Effie Darlene Barba

God will accomplish all that He has planned as we see throughout the corridors of time; both in the world as well as in the individual lives of you or me. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (Ephesians 1:3-6). So, what really is the good pleasure of God’s Will?  To pour forth His love, Joy, and Glory upon a people who understand the depth of His love.

That is so clearly outlined in John Chapter 17 as Jesus Christ prayed to the Father on the road to Gethsemane.  He clearly outlined the purpose for which we were created.  That is outlined in detail within one section of my book, Abiding Steadfast Joy.  Therefore, the good pleasure of God’s Will is to pour forth His love, share his abounding love, and to bestow a part of His Glory upon them.  For a people or creature to fully understand, revel, and experience the full magnitude of His Glory, His Love, His Grace and His Joy-it was necessary that they be given choice.  Just as darkness is the absence of light, evil is the absence of God who is perfect righteousness.  Can someone find joy in light if they never knew of darkness?  Or can they long for or desire God if they never knew of life without Him?

In a World Filled with Darkness

Elijah and his successor Elisha lived in very dark times; because of mankind’s desire to seek out a self-made, self-exalting religion that fed their own ego.  Instead of worshipping the one true God, creator of the universe they developed “sound good” religions to feed their own vanity.  Much like the world we live in today in which there is an invading darkness of mind and spirit which shuns the one true light. Jezebel reigned as Queen alongside Ahab.  As Queen she brought in the Satanic worship of Baal wrapped in a pretty package promising power and prosperity to all. Thus, designed to thwart God’s plan.  God had already promised Abraham and later David that the Savior, the Messiah would be born from their seed. All would be doomed if that plan could be destroyed.

Jezebel and her daughter Athaliah plotted to do just that!  Did they fully realize that they were being used by Satan?  One does not know; however, they worshipped Baal and set forth to destroy any worship of God.  Determined to even destroy the seed of David through their treacherous invasion into the family of Israel and Judah.  Promising prosperity and power they lured their husbands to abandon God.  They charmed a nation into idolatrous abandonment of true faith in God to follow ideologies that stroked the egos of men and women.  Promising a self-gratifying morality, they led the people to abandon truth. In the name of goodness, evil abounded. Furthermore, in the name of morality, hypocrisy ruled.  Sounds a lot like the world we face today.

Attempts to Destroy

All appeared to be lost as it appeared that all hope of true faith in God was being fully destroyed. Elijah nearly lost heart in the battle; because, he had watched as evil continued to spread until he believed he was the only one left that worshipped God.  Disheartened by all he saw and frustrated by the people’s failure to respond, he wanted to quit.  Yet, God promised him that the Baal worshippers would be destroyed.  God would even use an evil Syrian king to help in the matter of destroying the Baal worshippers.  Elijah had fought the battle; but, would be taken up into heaven to await a future battle.  He named Elisha to carry the burden for a time.  Jehu was named King of Israel and chosen to destroy all the Baal worshippers in Israel as well as King Ahaziah of Judah.

King Ahaziah had followed the biddings of his mother Athaliah, daughter of Ahab and Jezebel by promoting Baal worship.  Upon his death, Queen Mother Athaliah sought out all the male descendants (her grandchildren) to kill them so she could continue the reign. She had controlled her son Ahaziah; however, did not have the same influence over her grandchildren. Had she succeeded, there would be no heir of David to carry on the lineage to Christ Jesus.  Thus, the plan of salvation would have been destroyed and Satan would have won.  Yet, one baby was carried away to safety.  His name was Joash.  Even in what appeared to be the darkest of times, God provided a way.   The good pleasure of His will, to bring salvation to the world could not be thwarted; although it appeared nearly all had turned away from Him.

 

The Good Pleasure of God’s Will

The world at present may appear to be confounded.  Confusion, chaos has bred anger, bitterness, pain, and despair.  In the darkness, we long for light to shine forth.  Our eyes search heaven and wonder why God would tarry. Has He grown silent against the spread of evil?  Yet, we KNOW that is not the case!  He is awaiting the fullness of time when the last child whom He saw before the foundations of time comes to know Him.  That is His abounding love for each one.  And to all those who choose to turn away from His voice of love, “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” (Deuteronomy 32:35).

The Good Pleasure of God’s Will is that all might come to know Him; yet, the sad reality is that men and women desire their own self-exaltation and gratification more than God who created them in love.  Choice was necessary that they might fully experience and know Him in all His glory.  I could not know of justice if my eyes never saw injustice.  Would I know the sweet loving grace of God, had I never known what it was to deserve His wrath instead?  I cannot fully see His Righteousness, until I can see my own unrighteousness.  Then as He takes me fully into His Arms to make me His Princess because of the blood of Christ, I feel overwhelmed by His love and my heart sings forth a song of praise.

