Christmas Message 2019

“Jesus was God and man in one person, that God and man might be happy together again.”  - George Whitefield

The "virgin birth" of Jesus occurred about two thousand years ago to a dedicated Jewess named Mary and a humble carpenter named Joseph. We have also come to know this as the "nativity of Christ" (Matthew 1:18–25; 2:1–12; Luke 1:26–38; 2:1–20). 

Throughout history this has been a topic of deep, religious significance and noteworthy, scholarly interest. As stated in the Christian scriptures, Hebrew prophecies about the Messiah were actualized by the miraculous event (Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; Micah 5:12).

Further, let us not forget that Jesus had a purpose for his time here on earth. His mission was to was to bring God’s plan of salvation to completion, which was saving the lost (Luke 19:10). 

In the following quote, the late Rev. Billy Graham succinctly articulated the product of Jesus birth: 

"The very purpose of Christ's coming into the world was that he might offer up his life as a sacrifice for the sins of men. He came to die. This is the heart of Christmas."

We live in a world that is fraught with hate, unrest, and violence. And sometimes it can be difficult to muster the strength to walk out the front door of our homes. But, we cannot give in to fear, apathy, and distrust.

Mercifully, Jesus came into the world to show us that there is another way, a better way. His life and teachings demonstrated and promoted love, compassion, brotherhood, and forgiveness. He left us an indelible guide by which we all can live by (John 13:34-35).

Always remember that Jesus never stops seeking and saving those who humbly place their faith in Him. And now, as we always do at another year's end, we thank Our Lord for all of the blessings He has gracefully spread upon our ministry, staff, writers, and friends.

As customary, it is also time for us to go on our annual winter break. We will return Monday, January 6, 2020. As we enter the new year, The Coffeehouse Bible Ministry will be celebrating 10 years of serving Jesus Christ in his good works!

We certainly have much to be thankful for, but we are especially grateful to you who follow our blog! On behalf of everyone here at our ministry we wish everyone a warm, safe, and blessed Christmas and New Year. See you 2020..!

May Jesus Christ bless you always,

~Eve

Video - Paul Tripp: 3 Often Overlooked Aspects of the Christmas Story

Some aspects of the Christmas Story can be lost or forgotten amid all the hustle and bustle of the season. Author Paul Tripp discusses three of these for us here. They serve as reminders about the real story hidden behind all the twinkling lights and brightly wrapped presents.  ~ Eve

Let Us Dwell in Unity!

"The unity we most deeply need is through personal unity with the one Lord and Brother, that thus we may really enter into the power and blessing of this great grace of unity with each other."  - W. Hoyt

One of the most popular themes carried through the holiday season is brotherhood or unity. The cheerful, laughing, singing people we see in television, periodicals, and social media ads all seem happy enough for sure.

In theory, this is the way it should be; everyone getting along, having a great time together. Then we switch the channel or turn the page and there it is, all of the ugliness, pain and injustice we inflict on one another, in full, glorious color.

It is no secret that this goes against what God desires for us (John 13:34-35). His kind of unity goes much deeper into our hearts and souls. It isn't a staged, artificial unity but a very real one, and certainly worth taking a closer look.

Unfortunately, due to obvious limitations of space, this will not be an exhaustive look. Instead, a brief, concise one will have to suffice. Thus, I have chosen the short, Psalm 133 for a basic starting point, as its theme is all about unity. 

This Psalm is a description of the blessing and benefit of unity among brethren, as written by David. Psalm 133:1 begins by speaking about the goodness and pleasantness that occurs when God's people reside together in unity.

This unity recognizes that although mutual love is expressed, believers are free to have differences on minor things. We are free to agree on fundamentals, but are allowed to differ on things of lesser importance in mutual love.

Psalm 133:2 compares unity among believers to precious oil that is poured out over Aaron's head. This refers to a fragrant anointing perfume (sacred oil) used in the anointing of Aaron the priest (Exodus  30:22-30).

As the sacred oil moved down over his beard and shoulders, then finally his breastplate (which had the inscribed names of the 12 tribes of Israel), it symbolized the unity of the nation in worship under their consecrated priest. 

Just as the oil consecrated Aaron, so too was the nation made holy by the unity of the worshipers in Jerusalem. A wonderful image of the ministry of the Holy Spirit coming down as a savory perfume on God's people when they are happily united is given here.

Psalm 133:2, is similar to the previous verse. The dew flowing down from Hermon, a high mountain located just north of Israel, figuratively describes God's blessings descending to His people. And the blessing..? 

The blessing being God's intent for the happiness, health, and prosperity of His people both in this life, and the hereafter. Sadly, Israel, much like us in modern times, rarely attained the level of unity or blessing described here. 

In the end, this Psalm serves as a representation of the the Heavenly Kingdom. We can only pray that at some future date, such true, spiritual unity will be experienced by all believers in God (2 Thessalonians 2:15).

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:10; 1 Peter 3:8; Ephesians 4:2; Philippians 2:2; Romans 15:6

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to live in harmony with others, and in accord with Your will and teachings. Amen.

God bless you, 

Whitney

How Goes Your Faith?

"All growth that is not toward God is growing to decay." - George Macdonald

We have seen what can result when religious belief is carried to extremes, and when it flounders in lethargy. Too much or too little of anything can have a detrimental effect. But what if it runs neither hot or cold, but lukewarm?

