and the light dwells with him.
²³To you, O God of my fathers,
    I give thanks and praise,
for you have given me wisdom and might,
    and have now made known to me what we asked of you,
    for you have made known to us the king’s matter.”

A Dream Revealed and Interpreted

But notice this, God had revealed to King Nebuchadnezzar the future of this world we live in. Notice the detail and the accuracy to this point.

²⁷Daniel answered the king and said, “No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked, ²⁸but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed are these: ²⁹To you, O king, as you lay in bed came thoughts of what would be after this, and he who reveals mysteries made known to you what is to be. ³⁰But as for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because of any wisdom that I have more than all the living, but in order that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your mind. Daniel 2: 27-30

I encourage you to read the remainder of Chapter 2.

One All Powerful God who Reveals

If you look at the dates and times, remember God revealed this to King Nebuchadnezzar nearly 600 years before Christ. There are many scriptures in the New Testament and later in Daniel that clarifies and gives even more detail regarding each of these periods.

But note the stone, not made by hand which will destroy all human empires.

I PETER 2: 4-11

⁴As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, ⁵you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ⁶For it stands in Scripture:

“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone chosen and precious,
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

⁷So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,

“The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,”^[^a^]

⁸and

“A stone of stumbling,
and a rock of offense.”

They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

⁹But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. ¹⁰Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

¹¹Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.

We the church are that Kingdom who soon will be raptured and then we will return with Him to set up His Kingdom as shown in Daniel 2.

Daniel 2: 44-45

⁴⁴And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever, ⁴⁵just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.”

To this Nebuchadnezzar’s eyes saw the first glimpse of one all pursuing, all powerful God and he said.

⁴⁶Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and paid homage to Daniel and commanded that an offering and incense be offered up to him. ⁴⁷The king answered and said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.”

But that was not enough to fully transform his heart, but it was a start.

HOW QUICKLY ONE FORGETS

Well, after all, Daniel did say that the head of gold was King Nebuchadnezzar. He then made a statue of gold and put it on display, telling everyone to bow down and worship the statue. Forgetting that it was God who allowed him the dream and the power, he wanted himself to be worshipped. How quickly do people forget what God has done for them in answering even the prayers of unredeemed sinners. He tries to draw them to Him, but they walk away.

Then, he threw the three young men who refused to bow before the statue into a burning pit.

Daniel 3: ¹⁴Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? ¹⁵Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good.^[^c^] But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?”

¹⁶Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. ¹⁷If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.^[^d^] ¹⁸But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

One All Pursuing, all-powerful God gives the King a glimpse of Christ

Daniel 3 ²⁴Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” ²⁵He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” The Son of GOD-Jesus was there with them.

Then one step nearer to believing, the King declares:

“Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside^[^f^] the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God. ²⁹Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.”

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

How One Man Can Stand Strong Transforming a Nation Defying All Odds

DISCLOSURES

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2021
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, 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.

Credits

Photo licensed through Goodsalt.com

New English Translation (NET)

New King James Version (NKJV)

[1] https://www.worldhistory.org/Nebuchadnezzar_II/ accessed 1/29/2022

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How One Man Can Stand Strong Transforming a Nation Defying All Odds

January 30, 2022 Effie Barba Leave a comment

It was 1857. No embers from earlier church revivals . The churches in the United States were dying and the USA was declining rapidly with them. Conflicts over slavery saw a nation was violently divided. Spiritually, the people had walked away from God and as the time passed, all appeared to be heading for disaster. Furthermore, a huge influx of immigrants arrived while the United States was already heading toward financial hard times. Financial Panic set in and financial devastation was just around the corner. There was one church in New York, that as a last stitch effort hired a lay man to begin visiting people door to door. Having a compassion for people and a heart for Christ, Jeremy Lamphier was that one man. But how can one man, stand strong transforming a nation defying all odds?

His diligent attempts to grow the church failed. Then, he thought, prayer was needed. He posted fliers throughout the city announcing a prayer meeting during the lunch hour for all who wished to stop by, beginning September 23, 1857. When the day arrived, he placed 20 chairs in the 3^rd floor room and waited. At first it appeared no one would come. So, he sat and prayed alone. Then, gradually one by one six men arrived.