Concluding thought:

So, my question to you is this:  Do You Know Him As Savior and Lord of Your Life? Or are you one whose foot with slide, destined for destruction because you chose to deny Him who loved you with a perfect love?

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR?

If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior: 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.

ARE YOU IN OF NEED PRAYER?

If you have a prayer request email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to tell me your story or thoughts  comment here

Books Available

If you want to know more about books I have written. Then, please click on this link to discover a world of Book Resources.

Or you can find all my books on Amazon.com, search just by searching Effie Darlene Barba.  Or click this link to be taken there

Furthermore,  for inspirational photos or home decor click here.

Previous Posts in This Series on Elisha

God Will Complete the Good Pleasure of His Will

What is the Terror and Despair of Desiring Power?

Do You Know All Things Work Together for Good?

What if Desperation Leads to Life and Joy?

Moralizers so Blinded to God’s Truth and Their Guilt

Do You Really Know God as Omnipotent, Omniscient Lord?

Does God Really Care About the Little Stuff?

How Can Someone So Close Not Know God?

Can a Missed Opportunity Leave a Nation to Fall?

One Unlikely Believer and the Grace of God

Do You Trust God in  the Famine?

Is Love Really Worth the Heartbreak?

Are you Really Seeking God in All You Do?

Do You Believe God is Your Provider?

What Can One God Fearing Man Do?

What Happens When We Fail to Teach Our Children?

How to Revive Barren Lands with Living Waters

Who will Carry the Torch for God Against Evil?

What if God’s Work Leaves You Alone and Depressed?

Can You See The Army of God Surrounding You?

 

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2018
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.

Credits

Photo by Cherry Laithang on Unsplash

     Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. Ephesians 1:3-6

 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;  Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:  That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:  That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. Ephesians 1:7-12

What is the good pleasure of His Will?  It is that those who accept His Gift of Salvation might know the Joy of basking in His Presence, surrounded by His love and His Glory!  Yet, knowing that without choice, no one would fully experience this magnificent glory; he allowed the darkness that we might truly see light.

The Good pleasure of his will

It was with great grace that God continued to deal with the Israelite nation.  Each victory and act of grace shining forth the love and glory of God to them.  Yet, their own selfish desire, their pride, and their foolish hearts sought after worldly pleasures and vain idols.  Repeatedly, God would reach out to them.  He sent prophets and teachers.  Yet, their dark, selfish hearts desired only what they desired.  Not wanting to surrender to God as Lord over them.  Each time they led the nation, their children, and their families away from God’s plan.  Sometimes out of the midst of the despair they led themselves into, they would cry out to God for help.  Then He would save them.  At other times, He allowed other nations to overtake and destroy all but a remnant.

Still, it was the good pleasure of His will that a remnant would survive and march on through the corridors of time to bring forth a Savior.  Jesus Christ, born of a virgin, God’s very own son came to die and pay the penalty for their sins and ours.  We have read of this again in 1 and 2 Kings.  Elijah grew weary as he preached the word of God to a crowd of people who continued to ignore God, believing their own “morality” was enough.  Yet, in their “morality” they sacrificed babies, worshipped golden idols, and denied the one true living God who called to them in love.  Much like our own nation today.

God Will Complete

Worn and weary, Elijah cried out to God in despair; believing there was no one left but he who worshipped God.  God then comforted Elijah.  He told him that judgement would surely come and the remnant would walk through the trials; but, come forth victorious.  Additionally, Elijah was to appoint Elisha to take over as prophet and Elijah was taken home to rest.  Although, it will be Elijah who returns to be a witness at the wailing wall and even martyred there when the prophecies of Revelations are fulfilled.  All that God foretold to Elijah in I Kings concerning Hazael and Jehu came to pass in 2 Kings 8 and 9.  Judgement came to all those who continued in the worship of Baal!

There are times when we look around us and shudder with the evil we see.  Furthermore, we look at so many who feign righteousness and moral indignation, yet do not know the truth of who God is.  We, like Elijah, wonder if any remain who truly seek God as Lord.  Beyond that, we look deep within our own hearts and plead that God cleanse us.  We desire that He accomplish all that is His will within our own hearts.

But this we know and may be confident in!  Just as He fulfilled all that His will planned through the corridors of time in bringing forth His only Son to pay the penalty for our sins on the cross, He will accomplish all the Good Pleasure of His Will.  Every detail of Christ’s birth, life on earth, death and resurrection were fulfilled just as foretold.  The same is true today that He will complete all the Good pleasure of His Will.  The victory is won! He will return one day.  Judgement will be completed.  Righteousness will reign.