This was the case in the church of Laodicea, one of the seven churches of Asia Minor referred to in the Book of Revelation (Revelation 3:14-22). The indifference it exhibited was so disgusting it sickened the Lord (Revelation 3:16).

They were not so unlike many of us at present. Their time and attention was focused more on temporal comforts, possessions, and entertainment (Revelation 3:17). Meanwhile, dedication and passion toward the Lord was tepid and weak.

Especially at this time of the year, it's easy to get swept up in the clamor, uproar, and excitement of politics, television, sports, etc. There's nothing wrong with these as long as they do not affect our spiritual needs.

All too often, however, they do. It is then that complacency, ignorance, and self-sufficiency take hold. The result is that Christ takes a back-seat in our lives instead of being the driver (Romans 12:1-2).

Fortunately, all is not lost. Like the church in Laodicea, the pathway to repentance and expectation is not closed to us either. Though our conduct towards Him may be outright abhorrent, the Lord is ever gracious to us (Revelation 3:20).

Jesus did not come to earth to conform to the status quo. He came to engage, inspire, and motivate our hearts and minds (Matthew 10:34). For us to do anything less is offensive. A lukewarm faith is a passionless, ineffective faith.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:3-4; John 5:39-40; Hebrews 11:6; Ephesians 4:19; Titus 1:16

Prayer: Dear Jesus, may You strengthen and replenish my faith and love for You every single day, amen.

Blessings always,

Cyndy

Don't Stop Believing!

"Unbelief is never cheap; it costs more than it pays."  - Woodrow Kroll

No one would disagree that there's no shortage of worries or anxieties in our daily lives. We're all beset by problems periodically, and there's just no getting around it. "It is what it is," as they say.

One of the problems that can occur due these "troubles" in life is that it can play havoc on our belief. It can cause us to doubt and second-guess our relationship with Jesus Christ.

Even the disciples of Jesus were troubled by reason of their unbelief (Luke 24:38). A couple of the disciples had actually seen and spoken with the risen Jesus and hurried to tell the others about this.

At first, the others had a hard time processing this in their minds. Then Jesus suddenly appeared where they were all gathered (Luke 24:36). Needless to say, this shook them up pretty good (Luke 24:37).

"Startled and frightened" they were, even though Jesus himself was standing right there in front of them! We, too, in times of stress let go of our belief and let our weak and imperfect human reasoning to take over.

It's hard to believe that the disciples could be so weak in faith. But remember, their world was a confusing, unsure, and scary mess at the time. They'd just lost Jesus and now he was back! It was all a bit overwhelming.

Their belief was at a low-point at this time, and understandably so. Our own belief can be beaten down and weakened by occurrences life. And, if this could happen to Jesus' disciples, what makes us think we're any different?

In troubled times we must cling tightly to our belief in Jesus Christ, even though our intellectual doubt is telling us to do otherwise. The trouble with intellectual doubt is that it destroys the peace of the soul.

Believers walk by faith and not by sight. Yet one who believes is more likely to see than one who doesn't. It is faith in God, the reliable truths of the gospel, His promises and controlling providence that brings peace and comfort.

Our worst experiences in life have all been prearranged by God's infinite wisdom, and in the middle of them all He will manifest himself. Therefore, don't question or resist, but trust Him. Don't be worried or troubled, just believe!

Scripture: John 20:29; Mark 9:24; Romans 4:3; Hebrews 11:6; 2 Corinthians 5:7

Prayer: Dear Jesus, help me to trust in what I cannot see, and believe in Your invisible presence, amen.

May God lead your path,

Lee

Video - Lisa Bevere: Start Moving

Life's roads can sometimes seem unclear and confusing, making us wonder if we're headed in the right direction, or not. We press on but inevitably we come to a grinding halt. At that point the question arises, "Am I on the right path?"

In this short video clip best-selling Christian author, teacher, and speaker Lisa Bevere assures us that God will provide the direction we need in order to get a stalled out life moving again if we just remain faithful. I think it's pretty good advice we can all use!  ~Eve

We Are Made for Compassion

"God's dream is that you and I and all of us will realize that we are family, that we are made for togetherness, for goodness, and for compassion."   -Desmond Tutu

According to The Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley, "compassion" literally means "to suffer together." Researchers define it as the feeling that arises when you are confronted with another's suffering and feel motivated to relieve that suffering. 

In the biblical sense, the Hebrew and Greek definition of "compassion" is not that different. It means "to have mercy, to feel sympathy and to have pity." God, according to the Bible, is a compassionate, gracious, patient, and loving God (Psalm 86:15).

Some say that compassion is in short supply today. They also say this world is so corrupt and lost that we've forgotten what compassion looks and feels like. There are times, I must admit, this would certainly appear to be the case.

We are all born with compassion, though some are not real sure about when and how to use it. So there it sits, under-utilized and under-appreciated and, in some cases, it may even be unrecognized when it is shown.

If we are unfamiliar with, or don't understand something, we seek instruction and guidance on it. We need someone to teach or model it for us. And what better teacher than the designer of the human heart, mind, and soul than God Himself!

