Effie Darlene Barba

Christ is gloriously beautiful and to be desired, the only hope of our hungering soul to be satisfied and filled with fullness of joy and love.  All the desires for counterfeit joys crumble below our desire for Him.  Recently, my life has taken a sudden and sharp turn in direction.  Since July I have known that God’s plan was for me to move to Missouri and foolish me, I thought we had two years to calmly plan that move.  God had a different plan and has been orchestrating everything in the background for the past 1.8 years to establish the exact timing of that move.  Now the plan is December.  I say all that as I look around me preparing to move, realizing that all this stuff is so unimportant compared to what is real and true in my life.  What do I need besides Him?  As a Speaker, I desire more time to spread the Gospel of Christ.  My passion is to do just that.  I am downsizing my life for that purpose.  One of my sons is already there in Missouri and the other will be moving as well within two years, so my family will be near and my life will align as it should God first and family second.  Still my great desire remains to tell the world of the good news of Christ by my life and by proclaiming His Marvelous Grace to crowds of thousands and to audiences of one; because, as Paul proclaimed so do I.

Romans 1: (AMP)

"16 For I am not ashamed of the Gospel (good news) of Christ, for it is God’s power working unto salvation [for deliverance from eternal death] to everyone who believes with a personal trust and a confident surrender and firm reliance, to the Jew first and also to the Greek,

17 For in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith [disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith]. As it is written, The man who through faith is just and upright shall live and shall live by faith."

Romans 3: (AMP)"21 But now the righteousness of God has been revealed independently and altogether apart from the Law, although actually it is attested by the Law and the Prophets,

22 Namely, the righteousness of God which comes by believing with personal trust and confident reliance on Jesus Christ (the Messiah). [And it is meant] for all who believe. For there is no distinction,

23 Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory[b]which God bestows and receives.

24 [All] are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His grace (His unmerited favor and mercy), through the redemption which is [provided] in Christ Jesus,

25 Whom God put forward [[c]before the eyes of all] as a mercy seat and propitiation by His blood [the cleansing and life-giving sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation, to be received] through faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in His divine forbearance He had passed over and ignored former sins without punishment.

26 It was to demonstrate and prove at the present time ([d]in the now season) that He Himself is righteous and that He justifies and accepts as righteous him who has [true] faith in Jesus."

What are the beauties of the Gospel of Christ that would cause me to lay aside everything to follow Him wherever and whenever He says Go?

Beauty # 1:  The power of God unto Salvation.  Christ is our only way of being redeemed and restored to a right relationship with God. 

Beauty #2:  Faith.  It is by faith that we accept Christ as our Savior; yet, even that faith He provides as we seek Him.  Then that faith is multiplied. " both springing from faith and leading to faith [disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith]."

Beauty #3:  Righteousness imparted.  I exchange my rags of unrighteousness for a princely robe of unrighteousness as Christ wraps His cloak around me–declaring me a righteous Saint because of all He did for me and though I so undeserving. 

Beauty #4:  God’s Unmerited Love Toward Me.  God reached down from heaven and chose me; not because of anything I did to deserve it, not because He saw anything special within me.  He chose me, He wooed me, He called me, and He adopted me as His child–joint heir with Christ.  The child in the corner who thought them self unlovable.  The one who struggled with disbelief and constantly needed to be reminded that I belong.  The one who would daily look into heaven and say, "Do you really love me?"

Do you know the Beauties of Christ?  Has the eyes of your heart ever been opened to recognize the treasure that is found only in Christ?  Do you seek Him with all your heart or are you still searching for fool’s gold? Are you tired of chasing after joys that leave you brokenhearted and hopeless?  Have you reached that point of grace where you lay aside everything to seek, savor and follow after Christ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9u-DNSIL1lw&list=PL28AF40FE2C72B7BF

"Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified^® Bible,

Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org)

We have in this series looked at the Glory and beauty of Christ being the ultimate beauty that we so long for.  We have seen that His beauty so excels any other beauty as displayed by His love, His sacrifice for us, His Glory, His wisdom, His strength, His humility, His obedience to the Father, His righteousness, and His justice.  Let’s take a moment to read 2 Corinthians 3-18.

2 Corinthians: 3: (AMP) 10 Indeed, in view of this fact, what once had splendor [[c]the glory of the Law in the face of Moses] has come to have no splendor at all, because of the overwhelming glory that exceeds and excels it [[d]the glory of the Gospel in the face of Jesus Christ].

