Effie Darlene Barba

Now as to the periods and times, brothers, and sisters, you have no need of anything to be written to you. ²For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord is coming just like a thief in the night. ³While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” Then sudden destruction will come upon them like labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they will not escape. ⁴But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness. So that the day would overtake you like a thief. ⁵For you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness. ⁶So then, let’s not sleep as others do, but let’s be alert and sober.

⁷For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who are drunk, get drunk at night. ⁸But since we are of the day, let’s be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. ⁹For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁰who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. ¹¹Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you also are doing. I Thessalonians 5: (NASB) 

Labor Pains Intensify With Time

It was six weeks before I was due and my third child, as I awakened with labor pains.   I groaned deep within, mumbling and wondering.  Could I tolerate the pain?  After all it might last all day. My mother was suddenly in a position where she would be driving me 50 miles to a higher risk hospital in Southeast Missouri.  (She had never driven on the interstate before this and had little experience.)

At the same time, my husband was still in El Paso, TX preparing to move our things.  All planned, he would arrive before the baby.  Or so we thought.  As we headed toward the hospital, my labor pains worsened both in frequency and intensity.  I breathed with 4 pants and one blowing exhale, as I had trained other mothers to do.  Still the pain was intense and came every 3 minutes. The labor pains worsened, my world groans in fear, and I wonder if I can tolerate the wait.  I also wondered if all would be ok? Would my baby be safe?

  I sighed with worry, concern, and even a little fear.  It was too soon, although Melissa had done fine seven weeks early and Berto four weeks before his due date.  Meanwhile my mother is driving faster each time she hears me panting.  I arrived barely in time, delivering my son within 1 hour of arrival to the hospital.  Seeing him was worth every moment of pain I had endured. 

And the Labor Pains of Life

I believe we one day we will say the same when we finally see Jesus.  He told us He would return and that we would rejoice.  There are days when I find I breathe with pants and deep sighs as I see the trials, pain, and sorrows around me. Furthermore, He taught us that the world would get worse.  The trials would intensify and worsen until that day when He would return for us.  After He returns for us, the true labor pains for this world will further intensify throughout the tribulation.  For now we see the world preparing for this.   Pains, groaning, fears, tremors and stress surround us in this world now. But this is the earth groaning in fear, needing the Savior. The earth itself groans beneath the weight of it all.  

JESUS SPEAKS WITH PROPHETIC WORDS 

Just shortly after Christ’s triumphal entrance into Jerusalem, His disciples come to Him while sitting on the Mount of Olives to ask Him when He will set up His Kingdom.  They believe it is imminent.  Despite His telling them that He must first die, they believed He would very swiftly set up His Kingdom. The Old Testament Prophets told them about The Messiah coming.  Even though there were many prophecies that Jesus would take upon Himself all of God’s wrath against sin for us and that He would die—particularly in Isaiah and in Daniel, people only wanted to hear about His Kingdom coming.  They knew that would be trials and desecration of the temple.  So, it was with these thoughts and having lived with so many trials from the possession of Israel by other nations, they became very excited as they heard Jesus say. 

Jesus left the temple area and was going on His way when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him. ²But He responded and said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.” ³And as He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”  Matthew 24 (NASB) 

LABOR PAINS BEFORE CHRIST RETURNS 

⁴And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. ⁵For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will mislead many people. ⁶And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. ⁷For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. ⁸But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pains.  Matthew 24 (NASB).  

You say, but this is already happening.  Yes, it is. But no where nearly as bad as when the true labor pains begin after the rapture.  All that is going on now is the world marching headlong toward that day.  As you look around, it is obvious that everything is moving rapidly toward all the things we never before even could understand.  We now have news capable of being broadcast throughout the world instantaneously.  AI is moving forward.  Evil is increasing, spreading, and growing; while humans believe themselves righteous.  Spirituality overtakes true faith.  Truth is called lies and lies are called truth.     

The True Labor Pains Begin When the Restrainer is Removed 

Paul wrote in 2 Thessalonians 2. 

 Now we ask you, brothers, and sisters, regarding the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, ²that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit, or a message, or a letter as if from us to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.