God is the ultimate representation of compassion. All His words and actions are given freely to us in the Bible. You might call it God's "how-to" book on compassion. If anyone needs to be schooled on the subject you couldn't find a better textbook! (1 John 4:16)

Here's a small sample of what you will find there: God is a compassionate father who loves His children (Psalm 103:13–17); He sees our suffering and takes pity on us, but He is also kind and forgiving on us, and moves on these as He sees fit (Romans 9:14–16).

Like any parent, God may become angry with us, His children. But, He will not stay angry with us forever. Because He loves us so, God will "will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea" (Micah 7:18–19).

Finally, God's greatest act of  compassion and love for us was to provide an atoning sacrifice for our guilt. He did this by sending His Son Jesus to die for our sins (Romans 5:8; Ephesians 2:1–10). Here lies the quintessence of compassion itself.

Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) said, "I would rather feel compassion than know the meaning of it." He understood that compassion is of no use unless it is put into action. We, too, must awaken dormant compassion and press it into service. Our world needs it now more than ever!

Scripture: Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:12-13; Galatians 6:2; 1 Peter 3:8; 1 John 3:17

Prayer: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, amen.  - Psalm 103:2-4 (ESV)

May God bless you,

Lainey

Walking in the Truth

 "Where I found truth, there found I my God, who is the truth itself."  - Augustine

"What might best describe the character of the Christian life?" If you're like me, a flood of thoughts and opinions come to mind. Periodically asking ourselves questions like this helps our Bible study and knowledge.

And as you read through Scripture something interesting occurs. You begin to notice certain patterns emerging, especially among the gospel writers. One in particular stands out in my mind, the apostle John. 

You will find that he uses the word "truth" quite a bit in his teachings. Check out John 8:32; 1 John 1:8; 1 John 3:18, for example. Thus, the word "truth" would be an appropriated answer to our question, according to John.

John always refers to believers as those who are of the truth. A Christian life to him is where one walks/acts in the truth. This, I find, is an agreeable description of the Christian life.

"Truth" forms the basis of an attainable Christian life, that in its absence would not be. Unquestionably, the Christian life derives its power from the Lord's presence. His being in our soul is what powers that life.

The way in which that life is developed is more effectively expressed by the word "truth" than any other. Let's examine attributes evident in a person who walks/acts in the truth. Hopefully, you will see these in yourself, too.

One exhibited characteristic is openness, that is, he or she has a dislike for hiding their actions or purposes. Paul says that such a person "comes into the light" (John 3:21). There is a strong desire to show they have nothing to hide.

A closely related trait to the above is the simplicity of purpose. A person desires to openly serve God, yet they retain a small consideration for something else in their own soul. 

He/She is open and simple, but remains laser focused on pleasing God, knowing nothing else takes more precedence, or has greater importance in their life. Finally, the last distinguishing feature is imperative and non-negotiable.

Any Christian life worth its salt needs courage. This is especially so in the face of opposition, contempt, and indifference. It also takes a courageous person to not be ashamed of Christ, and to stand with Him against detestable things.

The bottom-line is that "truth" belongs to Him, and it will be found in Him. The Lord Jesus alone is the power by which we adhere, speak, do, and live the truth. We would do well to always remember this!

Scripture: 3 John 1:4; Psalm 119:160; John 1:17; Psalm 51:6; Ephesians 4:21; 

Prayer: Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. Amen.  - Isaiah 12:2

In Christ,

JoAnna

Keep Jesus in the Season!

"I will not look with approval on anything that is vile. I hate what faithless people do; I will have no part in it."  - Psalm 101:3

The annual frenzied, craziness of the holiday season has officially begun. Merchants, both brick-and-mortar and online, have been anticipating this moment for months.

Somewhere in the midst of all the festivities and twinkling lights it can be easy to forget our spiritual bearings. We get swept up by the spirit of the season and set the Holy Spirit aside.

It is important, especially at this time of the year, that we keep things in perspective. That is, we must keep our focus on Jesus Christ as we are told in Hebrews 12:1-2. This can be difficult to do at this time of year.

Perhaps we could all use some good advice on how to enjoy this special season, but still manage to keep it all from getting out of hand. And what better source of support of inspiration to turn to than the Bible!

Naturally, there are many verses we could refer to, but I feel that in 1 John 2 we will find timely guidance to see us through with minimal distress to our spiritual and physical lives.

"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them" (1 John 2:15). Pay close attention to "the world." In this case, it means the ways of the world, its pleasures, passions, and pursuits.

We should not to set our affinity on the things of this world. The object of our attention must always be on Jesus Christ. How easy it is to get tripped up on this particular point. Stay focused!

Next, "For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world" (1 John 2:16). Take special heed of the words "lust" and "pride" in this verse.

"Lust," as it is used here indicates those indulgences that satisfy worldly appetites or cravings, not necessarily sexual in nature. Namely, the pursuit of objects which divert our attention from Jesus, and offer only temporary fulfillment.

In addition, "pride" implies boasting, pretentiousness, and arrogance. As you might have guessed, many find satisfaction in promoting what they have as a mark of position and power. Self-promotion over Jesus Christ is never acceptable!

Finally, "The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever" (1 John 2:17). This verse sums up all that has been mentioned thus far.

The things of this world are transient, they posture themselves briefly in the spotlight before fading away. Yet, there are many who place the center of their attention on various objects of "desire."

