Effie Darlene Barba

As we live life in this broken world awaiting our Saviors return, how do we effectively spread the joyous gospel message with a heart wide open? Our hearts break with the sorrows of this world. Trials press in from every side. Sometimes our hearts crush with the weight of this world. So much useless pain, sorrow, and suffering. Humanity seeking everything that is not God plunging the world farther away from any hope of true peace or joy. We who know him, are looking and longing for His return. Our hearts break as we watch evil appearing to win. At times it looks so hopeless. Were it not for the faith He so freely gives us, we would fall in despair.  

Yet, as we study His word, we are shown His steadfast love and faithfulness. So many prophecies have been fulfilled. We can trust in His Sovereignty and Power to finish all He has planned. Furthermore, we see the life of Christ. His love reached out with humility. So much so, He willingly paid the full price for our salvation.  

Then there are the miracles within our own lives, when He has reached out to us in our darkest hours, so we might see His providential hand cradling and protecting us. Sermons, friends, and songs touch us, enwrapping us at just the right moment or hour. Magically, He holds us up in His loving arms. He loves us so much that He would never leave us here one moment more, except He has a purpose yet to fulfill in our lives. Preparing us for an eternity of overwhelming joy, we are being sanctified. Also, He shares bits of His Glory in us each time He allows us to share the gospel with someone in need of Him.  

Spread the Joyous Gospel with Heart Wide Open 

So, in a world with so much sorrow and heartaches, how do we with heart wide open still proclaim and spread the Joyous Gospel? Will they not think we are hypocrites? We proclaim the good news, covered with battle scars and tear-stained faces. Will they believe us? Paul the Apostle shows us how to speak truth with a heart wide open, honestly, and passionately telling our story. Is that not also the example first given to us by our precious Savior? 

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. ⁵ For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. ⁶ But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; ⁷ and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are partners in our sufferings, so also you are in our comfort. 2 Corinthians 1: 3-7 NASB 

We learn through affliction how to minister to others who are afflicted. It is amid the sorrows we learn to trust and lean into the arms of Jesus. Then we can tell others of our wondrous hope because of Him. Ours is not a frivolous joy, but rather an abiding and steadfast joy that carries us through the darkest hours. Steady as we go, pressing forward and trusting in Him. 

2 Corinthians, Paul’s letter with Heart Wide Open 

Throughout this letter to the Corinthian church, Paul writes with his heart wide open.  He recalls the previous letter.  In I Corinthians he told them to stop allowing and applauding open sin within the church.  Which is true.  We cannot applaud sin in our midst.  Never are we called to compromise the truth or to water down the Christian life.  Neither, however, are we to continue with unforgiveness either.  Apparently, the one that was expelled from the church repented, left his sin, and was now overwhelmed with sorrow.  He felt all alone.  Therefore, Paul writes this: 

2 Corinthians 2: 3-11 (NKJV). 

³ And I wrote this very thing to you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow over those from whom I ought to have joy, having confidence in you all that my joy is the joy of you all. ⁴ For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you. 

⁵ But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent—not to be too severe. ⁶ This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man, ⁷ so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. ⁸ Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. ⁹ For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. ¹⁰ Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, ¹¹ lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices. 

Heart Wide Open—Humility 

Paul reminded us here that we all have sinned.  Jesus forgave us.  When we fail to forgive others, we are in danger of pride.  After all, I would never do that?  Whatever that is.  And there Satan takes what began as righteous becomes consuming to our own heart.   

¹⁴ But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us reveals the fragrance of the knowledge of Him in every place. ¹⁵ For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing: ¹⁶ to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things? ¹⁷ For we are not like the many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God.  2 Corinthians 2: 14-17 (NASB) 

But you, like I may say, how do I do that? It is the vicious cycle we so easily fall into. 

⁴ Such is the confidence we have toward God through Christ. ⁵ Not that we are adequate in ourselves so as to consider anything as having come from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, ⁶ who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 2 Corinthians 2: 4-6 (NASB). 

Heart Wide Open—because the veil is pulled back by Christ 

When Moses went before God, he returned with a veil over his face.  The Glory from God’s presence was so bright that the people could not look up Moses’ face.  Many still cannot see God.  They remain blinded to the truth with the veil obscuring God’s glory.  

¹⁶ Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. ¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. ¹⁸ But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 (NASB).   

Glory to glory, tiny glories to tiny glories we are being transformed in the image of Jesus Christ.  How amazing is that?  I, who have nothing of my own to give, am being changed little by little.  But what about all those around us that hurt us? 

Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart…. ³ But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, ⁴ whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. ⁵ For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. ⁶ For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.  2 Corinthians 4: 1,3-6 (NKJV) 

Clay Vessels Filled with God’s Glory by Grace 

⁷ But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. ⁸ We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹ persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— ¹⁰ always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 2 Corinthians 4 (NKJV). 