The following week there were 20 and then forty. On October 10, 1857 the stock market crashed, banks closed, railroads went bankrupt, factories closed, and unemployment rose. However, the numbers in the prayer meetings climbed to over 10,000 and spread throughout the nation and later around the world. Revival came from one man who had the idea to simply meet to pray. The civil war still came, life was hard. Meanwhile, millions around the world came to know Christ as Savior, defying all odds.

One Man Standing Strong, Defying All Odds

In 605 BC, King Nebuchadnezzar made his first invasion into Jerusalem and took captive the “brightest and the smartest of the royal line” to train them, indoctrinate them and use them for his advantage. Among these were Daniel. To ascertain their willingness to bow down, he had them castrated, placed them among the eunuchs, and ordered their names be changed. The new names were ones attached to pagan worship and pagan Gods, removing their own names which signified their faith in God. Additionally, he commanded their food be that from his own table; knowing this would defy their religious practices. In everything, he wanted them to become his puppets for political gain.

Despite his youth, Daniel stood strong defying all odds and ultimately transforming a nation. But part of that we will see later. But what were the characteristics of this young man that we can learn from? How are we to stand strong defying all odds so that we too can transform our nation?

Daniel 1:

³Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family^[^a^] and of the nobility, ⁴youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king’s palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans. ⁵The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king.

⁶Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah. ⁷And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.

Daniel’s Faithfulness

⁸But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. ⁹And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs, ¹⁰and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and your drink; for why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age? So you would endanger my head with the king.”

¹¹Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, ¹²“Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. ¹³Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king’s food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see.” ¹⁴So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days. ¹⁵At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king’s food. ¹⁶So the steward took away their food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.

Defying All Odds by God’s Strength

¹⁷As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom. Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. ¹⁸At the end of the time, when the king had commanded that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. ¹⁹And the king spoke with them. And among all of them none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore, they stood before the king. ²⁰And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom.

How to Stand Strong, Defying All Odds, Transforming a Nation

Trust God. It begins with an unwavering faith; but that kind of faith comes as we ask for it. Sometimes that means we go through trials. As we see God work through our trials, our faith grows.
Prayer
Study to know more of Him
Determine to Follow God, regardless of how hard it may look at times.
Never forget, the victory already is ours

There have been no great revivals that were not started with at least one man praying fervently for this. As we continue the study in Daniel, we will find that his secret was spending time with God in prayer. He and his friends joined together in prayer as well and this was what gave them strength, faith, and hope.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

God’s Glory Revealed in Poetry

What Actually Provokes a Loving Merciful God to Wrath and Judgement?

My Song for You, Dear Child

DISCLOSURES

Photo licensed through Goodsalt.com

New English Translation (NET)

New King James Version (NKJV)

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What Actually Provokes a Loving Merciful God to Wrath and Judgement?

January 22, 2022 Effie Barba Leave a comment

God had been extremely long-suffering and patient with His people. He displayed His Goodness to all of humanity. Each time, they reached a point of no return in their depravity and their sin, He had no choice but to pour forth judgement. Why? Because humans tend to progress down paths of self-destruction, whether individually or nationally. I cannot say that I am any different, were it not for God’s intervening hand of wrath and judgement in my life. That has always been the loving merciful thing to do. Otherwise, I would not have come to realize just how wonderful it is to know Him. He is the answer to every question that we have. The climatic fulfillment of all my desires. Furthermore, He is the Joy that nothing else can give.

Because some of this is a very sensitive subject, let me begin by saying we do live in a broken world. Desires, dreams, and hopes become so miscued, misdirected so easily. Always feeling some gap of emptiness that we need to fill. Our very Being and Existence depend on it. Yet, every search for something new leads to a place of quiet desperation. As Henry David Thoreau wrote, “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation.”[1]

To quote C S. Lewis, “
“If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.”

Most of my life, although a Christian, I kept searching for love and fulfillment; never realizing I already had it. Much like God’s people whom He gave everything; yet they chased after other God’s and other pleasures.

So how is a Loving Merciful God provoked to display Wrath and Judgement?

Ezekiel through many parables, pictures and words tells us God was just and He had a wonderful reason. So, as I often say in this day and time; God sometimes allows what He hates to accomplish what He loves. His goal is to have a people upon whom He can lavish His love, fill with His joy, and share His glory.

