What If My Faith Is Stagnant? Is There Hope?

June 10, 2016 Effie Barba

“when God wanted to prove for certain that his promise to his people could not be broken, he made a vow. ¹⁸God cannot tell lies! And so his promises and vows are two things that can never be changed. We have run to God for safety. Now his promises should greatly encourage us to take hold of the hope that is right in front of us.¹⁹This hope is like a firm and steady anchor for our souls. In fact, hope reaches behind the curtain^[c] and into the most holy place. ²⁰Jesus has gone there ahead of us, and he is our high priest forever,” Hebrews 6: 17-20 (CEV)

Hope is the anchor for our souls when fear would try to shake the foundations of our souls. The writer of Hebrews in chapter 5 has just warned his readers of being “dull of hearing.” He is pleading with them to grow—to mature in their knowledge of Jesus. As we turn to chapter 6, he begins with a plea once more. He seems at first discouraging. He has noted that among the congregation that there are some who want to return to a doctrine of works only. Some wanted to return to ceremonial rituals of being saved over and over again; as though that were possible!!

Christ had paid the price for salvation once and forever on the cross. To suggest that one could be saved, lose that salvation and be saved again was not possible. The writer points this out very clearly in his arguments to follow in Hebrews 6: 4-6

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

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Christian Blog

Do You Want to Know More About Jesus?

June 8, 2016 Effie Barba

Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Hebrews 5:11

The book of Hebrews is filled with great truths concerning God’s wondrous grace and promises toward all who believe!! Yet, throughout the book of Hebrews, there are also warnings and exhortations to the believers. As we have already studied some have been: 1. Listen!! (Hebrews 2:1) 2. Don’t let the truth slip away! (Hebrews 2:1). 3. Pay Attention!!-Fear those with hearts of Unbelief who penetrate the Church (Hebrews 3:12) 4. Exhort one another (Hebrews 3:13). 5. Beware of Sin’s deceitfulness (Hebrews 3:13) 6. Diligently Hold Fast to Faith (Hebrews 4:11) 7. Look to Jesus (Hebrews 4:14) 8. Come Boldly to the Throne of Grace—run to Jesus our High Priest—don’t stop! (Hebrews 4:16).

Now, once more with great urgency; the writer of Hebrews pleads with his readers to grow in the word!! He presents his case as follows, “There is so much more I want to tell you about Jesus. There is so much more you need to understand so that you might flourish with spiritual maturity and joy. There is so much more I want to tell you; but, you are dull of hearing because you are still spiritual babies needing milk.”

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Christian Blog

4 Joys of Knowing Jesus as Your High Priest

June 6, 2016 Effie Barba

Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; Hebrews 5:7-9

There were three characteristics that each Levitical high priest must have. First, he must minister in behalf of other men by offering sacrifices for sins. Secondly, he must have compassion upon the spiritual ignorance of man with all his frailties. Thirdly, he must be chosen by God. As we begin chapter 5 of Hebrews, the writer meticulously lays out the truth that Jesus Christ fulfills all these characteristics of being a High Priest. Yet, Jesus Christ then rises above every other High Priest because He knew no sin. His perfect righteousness made Him able to be the only High Priest who could complete the work of Salvation and sit down at the right Hand of the Father on High. Yet, His being the exact image of God did not reduce the suffering that He had to endure. Indeed, His suffering was greater than anything that we might ever imagine.

Whenever you or I meet with temptation, the desire grows immensely until we finally either succumb to the desire or another greater desire replaces it. Certainly, Satan had a vested interest in tempting Jesus more than any other person who had walked upon this earth. Jesus never failed to begin and end each day in fervent prayer to the Father. It wasn’t that Jesus absolutely could not sin in His humanity; instead, He did not sin. There is a distinct difference. His temptations were real and He had the power to change it. Never was this more evidenced that as He prepared for the time upon the cross. Remember, the Garden of Gethsemane!! Jesus prayed with such intensity that great drops of blood formed on His brow. He pleaded with the Father “if there be any other way, take this cup from me. Nevertheless, thy will be done” Matthew 26:39.

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Christian Poetry

Awaken to Joy-

June 5, 2016 Effie Barba

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. Romans 15:13

Have you ever been Amazed by Joy? I mean really Amazed!! If you looked deep within your own heart or you looked at the storms that surround your life there was no reason for you to know this much joy; yet, there it is pulsating through your veins. That, my dear friends is the power of Christ in you. In Christ you have everything you could ever need to be a never ending spring of joyous living water to a dry and thirsty land. Despite that, how many years did I waste searching for counterfeit joys to fill my heart and spirit; only to discover that perfect love and perfect joy had been abiding there within me ever since the moment I first accepted Christ as my Savior. My greatest desire is that God molds a beautiful mosaic of Jesus for you to see from all the shattered pieces that were my life. I pray that when all the pieces of this my life are fitted together by God’s hand of Grace that the portrait of my life becomes an echoing reflection of God’s Mercy, Grace, Love, Joy and Glory. My prayer is that you find God to be your greatest treasure and all your desires are met in Him. I wrote this poem many months ago; but, wanted to share it with you today.

Awaken to Joy

Awaken, Awaken Oh heart of mine

Today has arrived so rich and Divine

Such Joy overflows into a new song

“By Grace I am Saved and By Grace I belong”

Wherever I go—whatever I do

Let Your Glorious Hope be all that I view

Such wonder and awe you place in my path

While never your anger– never your wrath

Oh Marvelous Grace that fills me with glee

Before your dear throne I have this one plea

Let your love flow forth to all whom I meet

Seeing Your Glory they fall at Your feet!

Lord let me be a reflection of You

In all that I say and all that I do

Let the Grace that You freely gave to me

Be the Grace that I give to those I see

Let Love guide my feet wherever I go

Your joy and Your hope be all that does show

And one day, Dear Lord, when this earth I leave

Don’t let those who knew me one moment grieve

Because they know that you are my treasure

And being with you my greatest pleasure

Let the life that I lived be an echo so true

Of the Grace and the love that I found in You

Awaken, Awaken Oh heart of mine

Today has arrived so rich and divine

Such Joy overflows into a new song

“By Grace I am Saved and By Grace I belong”

The picture “ Only In Christ I AM” above was created by Ronald Barba and is protected by copyright laws. I am using with full permission of Ronald Barba. Prints are available at http://fineartamerica.com/featured/only-in-christ-i-am-effie-darlene-barba.html

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned with the exception of the portrait above and any money received will be given to the artist from whom I commissioned this piece. 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.

Christian Blog

How Can I Boldly Bare My Heart to God?

June 3, 2016 Effie Barba

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16

Boldly? How can I go before the throne of God boldly? I who am so often awkward even in small groups. There is that person deep within who is so afraid of rejection. Outwardly, I often portray a tower of strength; but, inwardly I always doubt myself. Living alone affords me a lot of time in self-reflection. There underneath the exterior when everything is naked and opened, I would shudder in fear were it not for Grace.

As I pointed out in the previous post, the writer of Hebrews has been giving some warnings. Earnestly take heed lest you slip away from the truth by not clinging to the truth of the Gospel, which is Jesus Christ. Be very afraid, that you might miss God’s rest because of a heart of unbelief. Diligently work and exhort each other; lest, someone of you fall short of knowing Jesus with all your heart. Then we read in Hebrews 4:12 and 13

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do”

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