The power to spread the joyous Gospel with heart wide open is given to us by Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit.  Clay pots break easily.  Yet through those broken spots light shines forth from the light within.   

It is through the broken cracks that the Glory of God may shine forth to a world in need of hope.   

¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, ¹⁸ while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 

2 Corinthians 4 (NKJV).  

Ambassadors of Christ with Heart Wide Open 

²⁰ Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. ²¹ For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 

2 Corinthians 5 (NKJV)   

It is best to always be with a heart wide open, quick to stand for Christ and quick to forgive.  In sorrow, we grow.  When I accept the truth, sometimes that is painful.  Yet, it leads to edification or growth in Christ.  I do not always want to hear the truth.  But it is the truth I need always.  The same is true that we sometimes must speak the truth in love.  

⁸ For though I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it—for I see that that letter caused you sorrow, though only for a while— ⁹ I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. ¹⁰ For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death. 2 Corinthians 7 (NASB).   

Be encouraged by this.  

Heart Wide Open Strengthened by God Himself who Provides our Weapons 

³ For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. ⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, ⁵ casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 2 Corinthians 10 (NKJV)   

It is God Himself who wins each battle for us.  He casts down every argument against us and ascertains that we will grow in our knowledge of Him.  Only He can bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.  As we gaze upon Him, He transforms us into the likeness of Jesus.  However dimly we see Him now, the veil is pulled back so that we might see Him clearer each day.  And one day, I will see Him face to face. 

Until then, I must not fall back in fear of what anyone will think, but boldly with heart wide open I proclaim the Joyous Gospel to all who will listen.  Though that may mean they see all my blemishes, I must proclaim Him as the only hope, joy, peace and means of salvation.   

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

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. 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

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The Greatest Exegesis of the Gospel Message is Found in Romans 

DISCLOSURES©Effie Darlene Barba, 2023Disclosure 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

New King James Version (NKJV)Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

New American Standard Bible (NASB)New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.

New English Translation (NET)NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.

Amplified Bible (AMP)Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.

PICTURE Licensed from Goodsalt.com

No where in scripture is the gospel message more clearly outlined than in the letter Paul wrote to the church in Rome. It was Paul’s desire to go to Rome. The church in Rome began after the preaching on the day of Pentecost, where Roman Jews were also present in Jerusalem. They heard the gospel message preached by Peter and had accepted Christ as Savior.  However, they did not have a lot of training thereafter. Hence, they had blended some ideas of legalism, misconceptions regarding the Jewish nation, and other rituals. For that reason, Paul wrote to them the greatest exegesis of the gospel message found in scripture. Exegesis means a critical or rather detailed explanation of an idea or text.  

Paul breaks it down into 4 major categories. The Righteous Wrath of God is outlined in Romans 1 through 3:20. This is followed by displaying the Grace of God from Romans 3:21 through chapter 8. Romans 9-11 are about the Sovereign Plan of God. And finally, the book of Romans ends with an exquisite exegesis concerning the Will of God. 

The Greatest Exegesis of the Gospel Message Led to the Reformation Movement 

It was the book of Romans that lead to Martin Luther leading the reformation movement. As a very devout German monk, he felt that he could never measure up to obtaining perfect righteousness on his own doing. He did everything and even spent hours in confession for every thought that entered his head. Indeed, he was miserable and depressed because of this. He spent hours studying his Bible. He went to Rome to seek guidance but found they had created another round of “indulgences” whereby people could purchase their way to heaven. Then one day as he read Romans, he suddenly really read this: 

; ²⁰ because by the works of the Law none of mankind will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes knowledge of sin. 

Justification by Faith 

²¹ But now apart  from the Law the righteousness of God has been revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, ²² but it is the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction, ²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, ²⁵ whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in God’s merciful restraint He let the sins previously committed go unpunished; ²⁶ for the demonstration, that is, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. 

²⁷ Where then is boasting? It has been excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. ²⁸ For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. ²⁹ Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, ³⁰ since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one. 

The Greatest Exegesis of the Gospel 

This was the answer!  Saved by faith in Jesus Christ.  Our righteousness is not our own, but His.  He imputes to us His righteousness, purchased by Him at the cross.  Jesus Christ pays the price for us so that all who believe might be saved from the chains of sin.  Purchased to never be enslaved again.  God can justly justify us because the penalty was paid.  The word propitiation is the same word used in the Old Testament to refer to the lid of the Ark of the Covenant where the blood was poured upon.  The blood of Christ was poured out for us so that we might be declared righteous.  

Chapters 1 to 3:20 spoke of a world that justly deserved only God’s wrath; but now, through grace we are saved.  Martin Luther for the first time believed that Jesus Christ was the only way of salvation.  That changed everything for him.  He then began to stand up to the religious order of his day and proclaimed their heresies at risk of being himself killed.   