But for us to fully understand His Mercy, His Grace, His Justice and His Righteousness; it was necessary to allow us to see what the world would be without those things. Hence evil is the absence of God. Just as darkness is the absence of light. Dark does not exist of its own. It is the absence of light. Evil is much the same it is the absence of God’s restraining hand. Therefore, for us to understand righteousness, we must see what the lack of righteousness looks like in our own hearts.

So, what were the things God had to cleanse from the land before it destroyed them?

Idolatry –which God likened to their playing a harlot toward Him after He gave them everything

They sacrificed their children–Ezekiel 16²⁰Moreover thou hast taken thy sons and thy daughters, whom thou hast borne unto me, and these hast thou sacrificed unto them to be devoured. Is this of thy whoredoms a small matter,²¹That thou hast slain my children, and delivered them to cause them to pass through the fire for them?²²And in all thine abominations and thy whoredoms thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth, when thou wast naked and bare, and wast polluted in thy blood.²³And it came to pass after all thy wickedness, (woe, woe unto thee! saith the Lord God;)

Ezekiel 23 further expounded on Why God’s Wrath and Judgement must come

³⁷That they have committed adultery, and blood is in their hands, and with their idols have they committed adultery, and have also caused their sons, whom they bare unto me, to pass for them through the fire, to devour them. ³⁸Moreover this they have done unto me: they have defiled my sanctuary in the same day, and have profaned my sabbaths. ³⁹For when they had slain their children to their idols, then they came the same day into my sanctuary to profane it; and, lo, thus have they done in the midst of mine house.

They had forsaken the sanctity of life itself—God is the author of life for every person. Yet have we not done the same in this nation?

David wrote in Psalms 139

¹³For you formed my inward parts;
    you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.^[^a^]
Wonderful are your works;
    my soul knows it very well.
¹⁵My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
    intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
    the days that were formed for me,
    when as yet there was none of them.

¹⁷How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
¹⁸If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you.

¹⁹Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!
    O men of blood, depart from me!
²⁰They speak against you with malicious intent;
    your enemies take your name in vain.^[^b^]
²¹Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord?
    And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
²²I hate them with complete hatred;
    I count them my enemies.

²³Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!^[^c^]
²⁴And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!^[^d^]

God’s Wrath and Judgement must come to cleanse

God allowed many trials in my life. Perhaps I was a slow learner. But each trial taught me more of Him. Now I see how those were the things that transformed me so that I can live in His abiding steadfast Joy. I do believe that this nation will face God’s Wrath and Judgement soon. It must come before we destroy everything good that He has given us. We like Israel and Judah are sacrificing our children on the altar of sexual desire, eroticism, and worldly pleasure.

We have a duty to protect the children of this country who have now been under attack. In the worship of sensuality and erotic nature, their innocence is under attack. Trust me, I do remember the struggles for acceptance as a young girl. Feelings as though I did not fit in; but that is part of transforming from a child dependent on one’s parents for everything as a baby to developing into maturity. It is scary enough without people pressuring them or making them believe they were just made wrong. WE must pray for and find ways to protect our children.

[1] Thoreau, Henry David; Civil Disobedience and Other Essays

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

God’s Glory Revealed in Poetry

How to Really Know the Lord God of Heaven’s Army is with You

DISCLOSURES

Photo licensed through Goodsalt.com

New English Translation (NET)

New King James Version (NKJV)

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How to Really Know the Lord God of Heaven’s Army is with You

January 17, 2022 Effie Barba Leave a comment

Amos 6: (NET) ¹⁴Seek good and not evil so you can live!Then the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies just might be with you,
as you claim he is. ¹⁵Hate what is wrong, love what is right.
Promote^[^a^] justice at the city gate.^[^b^] Maybe the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies will have mercy on^[^c^] those who are left from^[^d^] Joseph.^[^e^]

How many proclaim that they are on the side of God, yet do not know Him? Although, He is so close and has made Himself so easily found. All that He requires of you is to seek Him as the greatest treasure because He is. But how quickly do we want to add something to the formula that makes us worthy. Never content to just rest in Him. If only I could try harder. Do better. Strive to bring Him the offering I prefer, much like Cain did. Serving Him my way. Yet that is when sin is crouching at the door. Unless we cast it aside, declaring to Satan. “Yes, you are right that I am not good enough. My own efforts are but filthy rags before God. Yet, I am covered by the redemptive blood of Christ and cloaked in His righteousness, not my own”.