³No one is to deceive you in any way! For it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, ⁴who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. ⁵Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? ⁶And you know what restrains him now, so that he will be revealed in his time. ⁷For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is removed. 

The restraining force is the Holy Spirit which indwells every believer.  When the Spirit is withdrawn, evil will flourish and abound to a level we cannot now even imagine.  So, until we are removed, the Anti-Christ will not be revealed.    The first three and one-half years will be severe birth pains; but nothing to compare to the last 3 and one-half years.   

There will be many saved during that time; but they will have to endure to the end.  Their faith will be their earthly destruction. 

Matthew 24:  

⁹“Then they will hand you over to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. ¹⁰And at that time many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. ¹¹And many false prophets will rise up and mislead many people. ¹²And because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will become cold. ¹³But the one who endures to the end is the one who will be saved. ¹⁴This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. 

In this Jesus is referring to those saved during the tribulation.  Even though this is happening now and has since the beginning church, it will intensify during the tribulation and most will have to sacrifice their life to be a believer of Christ.   

True Labor Pains begin when the Lawless one is Revealed. 

⁸Then that lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will eliminate with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; ⁹that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and false signs and wonders, ¹⁰and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not accept the love of the truth so as to be saved. ¹¹For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, ¹²in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth but took pleasure in wickedness. 2 Thessalonians 2 (NASB) 

So, what are we to do now? 

Stand Firm Despite the Labor Pains

¹³But we should always give thanks to God for you, brothers, and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. ¹⁴It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁵So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold on to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us. 

¹⁶Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, ¹⁷comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word. 2 Thessalonians 2 (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.

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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How to Find Joy in the Ultimate Promises of God for Tomorrow

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

How often do we get so caught up in the here and now?  We believe that if only? Then we would be happy.  If only God would do this or if we could have that.  Maybe a better house or better friends.  If only He would act now, then I could be happy. I could find Joy if only things were different.

  Is that not the same thing the Sadducees and Pharisees wanted? The crowds cheered when they thought Jesus had come to provide all they needed here, now.  Even the apostles fell prey to this ideology until they found the truth after Jesus appeared to them after the resurrection.  Then they were willing to suffer here while remaining joyful, knowing He had saved them.  All of this is but a moment in time, a blink of an eye compared to eternity.  They discovered how to find joy in the ultimate promises of God for tomorrow, regardless of how bad the here and now became.  

John 16-Find Joy Despite the Coming Trials

These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.² They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.³ And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.

⁴ But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.⁵ But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?⁶ But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.

⁷ Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is expedient for you that I go away. For if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you. But if I depart, I will send him unto you.⁸ And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. ⁹ Of sin, because they believe not on me.¹⁰ Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more. ¹¹ Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

Find Joy in the Holy Spirit–the Spirit of Truth

¹² I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.¹³ Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself. But whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak. And he will shew you things to come.¹⁴ He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.¹⁵ All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

¹⁶ A little while, and ye shall not see me. And again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.¹⁷ Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us? A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me. And, Because I go to the Father?¹⁸ They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith.¹⁹ Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me? John 16 (NASB)

Though Sorrow Will Come in the World

²⁰ Verily, verily, I say unto you. Ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.²¹ A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.²² And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again. Your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.

²³ And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.²⁴ Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.²⁵ These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs. But the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs. I shall shew you plainly of the Father.²⁶ At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you.

Find Joy-Jesus Overcame the World

²⁷ For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.²⁸ I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world. Again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.²⁹ His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb.³⁰ Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee. By this we believe that thou camest forth from God.

³¹ Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe?³² Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.³³ These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Why is this Important to remember, particularly today as we watch so many things unfold on this earth.  There is anger, hatred, and wars. 

Romans 1–Find Joy Regardless of the World

¹⁷ For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith. As it is written, The just shall live by faith.¹⁸ For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;¹⁹ Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

²⁰ For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse. ²¹ Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God. Neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

²² Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools. ²³ And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.²⁴ Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves. ²⁵ Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

Because of Their Sin-God Gave them what they asked For

²⁶ For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:²⁷ And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

²⁸ And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;²⁹ Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,³⁰ Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,3¹ Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:³² Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

So, how are we to live?  The just shall live by faith.