The book of Romans so majestically declares the details of the gospel. Paul even raising and answering the objections which might be brought against his words.  This was a style of writing that also helped to make this the greatest exegesis of the Gospel Message.  It is one of the greatest expositions to guide us along the way. 

Grace Explained 

From 3:21 through to the end of chapter 8, Paul tells us of both the grace which saves us, and the Holy Spirits work in Sanctification.  We are immediately declared as Saints in Christ, but at the same time we are being sanctified every day.  One day our outside will look like the new creature we are in Christ.  My heart will love like His and I will understand it all.  

The Greatest Exegesis of Security in Salvation 

In the 8^th Chapter of Romans, the Holy Spirit is mentioned 15 times.  He is the one to secure us, indwell us, transform us, and strengthen us.  Also, He intervenes for us when we do not know what to pray.  Pretty amazing! 

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. ² For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. ³ For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴ that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.  Romans 8:1-4 (NKJV) 

So, what if I cannot walk according to the Spirit?  Am I doomed?  But that is the beauty of our Savior, we cannot, so He does.   

⁹ But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. ¹⁰ And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. ¹¹ But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.  Romans 8:9-11 

Our Hope in Him 

For our hope is found in nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name. (written by Edward Mote) 

¹⁶ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷ and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.  Romans 8 (NKJV) 

²⁶ Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession ^[g]for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. ²⁷ Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (NKJV) 

The Greatest Exegesis of Our Security of Sanctification 

²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. ²⁹ For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. ³⁰ Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.  Romans 8 (NKJV) 

³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ….³⁷ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, ³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

The Greatest Exegesis of the Plan of God 

Paul then in the next three chapters details how the plan of God allowed for the rejection by the Jews of His son without destroying His plan for them.  It merely has allowed a time for the Gentiles to be brought in and grafted into the vine.  We have not taken the place of the Jews—they remain His chosen nation and one day He will complete all His promises to them as well.  That will be during the millennial reign of Christ.  That will be at the end of the completion of the 70 weeks of years Daniel wrote of that are necessary “to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.”  Daniel 9:24. 

Paul further describes how the failures of the Jewish nation opened to doors for the Gentile nation and the current church age.  But we did not replace the Jews.  We are the bride of Christ—they remain God the Father’s chosen nation to whom He made a covenant long ago with Abraham and He will complete that covenant.  

He ends this section with: 

³³ Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! 

³⁴ “For who has known the mind of the Lord? 
Or who has become His counselor?” 
³⁵ “Or who has first given to Him 
And it shall be repaid to him?” 

³⁶ For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.  Romans 11 (NKJV) 

The Greatest Exegesis of the Will of God for our lives 

The remainder of the book of Romans is an explanation of what is the will of God for our lives.  

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. ² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12 (NKJV) 

He then goes on to say: 

1.  Serve God with Your Spiritual Gifts 

2. Let Your Behavior Reflect Who You Are as a Christian (Do not be a hypocrite) 

3. Submit to the Government by Obeying the Laws 

4. Love Your Neighbor 

5. Be an Example of Christ to the World 

6. Be Kind and empathetic to each other- not offending those who are weaker in the faith 

7. Love One another 

8. Glorify God Together 

Then it was years later, God gave Paul the chance to go to Rome.  Albeit when he went it was because the Jews had accused him and wanted him killed.  He appealed to Cesar and went via a boat which shipwrecked, got bitten by a snake, and went to Rome as a prisoner.  There he was later beheaded by the Roman Government under Nero—it is believed.   

Paul before setting out on this journey had said:  

²² “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. ²³ I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. ²⁴ However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. Acts 20 

Oh that we too would have that mindset. 

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

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. 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

DISCLOSURES©Effie Darlene Barba, 2023Disclosure 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.

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Can Demon Abduction Really Threaten a Follower of Jesus Christ? 

Credits

New King James Version (NKJV)Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

New American Standard Bible (NASB)New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.

New English Translation (NET)NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.

Amplified Bible (AMP)Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.

PICTURE Licensed from Goodsalt.com

Abduction means to be seized and carried away by force.  So often in the Christian circles we are told Satan and his demons draw us away from the faith.  Like a demon abduction, we are forced away.  Many churches try to go this route, like “the devil made me do it.” We often put so much emphasis on Satan luring us away, we never deal with the heart of the problem.  Willingly, we choose to follow the course of this world and the desires of our own flesh.  We are hedged in from all sides while on this earth.  Our desires by nature are not to follow God.  We are caught up in pride, self-indulgence, self-pity and doing everything “my way.”  It is seen in the heart of every baby and child, me-me-me and only me.  