11 For if that which was but passing and fading away came with splendor, how much more must that which remains and is permanent abide in glory and splendor!

12 Since we have such [glorious] hope (such joyful and confident expectation), we speak very freely and openly and fearlessly.

13 Nor [do we act] like Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze upon the finish of the vanishing [splendor which had been upon it].

14 In fact, their minds were grown hard and calloused [they had become dull and had lost the power of understanding]; for until this present day, when the Old Testament (the old covenant) is being read, that same veil still lies [on their hearts], not being lifted [to reveal] that in Christ it is made void and done away.

15 Yes, down to this [very] day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies upon their minds and hearts.

16 But whenever a person turns [in repentance] to the Lord, the veil is stripped off and taken away.

17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom).

18 And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit.

"Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified^® Bible,

Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org)

When Moses came down from the Mount having seen only a glimpse of the Glory of God his face reflected that Glory with such brilliance so that Moses placed a veil over it as he presented the tables of stone to the people.  That was the Glory demonstrated by God’s perfect righteousness, holiness, and justice.  That brilliance has been superseded in the face of Jesus Christ who by taking on our penalty then magnified the beauty of perfect love, perfect grace and perfect mercy.  God’s perfect righteousness, holiness and justice cannot be viewed by us because we are unrighteous, self exalting, and covetous by nature.  When Christ took our place and paid the penalty for our sin, the veil can be removed that we might look upon the full glory of God only because we are declared righteous through the blood of Christ.  Still, while on this earth we are only able to see the reflection as through a glass (sometimes dimly).  Each step of this journey on earth for those who know Christ is a journey preparing us to see, rejoice in, and experience the fullness of His Glory one day when we stand before Him.  We are merely pilgrims in journey to our final home in His presence.  We are incapable of knowing the magnitude of that fact; yet, we hope in it.  Step by step, glory by glory we are transformed into the image of Christ.  Though I have not fully been transformed, I must by virtue of His transforming work become a mirror reflecting His Glory more today than last year.  This is done by the work of the Holy Spirit in my life and as I continue to seek and savor Jesus Christ as my most precious treasure.    This is also my prayer for each and everyone of you.  As Paul prayed for the Church at Ephesus, this is my prayer for you.

Ephesians 3: 14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

I hope you enjoy this song written and sung by  Keith Green (October 21, 1953 – July 28, 1982)

http://www.lastdaysministries.com/Media/Player.aspx?media_id=1000039767&file_id=1000043553

Throughout this series we have pointed toward the exceeding beauty of the Glory as displayed in the Face of Christ; so that it is desired, sought after and pursued with such diligence that exceeds all other desires for that which is counterfeit with vain promises of love, joy, and glory.  It was by grace and grace alone that God had poured out all His Righteous judgement upon Christ so that Justice might be satisfied; thus, magnifying the Glory of Christ to beyond our comprehension.  We by seeking after and gazing upon that Glory as can only be demonstrated in the face of Christ are being transformed into His image, day by day; step by step; sometimes through great trials we journey on our road to comprehension of that magnificent Glory with all the Love and Joy that God desires to pour upon us.  So, if God truly created mankind to pour out upon him love, joy, and glory; then, why being omnipotent did God ever even allow evil to exist?  Such a question has been pondered and written about by much greater minds than I; yet, I feel any discussion of God’s Glory must include this chapter.  Yet, if we go back to the Garden of Eden before Adam chose to disobey God and we are told that God walked with Adam in the Garden with God every evening; then, if Adam truly understood that the Privilege, the Joy and the love which he had with God–then Adam would never have taken that bite.  He would never have chosen the creation over the creator were he able to comprehend the magnitude of the beauty of the Glory of God.   Let me try to explain with an example.  We all know that darkness is the absence of light.  In actuality, darkness itself does not exist except in the absence of light.  If you were always in light and never experienced darkness would you appreciate the beauty and the clarity which light brings.  Evil is the absence of Righteousness and since God is perfect Righteousness, evil is the absence of God.  Yet, can we see the beauty of righteousness, if we have never known or experienced the absence of it in our lives?  Jonathan Edwards once wrote:

"It is a proper and excellent thing for infinite glory to shine forth; and for the same reason, it is proper that the shining forth of God’s glory should be complete; that is, that all parts of his glory should shine forth, that every beauty should be proportionably effulgent [=radiant], that the beholder may have a proper notion of God. It is not proper that one glory should be exceedingly manifested, and another not at all. . .