HEBREWS 12–Find Joy in Jesus

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

³ For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Consider and ponder ways of keeping your eyes on Jesus during the sad times of this world.  Nothing in this world will bring you joy apart from Him.  Nothing can satisfy the longing of your soul, except Him

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 Ultimate Priceless Worth of One Soul Revealed by Jesus. How?

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.

Amplified Bible (AMP)

Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.

PICTURE Licensed from Goodsalt.com

God spoke everything into being, except man and woman. Instead, he formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils. He then formed woman from the man. Every human being has one soul that will spend eternity either with God (in heaven) or in eternal separation from God (hell).

²⁶ Then God said, “Let Us make mankind in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the livestock and over all the earth, and over every crawling thing that crawls on the earth.” ²⁷ So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. ²⁸ God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it Genesis 1: (NASB).

So, what made man different from all the other creatures? He was made in the image of God as a triune being of body, soul, and spirit. As such, he had consciousness, complex emotional and thought processes. Furthermore, he was given the choice to obey His Glorious Creator as an act of worship and gratitude for all he was given or to disobey, seeking his own glory. We know what happened, He chose to disobey and thrust all humanity into a broken world. The spirit of humans which connected them to God died. Therefore, without a new birth of the spirit from God to man; there was no hope of salvation. The soul would remain in a continuous dying state; unless God provided a means of salvation by grace while still holding tight to His own Word, His Justice, and His Righteousness. He cannot be untrue to Himself.

How Much Does God Consider the Worth of One Soul

¹ Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near Jesus to listen to Him. ² And both the Pharisees and the scribes began to complain, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

³ And so He told them this parable, saying, ⁴ “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the other ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? ⁵ And when he has found it, he puts it on his shoulders, rejoicing. ⁶ And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost!’ ⁷ I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.  Luke 15 (NASB)

Jesus Also Said

²⁴ Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. ²⁵ For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. ²⁶ For what good will it do a person if he gains the whole world, but forfeits his soul? Or what will a person give in exchange for his soul? ²⁷ For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every person according to his deeds. Matthew 16 (NASB)

So, what is the Value of One Soul?

Jesus Christ was willing to take upon Himself the full wrath of God the Father, the Spirit and even Himself against sin. Sin is an absolute abhorrent to God. Why? It is sin that destroys all that is good, right, and beautiful. Sin is that which separates us from God because we choose separation from Him, believing that we the creature know better what we need than He who created us. Currently there is some common grace covering our world just enough that we might see the difference from evil to good and desire good which can only be truly found in God. He is the only true source of hope and joy for us.

While here on earth, Jesus went into areas where no one else wanted to go in search of sinners.  He reached out to the Samaritan woman at the well in a time when no respectable Jew would be found in Samaria.  His ministry reached out to the tax collectors, prostitutes, outcasts, undesirables, unclean, the lame, the sick, and the blind.  One could say, He reached out to the deplorables of this world.  His was a mission of love, compassion, and gentleness as no one had ever seen before.  At the same time, He never compromised on the truth of God.  He told each one to “Go and Sin No More”

Today I want to highlight one such case.  Jesus had just finished teaching the crowds and the disciples.  It was now time to show them the power of who He was, so they might understand.  The mission they were being called to would have hardships, storms, and impossible challenges.  Therefore, they needed to lean hard into His power.  But before they could do that, they needed to understand His power. 

Understanding the Power and Compassion Needed to Reach One Soul

Jesus had healed the sick, feed the hungry crowds, and done many miracles before the disciples.  That had not fully prepared them for what was about to happen.  Jesus had been teaching the crowds at the seashore all day in parables.  Meanwhile the crowd pressed forward, and He stood in the boat while teaching.  Then evening came.

¹⁸ Now when Jesus saw a crowd around Him, He gave orders to depart to the other side of the sea.  Matthew 8 (NASB)

Therefore, the apostles must have thought Jesus is tired and needs some rest.  As was He custom, He just needed some time alone and then to explain the parable to them They did exactly as they were told.  Little did they realize there was another purpose in all of this.