 Unfortunately, despite clever cover ups and shrouds of humility, pride rears its ugly head as sin enemy number 1. Our sin nature cannot change without a heart transplant. We need a transformation from a Master Surgeon. And that kind of transformation of the heart can only come from Jesus Christ.  But how do we then live the Christian life when surrounded by so much evil both outside and within us.  Jesus has washed us with His Blood to pay the price for our sin.  He clothed us in His righteousness.  Furthermore, He gave us the Holy Spirit to assist and guide us.  Jesus declared He has never lost and will never lose even one of those given to Him by the Father.   

Never Forget This Truth

We, who know Him as Lord and Savior were chosen before the creation of the world. Chosen to be a love gift to the Son from the Father. Purchased by the blood of the Son out of Love. And sealed by the Holy Spirit for eternity.  The perfect Triune God has eternally dwelt in a perfect relationship of love-Father, Son and Holy Spirit. That is why it is so unimaginable yet beautiful that the Son went to the cross. There for a moment in time He was separated from that love while enduring the wrath that we deserved.

Beware of Demon Abduction in our midst. 

¹ Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, To those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ: ² May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.  Jude (NASB) 

Before we go further, I want to point out Jude was Jesus’ half-brother. However, humbled by his own humanity did not say that. Instead, now he considered Jesus to be Lord and Savior of him.  He referred to himself as a bondservant to Jesus Christ.  Then, notice to whom he addressed his letter.  To those who are called (the work of the Spirit), beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ.  

But then comes the warning in Jude: 

³ Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation. I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all time handed down to the saints. ⁴ For certain people have crept in unnoticed. Those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation. Ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into indecent behavior and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. Jude 

Some might think this more of a demon abduction; because it is disguised as religion and creeps into our midst.  That is what surrounds us today.  Demon possession with all the violence may still exist. But, if so, today it can only be dealt with by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Therefore, the only hope that men and women can be pulled from demon possession is by prayer and preaching. Jesus could cast out demons. He gave that power to the apostles. Today, it is the Holy Spirit who can convict and open the eyes of the blind. We can preach the uncompromising gospel. We can pray. Then only those whose eyes are opened can be pulled from demon possession. They are also unchained from their own fleshly desires of sin.   Demon abduction is then impossible once the Holy Spirit indwells them as true believers of Christ.

Paul Warned the Church of Galatia 

⁶ I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel, ⁷ which is not just another account; but there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. ⁸ But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! ⁹ As we have said before, even now I say again: if anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! Galatians 1 

Pride was a big part of the false doctrines in Galatia as they taught that works were a part of salvation.  Although work should be the fruit of salvation, it is not by our own efforts that this can be accomplished. Only through the sanctification of the Holy Spirit working in us can we accomplish any righteousness; all the glory can only go to Him.   

Everywhere that the gospel was taught, there was infiltration of false doctrine.  There were those who persecuted Paul and the true believers.  They drove him out of Thessalonica.  Yet, in the brief time he was there he had laid the foundation not only of the truth of salvation, but also of the kingdom of God.  It is in knowing the truth that we have hope.   

DEMON Possession and Exorcism 

While Jesus walked on the earth, He cast out demons.  This power, He also gave to His apostles.  The gospel message was not yet spread and written. Therefore, these kinds of miracles were necessary to demonstrate to a skeptical world that Jesus was truly the long-awaited Messiah.  The power to was part of the apostle’s ministry on earth.  Of course, there were those who wanted to gain a profit by imitating the apostles.  

¹¹ God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, ¹² so that handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them, and the evil spirits went out. ¹³ But also some of the Jewish exorcists, who went from place to place, attempted to use the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had the evil spirits, saying, “I order you in the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches!” ¹⁴ Now there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, doing this. ¹⁵ But the evil spirit responded and said to them, “I recognize Jesus, and I know of Paul, but who are you?” ¹⁶ And the man in whom was the evil spirit, pounced on them and subdued all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. ACTS 19 (NASB) 

But God Used It to Spread the Gospel 

¹⁷ This became known to all who lived in Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks; and fear fell upon them all and the name of the Lord Jesus was being magnified. ¹⁸ Also many of those who had believed kept coming, confessing, and disclosing their practices. ¹⁹ And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and began burning them in the sight of everyone; and they added up the prices of the books and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver. ²⁰ So the word of the Lord was growing and prevailing mightily. ACTS 19 (NASB) 

So, I am not certain how I believe concerning demon possession in our time; however, I do know that they cannot possess a believer because we have the Holy Spirit in us.  He is the restrainer of this age.  The only one with the power of exorcism is Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit can call someone out of darkness into a saving knowledge of Christ.  So, our place in exorcism is just to proclaim the truth of the gospel everywhere we go.  But what about us? Can a demon abduction occur?  No, as our first verse said, “we are hemmed in on every side” by God.  The demons bowed at the feet of Jesus, frightened of being cast into the pit where some demons already reside since the time of Noah.    

