Effie Darlene Barba

In the Beginning, before anything of what we know of as earth or the nearest heavens existed, God was. He formed everything of this earth ex nihilo (out of nothing.) From the Beginning Jesus was with God the Father and the Holy Spirit. Always existing in relationship-harmoniously perfect life, love, hope and joy from the beginning. God (Elohim) created the heavens and the earth. Elohim is plural—the first presentation of God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit is from the beginning. This is reiterated by the Apostle John. 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:1 (Berean Study Bible) 

We are also introduced to the Holy Spirit’s presence at creation while at the same time it is reconfirmed that the creation was from ex nihilo (out of nothing): 

² The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Genesis 1:2 NKJV  

King Jesus from the Beginning 

From verse 3 through 24 we have a series of “Then God said, let there be…” or “let the earth, waters, or land” bring forth. All speaking by the Word of His mouth everything into being. That is, He spoke into being every creature apart from Man whom He formed out of the dust of the earth. His words spoke the heavens, the earth with all living things into being until the wording changed. Still, who is the Word of God? King Jesus is the Word. Also, He wrote for each day, “So the evening and the morning were the” first day, second day, and on through the sixth. There is no doubt left to the imagination that these were six literal days—not some symbolism of anything else.  

Furthermore, He created all living things such as sea creatures, birds, and animals “according to their kind.”  Even the theory of evolution was never able to show the transformation of one Kind into another. Adaptations occur within a “kind.”  Therefore, since scientific truths must be reproducible, the inability to transform even a bacterium into a virus or vice versa, evolution fails the test of time.  

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness, to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, and over all the earth itself and every creature that crawls upon it.” So, God created man in His own image; in the image of God, He created him; male and female He created them. Genesis 1 Berean Bible. 

Note:  Let us make man in Our image, after Our likeness. Man uniquely was given the ability to reason and to be filled with the attributes of God.  

As An Additional Thought—unconfirmed by anyone else. 

 Also, I believe this is another indicator of the triune nature of God. Since the beginning, we were created with a body, a soul, and a spirit. Although spiritually we are born dead since the fall. However, at the time of creation, Adam and Eve were alive spiritually and thereby walked and talked with God. So, I have correlated that also as being in His image, as God is also body-Christ, Spirit-the Holy Spirit, and Soul—the Father. 

I fully disclose that this is an idea of my own and therefore take it at that One humans idea as to the meaning of this.

Genesis 2:7-25 (Berean Bible) 

Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being. And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, where He placed the man, He had formed. Out of the ground the LORD God gave growth to every tree that is pleasing to the eye and good for food. And in the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 

Now a river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it branched into four headwaters. The name of the first river is Pishon; it winds through the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. And the gold of that land is pure, and bdellium and onyx are found there. The name of the second river is Gihon; it winds through the whole land of Cush. The name of the third river is Hiddekel; it runs along the east side of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates. 

Then the LORD God took the man and placed him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate and keep it. And the LORD God commanded him, “You may eat freely from every tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; for in the day that you eat of it, you will surely die.” 

The LORD God also said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make for him a suitable helper. “And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and He brought them to the man to see what he would name each one. And whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all the livestock, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adame no suitable helper was found. 

So, the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep, and while he slept, He took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the area with flesh. And from the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man, He made a woman and brought her to him. And the man said: 

“This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for out of man, she was taken.” For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh And the man and his wife were both naked, and they were not ashamed. 

But they fall and suddenly are spiritually dead 

Now the serpent was craftier than any beast of the field that the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’ ” The woman answered the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden, but about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You must not eat of it or touch it, or you will die.’ ” 

You will not surely die,” the serpent told her. “For God knows that in the day you eat of it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom, she took the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate it. And the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; so, they sewed together fig leaves and made coverings for themselves. 