Facing A Storm to Save One Soul

a fierce gale of wind *developed, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling with water. ³⁸ And yet Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they *woke Him and *said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” ³⁹ And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. ⁴⁰ And He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” ⁴¹ They became very much afraid and said to one another, “Who, then, is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”  Mark 4 (NASB)

He has the power to stop the storm. He did so with a simple command, “Hush, be still.” Jonathan Pokluda, a pastor in Waco pointed out something else crucial here.  This was not an ordinary storm.  We realize that when Jesus reaches His mission on the other side.  This was a demonic storm that desired to destroy Jesus and His apostles before Jesus could fulfill His mission on the other side and later at Calvary. 

One Soul in Desperate Need

They came to the other side of the sea, into the region of the Gerasenes. ² When He got out of the boat, immediately a man from the tombs with an unclean spirit met Him. ³ He lived among the tombs; and no one was able to bind him anymore, not even with a chain, ⁴ because he had often been bound with shackles and chains, and the chains had been torn apart by him and the shackles broken in pieces; and no one was strong enough to subdue him. ⁵ Constantly, night and day, he was screaming among the tombs and in the mountains and cutting himself with stones. ⁶ Seeing Jesus from a distance, he ran up and bowed down before Him.  Mark 5 (NASB).

Now, imagine this scene. 

This nude (as we are told in Luke) demon possessed monstrous man, so strong that no chain could hold him came running toward Jesus.  Sometimes the sin in our own life grows until it is enormously in control of all we do or say.  Our addictions, angers, or desires cannot be chained as well.  But back to the story.  Remember they had crossed the sea and landed at a Gentile port.  Hence the pig farmers.

But the man did not harm Jesus, instead, he bowed at His feet.  What?  The Pharisees criticized Him.  His disciples feared Him at times and were awed by Him.  Sometimes they understood Him and at other times not.  The apostles believed He was the Messiah and would usher in His Kingdom.   The crowds wanted miracles from Him.  Yet, this man filled with demons bowed before Him. The demons within him knew who Jesus was and why He came.

Bowing before Him, they cried out, saying, “What business do You have with us, Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?” Matthew 8:29 NASB.

MARK 5 NASB

⁶ Seeing Jesus from a distance, he ran up and bowed down before Him; ⁷ and shouting with a loud voice, he *said, “What business do You have with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God, do not torment me!” ⁸ For He had already been saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”

⁹ And He was asking him, “What is your name?” And he *said to Him, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” ¹⁰ And he begged Him earnestly not to send them out of the region. ¹¹ Now there was a large herd of pigs feeding nearby on the mountain. ¹² And the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us into the pigs so that we may enter them.” ¹³ Jesus gave them permission. And coming out, the unclean spirits entered the pigs; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, about two thousand of them; and they were drowned in the sea.

Notice that Matthew’s account included “before the time.” They know their time is coming; but hope they can still thwart God’s plan.  Or bring as many with them into the abyss as they can.  Misery does love company. 

But Some Cared More About Profit than One Soul

⁴ Their herdsmen ran away and reported it in the city and in the countryside. And the people came to see what it was that had happened. ¹⁵ And then they *came to Jesus and *saw the man who had been demon-possessed sitting down, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had previously had the “legion”; and they became frightened. ¹⁶ Those who had seen it described to them how it had happened to the demon-possessed man, and all about the pigs. ¹⁷ And they began to beg Him to leave their region.  Mark 5 NASB

The town was more worried about the money just lost than the one soul that was saved.  Furthermore, they wanted nothing to do with Jesus.  What else might He ask them to sacrifice to follow Him.

One Soul Saved Becomes the First Gentile Missionary

Jesus had crossed the sea, faced the storm to save one soul.  Then he got in His boat to sail back across the sea.  Mission accomplished.  Did the apostles realize that?  Do we realize the storms and hardships we must face for the salvation of one soul?  I understand it some because of my life with Pete and all that God allowed for the salvation of one soul.  If I had known, maybe I would have traveled that road with less grumbling, less sorrow, and fewer tears.  But God knew exactly how to unfold the story of my life so my heart would learn of His Magnificent Grace in all of it. 

¹⁸ And as He was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed was begging Him that he might accompany Him. ¹⁹ And He did not let him, but He *said to him, “Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you.” ²⁰ And he went away and began to proclaim in Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed.  Mark 5 (NASB)

I wonder if even the apostles understood what had just happened.  Jesus had launched His ministry to the Gentiles.  It would be years later when Paul would be called to be the Missionary to the Gentiles.  But this demon possessed man, tormented for years before being saved led the way and paved the path for the missionaries to come.