Know the Lord God of Heaven’s Army is with You.

He has said in Proverbs 16:3 (NET), “Commit^[^a^] your works^[^b^] to the Lord, and your plans will be established.^[^c^]” Commit it all to Him and so it is that is what my heart longs to do. Quit striving to do it my way or prove that I am the “strong one” and rest in Him. “⁴Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. ⁵I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. “(John 15, ESV)

What does all of this have to do with our lesson in Ezekiel? Everything. For the words of Amos came before the fall of Israel into the hands of the Assyrians. He had warned them. However humans often decide to worship God their way, not His. Just as Nimrod tried to build a tower to heaven. Or the people of Noah’s day chose to live as they believed was right. Human strength and effort trying to make it to heaven. Worshiping God as we see fit. Believing if we try hard enough, He will accept us. Blurring the truth, while accepting lies, we get farther away from God, just as they did.

Ezekiel Foretells of Salvation and the Restoration of Israel

Thus Ezekiel preached to the exiles as he watches Jerusalem fall to Nebuchadnezzar. Although many counterparts taught a feel-good sermon. Meanwhile, everything cave in around them. Ezekiel, however, continued clinging fast to the truth. He declared God comes quickly to destroy the evil and thereby save a people, a remnant of His own. Not because of works, but because of faith. Only God can take dry dead bones and build an army. He can take our dead, sin-filled hearts and make them alive to His spirit.

In Ezekiel chapter 37, God commands him to preach to the dry, dead bones. They came to life. Exiled, downtrodden, and rightfully punished for their sin. However, God gathered the nation of Israel together once mor, just as He promised. What a display of His work of Grace! Because as a nation, they do not yet accept Jesus Christ as their Messiah. Therefore, it is only God’s mercy, grace and faithfulness marching forward fulfilling every prophecy. Although now, as a nation they do not believe in the atoning work of Christ; they will yet one day. The dried-up bones of misappropriated faith now one day stand up in true faith. Transformed into the true faith of Salvation . Just as God’s Glory departed from the temple. One day it will return. That is what the remainder of Ezekiel tells us.

Redemption

EZEKIEL 36 ²²“Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came. ²³And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Lord God, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. ²⁴I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land.

²⁵I WILL SPRINKLE CLEAN WATER ON YOU, AND YOU SHALL BE CLEAN FROM ALL YOUR UNCLEANNESSES, AND FROM ALL YOUR IDOLS I WILL CLEANSE YOU. ²⁶AND I WILL GIVE YOU A NEW HEART, AND A NEW SPIRIT I WILL PUT WITHIN YOU. AND I WILL REMOVE THE HEART OF STONE FROM YOUR FLESH AND GIVE YOU A HEART OF FLESH. ²⁷AND I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT WITHIN YOU, AND CAUSE YOU TO WALK IN MY STATUTES AND BE CAREFUL TO OBEY MY RULES.^[^A^] ²⁸YOU SHALL DWELL IN THE LAND THAT I GAVE TO YOUR FATHERS, AND YOU SHALL BE MY PEOPLE, AND I WILL BE YOUR GOD. ²⁹AND I WILL DELIVER YOU FROM ALL YOUR UNCLEANNESSES.

… ³¹Then you will remember your evil ways, and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves for your iniquities and your abominations. ³²It is not for your sake that I will act, declares the Lord God; let that be known to you.

Restoration

Ezekiel 36 ³³“Thus says the Lord God: On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be inhabited, and the waste places shall be rebuilt. ³⁴And the land that was desolate shall be tilled, instead of being the desolation that it was in the sight of all who passed by. ³⁵And they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden, and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited.’ ³⁶Then the nations that are left all around you shall know that I am the Lord; I have rebuilt the ruined places and replanted that which was desolate. I AM THE LORD; I HAVE SPOKEN, AND I WILL DO IT.

It is only He who can redeem and restore. You cannot on your own do either.

So How do You Know that the Lord God of Heaven’s Army is with You?

