Effie Darlene Barba

Ephesians 4: ²⁹ Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

³⁰ And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

³¹ Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

³² And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

If we are to have revival in our own hearts and in our nation then we must learn how to forgive.  Forgiveness is easy to say; but, I daresay not that easy to perform. How often do we say, "Oh, I forgave him; but let me tell you what he did to me." (So you can really understand how great I am to have forgiven him or her).   I am certain that I have failed in this area too often and must repent of the same.  So how do we learn to forgive and lay aside all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour and evil speaking?  How do we learn to forgive the way God forgave us which went beyond forgiveness and included reconciliation to whomever would accept His forgiveness.  Perhaps if we remember how much God has forgiven us, then how much should we forgive.  Let us each pray that God give us His heart of love and compassion so that we might forgive in this manner and that He bind up our mouths to not speak until we have had our words seasoned by His wisdom.  Let’s look at a few scriptures that remind us of what God like forgiveness is.

1.  Jeremiah 31: 34  they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

2.  Psalm 103: ¹¹ For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear (revere)  him.

¹² As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

3.  Romans 5:  ⁶ For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

⁷ For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

⁸ But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

⁹ Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

¹⁰ For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

¹¹ And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

4.  Matthew 18: ²¹ Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

²² Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

4.  Luke 6 ²⁷ But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,

²⁸ Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

²⁹ And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also.

³⁰ Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.

³¹ And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

³² For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.

³³ And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.

³⁴ And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.

³⁵ But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

³⁶ Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

Let us remember the great forgiveness that we have been given.  Let us pray earnestly for God to transform our hearts. 

One of the quotes that my son Alberto introduced me to is

"As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn’t supposed to ever let you down… probably will. You will have your heart broken probably more than once and it’s harder every time. You’ll break hearts too, so remember how it felt when yours was broken. You’ll fight with your best friend. You’ll blame a new love for things an old one did. You’ll cry because time is passing too fast and you’ll eventually lose someone you love. So take too many pictures, laugh too much, and love like you have never been hurt because every sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you’ll never get back."

Author: Unknown

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=h1Lu5udXEZI&feature=endscreen

Psalm 85: ⁶ Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?

⁷ Shew us thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us thy salvation.

⁸ I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.

⁹ Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.

¹⁰ Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

¹¹ Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.

¹² Yea, the Lord shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase.

¹³ Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.

Revival must begin with me.  We look around us and know that this great land of ours is in trouble.  National debt, crime, homelessness, joblessness, stress, pain, and sorrow fills our streets.  We have churches, TV ministries, Internet Ministries, Radio Ministries, and millions of Bibles available.  Yet, what we need is a revival so that we might once more rejoice in God’s love.  With so much available, we so often go about our busy lives with little thought of our Savior and Redeemer.  TV becomes more important than our Bible.  Prayer is that which we go through the motions before we eat or right before we go to bed and more often than not, only when we want something from God.  If revival is to come, it must begin within the heart of each believer.  Look at this verse as David prays for Israel (who so often got caught up in their pride-filled follies while ignoring the God of their salvation).  We must each as individuals begin by developing a reverence for the magnificent Holiness of God so that we clearly see the sin in our own lives for what it is– an abomination against God.  We must ourselves repent before Him and lay ourselves before Him as a Holy Sacrifice to denounce sin and put on His righteousness so that His Glory may dwell in our hearts and in our lands.  Only then can we demonstrate where mercy and forgiveness have met with the perfect truth of God’s Justice, Holiness, and hatred of Sin as He took on our penalty.  It is at the Cross of Christ where perfect righteousness with it’s condemnation of sin met with finding peace with God through His paying our penalty.  So get rid of your pride and in humble obedient love follow after Christ.  Only as we revive the heart within ourselves can we hope for revival in this our great nation.  Then, God will guide us in the "way of his steps", "righteousness shall go before Him" and "the Lord shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YTZq37OpMw

1 Timothy 2: I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

² For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

³ For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

⁴ Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

⁵ For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

⁶ Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

Romans 13: Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

² Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

³ For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

⁴ For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

⁵ Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

⁶ For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.

⁷ Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour

When we read Romans 13, we may want to say, "What are you talking about Paul?"  Weren’t you imprisoned by government? Beaten by government?  Put to death by government after watching many Christians die for proclaiming the truth of Christ? Christ was crucified by the government or was he?  When Pilate was interrogating Christ, look at how Christ responded.  John 19: ¹⁰ Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?

¹¹ Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

Was Pilate a follower of Christ? No.   Was Caesar a follower of Christ? No.  So what is Paul talking about and what is Christ talking about?

1.  God is Sovereign and God is in Control

2.  God is Omniscient and knows not only today, but also tomorrow.  He is working out His perfect plan.

3.  Authorities are in place so that there is not anarchy

4.  As Christians we are subject to the authorities who are over us with God being our ultimate authority.  Example, if tomorrow there is a law that I cannot speak the name of Christ without being punished by imprisonment, then I will go to prison for speaking His name.  However, I am not to retaliate by sinning and killing the guard who is taking me to prison. 

5.  I am to continue to pray for those who are in power over me.

If we are disturbed by the direction our nation is taking, then we are duty bound to pray for spiritual revival, we are to teach the Gospel where ever we go, we are to humbly submit to the laws in place (do not speed, do not steal, do not murder, do not evade taxes, do not resist the police), and we can write our congressman, as well as our president.  We cannot transform our nation from the outside in, but we can transform our nation by preaching the gospel and changing men’s hearts from within.  The Gospel is that which can enlighten the darkest heart and transform it.