Genesis 3:1-7 

Let us take notice of a few points: 

1.  They walked with God every evening.  He had created them.  Before they sinned, there were no sinful thoughts.  No shame.  And no guilt.  Yet, as soon as sin entered, they ran from God.  the only one who could fix things.  And they thought they could hide from Him who created everything? 

2. Now spiritually dead, even their relationship changed toward each other.  

3. At no point did they think to seek God, repent, and beg forgiveness.  It was God the son, King Jesus who came to search for them. “Where are you? 
   When He knew exactly where they were. 

King Jesus, the Word, walks and talks with Adam and Eve  from the Beginning

Then the man and his wife heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the breeze of the day, and they hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called out to the man, “Where are you?” 

Notice they heard the Voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the breeze of the day.  Who is the Word?  So, who came to redeem them? I had never noticed this until I was listening to Amir Tsarfati a Jew who came to know Jesus as Lord while reading Isaiah. He pointed out that in the Jewish Bible, the word here is that they heard the word of God Walking.  

“I heard Your voice in the garden,” he replied, “and I was afraid because I was naked; so, I hid myself.” Who told you that you were naked?” asked the LORD God. “Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 

And the man answered, “The woman whom You gave me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” 

“The serpent deceived me,” she replied, “and I ate.” 

Genesis 3: 8-13 Berean Bible

Also, notice that even when confronted, fallen Adam goes as far as to blame both his wife and God Himself for sinning.  How quickly broken man shows up as so different, as to not even love this wife he had been willing to sin for.  

The Redeemer Promised Since the Beginning:  King Jesus 

So, the LORD God said to the serpent: 

“Because you have done this, 

cursed are you above all livestock 

and every beast of the field! 

On your belly will you go, 

and dust you will eat, 

all the days of your life. 

And I will put enmity between you and the woman, 

and between your seed and her seed. 

He will crush your head, 

and you will strike his heel.” 

The promise was certain and is certain.  Satan is crushed and will be totally crushed one day. 

To the woman He said: 

“I will sharply increase your pain in childbirth; 

in pain you will bring forth children. 

Your desire will be for your husband, 

and he will rule over you.” 

You will face pain, sorrow, suffering; but it will be through the pain that salvation will come.  

And to Adam He said: 

“Because you have listened to the voice of your wife 

and have eaten from the tree 

of which I commanded you not to eat, 

cursed is the ground because of you; 

through toil you will eat of it 

all the days of your life. 

Both thorns and thistles it will yield for you, 

and you will eat the plants of the field. 

By the sweat of your brow 

you will eat your bread, 

until you return to the ground— 

because out of it were you taken. 

For dust you are, 

and to dust you shall return.” 

Suddenly, because of the knowledge of Good and evil, life changed.  

And Adam named his wife Eve, because she would be the mother of all the living. 

Genesis 3:14-20 BEREAN

A Picture of King Jesus: the covering 

And the LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and He clothed them. Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil. And now, lest he reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever…” Therefore, the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. So, He drove out the man and stationed cherubim on the east side of the Garden of Eden, along with a whirling sword of flame to guard the way to the tree of life. 

Innocence had to die to provide the covering.  Again, a picture of King Jesus who would die to save all of us.  Before that the animals were under the care of Adam.  But now, Adam must watch the slaughter of one to clothe Him.  King Jesus would die, taking the penalty of our sin—so that we might live cloaked in His righteousness.  Furthermore, God removed them from the tree of life because otherwise they would be forever caught in sin with no redemption. How glad I am not to be forever caught in this body and mind. One day I will have a glorified body with a mind and heart like His. That is my hope and dream.

and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.  Colossians 3:10 

For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. Romans 8:29 

 Never Forget

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. John 17:3 

But we all, with open faces beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18 

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6. 

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, 2024

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

All Bible text today unless otherwise stated is from:  

The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible, BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee. This text of God’s Word has been dedicated to the public domain. 

