What Is It to "Trust in God?"

"Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus."  - Revelation 14:12

The official motto of the United States of America is "In God We Trust." It's commonly found on U.S. currency. Though it had appeared on U.S. coins since the 1860's, it wasn't until 1955 when it became mandatory by law that it should appear on all coinage and paper money.

How many of us today give "In God We Trust" a second thought? The world is full of mottoes and inspirational quotes that we hang on our walls, or display on our desks and shelves, both, at work and in our homes. But, there has to be more to it than that, right?

To find the original meaning of these words we only have to turn to their source: the Bible. And though, example after example may be found between its covers, we only require one to illustrate our point.

Amaziah, the son of the assassinated king Jehoash of Judah (2 Chronicles 24:25), had come into full power at the young age of 25 years (2 Chronicles 25:1). Though he was not perfect by any means, "he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord" (2 Chronicles 25:2).

Amaziah's first rule of order as king was to avenge his father's death by killing those responsible for his murder (2 Kings 14:5-7; 2 Chronicles 25:3-5); yet did not harm their children, which was totally unheard of in those days (2 Chronicles 25:4).

The young king also planned to restore the kingdom's military honor and prestige which had been greatly depleted during his father's reign. He then assembled a militia army made up of all the young men who were 20 years or older (2 Chronicles 25:5).

Even so, he still felt this was not sufficient for his planned military campaigns. In order to increase the size of his army he decided to hire mercenaries from Israel, paying 100 talents of silver for their services (2 Chronicles 25:6).

Upon their arrival, a prophet (man of God) strongly urged the king not to join with them "for the LORD is not with Israel" (2 Chronicles 25:7). Naturally, the mercenaries were not happy with this turn of events, leaving both unemployed and angry.

Oh, yes! But what about the 100 talents? That was gone along with the idolatrous, apostate Israelites. Amaziah next asked the man of God "what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? The Israelites were long gone and so was the money.

It was then that the prophet spoke, saying "The LORD can give you much more than that" (2 Chronicles 25:9). In other words, don't worry about it, the LORD has got you covered, and then some. You just need to trust in Him. Does this sound familiar..?

God has more than enough to cover any losses you might suffer. What is needed is a firm belief, or trust, in His adequacy and efficiency to support us, and cover the losses and damages sustained in his service. We will be abundantly compensated.

Thus, to trust in God is to be willing to go the distance for him, in full confidence that by the goodness of his safety and protection we cannot, no, even better, WILL NOT lose! Additionally, whatever we sacrifice in His name will more than be made up similarly, or in kindness. 

The dictum "In God We Trust" is so much more than that. It declares that by placing our trust in God we, both, demonstrate our faith in Him and in what He can do for us. We can never lose with God. He has promised our faith will be rewarded in ways far beyond what we can ever know (John 3:12-13).

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5; Philippians 4:13; Hebrews 11:6; Psalm 112:7; 1 Corinthians 1:8

Prayer: Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, for He is good and His steadfast love endures forever! Amen

Bless you,

Brielle

The Kingdom Is Attainable through Christ

"There are no crown-wearers in heaven who were not cross-bearers here below."  - Charles Spurgeon

When we hear the word "mountain" it might conjure up pictures of tall, majestic, rocky formations; some even with snow-capped peaks. It brings to mind strength, immenseness, enduring and permanence.

The word "mountain" is used approximately 137 times, and can be found in 137 verses in the King James Bible (KJV). This tells us that it obviously has to be an important word to be used so frequently.

During ancient times, natural objects were frequently used to illustrate points, or add depth to language and speech. Such is the case with the word "mountain."

It is a massive and powerful word. In Scripture symbolism, a mountain means a kingdom. For instance, in Isaiah 2:2 and Daniel 2:35; 44-45 it refers to "the kingdom of God;" which is indeed everlasting and imperishable.

In our modern world, men seek to conquer mountains because they are challenging and beyond the grasp of most other men. Brave and daring climbers are willing to sacrifice it all just to reach their summits.

So, too, was the kingdom of God. Even though it had been attained only by a few God-selected men, namely Enoch and Elijah, it remained out of our reach until Jesus' resurrection made it accessible to the rest of us. This, however, doesn't mean it is an effortless endeavor now.

You can be certain there will be obstacles thrown into your path along the way, and storms will suddenly appear to hamper your journey. Temptation, greed, lust, vanity, and apostasy will all try to stop you (Matthew 7:13-14).

But, you, the believer in Christ, thankfully do not have to face these trials alone. Along the way you will have the advantage of having a loving, merciful, and steadfast escort to see you through to the end.

