Effie Darlene Barba

How does one respond with love to a hostile crowd?  All too often we are told we must compromise, be silent or even give in to whatever radical idea they espouse to build a bridge of unity.  Yet, is that truly loving when it comes down to defending the gospel or not?  We are told to for the sake of unity and love to acknowledge a lie for truth.  So many try to say it is unloving to say homosexuality is a sin, or that abortion is killing a child? The crowd becomes hostile screaming bigot if we say Jesus is the only way of salvation.  But, knowing eternity lies before every man, woman and child, would the loving thing be to just let them be to die in darkness and face judgement when we have the key to salvation?

If a man stood on a high precipice saying, if I jump, I can fly-do we let him jump? Paul would say, “No!”  He came to Jerusalem with gifts for the church of Jerusalem.  At the same time, he came bearing the sacrificial gift of his hair having fulfilled a very traditional Jewish ritual of completing a Nazarite vow.  Did he believe that the vow held a key to salvation?  No, but for him, he fulfilled the Nazarite vow with a passionate love for God and for the Jewish people.  It was Paul who said to not do things that could be a stumbling block for others.  He detailed this in Romans 14.  So, for Paul he fulfilled the ritual of the Nazarite vow, as a symbol to the Jewish people of his love and devotion to God. And as a sacrifice, sweet savoring to God.

A Hostile Crowd

Continue reading ” How to Respond with Love to A Hostile Crowd”

Paul was unstoppable in his mission.  He with great determination spread the gospel throughout the lands in Asia and Europe.  During all his journeys he faced great opposition, beatings, stoning, and even was shipwrecked.  Many of us would have either stopped or even proclaimed that surely God would not allow such trials in our life.  But why wouldn’t He?  To submit to Jesus Christ means we are willing to face the trials He faced.  Wouldn’t the very passion to know Him fully demand that we be willing to imitate Him in everything?  His love both for the Father and for the sinner drove His passion so that He willingly paid the full penalty of sin for all who would come to Him for Salvation. That kind of passion and love for the lost would drive us to know fearless faith whatever the cost.

If only we love as He loved. Submitting to His will.  Trusting God, no matter what.

So, what is your mission?  Does your heart burn with a love for the lost?  When you walk through a crowd or even when you listen to the news, does your heart break for those who don’t know Christ?  Or have you grown cold, insensitive to this?  After all, doesn’t society tell you to worry about yourself only?  Yet, Paul pleaded and prayed that we are To know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God (Ephesians 3:19).  Filled with all the fulness of God.  To know the true heighth, depth, length, and width of that kind of love, overflowing with joy, hope, and desire that others might experience the power of walking hand in hand with God.

Fearless Faith Whatever the Cost

Continue reading “How to Know Fearless Faith Whatever the Cost!”

As Paul prepared to go to Jerusalem, he returned to Ephesus before his departure.  Many pleaded with him not to go; but he would follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit, regardless of the danger.  His final speech to the leaders of the church of Ephesus reveals a life worth living: where sorrow and glory meet.

Acts 20: 17-23

¹⁷ And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.

¹⁸ And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,

¹⁹ Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:

²⁰ And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house,

²¹ Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

²² And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:

²³ Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

He knew he would not be returning; but he willingly obeyed the spirit’s prompting to go.

Life Worth Living: When Sorrow and Glory Meet

Continue reading “Life Worth Living: When Sorrow and Glory Meet”

As we look deeper into Acts 19, we see that Satan tried every method to try to stop this spread of Christianity; but darkness could not hide the light of God. God in His Sovereignty will not allow it.   Still, God will not override the choice one makes.  How both fit together as true is something I cannot fully understand; but I trust one day I will.  However, as we look closer at the events told of in this chapter, I think we must agree God will accomplish all that He has planned.  That is true both in my life and in the world.

Near the beginning of the chapter we are introduced to a group of very devout men.  They are busy about their work of teaching and preaching when Paul asks them if they knew the Holy Spirit?  They did not.  Because despite their devotion and their desire, they did not know the full truth of salvation.  Satan would have loved for them to remain in their ignorance, falsely believing they were saved when they had not been.  But God sent Paul to these men and they came to know Jesus Christ as their Savior.

Satan would love for men and women to live in a state of calling themselves Christians without really having ever come to a saving knowledge of Christ.  Afterall almost saved is not saved at all.  Satan can use such men and women to his advantage, as we see around us every day.

Darkness Could Not Hide the Light of God.

Then there came the mystics who having seen the power of Jesus Christ through healings and miracles.  They wanted to tap into that power; but they did not know Jesus.  Merely, they had witnessed the miracles of Paul and thought if they used the name of Christ, they too would become powerful.  Not uncommon today either.  So, these men went forth to exorcise a demon evoking the name of Jesus Christ.  But even the demons know clearly who Jesus Christ is and must obey Him.  Satan would have loved for the story to have been these mystics could call out the demons; but darkness could not hide the light of God.  For Jesus Christ said “no” and the demons were not exorcised.  Rather the mystics were attacked by the demons as they cried out, “we don’t know you”.

Ultimately, the mystics burned all their books of sorcery; because they feared Jesus Christ.  They had seen His true power and they knew they had none.  Instead of their darkness taking over the land, darkness could not hide the light of God.

Nor the Merchants

Ah, but you see next came a riot as the merchants and craftsmen who gained their money from selling idols revolted against the Christians.  Afterall, as people got saved, the idolatrous worship of Dianna.  Fearing that their sexual temples might be destroyed and their money diminished, they captured many of the Christians and a riot pursued.  However, their work became thwarted when it was found they had no legal right to their claim and would have to try again in a legal manner for rioting was not allowed.

Once more the darkness could not hide the light of God.  The same is true today.  Oh, yes, we look around us and mourn for darkness appears to be overshadowing everything.  The world has so blended the shadows of darkness until they appear to be light to some; but the true light of God cannot be so easily hidden.  God does have a plan and we can trust that He will accomplish all that He has planned.

One day, every knee will bow and confess that Jesus is Lord.  ⁹ Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, ¹¹ and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11)  Even the demons will bow one day; but it will be too late for their salvation.

Concluding thoughts:

One day every knee will bow.  For darkness could not hide the light of God, not then and not ever will it.  But the question is will you bow now, or will you only bow when it is too late; after, judgment is called.  All who know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord will be saved.  All who deny Him now, will for eternity be cast into hell with Satan and all his demons.

And for those of us who know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, thank God. Because no matter how dark a moment we may face, the darkness could not hide the light of God in our hearts.  He is Sovereign and we have nothing to fear or worry.  We are not alone, and He will complete the work He began in us.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD?

If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you to 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.

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A New Kind of Prosperity that Includes Suffering

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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2019
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 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.

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Photo by Guillaume Bleyer on Unsplash