Thus it is necessary, that God’s awful majesty, his authority and dreadful greatness, justice, and holiness, should be manifested. But this could not be, unless sin and punishment had been decreed; so that the shining forth of God’s glory would be very imperfect, both because these parts of divine glory would not shine forth as the others do, and also the glory of his goodness, love, and holiness would be faint without them; nay, they could scarcely shine forth at all.

If it were not right that God should decree and permit and punish sin, there could be no manifestation of God’s holiness in hatred of sin, or in showing any preference, in his providence, of godliness before it. There would be no manifestation of God’s grace or true goodness, if there was no sin to be pardoned, no misery to be saved from. How much happiness soever he bestowed, his goodness would not be so much prized and admired, and the sense of it not so great . . .

So evil is necessary, in order to the highest happiness of the creature, and the completeness of that communication of God, for which he made the world; because the creature’s happiness consists in the knowledge of God, and the sense of his love. And if the knowledge of him be imperfect, the happiness of the creature must be proportionably imperfect. (Jonathan Edwards, "Concerning the Divine Decrees," in The Works of Jonathan Edwards (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1974), p. 528)

Paul in Romans

Could it be that our understanding and our ability to fully comprehend the Magnificent Glory of God and to be bathed in His Joy and Love to our greatest happiness; it was necessary that evil exist?  Would I know what grace was were I to have never known sin?  Could I really seek after, hunger for and Savor Christ with such devotion had I not known the magnificent beauty of His Glory displayed by His sacrificial Grace? But as Paul we must ask  Romans 3: 5 But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance?  Never, because it was still a choice made by each and every man who chose darkness over light and who chose unrighteousness over righteousness.  Were someone to go out and murder an innocent child and the justice system found them guilty–the justice system would be commended for their just act of righteousness and we would never say that because they are commended then they would be wrong in their carrying out the sentence.   Mankind, from Adam through now have had a choice to choose to worship the creation or the creator.  God had not created evil; rather, evil was a choice of rejecting the only source of true righteousness.  Look at Paul’s explanation in Romans 1:  16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

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.

Indeed, it is God’s Love, Grace, and desire to pour out His love upon mankind that He tarries in His final destruction of all that is evil.  Deuteronomy 32:"35 To me belongeth vengeance and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste."  So if God tarry in judgement it is His mercy and His pleasure to wait one more second.  Perhaps He is waiting that you fall before Him and repent of your sins, that you might receive His gift of salvation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTJUIYTtLv4

Glory to Glory is a lifestyle surrendered to the transforming work of Christ in the life of the believer.  It begins from the moment of salvation and draws us ever closer to Christ by transforming our hearts ever so slowly at times into a heart that longs for, seeks after, hungers to know Christ in all His beauty, majesty, and Glory.  As He becomes our greatest treasure, we begin to lay aside all searching after counterfeit joys.  As God’s Glory is magnified in our hearts, we become transformed.  Yet, the mystery remains as to why key in our transformation and key in our seeking Christ there is suffering that we must endure on this earth.  Some of the self-righteous would try to tell you that God only sends trials when we are living contrary to Him; but, I fear they do not know Him well enough.  True, like the Gentle shepherd and Father He intervenes with His guiding hand of discipline when we rebelliously sin against Him or when we wander off searching for greener pastures.  Yet, not all sorrows and trials come as a result of rebellion; rather, only God knows what is needed to transform each heart to be able to fully experience the Glory of God and what is needed to prepare us to see Him in all His Splendor.  So, yes; if you follow Christ, suffering and pain will be a part of your life and it is for that reason that the moanings are heard by us, the creature (so caught up in our self-centered covetousness) that we must have the counterfeit treasures ripped from our hands sometimes, so that we might seek the only treasure that will satisfy.  The entire creation is moaning for the day that delivers the heaven and earth from evil.  Yet, when we are in our greatest of despair; even the Holy Spirit groans with great wailing while interceding for us.  He it is that guides us, comforts us and groans with us.  I find that a very comforting thought.  