The point here today is not to spoil your enjoyment of life. Think of it as a self-checklist to remind us all what is truly important, not only now but all year long. As verse 17 says, "...whoever does the will of God lives forever."

Scripture: Philippians 3:12; Proverbs 4:25; Colossians 3:2; Matthew 6:33; Isaiah 26:3

Prayer: Dear Jesus, I will meditate on your commandments and fix my eyes on your ways at all times. On You who provides life everlasting and not objects of fleeting contentment, amen.

Love and blessings,

Andrea

Thanksgiving Holiday (U.S.) 2019

Many associate being thankful with only the "big things" in their lives, sometimes overlooking the "smaller things" that, when it's all said and done, are what really help make a difference.

There isn't a certain size, amount, or expiration date for blessings received from God. Accept them as they come, and give thanks to Him always (Ephesians 5:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:18).

This Thursday, November 28th, is Thanksgiving Day in the U.S. Every year, people gather together and celebrate the holiday with food, family, and fellowship. Our staff, writers, and friends at The Coffeehouse Bible Ministry are no different.

As has been customary during this special holiday time, we will break over the weekend, returning on Monday, December 2nd. Also, we hope that you will take a moment during this time to pray for those less fortunate in the world.

In the spirit of the holiday, I leave you with some food for thought by the great 19th century preacher Charles Spurgeon.

"I think that is a better thing than thanksgiving: thanks-living. How is this to be done? By a general cheerfulness of manner, by an obedience to the command of Him by whose mercy we live, by a perpetual, constant delighting of ourselves in the Lord, and by a submission of our desires to His will."

As always, our blog archives are always available for you to use as God moves you. Now, on behalf of all of us at The Coffee House Bible Ministry, have a safe, spirit-filled holiday weekend!

"Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever." - Psalm 106:1

~Eve

Concealed Sin Is Not Forgiven!

"Forgiveness is always free. But that doesn't mean that confession is always easy. Sometimes it is hard. Incredibly hard. It is painful to admit our sins and entrust ourselves to God's care."  - Erwin Lutzer

During our lives, we have all done something to make us feel bad or guilty enough to want to cover up, or conceal it. But, we have to ask ourselves, "Are these things truly hidden from view..?" 

God knows all about our sins (Romans 3:23). There's nothing we do, good or bad, that He can't see. There isn't a hole deep enough, or paint thick enough to hide our sins from God (Hebrews 4:13).

Proverbs 28:13 offers some good advice on what we can do about "concealed" sin. Just hiding our sin doesn't free us from it. What we are doing is either denying, or making excuses for sin to continue.

There is no blessing in covering up our sins. It doesn't do us any good to keep them hidden. Rather, we need to drag them out into the bright, light of day and confess them to God.

Trying to conceal, or hide, sin doesn't work. It didn't work for Adam (Genesis 3:12; Job 31:33), Cain (Genesis 4:9), or Saul (1 Samuel 15:19-21). Again, hiding sin does not pay off!

By confessing our sins we can be sure that God not only forgives, but forgets them. I refer you to: David ( 2 Samuel 12:13; Psalm 51:1-9),  Manasseh (2 Chronicles 33:12-13); Nineveh (Jeremiah 18:7-8; Jonah 3:5-10); and the prodigal son (Luke 15:18-24).

Keep in mind, however, that confessing our sins alone isn't enough. We also need to change our attitude about it, that is, we must mend our ways, too. Unless we do, there is no pardon or mercy from sin (1 John 1:8).

Scripture: 1 John 1:9; Psalm 32:5; Acts 3:19; Leviticus 5:5; James 4:8

Prayer: Dear Lord, You know my foolishness, and my sins are not hidden from You. I confess my sins so that in Your loving mercy You will not only forgive, but forget them, as well. Amen.

Love and blessings,

Andrea

Video - Sheila Walsh: Pray About Everything

Do you turn to prayer only as a last resort? Christian vocalist, evangelist, author, and inspirational speaker, Sheila Walsh, points out how prayer should be a first step in every matter of concern. Awesome message everyone should hear!  ~Eve

Revive Your "Spiritually-Dry" Bones

"The risen life of Jesus is the nourishment and strengthening and blessing and life of a Christian." -Alexander MacLaren

How many of you have ever experienced a "dry" season in your relationship with God? Maybe you're not feeling as close to Him as you had in the past at this very moment.

The strong bond you once felt is unraveling, and slipping away. What was once flourishing is now wilting and drying up, and you feel that it may be too late to stop it.

If you're familiar with the Old Testament, Israel's relationship with God went through more wet and dry seasons than any of us ever will in our lifetimes. They challenged Him at every turn.

Even so, God never gave up on them, and He won't stop trying with you or I, either. It's not that unusual to periodically slog through a "dry" period during our walk with God.

I know it can be tough, but one can make it through the valley of spiritually dry bones with God's help. In Ezekiel 37, the prophet has a vision of a vast, valley strewn with dead, dry bones.

Here, the bones represented the hopeless state of the dispersed Jews. The bones lying there are "dead." They have long since passed the point of merely drying up (Ezekiel 37:1-2).

Israel had been split up and scattered for so long that any hope of them coming back together and being restored seemed an impossibility. The vision of the dry bones was given to Ezekiel as sign by God (Luke 1:37).