As we close out this year, we close the book of Revelations as well. This year, we have journeyed from Genesis through Revelations to find every word is about Jesus. He truly was the word in the beginning and the end. The Alpha and Omega. Every part of history, every story told has been a revelation of Jesus Christ. Therefore, it is only fitting that the Revelation of Jesus Christ must conclude with His Triumphant Final Return to establish His eternal reign as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords in the New Heaven and New Earth created for Him and all His Own. Yet, for that to happen, He must return to pour forth judgement on all unrighteousness finally. To bring an end to all injustice, pain, and sorrow. Only then will we comprehend the fullness of His Glory.

Some object to the book of Revelations because it does display a fierce and valiant Jesus. Many want to only preach a Jesus meek and mild. But Jesus is the epitome of all that is Glorious, good, right, and beautiful. As such, He cannot overlook justice. Martin Luther for all that he did to lead the reformation still failed in this one aspect. He did not want the book of Revelations included in the Bible. That has led to many who do not teach Revelations; but what a mistake that is. For it is in Revelations that we really find hope and joy as we recognize this journey through chaos, sorrow and pain is but a moment in time compared to eternity with Jesus Christ. The glimpses of joy we experience here are nothing to compare to then. Our knowledge of Jesus is incomplete without Revelations.

Revelation of Jesus Christ

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bondservants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, everything that he saw. 3Blessed is the one who reads, and those who hear the words of the prophecy and keep the things which are written in it; for the time is near. Revelation 1:1

The purpose of the Book of Revelations was to first Reveal Jesus Christ in His fullest nature as King and Lord of All. Second, in doing so it provides hope to all believers everywhere not to lose heart. Soon all of this will be made clear. No more pain, sorrow, questions, or loss. The trials and tribulation of this fallen world will be gone. Just hold on a little longer.

It is the final letter until He returns:

from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood— 6 and He made us into a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So, it is to be. Amen.
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelations 1 (NASB)

A Vision of Jesus Christ in All His Glory

10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 11 saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.

”12 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands. 13 And in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; 15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; 16 He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. 17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. Revelation 1 (NKJV).

Revelation of Jesus Christ as Judge and King of Kings

Now consider this. John had walked with Jesus for 3 years on earth. Also, he had seen Christ’s resurrected body in addition to seeing His glorified body on the mount of transfiguration. But none of that prepared him to see Jesus in His Absolute Kingship with power and might above all things. This was a Jesus not seen by John before that day. So, when John saw Him, he fell at His feet as though dead.

Then Jesus placed His hand on John’s shoulder and said,
“Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. 18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. 19 Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. Revelation 1 (NKJV).

The Revelation of Jesus Christ to the Churches

Chapters 2 and 3 of Revelations are 7 letters to the seven churches in Asia Minor. These letters were to real churches of that day and outlined to them what errors were creeping into their midst or the fears of which to avoid. To Smyrna and Philadelphia, it was a letter encouraging them to hold on and a note that they would not have to endure the coming world judgement to be poured out during the tribulation. To Philadelphia He wrote:
10 Because you have kept my word of perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of the testing, that hour, which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who live on the earth. 11 I am coming quickly; hold firmly to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. Revelation 3 (NASB)

And to the church of Smyrna He wrote:

10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. Revelation 2 (NASB)
To Ephesus, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, and Laodicea came harsh warnings because of their lovelessness, worldliness, false doctrines, lukewarmness and spiritual death.

The Rapture Revealed

Then suddenly, in Chapter 4, John is heralded up before the throne of God with the sound of a trumpet and a voice saying, come up. John was caught up into heaven before the tribulation events began and watched from there. As I fully believe we shall also be. Those who are left behind will face 7 years of judgement such as never has been upon this earth.

Joel 2

Blow a trumpet in Zion,
And sound an alarm on My holy mountain!
Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble,
For the day of the Lord is coming;
Indeed, it is near,
2 A day of darkness and gloom,
A day of clouds and thick darkness.
As dawn is spread over the mountains,
So there is a great and mighty people;
There has never been anything like it,
Nor will there be again after it
To the years of many generations.