2 Corinthians 4: ³ But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

⁴ In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

⁵ For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.

We must pray for our leaders.  We must pray for our nation.  We must proclaim the Gospel of Christ to all those whom we meet. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgukTjyCMX8

Ephesians 1: ¹⁷ That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

¹⁸ The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

¹⁹ And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

²⁰ Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

²¹ Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

²² And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

²³ Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

When I read the letters of the Apostle Paul, I am so amazed as to the significance of every word. Sometimes it is even difficult to pinpoint one single message as each scripture screams forth so many.  So let me concentrate on one part of the message from this incredible passage.  Paul wrote to the believers in Ephesus and told them that the prayer he had for them was that God, the Father of Glory would give to them "the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him."   He wanted them to come to realize the fullness of Him (seeing ever so dimly at times the magnificence of His Glory).  Studying, learning, seeking to know Him above all else. So that as they come to know Him more, the eyes of their understanding become enlightened to the hope found in His having called them and the riches of the Glory of His inheritance in the saints.   Hope–so that there is no cause for despair no matter what the circumstances may be?  This is a hope founded upon God, His promises, His power, and His love.  He who from before the foundations of the earth had planned a way for your salvation, who was willing to give the greatest sacrifice so that He could share His love and Glory with you, if only you accept His gift.  He shares His hope and His Glory by not sparing a single iota of His power.  Our hope is founded upon His mighty power which He uses to protect us, guide us and provide for us along this journey.  Look at verses 19 to 23 very carefully again.  Do you not begin to see the magnitude of that hope found in His calling us to be His own, the riches of the glory that He desires to share, and the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe.  This power was the same power which raised Christ from the dead and sat him at the right hand of the Father upon the throne eternally to reign.  A power that is far greater than all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that could ever be named on this earth and eternally to the world which will come.  So my dear Christian friend, what do you have to ever worry about?   I, too, pray that yours eyes be enlightened to understand this Hope.  For those of you who do not know Christ as your Savior, I urge you to seek Him. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjYiEyu8Si8

Ephesians 2: 1And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

² Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

³ Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

⁴ But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

⁵ Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

⁶ And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

⁷ That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

⁸ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast.

¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

The gift of salvation is given to all who will accept Jesus Christ as their Savior.  This is a gift undeserved.  Some want to say that they have earned this salvation by their works and by their life.  There could never be salvation without the payment that Christ paid on Calvary.  We are all dead in our trespasses and sins until we see and accept this great gift, falling before Him with a contrite heart.  Until we see a glimpse of His magnificent Glory such that the light shining forth from Him reveals the darkness hidden deep within our own hearts, there is no hope to find this great gift of salvation.   Yet, there are others who would say, since this gift is free from works then I will take the gift as it is…free and do nothing.  That is also false because when you truly understand the gift, love would not allow you to stand still.  With salvation comes the power to overcome sin.  God sets about the work of transforming sanctification.  His great love cannot leave you there in the unlovely state for which He found you; but will transform you.  The work then becomes Christ’s work manifested through the believer.  Not by our own strength are we able to perform this, but by His mighty strength.  So, as a Grateful Servant, let us all get about the work He has ordained us to perform in His Strength and clothed with His righteousness. 

Let me try to explain this in a way that you might understand, though any illustration falls very short of the full act.   Let’s say that you want to buy a beautiful house set on a hill that expands thousands of acres.   The owner knows that even if you work for a lifetime, you will not be able to pay the price for that home.  He decides to give you that house and land as a free gift.  Beyond that he wants to give you the work force to tend the land and house.  His only desire is your friendship and to spend time talking with you, guiding you in the care of that gift, and your trust.   You, because of self pride, become offended and say, “No, I will not take the house or your friendship until I can earn it.  I will work very hard and one day then you can give me the house after I have earned it.”  Year after year goes by and still you have not been able to pay even a small portion toward the price of that house.  You have not been able to enjoy the home nor his friendship.  You become frustrated, angry, and then blame him for the price being too high.  What kind of fool would you have been?  Another point is also evident.  If you accept the gift, your gratitude and love would command you from inside to try to please the gift giver by caring for the gift.  He gave you something very precious and that in its own would cause you to follow his direction in its care out of love not out of labor.

The Grace in Which I Stand

by Effie Darlene Barba

Oh feeble heart, Oh fragile soul

Where is the hope on which you hold

With all the failures of your past

Where is the faith to make you bold

Where is the faith to make you bold

There was a King though blameless He

That came to pay my penalty

And in that act He set me free

To follow Him in liberty

To follow Him in liberty

It is His love that drew me out

And in His Grace I shall not doubt

That He who started this work in me

Will finish it with a Glorious Shout

Will finish it with a Glorious Shout

One day the finished work be done

That I might look then like God’s son

Sifted, shined just like pure Gold

As Glory shines forth, Glorious One

As Glory shines forth, Glorious One

And in this hope my faith conformed

I know my life will be transformed

I stand upon this future grace

So for His work my passion warmed

So for His work my passion warmed

So in this faith I firmly stand

That formed in me as God had planned

No force on earth can shake me free

My future held by God’s great hand

My future held by God’s great hand.

 

So let us Join in Song and Prayer with Krysten Getty

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPVtx_HCpOo&list=UUo9g1AKA1sWpJjifnGEukEQ&index=1&feature=plcp

To all my followers, I am leaving today for California to visit my grand-daughter so that I might not be able to post to the website.  I will if I can figure out how; but if I can’t I will see you back here next week.  Thank you, Effie Darlene Barba