The kingdom of God is no longer an impossible dream. Nor does it require any special equipment to take you there. Repentance of your sins, and a commitment of belief in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior will get you well started (John 3:3).

A passage to the top of the mountain, made passable by his sacrifice on the cross, lies ahead. His pillar of smoke will guide you during the day; his pillar of fire at night (Exodus 13:21). Jesus, your Almighty guide awaits you.

Scripture: John 18:36; Mark 1:15; Daniel 2:44; Matthew 25:34; Matthew 3:2

Prayer: Dear Jesus, I am grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and therefore I offer to You my acceptable worship, with humble reverence and awe, amen.

Blessings always,

Cyndy

Let Christ Handle Your Stress!

"Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."  - Mat 11:28 (NLT)

It's easy to feel stressed during the holiday season. Daily life can be stressful anyway, but it can be even more so at this time of the year. Work, home, family, holiday shopping, travel, finances, and bad weather can raise stress levels ever higher.

Let me illustrate this point for you. According to a 2015 survey, sixty-two percent of the interviewees defined their stress level as “very or somewhat” elevated during the holidays. Only 10 percent reported "no stress" in the same survey.

Stress can make us feel as if we are being squeezed between two immovable objects, hence, the "squeeze" or "pressure" is on. How much stress one can withstand differs from person to person. Eventually, we all reach our limit or breaking point.

Scriptures acknowledges "stress" in many different ways (Proverbs 1:27). It is sometimes called grievousness; heaviness; distress, trouble; anguish, perilous, and dangerous. There is nothing happy or joyous about any of these words. They are dark, bleak, and somber, for sure.

If left to our own devices, this world would be a very dismal place. There would be no hope, rest, or peace. But thanks to the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ we are able to find our way out of the gloominess and hopelessness. We are not left to flail around without a lifeline.

Our Lord and Savior can deliver us from stress if we call on him. The psalmist writes in Psalm 119:143 (NLT), "As pressure and stress bear down on me, I find joy in your commands." The source of comfort he is referring to is the truth of God. This same reassurance is available to us, as well.

Recall what happened in Luke 8:22-25 when the disciples were stressed out because a sudden, violent storm threatened to sink their boat. Who did they call on at the height of the storm? They called on Jesus, who then calmed the angry waters.

He is never out of earshot when we need to call out to him. He is always as close to us when we need him, as he was to the disciples on that day. Some may say that they have called on him before but without any success.

Does this mean that he will turn his back on us? No. Jesus will never turn his back on you or I. Romans 10:13 tells us, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."  Where do so many go wrong?

There have no real faith in their pleas to him. Jesus knows our hearts, he can tell when we have true faith, or not (James 1:6). Whatever we ask must be done in complete faith and trust in him (Matthew 21:22). He desires a sincere faith from us.

This holiday enjoy the season and all of the wonderful things it has to offer. But if you find that stress is starting to close in on you, remember, you always have a "stress reliever" in Jesus Christ. Call on him if you need to, and even if you don't. He loves hearing from us anytime! (Philippians 4:6)

Scripture: John 14:27; Matthew 6:27; 1 Peter 5:7; Philippians 4:13; Exodus 14:14

Prayer: Dear Lord, when the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul, amen. -Psalm 94:19 

God bless you,

Lauren

Thanksgiving Holiday (U.S) - November, 2018

On Thursday and Friday, November 22-23, 2018 we will observe the Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S.

It is a time for giving thanks to the Lord for all of the bountiful blessings we have received in our country. All of us here at the Coffeehouse Bible Ministry extend our thanks and prayers to all of you, as well. We hope that you too will enjoy some time with those you love this weekend. Our blog will return on Monday, November 26, 2018. Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving!

May God bless you always,

~Eve

Those Who Truly Know Christ

"Christians believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God because He said so."  - C.S. Lewis

Students in school must be tested in order to evaluate whether they have not only learned, but understand their lessons. It matters not if one is in elementary school or the university, an assessment of the subject content is necessary.

It was no different with Jesus Christ, the Master teacher. He spent a great deal of time preaching and teaching to his disciples. The lessons he presented were not from a book, but rather were hands-on training in real time.

Jesus needed to know if his disciples had indeed gleaned anything from his instruction, or were they just simply along for the ride. He wondered, could he depend on his faithful disciples later on down the road? Had they been polluted with apostasy? Were they of strong faith?

So, the group stopped just a little outside of the Gentile town of Caesarea Philippi. It was exam time, so He asks them straight away who they think he is (test of faith). He then discloses to them what to expect if they continue walking with him. Jesus pulled no punches (Matthew 16:24; 25).