Revelation of Jesus as the Redeemer of the Earth

This all as Jesus takes back the title deed to the earth. Symbolically, God had Jeremiah buy a title deed to land in Jerusalem in Jeremiah 32 which was held in a scroll. So, it is the title deed of the earth is held in a scroll that can only be opened by Jesus.

And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose 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 at it.

4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. 5 But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.”

6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. Revelation 5 (NKJV)

The Revelation of Jesus as Righteous Judge

To fully reclaim the land, the seals had to be opened. These are the judgements necessary to complete the time of Jacobs trouble, to cleanse the earth, and to re-establish the nation of Israel as God’s Kingdom. All the sins, all the failures, now must be cleansed. And all the horrors leveled against God’s chosen nation must be rectified. That is why the time of the Tribulation is mostly about the nation of Israel. The church has been removed. There will be many people of all nations saved during this time and they will be referred to as martyrs.
The next several chapters in Revelation are the opening of the seal judgments, the bowl judgements, and the trumpet judgements. Following the seven years of tribulation, Jesus will ride in on His White Horse to defeat Satan on earth, reclaiming the title deed to this earth.

The King of Kings Will Return

Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:
KING OF KINGS AND
LORD OF LORDS. Revelation 19 (NKJV)

He defeats Satan and His followers

Jesus will set up a 1000-year reign on this earth. Then will come the final judgement. Satan is cast into eternal damnation as God destroys this earth to bring down a new heaven and a new earth where we will live with Him eternally.

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also, there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.

4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” Revelation 21 NKJV

The River of Life

22 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. 4 They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. 5 There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever. Revelation 22 NKJV

Isaac Watts Joy to the World is to the Revelation of Jesus

The lyrics to Joy to the World were written from Psalm 98, a praise song to the Return of the King yet to arrive. We sing it at Christmas, but it should be a reminder of what is yet to come.

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing

Joy to the world, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy

No more let sins and sorrows grow
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found

He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love

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, 2024

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

Credits

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.

Paul wrote the letter to the Colossian church from prison. Most believe this was during his first imprisonment in Rome. He had not himself been to Colossae; however, he was actively involved and informed through Epaphras. There had arisen in Colossae heretical sects were a blend of mysticism, spiritualists, Jewish, and Christian doctrines. Mostly, these sects did not deny Christ, but did dethrone Him. They believed in “secret knowledge,” angelic visions, and looked very much like the spiritualists and new age believers today. Giving a form of righteousness but denying the one and only true power. This letter of Paul’s reiterates that all your ever need for life, peace, and joy is Jesus. He is all. Only He can provide you with salvation and it is not Jesus plus anything. It is Jesus and only Jesus. There are no mystical revelations that can get you to heaven.  

Therefore, the book of Colossians is a timeless argument for the supremacy of Jesus Christ overall. He is our only hope of life, peace, and joy as we navigate this journey through a broken world. Do not lose focus.  

Imagine a young bride to be walking along with her betrothed. There is a covenanted marriage to be. Contracts are even signed for that with His name. You are His and only His. Now as you walk down the lane there is a storm that arrives. You cling tightly to his hand to guide you. Winds are blowing, lightning draws near as he picks you up to carry you safely home. Your arms wrapped tightly around His shoulders and neck—head pressed against His chest. ‘Wrapped tightly in His raincoat, protected from the storm. That is a picture of us as we traverse this world. Jesus is all we need.  

All You Ever Need is Jesus-the Gospel Planted and Taught 

³ We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, ⁴ since we heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you have for all the saints. ⁵ Your faith and love have arisen from the hope laid up for you in heaven, which you have heard about in the message of truth, the gospel ⁶ that has come to you. Just as in the entire world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, so it has also been bearing fruit and growing among you from the first day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth. ⁷ You learned the gospel from Epaphras, our dear fellow slave—a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf— ⁸ who also told us of your love in the Spirit. Colossians 1 (NET) 

“Epaphras may have been Paul’s convert. As Paul’s representative he had evangelized Colossae (Col 1:7 RSV) and the neighboring towns of Laodicea and Hierapolis (4:12, 13) during Paul’s Ephesian ministry (Acts 19:10). His visit to Paul in Rome and his report concerning conditions in the churches of the Lycus Valley caused Paul to write Colossians (Col 1:7-9). 