So, Is It Always Demon Abduction When Humanity Fails? 

Absolutely not.  Look at these verses in Ephesians (NASB) 

And you were dead in your offenses and sins, ² in which you previously walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. ³ Among them we too all previously lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the rest.  

What were you?  DEAD.  Not just sick, not partially dead, not drowning and going down for the last count.  You were dead.  Because of the course of this world, your own lusts, and desires of the flesh.  What changed that? But God! 

⁴ But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), ⁶ and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,  

So where are we seated? Already seated and why? 

⁷ so that in the ages to come He might show the boundless riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; ⁹ not a result of works, so that no one may boast. ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2 (NASB) 

What are we made for? 

What are we to do? 

¹⁷ But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁸ that they were saying to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.” ¹⁹ These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit. ²⁰ But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, ²¹ keep yourselves in the love of God, looking forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. ²² And have mercy on some, who are doubting; ²³ save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.  Jude (NASB) 

Furthermore, We Have Our Armor to Protect Against any Demon Abduction 

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

¹³ Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand firm therefore, having belted your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 

¹⁸ With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance and every request for all the saints, ¹⁹ and pray in my behalf, that speech may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.  Ephesians 6

Beyond all that remember: 

³⁷ But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 8 (NASB) 

²⁴ Now to Him who is able to protect you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory, blameless with great joy, ²⁵ to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority before all time and now and forever. Amen. Jude (NASB) 

The Kingdom of God Promises the Return of Christ So What Now? 

DISCLOSURES©Effie Darlene Barba, 2023Disclosure 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

New King James Version (NKJV)Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

New American Standard Bible (NASB)New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.

New English Translation (NET)NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.

Amplified Bible (AMP)Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.

PICTURE Licensed from Goodsalt.com

Jesus taught a lot about the Kingdom of God. They highly anticipated this occurring in their lifetime. After all, they have seen Jesus. They saw Him heal the lame, raise the dead, teach righteousness, and they believed the Kingdom of God was imminent. They had heard of this their whole life from the Old Testament Prophets. The Kingdom was referred to from the beginning and alluded to throughout history. This was true from the moment God told the serpent, the seed of the woman would crush His head. It has weaved its way through the days of Noah, Abraham, Moses, and every generation as time marched on.  

Furthermore, the Kingdom was spoken of in 2 Samuel 7, Psalm 2, Isaiah 2, 11, 30, 35, and 65. Also in Jeremiah 23, 31, and 33; Ezekiel 34 and 40-48. Plus the Kingdom of God is mentioned in Daniel 2 and 7. As well as in Hosea 3, Joel 3, Zephaniah 3, and Zechariah 14. That is only to mention a few.  

This mystery they did not understand. Jesus, born of a virgin, would die to pay the penalty for our sin. Then He would be raised again, conquering death. Without this there was no redemption for sin. Although, this was also all foretold in scripture. But they did not want to hear that.  

Jesus Taught Often and Much About the Kingdom of God 

He taught them of the Kingdom of God in many parables in Matthew 13. Also, He taught them to pray, “Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will be done.”  I want to dissect these a little here in this section. When Jesus spoke in a parable about the Sower and the seeds, the apostles asked Him why did He spoke in parables? He Answered,  

“To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. ¹² For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. ¹³ Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. ¹⁴ And in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says, 

‘You shall keep on listening, but shall not understand; 
And you shall keep on looking, but shall not perceive; 
15 For the heart of this people has become dull, 
With their ears they scarcely hear, 
And they have closed their eyes, 
Otherwise they might see with their eyes, 
Hear with their ears, 
Understand with their heart, and return, 
And I would heal them.’ 

¹⁶ But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. ¹⁷ For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

Matthew 13 (NASB)

Their hearts were dulled. They did not want to truly hear or see. Their only desire was to experience miracles and gain the comforts of life. They desired the gifts, not the giver of gifts.  

The Parable of the Sower Explained 

¹⁸ “Listen then to the parable of the Sower. ¹⁹ When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one sown with seed beside the road. ²⁰ The one sown with seed on the rocky places, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; ²¹ yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution occurs because of the word, immediately he falls away.

²² And the one sown with seed among the thorns, this is the one who hears the word, and the anxiety of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. ²³ But the one sown with seed on the good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces Matthew 13 (NASB) 

Through this Jesus was already telling his disciples, their labor of spreading the word would be hard. There would be many obstacles and they must not be discharged if it appears the harvest is few.  