The test of faith was given to see what they had learned so far. This was then followed by a test of hope. This test was necessary for realistic expectations, and not disappointingly, unreal assumptions that might be fostered by their attachment to Him (Matthew 16:21). 

Jesus presents the question of faith to them, asking, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" Matthew 16:13.  We must sincerely ask ourselves, "Do we know who Jesus Christ is?" Our faith is dependent on our reply (Colossians 2:9).

Some may laugh at the thought of such a simple question. But, Jesus thought it was important enough to ask. The disciples' faith was not tested on their theological knowledge, but rather on this basic and honest question.

Sadly, far too many think that believing in Jesus Christ is too hard, or too silly to be true. Others just can't be bothered. They cannot answer His question to save their lives (2 Corinthians 4:4). They are in danger of blowing the final exam.

How about you? Are you like Simon Peter who could reply without hesitation and unwavering certainty (Matthew 16:15; 16)? Or are you like those mentioned above, who fail to acknowledge the urgency of Jesus' question? The way you will spend eternity depends on your reply!

Scripture: Acts 4:12; John 20:28; Matthew 28:18; Titus 2:13; Galatians 4:4 

Prayer: For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe, amen.  - 1 Timothy 4:10 (ESV)

Blessings always, 

Mitzi

What's In A Name?

"Everyone has an image of God distorted in some way--we must, of course, since God transcends our capacities to imagine him."  - Philip Yancey

A name signifies identity. It's hard to imagine our world without names. Our language, culture, and society uses names as a basis for communication, learning, and survival.

A name can denote value or significance. We might label things as "priceless," or "one-of-a-kind." But these classifications change over time and place. Something valuable a century ago, might not be so today.

We are called humans. While a dog, whale, salamander, or grizzly bear is not. But even humans are not so unique among each other. Each one of us is just one individual part of an entire species.

There are millions more with similar characteristics, traits, and features. However, God is truly unique. There is no one, or anything else like him. He is, is and who was and who is to come (Revelation 1:8).

God is eternal and unchangeable. He is self-existent. Matthew Henry comments that, "He has his being of himself, and has no dependence upon any other." He is the beginning and the end (Revelation 20:13).

When God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM," he was stating absolute fact (Exodus 3:14). In Isaiah 43:10, God says that, "Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me." There is only one God, and only one.

There is a multitude amount of information about humans. Yet, we will never begin to know everything there is to know about God. It's good enough for us to know that he is what he is, what he ever was, and ever will be, for now. (Job 26:14).

It's also sufficient to know that he is steadfast and truthful in his promises, unmovable in his word and nature, and unlike other humans, is incapable of telling a lie (Titus 1:2). His name declares what he is to us. He is God and there is no other like him (Isaiah 44:6-8).

Scripture: Jeremiah 10:10; Revelation 4:11; Isaiah 26:4; John 1:1; Psalm 100:5

Prayer: To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever, amen. - 1 Timothy 1:17 

God bless you,

Lauren

God's Immutability, Not Our Indecisiveness

"God does not will He should follow what man has initiated. Other than following God's direction, we have no right to direct Him. We have no ability to offer save to obey God's guidance." - Watchman Nee

Most of us have a daily routine that we follow. For some, it might involve work and school. For others, it might include volunteer work, church activities, hobbies and recreation; or a combination of all.

No matter, the routine is probably comfortable and familiar. Yet, suppose someone comes along advancing a new idea or philosophy. Naturally, some would either embrace it, or protest against it.

There may even be an attempt to modify it, including a little bit of the old and new, thereby making it a watered-down, easier to swallow version. As the saying goes, old habits die hard (Isaiah 53:6).

This was the condition of some of the Hebrew converts (i.e. Hebrew Christians) living in Palestine at the time of the writing of Hebrews (Hebrews 10). These had been of the Jewish faith before converting to Christianity.

They were familiar with Jewish history, laws, customs, etc. But the problem didn't lie there. Though they had converted from Judaism to Christianity, they gradually slipped backwards into an altered version of Christianity.

Calling themselves Christians, but straddling the line, retaining and practicing parts of their former faith. Afraid to let go of the safety line to the old, and grasping the salvation offered by the new. The author of the book of Hebrews addressed this concern (Jeremiah 17:9).

I believe that this problem continues today. There are many self-professed Christians who cut and paste pieces of the faith that they like for themselves; not being fully committed to, and/or practicing it (Proverbs 14:12).

God did not send his only begotten Son to save us from eternal death only to have us halfheartedly, tip-toe around his teachings, picking and choosing what we want to believe whenever it suits us (John 3:36).

Nor did he desire for us to play around with different combinations, tweaking it to see which works best for our own tastes and preferences. It didn't work in the past, and it definitely won't work now!