Paul’s high esteem for Epaphras is seen in the terms he applies to him, “our beloved fellow servant,” “a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf” (Col 1:7), “a servant of Christ Jesus” (4:12), and “my fellow prisoner” (Philem 23). Because the last term is applied to Aristarchus (Col 4:10), the probable meaning is that Epaphras and Aristarchus alternated in voluntarily sharing Paul’s imprisonment. 

The unique distinction of Epaphras is Paul’s praise of him for his fervent intercession for the churches in the Lycus Valley (Col 4:12, 13).”¹ 

Epaphras – Encyclopedia of The Bible – Bible Gateway

Paul begins by fully supporting his fellow minister and thus confirming his true teachings that Jesus is all without any of the added heretical teachings going around in that city. A Prayer for Knowledge 

Note the prayer of Paul for the church in Colossae.

Consider this prayer when praying for yourself and for others.  

For this reason, we also, from the day we heard about you, have not ceased praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. ¹⁰ So that you may live worthily of the Lord and please him in all respects bearing fruit in every good deed, growing in the knowledge of God, ¹¹ being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might for the display of  all patience and steadfastness, joyfully ¹² giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share  in the saints’ inheritance in the light. ¹³ He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son he loves, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1 (NET) 

All we ever need for life is in Jesus. In Him is our redemption, our justification, our adoptions, our sanctification, our righteousness, and the security of our ultimate glorification. There is no other way of salvation. No angels, no mystical spiritual beings, nothing but the blood of Jesus Christ can wash away our sins. There are no new revelations but those He already gave to us.  

All You Ever Need is Jesus—No New Revelations 

Much of the New Age, taught by Oprah Winfrey and Wayne Dyer takes the truth even quoting scripture and twists it, saying we are “God” and that we all lived in heaven before we chose to come here where we search to return to that place through spiritual revelations, meditations, and visions. Unfortunately, that same ideology has crept into our modern churches. We are to accept all ways to God as true. And we are to seek a “spiritual vision and revelation from God” through many means. Without which, some say you are not saved unless you have these out of body experiences. Then they try to teach these new visions as being new prophecy that replaces the old.

Also, this has infiltrated the churches in lesser, more subtle forms which we must be ever aware of and skeptical of. There are no new revelations needed apart from what God has given us.  

Concerning the final prophecy of the Jews, God told Daniel through Gabriel to write: 

⁴ “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”  Daniel 12 (NKJV) 

And at the end of Revelation, God gives this warning.

This is for all the world. 

For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; ¹⁹ and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the  Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. Revelation 22:18 (NET) 

Examples of Ideologies leading away from the Truth All You Need is Jesus 

Beware when anyone tells you that they have had a vision, seen supernatural visions, or were given a new revelation. If what they say they saw goes against anything in scripture run as fast as you can. There are no new prophecies. That is part of the error with the Mormons, the Jehovah’s Witnesses, and the Seventh Day Adventists. Of the three, I have known some very well versed Seventh Day Adventists. However, their founder predicted the return of Christ to be on October 22, 1844. When that day came and went, they then reassessed and now believe that the return was only in heaven. We will all have to prove our right to be saved.  

There are many similar ideas that have crept in more recently, such as the prosperity gospel, homosexual pastors, and even parts of the mainstream churches are allowing in false doctrines to grow their mega-churches. They will say, it is ok if we are bringing people to hear of Jesus. But if what they hear is false, what benefit is there? You also have those who trust in palm readers, astrology, worship nature, or even worship angels. But the Angel in Revelation told John not to bow before him.  