Parable of the Wheat as It Pertains to the Kingdom of God 

²⁴ Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. ²⁵ But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and left. ²⁶ And when the wheat sprouted and produced grain, then the weeds also became evident. ²⁷ And the slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ 

 ²⁸ And he said to them, an enemy has done this!’ The slaves *said to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?’ ²⁹ But he *said, ‘No; while you are gathering up the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. ³⁰ Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and at the time of the harvest, I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the weeds and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.”’” Matthew 13 

Jesus Explains: 

³⁶ Then He left the crowds and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” ³⁷ And He said, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, ³⁸ and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the weeds are the sons of the evil one; ³⁹ and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels.  

⁴⁰ So just as the weeds are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age. ⁴¹ The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, ⁴² and they will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ⁴³ Then the righteous will shine forth like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. The one who has ears, let him hear. Matthew 13 (NASB) 

When the shoots are little, it is hard to distinguish the wheat from the weeds. They sometimes look the same. That is true of our churches today. The chaff hidden among the true wheat.

Further Parables Regarding the Kingdom of God 

The Mustard Seed 

³¹ He presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a person took and sowed in his field; ³² and this is smaller than all the other seeds, but when it is fully grown, it is larger than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the sky come and nest in its branches.” Matthew 13 

One might say “Wow, a seed of truth grows into a magnificent tree.” We misinterpret this as the church spreading good everywhere. After all the first Universities and Hospitals came because of Christian influence. Also, the abolishment of slavery began among the Christians. Then the emancipation spread both in England and the United States. Much good has come from the followers of Jesus and the church He established.   But note the warning hidden as well. Birds were considered unclean. Scripture spoke of the birds snatching away the seeds. Therefore, as the church grows, there will be evil influences also that light within her branches.  

The same would be true of the leaven. The same would be true of the leaven. Elsewhere in scripture refers to an evil influence. It could slip in and destroy.  

The Leaven 

³³ He spoke another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three Sata of flour until it was all leavened.” Matthew 13  

Then in Matthew 19: Jesus Speaks of the Kingdom of God 

When speaking of the rich, young ruler came to Jesus asking how to be saved. He had done all the law requires. Or so he thought. But Jesus saw his heart and knew that his wealth was of greater importance than God. Therefore, he had failed to keep the first commandment—to love the Lord Your God above everything else. When he had gone away Jesus commented that it is harder for a rich man to be saved than a camel going through the eye of a needle.  

When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?” ²⁶ And looking at them, Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19 (NASB) 

²⁷ Then Peter responded and said to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?” ²⁸ And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ²⁹ And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms on account of My name, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life. ³⁰ But many who are first will be last; and the last, first. Matthew 19 (NASB) 

The Kingdom of God on Earth 

Did you get that? They did. “The regeneration when the son of Man sits on his throne of glory.”  The Kingdom of God on earth will be during the millennial reign of Christ. The apostles all understood that.  

To Clear up One Confusing Point 

Jesus at one point did say to the Pharisees, the Kingdom of God is in your midst. Here and now. Or some even translated these Greek words as in you—but that is not accurate. The truth is the while Jesus was on earth, to that degree it was already in their midst. He was healing the sick, enacting justice and righteousness—albeit to a smaller degree as to when He takes His throne.  

²⁰ Now He was questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, and He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs that can be observed; ²¹ nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”     Luke 17: (NASB). 

Empowered to Do Kingdom Work—until the Kingdom of God Arrives 

Now that I have finished the introduction, let us jump into the lesson for today. 

1 The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, ² until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had given orders by the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom He had chosen. ³ To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of things regarding the kingdom of God. ⁴ Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; ⁵ for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 

⁶ So, when they had come together, they began asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time that You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” ⁷ But He said to them, “It is not for you to know periods of time or appointed times which the Father has set by His own authority; ⁸ but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth.” 

We Are to Tell Everyone of the Kingdom of God 

Not only are we to tell everyone of the Kingdom of God, but we are also to live a life reflecting the glimpses of Glory we have been given. We are for the moment dual citizens who have not yet seen our true home. Born in a foreign land, anticipating and longing to go to our home. We are given glimpses of that home. As to our security it is as though we are there. The Holy Spirit indwells us, guiding us always forward. 

Since Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us within His Father’s house, we are to be the beacon of light into this darkened world. Our task is to show the world His love, His joy, and His glory that they by some slim chance might desire Him.  

And we, like Paul should be able to say, 

⁹ For you recall, brothers and sisters, our labor and hardship: it was by working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, that we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. ¹⁰ You are witnesses, and so is God, of how devoutly and rightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers; ¹¹ just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children, ¹² so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. 

¹³ For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of mere men, but as what it really is, the word of God, which also is at work in you who believe. ¹⁴ For you, brothers, and sisters, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews, ¹⁵ who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out. I Thessalonians 10 

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

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. 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.