Rest in His Promises
Never forget that He has always accomplished all that He has planned and will not start failing now.
Do Not Believe the Lie of Self Righteousness by works. You cannot ever work your into heaven, because you can never build a tower high enough
It is always Christ in You, the hope of Glory
Take time just to be quiet and listen for Him to speak to your heart.
Stop striving to do it on your own—always beating yourself up for being who you are. No one beats me up worse than I do over everything—always feeling not good enough. Trying to work hard toward being better. To an extent perhaps this is what is my motivational force; but sometimes it is ok to just seek the better part and sit alone with Jesus. Like when Martha kept working hard to serve the people and clean the house, while Mary sat at Jesus’ feet. Then when Martha rebuked Mary. Luke 10: ⁴¹But the Lord^[^a^] answered her,^[^b^] “Martha, Martha,^[^c^] you are worried and troubled^[^d^] about many things, ⁴²but one thing^[^e^] is needed. Mary has chosen the best^[^f^] part; it will not be taken away from her.”
Never forget that our only true mission is to do whatever He asks. Therefore, as His soldiers, we must learn to hear His voice. WE do that through spending time alone with Him in scripture.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

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God’s Glory Revealed in Poetry

In Life or Death, No Fear. How? Because We Know God Wins

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New King James Version (NKJV)

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In Life or Death, No Fear. How? Because We Know God Wins

January 8, 2022 Effie Barba Leave a comment

This week has been a test in No Fear in Life or Death. First, I battled an upper respiratory cold. In the day of Covid Hysteria that could have been daunting. How do I trust God to keep me and my patients safe in such a time as this? If truly I believe God Wins, regardless of all that happens around me; then I must trust Him both in life and death because He is on His throne. No one lives or dies; but that He has decreed it. He “works all things according to the counsel of his will” (Ephesians 1:11 ESV). All things!

That brings me to when I walked out of work late on Thursday evening into a very dark parking lot. As the door closed behind me with no way to go back in, I stepped out to the opening where I saw a man standing by my car. Another car parked next to mine, had the passenger door open. I whispered a prayer, yet I felt no fear as I began to the walk over to my car. Trusting the guiding hand of the Holy Spirit who bid me on, I had no fear.

The man, somewhat scruffy in appearance, smoking a cigarette with arms covered in tattoos, sat down in the passenger set of the other car with the window down. He said, “Sorry, we are just sitting here talking” as I neared. I got into my car and left. (God must have whispered in his ear, “not worth it-sit down.” Even sinners hear His commanding voice. )

A thought

It reminded of the burdened heart I had carried earlier in the week, feeling as though a failure in life. When I had wondered how it was God chose me. Yet, He did. He reminded me that He had covered all my sins; therefore, I have no fear in life or death.

In Life or Death, No Fear

Recently I have become more engrossed in the study of the Holy Spirit, seeking Him. Oh, perhaps that is where I get it wrong. How do I seek for that which I already have indwelling within me? Rather, I am learning to trust Him as I turn over all control to Him, each morning and then throughout the day as necessary. For He is “Christ in you, the hope of Glory” Colossians 1:27. The Holy Spirit guides us along this journey. Therefore, we grow ever more like Jesus. Thereby, as we face trials, we learn to have no fear in life or death, as we lean in and trust the Omnipotent, Omniscient God who has demonstrated throughout history to be trustworthy.

Every word of the Holy Bible He left us IS proof of His trustworthiness and His Power. There we come to know all His attributes and the depth of His enduring love for us. He spared no opportunity to demonstrate to us that He is omnipotent. Each action of the Old Testament presents another proof.

So, all this to bring us to the story of the city of Tyre, her Prince, and her King. As we look at this note how it is that we can fully trust that God wins. Therefore, we have no fear in life or death.

The City of Tyre

Tyre was the city of all cities in its day. Everyone looked to it for its beauty, its wealth, and its accessibility. An envy of all who surrounded it. Initially, they enjoyed great trade relations with Judah and Israel. Particularly known for the cedars of Lebanon and their purple dye, their wealth and renown grew.

It was so beautifully laid out with a main city and a separate island, presenting the perfect area for trade. Yet, they became proud of their wealth, beauty and overly confident of their natural island defenses. They, though formerly trade partners with Solomon, developed jealousy and rivalry toward Jerusalem. Hence, they were gleeful when Israel, then Judah fell, believing they were superior. Never did they realize their fortune had been God’s gift to them. Instead, they worshiped Baal. Then, Ezekiel prophesied.