 All You Ever Need is Jesus for Wisdom 

 2 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have in your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not ^[a]personally seen my face, ² that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and that they would attain to all the wealth ^[b]that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, ³ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  Colossians 2 (NASB) 

The Book of Proverbs presents the Same Gospel—

albeit looking forward to Christ’s coming and we look back.  

My son if you will receive my words 
And treasure my commandments within you, 
² Make your ear attentive to wisdom; 
Incline your heart to understanding. 
³ For if you cry out for insight, 
And raise your voice for understanding; 
⁴ If you seek her as silver 
And search for her as for hidden treasures; 
⁵ Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, 
And discover the knowledge of God. 
⁶ For the Lord gives wisdom; 
From His mouth comes knowledge and understanding. Proverbs 2 (NASB) 

King Solomon urged his son to seek wisdom, for there is where he could find God—the true source of wisdom. Yet we know of Christ, 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. …¹⁴ And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:1,14 (NKJV) 

All You Ever Need is Jesus by Faith-Beware of False Philosophies 

⁶ As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, ⁷ rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. ⁸ Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. Colossians 2: 6-8 (NKJV) 

¹⁸ Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, ¹⁹ and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God. Colossians 2 (NKJV) 

These things do not make people righteous. We cannot do it by our own works 

All You Ever Need is Jesus for Righteousness 

¹¹ In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, ¹² buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. ¹³ And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, ¹⁴ having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. ¹⁵ Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. Colossians 2 (NKJV) 

He bore all my sin that I might be made righteous in Him. Not my own righteousness but clothed in His. Furthermore, the cross spelled the ultimate doom of Satan and his fallen angels. They failed in preventing the birth of Jesus and in thwarting the cross. We even read in I Peter 3:18 that Jesus Christ while His body was dead descended to where one group of demons are imprisoned to announce to Him His triumph over them.  

Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— ²¹ “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” ²² which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? ²³ These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh. 

All You Ever Need is Jesus to Cast off all Carnality 

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. ² Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. ³ For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. 

⁵ Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. ⁶ Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, ⁷ in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. Colossians 3 (NKJV) 

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; ¹³ bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. ¹⁴ But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. ¹⁵ And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 

 ¹⁷ And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. 

CREDITS

¹ Epaphras – Encyclopedia of The Bible – Bible Gateway; with quotes from Commentaries on Colossians in loc. H. S. Seekings, The Men of the Pauline Circle (1914), 147-153; H. C. Lees, St. Paul’s Friends (1918), 146-159; D. E. Hiebert, Working By Prayer (1953), 67-82; H. Lockyer, All the Men of the Bible (1958), 110, 111. 

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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Will I Ever Love Like Jesus Loves?

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.

Back in 2016, I wrote a series on love. In the midst of that, I wrote this post. But as I was reading I Corinthians 13, I remembered this poem. This time it took on even a deeper meaning as I tried to navigate the explosive mine fields of I Corinthians 13.  That morning her question was, are you dead? Then today I realized that when it comes to loving like Jesus loves, my heart has areas of scars reminding me that I was dead. Spiritually dead, until Jesus reached forth and awakened my heart to see His Glory, Love and Grace. Only through Jesus Christ am I made alive. My heart is being sanctified and transformed every day.

Perhaps today we can just take a moment to look within our own hearts.  As I pointed out, God is always at work to transform this heart of mine.  The years that Mom lived under my care were at times challenging; but, oh so revealing.  For a long time I remembered the hurt. I wanted to blame her for my mistakes, but the truth is she loved me with a true love. While I believed all I did was loving sacrifice; the truth was very different. And as I remember this poem today, I wonder how much of my heart was truly dead.

A Daughter’s Surprise

Twas a quarter til six 

Before the sunrise 

Came a tap at my door 

Awoke by surprise 

I pretended to snore

With sleep my disguise

She banged even louder

Then called out my name

As “Yes Mom,” I said 

She then did proclaim 

Quite loud “Are you dead?” 