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

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Why the Depth of Agony in the True Passion of Jesus Christ

DISCLOSURES
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2023Disclosure 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

CreditsNew King James Version (NKJV)Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.New American Standard Bible (NASB)New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.New English Translation (NET)NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.

Photo licensed from Goodsalt.com

How often is this all that we want to hear? We so desire everlasting joy and gladness. Every day we see surrounding us and within us a depth of agony unbearable. We moan beneath the weight of sorrow, grief, sickness, and pain. My niece grieves over the sorrows surrounding her. Daily she feeds a homeless mute. She provides care to many suffering dogs and cats injured in the streets in Mexico. Meanwhile she weeps. Her grief drives her to sacrifice and give what she can. But she is overwhelmed by the numbers, knowing that she cannot save them all.  

Then there is my stepson who is in agony as he watches his mother weaken, her body and mind failing. That in addition to all he has suffered before now. His father who became lost in addiction while battling bipolar disease, and ultimately took his life. A stepfather consumed with cancer and died in his arms. And a cousin who once stood by faith, now lost in a world of schizophrenia. So, how are we to face such depth of agony surrounding us? How can we still proclaim the good news of the gospel? Facing, living, and seeing such depth of agony. How do we present Jesus as our hope and our joy even here and now? 

Yet, we know that Jesus walked that same path. He lived among the sorrowful of this world—the sick, the lame, the hungry, and the outcasts.  

He was despised and rejected by men, 
    a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;   
and as one from whom men hide their faces  
    he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Isaiah 53:3 (ESV) 

Marching Toward His Destiny-the Depth of Agony Lay Ahead 

Though Jesus tried to tell His Apostles of what was to come, they did not want to hear it. So desirous to believe His Kingdom was now. They wanted the suffering to all end. They closed their ears to the truth and could not see it. He had to die, or there would be no salvation for anyone. The final sacrificial lamb would have to die to pay the price of salvation. It was the only way to satisfy the wrath of perfect righteousness against sin. Evil could not be removed otherwise. The promise of salvation gone. The world never cleansed.

Yet, there it was. Jesus had once more told them as He broke the bread and passed forth the wine, He was going away. They were to do this in remembrance of Him. This is not what they wanted. Sorrow filled their hearts. They did not fully understand. Not yet at least.  

Judas had left to betray Jesus to the chief priests. As they walked toward the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed. This was that prayer. A prayer not for Himself, but for His Disciples and for each of us who would believe.  

Before the Depth of Agony-He Thought of Us  

Jesus spoke these things; and raising His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, so that the Son may glorify You, ²just as You gave Him authority over all mankind, so that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. ³And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. ⁴I glorified You on the earth by accomplishing the work which You have given Me to do. ⁵And now You, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world existed. 

He so wanted to be with the Father again. Yet He knew this was the only way to save all these who would be His.  

He Loved Us Too Much to Walk Away from the Depth of Agony

⁶“I have revealed Your name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world; they were Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have followed Your word. ⁷Now they have come to know that everything which You have given Me is from You; ⁸for the words which You gave Me I have given to them; and they received them and truly understood that I came forth from You, and they believed that You sent Me.  

⁹I ask on their behalf; I do not ask on behalf of the world, but on the behalf of those whom You have given Me, because they are Yours; ¹⁰and all things that are Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine; and I have been glorified in them. ¹¹I am no longer going to be in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, so that they may be one just as We are. ¹²While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name, which You have given Me; and I guarded them, and not one of them perished except the son of destruction, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled. (John 17, NASB). 

He Asks for Their Joy Amid the Depths of Agony to Come 

¹³But now I am coming to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves. ¹⁴I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁵I am not asking You to take them out of the world, but to keep them away from the evil one. ¹⁶They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁷Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. ¹⁸Just as You sent Me into the world, I also sent them into the world. ¹⁹And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, so that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. 

²⁰“I am not asking on behalf of these alone, but also for those who believe in Me through their word, ²¹that they may all be one; just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. (John 17, NASB) 

One Day when the Depth of Agony is Past, but for now Love 

²²The glory which You have given Me I also have given to them, so that they may be one, just as We are one; ²³I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and You loved them, just as You loved Me. ²⁴Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 

²⁵“Righteous Father, although the world has not known You, yet I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me; ²⁶and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” John 17 (NASB) 

The Depth of Agony in the Garden  

Jesus knew precisely why this must be. Yet, as the hour approached, He knew He must pray for strength. He was about to face a depth of agony that we cannot comprehend. He who is perfect righteousness. The very one who stands in perfect union with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Now He must endure all the eternities of wrath against sin and evil. How can perfect righteousness bare all the shame, guilt, and wrath of all the sins of the world? Nothing could have prepared Him for what was to come. It was nearly unthinkable, even though, He knew it must be. Yet, the depth of agony was nearly more than He could bear, even knowing the reason. 