So, my final question.  What are you willing to face or endure for the salvation of one soul?

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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Do You Know King Jesus and Desire Him First in Your Heart?

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.

Amplified Bible (AMP)

Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.

PICTURE Licensed from Goodsalt.com

John wanted to present Jesus so that you might desire Him first in your
heart. He presents his gospel very specifically that you might understand Heis God who stepped out of Glory for us. Then, there is Matthew who groups
his narrative around 5 great discourses of Jesus. Mark presents Jesus as the
suffering servant. Luke is a meticulous historian pointing us to the fact that
He is the Messiah who fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies. So, as we
look at Jesus, not only is He the Word. He is God. But Jesus came to earth
where He is fully man. As unimaginable as that is, He faced temptation as a
human being. He faced hunger, fatigue, work, rejection, and trials of this
world willingly. So, the question is do you know King Jesus as Savior, Lord
and do you desire Him first?

This week I want to present a piece of His humanity, found in Matthew.

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized
by him. 14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be
baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” 15 But Jesus answered
and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to
fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. 16 When He had been
baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold,
the heavens were opened to Him, and [b] He saw the Spirit of God
descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a
voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I
am well pleased.” Matthew 3 (NASB)

To Know King Jesus in His Humanity

1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be
tempted by the devil. 2 And after He had fasted for forty days and
forty nights, He then became hungry. Matthew 4: (NASB)
Yes, do not miss this. The Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted
by Satan. God is never the tempter, but He may lead us as well into the
valley. It was particularly important at the beginning of Jesus ministry; He
square off against the devil in His human form. To be the Savior of the
world, this was essential. He could not be our Savior or take our place on
the cross if he were not fully human and faced temptation as such like we
do. Only He did not sin.

Do not for a moment think that because He did not have a sin nature means
He did not feel the temptation. But neither did Adam or Eve have a sin
nature before they had fallen to temptation, disobeyed God, and thrust the
world into our current sinful state.

Furthermore, our temptation is filtered by God, protecting us from the
ultimate of temptation. Jesus does not have that. Instead, as Satan tempts
Jesus, there is real temptation to lay aside the cross, to gain everything
without the suffering. Let us see if we can see that.
Now Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was
led around by the Spirit in the wilderness 2 for forty days, being
tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days, and
when they had ended, He was hungry.

Hungry is an understatement. During a fast, there is a point where hunger
dissipates. But when it returns, one is famished due to nearing a state of
starvation.

To Know King Jesus—God is my Provider

3 And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God,
command that these stones become bread.” 4 But He answered and
said, “It is written: ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT COMES OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.’” Matthew 4

So, Satan questions God’s Provision of Jesus as the Son. Christ could
anytime have turned and said, “remember Genesis, I will crush your head.”
But He did not. Why? Could it be that would have been a sin in itself? Truth is: “It was not the time for that. Instead, Jesus quotes scripture from
Deuteronomy. Furthermore, Satan knew Jesus was the Son of God, so the question was not for himself; but rather a crafty way of questioning Jesus to consider why would His Father allow Him to be hungry? If indeed He is the Son of God, why in a place where manna had been given to the Jews was Jesus left to hunger?

Have you ever felt a hunger deep within your soul which seems to not be
fulfilled? Are you hungry for love? for peace? for contentment? Where is
God? He is on His throne the same place He was while Jesus was hungry.
The Holy Spirit was there with Jesus but did allow Him to be hungry.

To Know King Jesus—on the Mountain Overlooking the World

5 And he led Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in
a moment of time. 6 And the devil said to Him, “I will give You all this
domain and its glory, for it has been handed over to me, and I give it
to whomever I want. 7 Therefore if You worship before me, it shall all
be Yours.”
Three times Christ refers to Satan as the prince of this world, the deceiver,
and the ruler of this world. Paul even wrote it as this:
in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the
unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the
glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 2 Corinthians 4:4
Let me see if I can help to explain this. Currently, Satan is the prince of this
world for a time; however, Jesus’ death on the Cross has given Him the right
to the deed of the earth.