They were in a state of living death. The general feeling was that they were hopelessly separated from God forever. Israel was basically languishing as a nation, their judgment seemingly never-ending (Hosea 6:1).

God, however, restores the bones to life. He resurrects the people from death, and restores them to their own land. And if He can do that for a rebellious nation, God can certainly help restore a sluggish and/or declining faith (John 14:1).

The Christian walk travels not along a smooth, obstacle-free path. Our faith is tested everyday. That, at times, our frail, human spirit is subject to weakening should come as no surprise (Isaiah 40:31). 

We may take comfort in knowing that the resurrection and restoration of a struggling faith is always possible through God. Seek revival of your dry, spiritual, bones through sincere prayer today (Psalm 51:12).

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:10; Mark 11:24; Psalm 71:20-21; Psalm 23:3; Jeremiah 24:7

Prayer: Dear God, give me courage when I am afraid, pick me up when I stumble, and strengthen me when I am weak. You are my salvation and source of restoration, on whom I can always depend, amen.

God bless you, 

Whitney

The Greatest Treasure

"For the Christian, heaven is where Jesus is. We do not need to speculate on what heaven will be like. It is enough to know that we will be forever with Him."  -William Barclay

The Bible generously provides us with an abundance of wonderful, spiritual, food-for-thought. I came across one such example in Matthew 13:44, The Parable of the Hidden Treasure.

In this particular parable, Jesus divulges that "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure..." Immediately after reading this verse, I sank back into my chair and let His words sink in.

The very fact that our Lord is calling the kingdom of heaven a "treasure" makes you wonder what a truly, indescribable, treasure it must be. The thought is simply mind-boggling!

To help us wrap our minds around this, Romans 14:17 offers some guidance. It is there that the Holy Spirit, speaking through Paul, tells us what the kingdom of heaven is.

Here, he says that it is "righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." There is a mutual relationship between Christ and the believer. The believer abides in Christ and Christ abides in him (John 6:56).

Thus, the Christian dwells in the kingdom of heaven, and vice versa. This means that there is a treasure of protection surrounding him and a wealth of experience in him.

Upon discovering this heavenly treasure, the poor sinner surrenders all to gain full possession of it, as nothing else even comes close in comparison.

It is a partnership with God in which one becomes a partaker of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4) to be a partaker of His holiness (Hebrews 12:10).

Consequently, the "righteousness" is God's righteousness (Romans 10:3), the "peace" is God's peace (Philippians 4:7), and the "joy" is the joy of Jesus Christ (John 15:11), which are all apportioned by the Holy Spirit.

Scripture: Matthew 7:21; John 3:3; Acts 14:22; John 14:2; Hebrews 13:14

Prayer: Dear Lord,  You make known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand, amen.   - Psalm 16:11

Love and blessings,

Andrea

By Our Faith In God

"Only in a world where faith is difficult can faith exist."  - Peter Kreeft

We come across the word "faith" many times in the Bible, but what is it really?  Some say it is: belief, dependence, hope, confidence, or expectation. However, there is no "single" definition of it found anywhere in Scripture.

Even so, many examples that demonstrate or describe what faith does in different situations can be found there. While these may not be a one-size-fits-all definition of "faith," they do provide a glimpse of it in action.

Therefore, instead of just talking about faith, let's we examine some Scripture and see what we can discover. Naturally we are limited in what we can accomplish here, but we'll try to do our best under the circumstances.

Let's look at Hebrews 11. It is a wonderful chapter on faith written by an anonymous writer to the Hebrew Christians in Palestine. Here, one can find many examples of "faith" throughout. 

For instance, the first three verses (Hebrews 11:1-3) tell us much about "faith." We learn that it is unseen, and also provides a good description of what it does for us (Hebrews 11:1). 

In Hebrews 11:2, the writer notes that their O. T. ancestors received divine approval because they walked by faith and not by sight. This refers back to what was mentioned in verse 1.

If your parents shared a story with you about something they did together before your birth, you would most likely believe they were telling the truth. After all, you weren't around to verify it, or not. The same applies to God.

Hebrews 11:3 gives an account of creation being credited to God. He was the only one who was there when it happened. We accept this fact by faith because none of us were there. Besides, God never lies (Numbers 23:19; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18).

I think you now have a pretty good idea of what to do for the rest of the chapter. Remember that you are probing Hebrews 11 verse-by-verse for any information to help discern what faith is and does according to the circumstances.

Early twentieth-century Scottish Baptist evangelist and teacher, Oswald Chambers, quoted: "Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not understand at the time."

To believe in something that cannot be seen goes against our natural instincts. Understandably, for many, their past experiences play heavily into this. But despite that, God understands. The last thing He wants is a coerced or forced faith from us.

To believe in God one must have faith. It doesn't work any other way. On one hand, there's not a thing about God that makes our belief in Him an impossibility. On the other, it's our own will that prevents us from doing so (Mark 11:22). 

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:7; Romans 15:13; John 11:25-26; Romans 1:17; John 6:47 

Prayer: Dear God,  though I have never seen You, I love You, and I believe in You. I rejoice everyday because You offered salvation of my soul in return for my faith, and I gladly accepted it, amen

 May God bless you,

Lainey

In Faith...

"In faith there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough shadows to blind those who don't."  -Blaise Pascal

The word "faith" is used around 336 times in the King James Version, even more in other translations. This alone proves its significance. God placed great importance on it for good reason. Without faith in Him we would be lost (Hebrews 11:6).