Concluding Thoughts

Where do you stand?  If Jesus Christ returned today to take His church and reign in the seven years of tribulation, where would you be?  Would you be standing upon your own self-righteous ideologies or would your faith stand firm in the gospel of Jesus Christ? Therefore, let us pray, “Thy will be done, Lord”

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR?

If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior: 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.

ARE YOU IN OF NEED PRAYER?

If you have a prayer request email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to tell me your story or thoughts  comment here

Books Available

If you want to know more about books I have written. Then, please click on this link to discover a world of Book Resources.

Or you can find all my books on Amazon.com, search just by searching Effie Darlene Barba.  Or click this link to be taken there

Furthermore,  for inspirational photos or home decor click here.

Previous Posts in This Series:

Do You Know All Things Work Together for Good?

What if Desperation Leads to Life and Joy?

Moralizers so Blinded to God’s Truth and Their Guilt

Do You Really Know God as Omnipotent, Omniscient Lord?

Does God Really Care About the Little Stuff?

How Can Someone So Close Not Know God?

Can a Missed Opportunity Leave a Nation to Fall?

One Unlikely Believer and the Grace of God

Do You Trust God in  the Famine?

Is Love Really Worth the Heartbreak?

Are you Really Seeking God in All You Do?

Do You Believe God is Your Provider?

What Can One God Fearing Man Do?

What Happens When We Fail to Teach Our Children?

How to Revive Barren Lands with Living Waters

Who will Carry the Torch for God Against Evil?

What if God’s Work Leaves You Alone and Depressed?

Can You See The Army of God Surrounding You?

 

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2018
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.

Credits

Photo courtesy of RoninRon Custom Art

Elisha went to Damascus, the capital of Syria.  From this we might realize that Elisha’ ministry of teaching God’s truth extended beyond the borders of the Jewish nation.  Remember the miracle of saving Naaman from his leprosy.  Years before Elijah was told to ordain Hazael to become king of Syria, Jehu to be king of Israel, and Elisha to replace him as prophet.  Why?  Yet, Hazael at that time did not take the throne.  Later, desiring power, Hazael became the terror and the despair of Israel?  Why would God have ordained this when we find later all that Hazael did against Israel?

God commanded Elijah to arise, go to Damascus and anoint Hazael to be come king of Syria at a time when Israel had turned their back on God to worship Baal.  Idolatry and sin reigned throughout the land.  Elijah came to believe that he alone worshipped God and wondered why God did not just destroy them all.  A very sad moment in his ministry when it seemed nothing appeared to be going right and it seemed no one worshipped or cared.  All this terror and despair began with Jeroboam desiring power. He established idolatrous worship to increase political power over the people by precluding them from going to Jerusalem to worship God.  So afraid was he they might defect, he drew them away from all that was Godly.

Desiring Power

Unfortunately, we see much of the same in our society today where some desiring power feign moral reasons while denouncing all that is true and right.  Ignoring the truth of God, they build idols of “self-worship” at all cost to gain power.  We particularly see this on the far left; but unfortunately we see it in our “modern churches”. Desiring power, they willingly cast aside the truth of the gospel. No wonder our nation faces terror and despair.

God knew the evil heart of Hazael.  While desiring power and self-exaltation, he would terrorize the nation of Israel.  Yet, God anointed him long before, knowing all that he would do.  Go back and look at I Kings 19.  God had already determined that all who did not repent and turn to Him would have to face judgement, even if that meant God allowed that judgement to come through an evil pagan foreign king.  Were God not to punish Israel for their sins, soon none would remain to worship Him and the plan for salvation could never be fulfilled.  At the time God told Elijah that Hazael would be king, only 7000 Israelites had not bowed down to worship Baal.  For the sake of their future and for the sake of salvation to come, the rest would be destroyed.

So, God anointed Hazael as king, not condoning his evil treachery; but, rather allowing it that God might save the remnant who believed in Him as Lord and Savior.  While others desiring power, destroy the truth of the gospel, are there 7000 Christians today who will stand firm for God’s truth?

Terror and Despair

King Benhadad of Syria became ill and sought the counsel of Elisha.  After all, he had seen God’s work through the prophet, even his own defeats.  He desired to know if he would survive the illness.  So, he sent 40 camels loaded with their best produce.   Hazael went to Elisha bearing the gifts and asking if the King would recover. Elisha said, “he will recover from the illness; but I also see that he will die.”  Then as Elisha stood there with his eyes fixed upon Hazael, he saw “the evil that thou (Hazael) wilt do unto the children of Israel: their strong holds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword, and wilt dash their children, and rip up their women with child” (2 Kings 8:12). For this Elisha wept bitterly.