Now how do I answer? 

I thought for a while 

Oh what do I say 

And then with a smile 

I answered this way 

“Yes mom, I’m dead, but 

Don’t call the police 

For an hour or two 

Or three at the least 

Until I say for you to” 

She paused for a moment 

“I wanted to eat 

I don’t want oatmeal 

Or some cream of wheat 

I really do feel 

I want to have eggs 

And toast so you see 

You need to get up 

And cook them for me 

With maybe a cup 

Of fresh coffee to drink” 

That really is what I

Would like! I think?

She said with a sigh

Oh what can I do!

So needless to say 

There would be no hope 

To sleep in today 

Although I could MOPE! 

I tried then to smile 

As her breakfast I cooked 

She stared rather cold

Then declared as she looked, 

“Oh, My You are old!” 

After breakfast, please can

You go to the store 

My diapers are low 

And I really need more 

Two hundred or so 

I must not run out 

I use ten every day 

Down to five hundred 

Well there is no way!! 

Such worry and dread!” 

As she wrung her hands, 

“Oh, me oh my, dear 

What should I now do? 

This worry and fear 

My mind all askew” 

                                “Where was I? Oh Yeah!” 

“Then when you get back 

My Laundry needs done 

But please leave my lunch 

With a sweet roll or bun 

I love you a bunch” 

“Thank you for breakfast 

It really was nice 

For dinner perhaps 

Some chicken and rice 

For snack then some wraps” 

“Oh, my now I’m tired 

I must go to sleep” 

And off mom did go 

To sound slumber deep 

The sun now aglow 

I went to get dressed 

And to my surprise 

There in the mirror 

I saw my mom’s eyes 

Then it was clearer 

That she had been right 

I am getting old 

The thought did occur 

As life does unfold 

One day I’ll be her 

So today I must laugh 

Today I will sing 

And dance through this day 

As though it were spring 

No time to delay 

I pray Holy Spirit, there’s

No time to waste 

No time to be sad 

Or bitterness taste

No time to be mad 

The time doth fly by

So please God I need

Your heart of love

For this I do plead

Your hope from above

Renew my heart

Take all that is dead

In my spirit today

Take all that I dread

And show me Your way

Only You have the Power

To Transform my heart

To look like my King

Each day a new start

To Your Love I’ll cling

Effie Darlene Barba

To Love Like Jesus Loves

When we really read I Corinthians 13, we realize how far from love our hearts really are.

⁴ Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not arrogant. ⁵ It does not act disgracefully, it does not seek its own benefit; it is not provoked, does not keep an account of a wrong suffered, ⁶ it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; ⁷ it keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. ⁸ Love never fails

Yet, every day I fail. I lose my patience, act unkind. So often concerned about me that pride and arrogance push way to jealousy. Do I seek the gain of others over me? Or do I hold that grudge forever for the wrongs I have suffered? Do I ever wish bad for another? Could I say I only rejoice in truth, casting aside all entertainment that may dabble in unrighteousness? How am I at keeping secrets? Do I always believe in the good within others? Hoping for their success and enduring hardship so they might shine? Can I say my love never fails? No! Indeed how often I failed Mom and now as time goes by, I realize how much I am her. She always loved me so unconditionally and unselfishly. How did I not see it then, as I do now.

But there is Hope, One Day I Will Love Like Jesus Loves

For you see this is His promise to us. He will transform our hearts, one glory by glory through the work of the Holy Spirit in us. Of all the things I desire of heaven, I must say first it is to see Him. And second, it is to know my heart is finally transformed and I will know how to love like Jesus loves. To be fully transformed to be like Him. That will be the greatest gift. Then I can tell Mom how much I really love her like Jesus loves her.

9 For we know in part and prophesy in part; 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away with. 11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I also have been fully known. 13 But now faith, hope, and love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love. I Corinthians 13

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 Effectively Spread the Joyous Gospel with Heart Wide Open 

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.

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.

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