It can also be described as: belief, trust, and hope. And while faith may be many other things, I'll tell you what it's not: it isn't a convenient, off-the-shelf, remedy for whatever ails now, then put away until next time (James 1:6).

For those who are accustomed to instant-gratification be forewarned! It isn't a cure-all or a magic bullet, if you will. Faith in Jesus Christ doesn't work this way.  It requires time, patience, and devotion to develop. 

What if you have a strong faith, but you feel it ebbing and flowing from time to time? This is not uncommon, after all, we are only human. The surest treatment for a wobbly faith is earnest prayer (Romans 8:26).

Keep in mind that faith must be tempered by trial and tribulation (1 Peter 4:12). And nothing tests our faith more than fully trusting God to see us through whatever obstacles life may set before us (Romans 12:12; Exodus 14:14).

Let us also not forget that salvation is a gift freely given to us by God's grace through our faith, or belief in Him (Ephesians 2:8). Faith in God relies on our acceptance, it will never be forced on us (2 Peter 3:9).

Martin Luther, the father of the protestant Reformation, said: "Faith is a living, daring confidence in God's grace, so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times."

Certainly God could simply make everyone have faith or believe in Him, but this would defeat its purpose. Hebrews 11:1 tells us: "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."

God desires that we first see him with our heart rather than our eyes. And once we have faithfully accepted Him in our hearts and minds, we will surely see the true reward of our faith in Him (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Scripture: Romans 10:17; Luke 17:5; 1 John 5:4; John 3:36; Proverbs 3:5 

Prayer: Dear Lord, by Your grace I have been saved through faith. I trust in You with all my heart and soul, and pray that You will increase my faith all the days of my life, amen.

In Christ,

JoAnna

Make God a Spiritual Necessity!

"The wonderful news is that our Lord is a God of mercy, and He responds to repentance." - Billy Graham

There seems to be a lack of taking our "walk with God" seriously in the world today. This may be the result of seeing Him as something of a convenience rather than a necessity in life.

There can be no proper relationship with God if it is fashioned or cobbled together in a hit-or-miss fashion. And unless we change this attitude we fail to grasp the true meaning and purpose of it.

During the time of the Jewish exile to Babylon Israel's relationship with God had deteriorated badly. The people were heavily into idol worship and pagan religion. So much so, that God had become an afterthought to them.

Some rebellious, religious elders approached Ezekiel, a prophet living in Babylon during the exile, to seek information from the Lord. He was quite familiar with the corruption and sin of the people (Ezekiel 20).

However, the elder's relationship with God was so corrupt that they showed no remorse or guilt for their sins before entering the temple. Ezekiel, at God's command and being His ambassador, refused to help them (Ezekiel 20:3).

There are a couple of things to point out here. First, the people were aware they had a legitimate prophet of God living among them, but only sought him out when things became so bad they had no other options.

Secondly, sin had such control over their lives that they had no guilt or shame about it. They walked around proudly with it comfortably entrenched in their lives. It became as normal to them as eating and drinking.

Ezekiel was ordered by God not to help them because of their sporadic faith. They showed no respect or honor toward God prior to entering the temple. There impenitence demonstrated their complete lack of devotion to Him.

Neither can we expect God to answer our supplications if we do not leave our sins at the door. The importance of earnest self-examination and self-condemnation prior to our asking God for anything cannot be stressed enough.

In addition, we must demonstrate to God that He means much more to us than a trifle convenience to be used whenever the severity of a situation leaves us no other choice. We must make Him a spiritual necessity, and not a supplement.

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:9; Acts 17:30; 1 John 5:4; Psalm 34:4; Psalm 9:10

Prayer: Dear God, help me walk in Your light, and never steer away from Your path. Keep me steady always, that no sin may overcome me, amen.

Stay blessed,

Becky Lynn

Video - J. L. Packer : Are You Taking God Seriously?

There's no question that Christians, like most, live busy, jam-packed lives today. Our lives are practically non-stop with work, family, and other obligations. As such, it's very easy to let God slip to the back of the line of priorities in our lives.

In this video clip, the well-respected  theologian J. L. Packer poses the question: "Are you taking God seriously?" I agree that we should all take pause and reflect on this. Our faith depends on how we answer it!  ~Eve

Don't Just Sample Christ!

"Since no man is excluded from calling upon God the gate of salvation is open to all. There is nothing else to hinder us from entering, but our own unbelief."  - John Calvin

You've probably been grocery shopping and have seen those small booths, or tables set up by vendors offering free samples of their products in order to familiarize customers with it.

They know that most people can't pass up an offer of food, especially if it's free! This is meant to grab our attention, and maybe some new customers. Mass marketing such as this has worked well over the for companies for years.

While it may work to promote, get people to sample, and perhaps buy their merchandise, there are certain individuals who have no real interest in actually committing to the product itself, only in the"free meal."

In John 6, Jesus ran into this sort of problem with the Jews after the feeding of the five thousand (John 6:1-15). Following this miracle, Jesus and his disciples ended up on the other side of the lake in Capernaum. 

The next day the crowd, whom Jesus had fed, soon found him and wanted to know when he got there. He knew that they hadn't pursued him out of interest, but because of the "free meal" he had provided to them (John 6:25-26).