REVELATION 5

1 I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll
written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals. 2 And I
saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to
open the scroll and to break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on
the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look
into it. 4 Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found
worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5 And one of the elders
*said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of
Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to be able to open the
scroll and its seven seals.”

6 And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and
the elders a Lamb standing, as if slaughtered, having seven horns
and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all
the earth. 7 And He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of
Him who sat on the throne. 8 When He had taken the scroll, the four
living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the
Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense,
which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they *sang a new song,
saying,

“Worthy are You to take the scroll and to break its seals; for You
were slaughtered, and You purchased people for God with Your
blood from every tribe, language, people, and nation. 10 You have
made them into a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will
reign upon the earth.”
So, Satan was saying, “You do not have to go through all the pain, suffering
and die to own all this. I can give it to you now. Just bow before me just
once. I not so unreasonable”
8 Jesus replied to him, “It is written: ‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR
GOD AND SERVE HIM ONLY.’” Luke 4

To Know King Jesus—Humble Servant of God

Matthew 4 5 Then the devil *took Him along into the holy city and
had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and he *said to Him,
“If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written:
‘HE WILL GIVE HIS ANGELS ORDERS CONCERNING YOU’;
and‘ON THEIR HANDS THEY WILL LIFT YOU UP,

So that You do not strike Your foot against a stone.’”
What Satan was suggesting is that Jesus launch His ministry quickly.
Everyone would follow and believe you if you do this. All would know who
you are. But Jesus, was not going to run ahead of His Father’s timing. He
came to be the suffering servant and the Savior by paying the price for all
who would believe. It was not time to be King until all who would come to
Him. Had He jumped ahead where would we be?

7 Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written: ‘YOU SHALL NOT PUT
THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.’”

This is true of us as well. I cannot go out and live a life of debauchery and
pray for God to give me health.

Then,
10 Then Jesus *said to him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: ‘YOU
SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.’” 11 Then the devil
*left Him; and behold, angels came and began to serve Him.

Matthew 4:
Or Luke 4: 13 And so when the devil had finished every temptation, he
left Him until an opportune time.
It was not the only time that Satan tempted Christ, but never did Jesus sin.

Why is this important for us to Know King Jesus.

We are prone to think He does not understand how hard it is to live this life?
How often do we wish to throw up our hands declaring defeat or surrender in
the battles of this world? Furthermore, beyond what others see we know
that God also sees our heart. Therefore, we are not without guilt on our
own. It is this very Word of God that sees deep within our heart.
12 For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-
edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and
spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and
intentions of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His
sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him to
whom we must answer.
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed
through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to our
confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot
sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in
all things just as we are, yet without sin.
And because of that:

16 Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with confidence, so
that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our
need. Hebrews 4: (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.

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

PREVIOUS

Do You Know the Delightful Truth of “In the Beginning, was the Word”?

Amplified Bible (AMP)

Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.

John begins his gospel a little different than all the others.  He wants us the reader to recognize from the very first verse, who Christ really is.  John does not want us to stumble around the way even he as an apostle did while learning of Christ.  Jesus Is God’s Message to us.   He was with God and is fully God, willingly taking on human flesh for you and for me.  He is life eternal.  Present since before the earth began.  In the beginning He existed beside the Father and is fully God, Himself. He is the full revelation of God to humanity. Truth, life all begins in Him and exist in Him, the Word of God.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6 (NASB)

Jesus is the truth, the message of God to the World and the Revelation of God’s Glorious Character in a form we might see, behold, and understand. The Father really is perfectly reflected like a mirrored image of Himself in His son, whom we could see because Jesus took on human flesh becoming fully human while remaining fully God.

¹⁴ Now the Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We saw his glory—the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father. John 1 (NET)

In the Beginning the Word

Just as Genesis 1 (the beginning story of creation), so does John take us back to that here.  In the Beginning was the Word.  God spoke all the heavens into being by the power of His Word.  Imagine this!  Jesus is that very word, speaking everything into being.  Every galaxy, star, planet, and creature began by the power of the Word.  And is held together by the power of the Word.  The power of His Word–” logos.” In the beginning Elohim is the Supreme Deity-plural-designating that from eternity past—the One and Only true God has existed as three in one.  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all existed eternally. 