Romans 8: 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Yet, the sufferings we may endure on this earth are fleeting compared to eternal glory, love, joy that is ours with Christ.  In that we stand with hope as God continues His refining work to ascertain one day we are ready to experience Him in all His Glory.  So when trials come, keep these remembrances in mind.

Remembrance #1:  God is preparing you for Perfect Joy in His presence

Remembrance #2:  The Holy Spirit is with You, making intercession for you and to comfort you

Remembrance #3:  The sufferings we endure on this earth are but seconds compared to eternity with Him

Remembrance #4:  No suffering is too great for the salvation of one soul.

Remembrance #5:   He is the only treasure that matters and the only treasure that can fill our hearts with Joy, Hope, and Love in the midst of any circumstance

Remembrance #6:  Never forget the price Christ paid for your salvation; yet, a little while He is returning to take you home as we are merely pilgrims in route to our final destination. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rwmt_EvxGGA (Preview)

We may as Christians cheer the ending of Joseph and perhaps even accept the entire journey with all it’s trials because of the fact that he ended so well.  After all, we love a happy ending.  Yet, when we turn to look at the life of Stephen whose face was that of "an angel", who was full of faith and power we shudder at his being stoned.  We feel the same agony as we would feel as we watch a missionary who is tortured, a dear saint who is completely lost with Alzheimer’s, a dear patriach who slips away with advancing Parkinson’s, or the dear saint who dies agonizingly with cancer.  We struggle in our understanding.  We only want the happy ending.  We seek the miracle; yet, we do not understand how it is that God’s Glory and Grace may be fulfilled even in those sorrows that we cannot understand.  Still, we know that God is in control, His plan is one of good.  It is my hope that by looking at the displays of God’s grace and glory in the life and death of Stephen that you might be comforted as well.  First lets look at the Scripture recording this. 

Acts 6:8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people….

15 And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

Acts 7: 54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.

55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,

56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,

58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.

59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Acts 8: 8 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.

2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.

3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

Display #1; Stephen’s life was such that he was full of faith and power, doing great wonders and miracles.  God’s grace was displayed in the life of Stephen as God used Him and filled Him with the faith and grace needed every step of the way.  It was the Holy Spirit’s power within Stephen that gave him the grace so that he had the face of an angel, gentle yet strong, wise yet meek, and willing to face whatever came before him to follow after Christ.

Display #2:  The Holy Spirit was there.  The great comforter filled Stephen so that he was able to look into the heavens and see Christ standing on the right hand of God.  Christ had stood up from His throne to so that Stephen might see him clearly; knowing that the moments of torture which were to be his were nothing to compare with the Glory he was about to share with Christ in Heaven for eternity.  As though Christ stood up to cheer this dear saint as he reached the finish line.

Display#3:  As Stephen prayed that his murderers be forgiven, he displayed the grace that he understood because of the grace that God had given him by the finished work of Christ on the cross.  Stephen knew that his own salvation was not of works; but a gift of God.  If that was due to the gift of God by grace; then, he had no right to accuse those who did not know Christ.  Rather, it was his heart that bled because of their unbelief and he longed that they find Christ as well. 

Display #4:  One of the men in the crowd was Saul who would later become the Apostle Paul.  Saul the persecutor of the church would one day become one of God’s greatest writers of the New Testament.  God answered the prayer of Stephen when Saul was saved. 

Display #5:  Sometimes the tragedies of this life are for the good of the kingdom.  I am certain Paul never forgot the face of Stephen filled with glory and grace as he was stoned to death.  The seed planted that later lead to Saul’s conversion was planted by Stephen’s death.

So, when we don’t understand and we can’t see the plan we can trust the heart of God.  I am certain if you approached Stephen in heaven, he would tell you it was worth it all.  God displayed His Grace, His love, His mercy and His Glory to Stephen and through the life and death of Stephen.  Once more my question to you is do you know Him?  Do you love Him?  Are you willing to place your life, all of it into His hands?  Are you willing to lay aside all else to go where He asks you to go and do what He asks you to do?  If so, you will never regret a single moment of this journey.  Of this, I am certain; because I would walk every step of the way again, all of the pains, all of the sorrows, all of the moments when I couldn’t see my way—just for the chance to know Him as I know Him today.  I seek to know Him and to one day stand in His presence to know Him fully; for that reason, whatever path He lays before me—I will praise Him and I will trust Him.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8EDgciZZFc