The Jews had seen Jesus perform miracles, yet they asked for a sign in order to verify his claims, and legitimatize their belief in him (John 6:29, 30). This, even though they had already seen the greatest sign of all, Jesus (John 6:36).

Jesus had given the people free sample after sample hoping to of get them to see that he was the Son of God. However, the more "freebies" he gave them the more they wanted. 

Many choose to follow Jesus this way. They have no sincere regard for coming to, believing in, and committing themselves to Him; only in what they can get. They're just tagging along for the "free meal."

God offers that if we believe on Jesus Christ we will be saved, but we must approach Him in repentance and faith. It's up to us to accept it or not. He will never force it on us. 

No one who comes to God through Christ will ever be turned away. Still, some will never take Him up on his offer. Which are you? Are you one who only follows Christ for the "freebies," or are you ready to fully commit to Him?

Scripture: John 10:28, 29; Acts 16:31; Psalm 119:130; Romans 5:8; John 3:16 

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for Your offer of salvation. I know it was made possible at a high cost, one I could never pay on my own, but that You paid unselfishly, in full, with Your own blood. It has made all the difference in my life, amen.

May God lead your path,

Lee

Reading and Understanding the Bible

“Reading and understanding the Bible involves lots and lots of interpretation. Not just in light of the world and culture around us, but in reference to other parts of the Bible.”  -John Piper

Problems culminating from the improper reading and comprehension of information is nothing new. Most of us learned this early on in our own education. However, this also applies to the study of Scripture.

The careful examination and analysis of  scriptural facts and details is crucial to our profit from doing so. There are too many underlying and secondary elements and factors that can otherwise be missed.  

For instance, Jewish priests living during the time of Jesus mistakenly believed that fulfillment of spiritual and religious requirements could be satisfied by simply "reading" the words of Scripture.

They were so focused on comprehending the "text" of the Old Testament that they missed the fundamental "message," which was: the coming of Christ. This bigger picture, hidden in the details, was overlooked.

Additionally, they missed the connection between the coming Messiah in the Old Testament and Jesus. Even with the Scriptures in their hands the Jewish scholars couldn't see that Jesus was the Promised One (2 Corinthians 3:15).

We, too, can sometimes put much time and energy on the reading of the text, and fail to probe deeper under the surface of Scripture. Many times the answer we seek is right there in front of us, but like the Jewish priests we can't see the forest for the trees.

Understand that there is nothing wrong with reading the Bible, all responsible Christians should do so consistently and diligently. However, if we only "read" the words, we won't "understand" the Word.

As the prominent, 19th century evangelist Dwight L. Moody, said: "Merely reading the Bible is no use at all without we study it thoroughly, and hunt it through, as it were, for some great truth."

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16; Jeremiah 15:16; Matthew 4:4; Proverbs 2:1-5; Psalm 119:105

Prayer: Dear Lord, I ask for your wisdom as I draw near to Your word. Help me to truly understand it, and not just read it, amen.

Joyfully in Christ,

Abby

Succinct Scripture Studies: Do I Matter to the Church..?

The feeling that one is left out means: to feel that one is not included in something. In other words, someone may feel neglected, excluded, ignored, cast aside, and even shut out. No matter what, feeling left out is never good.

Maybe you've experienced this at some time in your life at school, work, or even among family or friends. This can also happen to Church members, making it difficult for those who've been affected to feel purposeful among the others.

Introspection: Can you recall an incident when, either you,or someone else, was "left out" of being part of a group (Church or other)? Do you think that the feelings associated with being "left out" can cause or promote division or separation?

A. Reading: Familiarize yourself with 1 Corinthians 12:12-17; 24b-27 before moving ahead to the following questions.

Questions:

1. What is the analogy or comparison Paul uses to show what the Church is like?

2. Based on this passage, how important is each individual in the Church?

3. How distinguished or skilled does a person have to be in order to find a rightfully significant place in the Church?

B. Reading: Familiarize yourself with Matthew 18:19, 20 before moving ahead to the following questions.

Questions:

1.  In accordance to Jesus, what benefits is there to praying with another--especially in a Church discipline (correction) situation in the context of this particular passage?

2. Do you think God listens to the prayers of an individual more than a group, or does He listen to a group more than a person? Yes or No?

3. Can you recall any occasion when God would be looking for the prayer of members of a group rather than the prayer of a specific individual? 

C. Reading: Familiarize yourself with Romans 15:1-7, 13 before moving ahead to the following questions.

1. On the basis of this passage, what resources are accessible to the Christian to help them minister to others? Refer to the specified verses.

a)____________________________________________________________________ (verse 1)

b)____________________________________________________________________ (verse 3)

c)____________________________________________________________________  (verse 4)

d)____________________________________________________________________  (verse 5)

e)____________________________________________________________________ (verse 7)

f)____________________________________________________________________ (verse 13)

2. What things has God already equipped us to do in the Church, particularly our neighbors?

3. Recall Romans 15:5-7. What things is God looking for from the Church body?

4. Does every member in the Body of Christ need to participate in order to turn these commands into reality?

D. Is harmony (unity, agreement) in the Body of Christ a given, or automatic? If not, what is required of each one of us to preserve it?  Read: Ephesians 4:3; Philippians 1:27, 2:2

E. Taking into account our study, make a listing of some of the reasons needs each of us to perform our duty as part of the Church today.