³⁶Then Jesus *came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and *told His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” ³⁷And He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with Him and began to be grieved and distressed. ³⁸Then He *said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.” 

And So, He Prayed

³⁹And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” ⁴⁰And He *came to the disciples and *found them sleeping, and He *said to Peter, “So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? ⁴¹Keep watching and praying, so that you do not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 

⁴²He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cup cannot pass away unless I drink from it, your will be done.” ⁴³Again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. ⁴⁴And He left them again, and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more. ⁴⁵Then He *came to the disciples and *said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶Get up, let us go; behold, the one who is betraying Me is near!”  Matthew 26 (NASB). 

The Depth of Agony Displayed Even More Vivid in Luke’s Account 

Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. ⁴⁴And being in agony, He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground]. ⁴⁵When He rose from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow Luke 22 (NASB) 

He had told them that His suffering was so severe that He felt He would die from the depth of agony and grief He felt. His sorrow was so great that even with an angel there to strengthen Him—His sweat became blood as all the capillaries in His body became so engorged from the depth of agony He felt. Yet, despite this: note He was concerned for them and would go to check on them. He knew their sorrow was so deep as well. Urging them to pray, He still had compassion and concern for them. He knew that only prayer could strengthen them. But they were too sad to even pray, sleep was all they could manage at that moment. So, He prayed.  

Strength to Stand 

After spending the night in agonizing prayer, Jesus was ready to face the depth of agony that lay before Him. We cannot even imagine how hard this must have been. Yet, He walked forward to face His destiny.  

³So Judas, having obtained the Roman cohort and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, *came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. ⁴Jesus therefore, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, came out into the open and *said to them, “Whom are you seeking?” ⁵They answered Him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He *said to them, “I am He.” And Judas also, who was betraying Him, was standing with them.

⁶Now then, when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground. ⁷He then asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?” And they said, “Jesus the Nazarene.” ⁸Jesus answered, “I told you that I am He; so if you are seeking Me, let these men go on their way.” ⁹This took place so that the word which He spoke would be fulfilled: “Of those whom You have given Me I lost not one.” ¹⁰Then Simon Peter, since he had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear; and the slave’s name was Malchus. ¹¹So Jesus said to Peter, “Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, am I not to drink it?”  John 18 (NASB). 

The Value of Prayer in Moments of Agony

Should we not also learn the need for prayer during our moments of agony? Even in those moments when it seems too painful to pray, we know that the Holy Spirit is there to help as promised in Romans 8:26 

²⁶Now in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; ²⁷and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8 (NASB). 

God Keeps His Promise for the Salvation of Man  

And this is at the agonizing cost for His Son—but without this all of humanity was condemned to Hell for eternity. And because of this, one day we will know everlasting joy when all the pain and suffering will pass away. Yet, for the truth in Isaiah 51 to be realized, Isaiah 53 had to be completed. 

Who has believed our report? 
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 
²For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, 
And like a root out of dry ground; 
He has no stately form or majesty 
That we would look at Him, 
Nor an appearance that we would take pleasure in Him. 
³He was despised and abandoned by men, 
A man of great pain and familiar with sickness; 
And like one from whom people hide their faces, 
He was despised, and we had no regard for Him. 

⁴However, it was our sicknesses that He Himself bore, 
And our pains that He carried; 
Yet we ourselves assumed that He had been afflicted, 
Struck down by God, and humiliated. 
⁵But He was pierced for our offenses, 
He was crushed for our wrongdoings; 
The punishment for our well-being was laid upon Him, 
And by His wounds we are healed. 
⁶All of us, like sheep, have gone astray, 
Each of us has turned to his own way; 
But the Lord has caused the wrongdoing of us all 
To fall on Him. 

⁷He was oppressed and afflicted, 
Yet He did not open His mouth; 
Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, 
And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, 
So He did not open His mouth. 
⁸By oppression and judgment He was taken away; 
And as for His generation, who considered 
That He was cut off from the land of the living 
For the wrongdoing of my people, to whom the blow was due? 
⁹And His grave was assigned with wicked men, 
Yet He was with a rich man in His death, 
Because He had done no violence, 
Nor was there any deceit in His mouth. 

¹⁰But the Lord desired 
To crush Him, causing Him grief; 
If He renders Himself as a guilt offering, 
He will see His offspring, 
He will prolong His days, 
And the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand. 
¹¹As a result of the anguish of His soul, 
He will see it and be satisfied; 
By His knowledge, the Righteous One, 
My Servant, will justify the many, 
For He will bear their wrongdoings.

Isaiah 53 NASB

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

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. 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.

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DISCLOSURES
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2023Disclosure 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

CreditsNew King James Version (NKJV)Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.New American Standard Bible (NASB)New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.New English Translation (NET)NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.

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