After all his teaching and ministry, the vast majority of Israel had not repented.  Judgement must come, even if at the hands of this man who stood before him.  Hazael said, “who do you think I am some dog?”  But Elisha knew exactly who he was, one-man desiring power who denounced the truth of God.  Although Hazael believed in his own self righteousness and “moral character”, he failed to see the darkness of his own heart.  He returned to King Benhadad to tell him that he would survive the illness.  Then the next morning he seized his opportunity to kill the King and take over his throne.

Concluding Thoughts:

Woe to us, if we do not weep over this our nation and cry out for its repentance?  Should we not weep over every lost soul who does not know God?  There should be an urgency of spirit drawing us to reach out to others with the gospel message.  This life is but a second in time compared to eternity.  For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (Matthew 16:26).

Must we not weep, knowing that men and women choose to reject the gift of salvation from Jesus Christ.  They desiring power and self-exaltation refuse to accept Him as Lord and Master of their life; although, He offers them life eternal?

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR?

If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior: 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.

ARE YOU IN OF NEED PRAYER?

If you have a prayer request email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to tell me your story or thoughts  comment here

Books Available

If you want to know more about books I have written. Then, please click on this link to discover a world of Book Resources.

Or you can find all my books on Amazon.com, search just by searching Effie Darlene Barba.  Or click this link to be taken there

Furthermore,  for inspirational photos or home decor click here.

Previous Posts in This Series:

Do You Know All Things Work Together for Good?

What if Desperation Leads to Life and Joy?

Moralizers so Blinded to God’s Truth and Their Guilt

Do You Really Know God as Omnipotent, Omniscient Lord?

Does God Really Care About the Little Stuff?

How Can Someone So Close Not Know God?

Can a Missed Opportunity Leave a Nation to Fall?

One Unlikely Believer and the Grace of God

Do You Trust God in  the Famine?

Is Love Really Worth the Heartbreak?

Are you Really Seeking God in All You Do?

Do You Believe God is Your Provider?

What Can One God Fearing Man Do?

What Happens When We Fail to Teach Our Children?

How to Revive Barren Lands with Living Waters

Who will Carry the Torch for God Against Evil?

What if God’s Work Leaves You Alone and Depressed?

Can You See The Army of God Surrounding You?

 

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2018
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.

Credits

Photo by Matt 📸 on Unsplash

Did you know all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose?  Remember the Shunammite woman?  She had been a lady of prominence once who sought after God.  Desiring to hear from God, she provided lodging for his servant Elisha.  God miraculously gave her a son. When he later died, she ran to Elisha to be near to and to hear from God.  He restored her son’s life.  Then in 2 Kings 8, we find that before the famine came upon the land, God warned the Shunammite woman to depart and go to Philistine to stay for 7 years so as not to suffer the famine.  We pick up her story again as she returns from Philistine to reclaim her land.

Nothing is mentioned of her husband in this second part of her story.  She and her son alone approach the king; perhaps, suggesting she was now a widow.  Many say that this story must be out of sequence since Gehazi could not speak to the king after his being stricken with leprosy.  Yet, the word of God is true and right, dictated with perfection by God, Himself.  He may not always expand the story with every detail; because then the Bible would be too large carry.  Yet, remember Chapter 7, four lepers came to give the good news to the king of Israel that the Syrians had fled leaving behind all their possessions.  Because of that the famine crisis ended.    Could one of those lepers have been Gehazi?  The king would certainly want to hear more of Elisha’s miracles after witnessing this one!

Furthermore, how perfect the timing. The Shunammite woman returned immediately as the famine ended and exactly when Gehazi was speaking to the king!

All Things

Continue reading “Do You Know All Things Work Together for Good?”

So, the famine within Samaria was devastating.  However, Elisha told Jehoram, king of Israel that God would provide a miracle and by morning there would be life and joy in the streets because of an abundance of supplies.  Yet, the king and the people of Israel with hardened hearts laughed at Elisha and did not believe God’s promise.  Their idolatry, lack of faith, and even disdain toward God lead them to this place of desperation.  Yet, God had reached out His hand of grace and promised hope, life and joy to these rebellious sinners.  He does that still today.  His hand reaches out with grace to every sinner.  His desire is to fill each heart with His Joy and to give life eternal to each wandering soul.  If only they would come to Him.

Even to those who know Him as Savior, He calls to us to live a life of Abiding, Steadfast Joy in His presence. Ah, the depth of desperation our souls face when we march through this world in our own strength.  Yet, always He is there ready to provide all that our heart truly needs for life and joy, if only we seek Him and trust Him.  Every moment of desperation that He allows to enter our life as believers is merely to draw us closer to His side.  Because He knows apart from Him there is no hope in this world to experience life and joy, He allows even to tragedies that we might learn to let go of all the counterfeit joys we cling to and come to the cross where His life and Joy abound.

Desperation

Continue reading “What if Desperation Leads You to Life and Joy?”