Scripture: James 5:19-20; Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 5:11; Acts 3:19; 1 Timothy 2:5

Prayer: Dear Lord, may my faith in You remain strong; and my heart totally devoted always, amen.

Bless you,

Brielle

Faith Requires Sacrifice

"By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain,"  - Hebrews 11:4 (KJV)

Faith can be viewed from many different sides and angles. We have also listened to, and read about, various stories having to do with other's experiences with faith. But what do we really know about faith? Our own?

John Newton, an 18th century English Anglican clergyman, said this regarding faith, "This is faith: a renouncing of everything we are apt to call our own and relying wholly upon the blood, righteousness and intercession of Jesus."

This basically means that faith requires self-sacrifice on our part, without which, it is only a word. We also see this in Hebrews 11:11 (NIV), "faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

As you might recall in the story of Cain and Abel, God was far and away more pleased with the offering he received from Abel, than that of his brother, Cain (Genesis 4:4-5). Abel understood, by faith, what God desired; while Cain was just going through the motions.

We will never truly receive God's full blessings, as he intends, if we merely walk through faith without fully giving of ourselves to God. Need more proof? How about when Abraham was willing to sacrifice his own son Isaac in order to prove his faith to God (Genesis 22:1-19).

Far too many of us today talk a big talk, but do we really mean it, when it comes to faith? A strong, unshakable faith is based on our willingness to give it all to God. Half-way, kinda-sorta faith simply will not do. Faith is more than just a word, it is an eagerness to surrender all to Him.

Scripture: Hebrews 11:6; Ephesians 2:8; 2 Corinthians 5:7; John 5:24; John 3:16

Prayer: Dear God, I pray that I may always stand firm in my faith, amen.

Blessings always,

Cyndy

The Deception of the Self-Serving Life

"Among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind."  -Ephesians 2:3

Recently, there has been a notion or belief going around that it is better to put ourselves first; to be self-seekers. But, for Christians, especially, this goes against everything that Jesus Christ instructed (Romans 2:8).

Just take a look at some of the things we do in our own lives. Can we honestly say that these are done for the Lord? I am guessing that not too many hands would be raised here!

It's hard to not follow or chase after our own selfish pleasures, I totally get it. But, as mentioned above, being a "self-seeker" is not true to being a Christian (Isaiah 56:11). We are missing the whole point if we continue to follow that path.

Living for ourselves, or living to satisfy our own indulgences (of which there are many), diverts our attention from what our true objective should be: to do the will of God. This includes placing ourselves at his mercy.

Now, some might take all of this to mean that we should lead boring, unfulfilled lives. Nothing could be further from the truth! We just need to keep it all in perspective. Our words and actions should match our intentions and obligations to God (Philippians 2:21).

It's not too difficult to get swept up in the false presumption that we should come first; whether it be personal, country, or whatever. In God's eyes, all that matters is the relationship between us and Him. He is a jealous God, and will not be second to anything or anyone! (Exodus 20:5)

Though some Christians may be weaker than others, vary in size, abilities, anxieties, etc., they all belong to the Lord.  In the end, whether alive or dead, it matters not, we always belong to the Lord (Romans 4:25). 

Our contemplating, serving, and subjecting ourselves to God, results in us being owned and accepted by Him. God isn't asking for the impossible from us, He only desires what is rightfully his. (Romans 14:7,8)

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:22; Colossians 3:5; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Leviticus 19:18; Romans 8:11 

Prayer: Dear God, You were delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification; at the very least, our hearts and minds should be consistently focused on You. May mine always be so, amen.

God bless you, 

Lauren

The One True Light

"We are walkers through the city of this world, and we are often called to go out into its darkness; let us never venture there without the light giving word, lest we slip with our feet." - Charles H. Spurgeon

We all know that our journey through life isn't always clear and obstacle free. Things can, and do, come up that may catch us off-guard; altering our life plans.

It's easy to go in confidence when the road ahead is bright and clearly marked out. But what happens when it darkens and is difficult to discern where you are going?

Psalm 119:105, both, considers and addresses situations such as these. As Our Heavenly Father provides for us in so many other ways, he does so when our way has become obscured.

His word is the light that shines, illuminating our path. It has the ability to delineate which direction we should travel. It is comforting in times of duress, and calming when we are fearful. However, it needs to mentioned that this light provided by the word of God is not simply a given.

Any type of light whether it is provided by a flashlight, candle, or lamp is not effective for someone who is blind. Only an individual who has eyes that have been opened and informed by the Spirit of God, that is, the word, can truly take advantage of it (Proverbs 4:18).