“Son of man, because Tyre has said against Jerusalem, ‘Aha! The gateway of the peoples has been broken! Everything will come my way, and I will become rich now that she is devastated’; therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah says: ‘Here I am against you, O Tyre, and I will bring up many nations against you, just as the sea brings up its waves. They will destroy the walls of Tyre and tear down her towers, and I will scrape away soil and make her a shining, bare rock. She will become a drying yard for dragnets in the midst of the sea.’ (Ezekiel 26: 2-5)

God Wins

Within years of this prediction, Nebuchadnezzar sent his army to destroy Tyre, the city. There was as predicted a very long battle according to historians lasting 13 years. Then some might say, because the island city still stood at that time—ah God’s prediction failed. But not so, in 332 BC when Alexander the Great overtook Tyre and as promised the walls and towers were used to create land between the island city and the former city. All was destroyed.

Today there are some of the remaining structures from the later Roman empire; however, none of the original Phoenician towers survived. They were used to be the landfill between the island and the land.

They will destroy the walls of Tyre and tear down her towers, and I will scrape away soil and make her a shining, bare rock. Ezekiel 26:5 had come to pass, just as God had said.

Then as we read of God’s edict in Ezekiel 28, He predicts all that will happen to the Prince of Tyre. This already came true. But look at the switch over from the Prince of Tyre to the King of Tyre halfway through the chapter. The Prince of Tyre had declared himself a god but was merely a man. Yet, the King of Tyre was Satan, Himself and His defeat is as certain as was that of the Prince of Tyre.

The Proud Should Fear in Life and Death, Because God Wins

Thus says the Lord God:

“Because your heart is proud,
    and you have said, ‘I am a god,
I sit in the seat of the gods,
    in the heart of the seas,’
yet you are but a man, and no god,
    though you make your heart like the heart of a god—
³you are indeed wiser than Daniel;
    no secret is hidden from you;
⁴by your wisdom and your understanding
    you have made wealth for yourself,
and have gathered gold and silver
    into your treasuries;
⁵by your great wisdom in your trade
    you have increased your wealth,
    and your heart has become proud in your wealth—

⁶therefore thus says the Lord God:
Because you make your heart
    like the heart of a god,
⁷therefore, behold, I will bring foreigners upon you,
    the most ruthless of the nations;
and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom
    and defile your splendor.

⁸They shall thrust you down into the pit,
    and you shall die the death of the slain
    in the heart of the seas.
⁹Will you still say, ‘I am a god,’
    in the presence of those who kill you,
though you are but a man, and no god,
    in the hands of those who slay you?
¹⁰You shall die the death of the uncircumcised
    by the hand of foreigners;
    for I have spoken, declares the Lord God.”

Ezekiel 28: 1-10

Therefore, those who do not know Jesus as Savior, you should be afraid. For there is no hope for those who believe themselves to be the god of their own destiny.

God Wins Against Satan

Thus says the Lord God:

“You were the signet of perfection,^[^a^]
    full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
¹³You were in Eden, the garden of God;
    every precious stone was your covering,
sardius, topaz, and diamond,
    beryl, onyx, and jasper,
sapphire,^[^b^] emerald, and carbuncle;
    and crafted in gold were your settings
    and your engravings.^[^c^]
On the day that you were created
    they were prepared.
¹⁴You were an anointed guardian cherub.
    I placed you;^[^d^] you were on the holy mountain of God;
    in the midst of the stones of fire you walked.
¹⁵You were blameless in your ways
    from the day you were created,
    till unrighteousness was found in you.

¹⁶In the abundance of your trade
    you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned;
so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God,
    and I destroyed you,^[^e^] O guardian cherub,
    from the midst of the stones of fire.
¹⁷Your heart was proud because of your beauty;
    you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor.
I cast you to the ground;
    I exposed you before kings,
    to feast their eyes on you.
¹⁸By the multitude of your iniquities,
    in the unrighteousness of your trade
    you profaned your sanctuaries;
so I brought fire out from your midst;
    it consumed you,
and I turned you to ashes on the earth
    in the sight of all who saw you.
¹⁹All who know you among the peoples
    are appalled at you;
you have come to a dreadful end
    and shall be no more forever.”

Ezekiel 28 (ESV)

Concluding Thought

Satan will come to a dreadful end and shall be no more forever. That is as exacting a prophecy as all the others that have already come true. For that reason, all who trust in Jesus as their Lord and Savior have no fear in life or death.