The absolute depth of this truth is mind boggling as to its implications.  God has always existed in relationship with perfect love.  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit existing in perfect harmony of thought, purpose, devotion, love, and righteousness.  Jesus spoke of this in His prayer as recorded in John 17.

²² The glory which You have given Me I also have given to them, so that they may be one, just as We are one; ²³ I 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. ²⁴ Father, 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. John 17 (NASB)

The Word is the Light of the World

How miraculous is that? He came to shine the light of truth, the Word into this darkened world.

⁹ This was the true Light that, coming into the world, enlightens every person. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world came into being through Him, and yet the world did not know Him. ¹¹ He came to His own, and His own people did not accept Him. ¹² But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name, ¹³ who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of a man, but of God. John 1 (NASB) 

HELD TOGETHER BY THE WORD

So, the question again is.  Do you know Him?  Can you honestly say who Jesus Christ is?

for us there is only one God, the Father, from whom are all things. And we exist for Him. One Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him. I Corinthians 8:6 (NASB)

Did you get that?  There is one God and we exist for Him and through Him. Furthermore,

¹⁵ He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶ For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. ¹⁷ And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. Colossians 1 (NASB)

The word consist is a verb meaning be composed or made up of. Everything exists and is made up of His Word.  Without Him, nothing would exist. As Paul spoke in Athens after walking around looking at all the gods they worshipped and had built statues to.

ACTS 17 (NKJV)

 ²² Then Paul stood in the midst of the ^[i]Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; ²³ for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription:

TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.

Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: ²⁴ God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. ²⁵ Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. ²⁶ And He has made from one ^[j]blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, ²⁷ so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; ²⁸ for in Him we live and move and have our being

In Him, The Word We Have Our Being

In Him, we live and move and have our being.  Being-existence is only because of Him.  He is the true difference between being and nothingness.  Unless we find our being in Him, everything is vanity and vexation of spirit. Furthermore,

 ¹⁸ He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. Colossians 1

He came to earth to pay the penalty of our rebellious hearts.  He took upon Himself the wrath of God the Father and Holy Spirit against sin, so that He might declare us who believe in Him righteous.  Not by any merit of our own, but because of Him.  He was separated for a moment in time from the Father and the Holy Spirit, crying out, “My God, my God why hath you forsaken me?”  A punishment unimaginable for the Son but bore by Him willingly.  He died and rose again from the grave to conquer sin and death once for all who would believe and trust in Him.  Because of that we may be reconciled in Christ.

Reconciled in Christ-The Word

¹⁹ For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, ²⁰ and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

²¹ And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled ²² in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— ²³ if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.  (Colossians 1 NKJV)

So, why did John begin His Gospel This Way?

That we might know and knowing believe.

³⁰ And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; ³¹ but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.  John 20 (NKJV)

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, ⁴ just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, ⁵ having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, ⁶ to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. Ephesians 1 (NKJV)

Yes, indeed to the praise of the glory of His grace-the Word was made flesh

The Word was made Flesh, so that

⁷ In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace ⁸ which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, ⁹ having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, ¹⁰ that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. ¹¹ In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, ¹² that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. Ephesians 1 (NKJV)

Therefore, to the praise of His Glory, we are saved by His Grace-that is all who know Him as Lord and Savior are. And we know that in the dispensation—in the fulness of time, all things will be gathered in Christ.

at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2 (NASB)

And What is Your Assurance?

¹³ In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, ¹⁴ who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.  (Ephesians 1, NKJV).

¹⁶ The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷ and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. (Romans 8 NASB)

And how does He do that? Through that soft nagging voice reminding you that the fruit of the Spirit is:

love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. ²⁴ And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5 (NASB).

So, whenever these are not what I am truly feeling and being, I know I need to bow before Him. I need to Seek Him more fully. Ask for forgiveness of sin that may be standing in the way of my fully trusting Him. Then, I wait upon Him, knowing He will fully restore me to Himself.

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

PREVIOUS

Unlock Victory in Spiritual Warfare with 7 Powerful Prayer Features

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.

Additionally, there are quotes from myself that are noted in my book- “When God Commanded Build that Wall”

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.

PICTURE Licensed from GoodSalt