It is also important to keep in mind that one of the most practical benefits of Holy Scripture is the guidance it gives us in respect to our daily lives. The light was not sent to dazzle us with its brilliance, instead it should be used to instruct and lead us (John 1:7).

I think most would agree that such a light would be useful in our lives. Like the camp of Israel so long ago, we too, need a pillar of fire to guide us through the darkness (Exodus 13:21). We have it available to us today, right now, as the Bible. May it light our paths always!

Scripture: John 8:12: Matthew 5:16; Ephesians 5:8; Matthew 5:14; 1 John 1:5

Prayer: Show me Your ways, O Lord, teach me Your paths, guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are my Lord and Savior, and my hope is in You all day long, amen  - Psalm 25:4 – 5 

Blessings always,

Cyndy

Christ, Our Safe Anchor

"We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain,"  -Hebrews 6:19 (ESV)

There is no denying that this world can be rough and unpredictable. We are all subject to getting pushed, shoved, and beaten down by the trials and troubles of life.

But we are not just empty shells that are cast about. We carry within ourselves the comforts, graces, expectations, and happiness that comprise our souls as we move along toward our final destination: heaven.

Should the calm waters of life become roiled, and the strong winds of tribulation intensify, we need something that will keep us firmly planted as our faith is tested (Psalm 31:24).

We need a solid and secure anchor; one that can hold fast no matter what comes our way. Thankfully, faithful believers are provided with such an anchor: gospel hope.

There is nothing as sure and unwavering as gospel hope in our darkest hour. In its own nature it is resolute. After all, it is the special work of God in the soul. It consists of good hope through grace, and not merely a cheap, insincere hope.

It is a true work of God, that is not only stable, but generous, as well. This anchor we call gospel hope has been tested and tempered in the worst situations and always emerges with flying colors!

It does not cleave itself to any sure ground that we may be familiar with, of which always exists the possibility of breaking away. Christ, by virtue of his own sacrifice which he offered up, passed through the veil to intercede for us with God.

Gospel hope enters through the veil that separates us from God, and attaches itself to Christ our Mediator; who is the anchor of the believer's hope. It is firmly secured in his sacrifice and intercession (Romans 5:2). 

He went ahead through the veil to prepare a place for all believers by faith, and promised them that they shall follow him there (1 Corinthians 2:9). That is why we can trust in Christ to anchor us in seasons of temptation, sickness, and hardship (Luke 1:37).

It is comforting to know that the restorative and considerable hope of eternal blessedness, provided by God, is always accessible to us. Thus, we can safely fix our hopes on the anchor of gospel hope, who is Christ in heaven.

Scripture: Psalm 71:5; Jeremiah 17:7; Titus 2:13; Psalm 71:14; Job 11:18

Prayer: Dear Lord, no matter what stumbling block lies in front of me tomorrow, I am secure in knowing that You are always there to see me safely and graciously through it, amen.

God bless you,

Lauren

Let Us Speak the Truth!

"And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account."  - Hebrews 4:13

On practically any given day of the week we can either watch, listen to, or read about (depending on your media source) various individuals or groups doing their best to hide, suppress, and even obscure the truth concerning various topics.

Hiding the truth, one might say, has reached the point where it has almost become too easy; and even commonplace. After all, it's not that difficult to hide things from one another. Let's be truthful. We have all seen proof of this, both, in our own lives and that of others.

But, it's another thing altogether if we think we can hide things from God. This is truly something to consider the next time any of us makes an attempt at dissembling the truth. None of us can escape the notice of God. Any insincerity, hypocrisy, or unbelief will be uncovered and exposed (2 Timothy 2:15).

Here's the thing, whereas we may be able to throw others off the track with smooth talk and slick showmanship, God doesn't fall for cheap attempts to deceive him. He can see right into our hearts, where our true feelings lie. You will NEVER be able to mislead God!

Hebrews 4:12 tells us that word of God is sharper than any two-edged sword. No matter which way you look at it, there is no way to escape from having the truth extracted by God. He wields the mighty sword of truth that can pierce deep into our hearts where our true feelings are.

You have probably heard it said that the truth hurts. As it pertains to our relationship with God, it really does. God only deals in truth, he cannot lie (Numbers 23:19). Sadly, by trying to stifle the truth, we not only hurt ourselves and others, but we hurt God, too (Genesis 6:6).

Scripture: John 14:6; Proverbs 12:22; Psalm 119:160; Psalm 86:11; Ephesians 4:25

Prayer: Dear God, you love truthfulness in the inward being, I pray that You will teach me wisdom in the secret heart, amen.

Joyfully in Christ,

Rylie