A Prayer to Grow On... Pray about one thing you could do this coming week that would help you to feel more like an active, contributing member of the Body of Christ.

Brightest blessings,

Jonna

Video - Billy Graham - Timeless Truth - Change (1973)

Do you think you're too far gone to be helped by Jesus Christ? As long as you have breath in your body it's never too late for change. Jesus can CHANGE your life! Super lesson here, give it a listen..!
~Eve

Forgiveness:The Divine Miracle of Grace

"The least sin is unpardonable without this obedience and righteousness of Christ; and the greatest is pardonable by it."   - Ralph Erskine

When we think of the word "pardon" we usually associate it with forgiving or forgiveness. The word is commonly used in random acts or gestures of politeness, courtesy, and civility.

"Pardon" is also mentioned at least 34 times in the Bible. In theological terms: it is the act of forgiving an offender, or removing the guilt of sin, that the punishment due to it may not be inflicted. 

Without God's pardon or forgiveness our situation would be desperate and hopeless. And unlike the pardon given to a criminal by a monarch, ruler, or president, God's forgiveness is granted based on His Fatherly love.

There is not one thing that we can, or could, ever do to obtain pardon from sin. We can't buy it (Proverbs 11:4); we can't claim it because of our works or righteousness (Romans 11:6), even water baptism can't wash sin away.

Only God has the authority to forgive (pardon) our sin (Mark 2:7), and He does this by His own sovereign grace and mercy (Ephesians 1:7), through the merits of the blood of Christ (Hebrews 9:14; 1 John 1:7).

However, just because one has been pardoned from sin doesn't make him sin-free. Sin hasn't been removed, only the guilt of it. We've been given a reprieve from the punishment we deserve for our sins.

Neither does a pardon grant us everlasting life, only justification can do that (Romans 5). Pardoned sinners remain sinners, but under justification a person is declared righteous (free from wrong, guilt, or sin), and is as if they had never sinned.

It's not hard to see why both pardon of sin and justification are seen by some as being the same, and one must admit that the connection between the two is quite close. Assuredly, on Judgement day all pardoned sinners will also be justified.

As we see, the two may be characterized, but they can't be separated. In actuality, one isn't more important than the other. Anyone pardoned by Christ's death is simultaneously justified by his life (Romans 5:10; Acts 13:38-39).

John Bunyan, said: "No child of God sins to that degree as to make himself incapable of forgiveness." How can you receive forgiveness (pardon) from God? You can only receive it by faith through His grace and mercy.

Repent of your sins, put your faith in Jesus Christ, accept him as your Savior. and ask for forgiveness through prayer. Don't wait another day, forgiveness from God can be yours now!

Scripture: Hebrews 8:12; Isaiah 43:25; Psalm 32:1; Psalm 85:2; 1 John 1:9

Prayer: Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be open to my pleas for mercy. With You there is forgiveness. I wait, and my soul waits, with hope for Your word; because with You there is mercy and unlimited forgiveness, amen.

God bless you,

Lauren

A Backsliding Spirit

"The tendency to the lukewarmness of spiritual life is in us all."  - Alexander Maclaren

There will never be a time, in this life, when one can sit back and feel satisfied with their relationship with Jesus. Being Christian requires hard work and diligence on the part of the believer.

It's crucial that all who make a commitment to Him understand this. Taking our relationship with Jesus Christ lightly undermines it, and can leave us vulnerable to faithlessness.

Many have experienced a feeling of distance from Jesus for a period of time. This sense of moving away from Jesus is called "backsliding,"  or once feeling closer to Him than you do now.

Backsliding is a recurring theme in the Bible. For instance, there was Sodom in Genesis 19; David in 2 Samuel 11; Simon Peter (the apostle Peter) in Luke 22; Phygelus and Hermogenes in 2 Timothy, to name but a few.

Fortunately, God doesn't hold a zero-tolerance policy toward backsliding against us, or we'd really be in big trouble! He understands all of our human frailties and weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15).

And, God has also promised to heal us from our fickleness and unsteadfastness in faith (Hosea 14:4). Sin is a disease that is common to us all, and is cured only by the grace of God and the blood of Christ (Romans 3:23).

When we backslide or slip in our relationship with Jesus, it is a "relapse" back into sin. This is what makes backsliding so dangerous, and why if we don't seek help to restore ourselves we can be lost.

The only source that can heal us from all diseases of sin, and its relapses, is Jesus Christ, the Great Physician. Without question, he will do it according to his promise, and will never turn his back on any who ask for help (Matthew 7:7-8).

He can take away sin, heal the wounded conscience, and bring back peace and comfort by a fresh application of His blood. None are immune from backsliding, but all have a remedy in Jesus Christ.

Scripture: Jeremiah 8:5; Proverbs 14:14; Luke 9:62; Hosea 11:7; John 15:6

Prayer: Dear Jesus, strengthen me against sin and temptation, shower me with Your grace and mercy; and keep me always on the path that leads towards You, amen.

Bless you always,

Brielle

Video - "Justification"

For the everyday person, Christian theology can be confusing, and hard to grasp. Anytime someone can explain it using easy-to-understand language is fantastic!

I hope you enjoy this short video presentation on Justification. Of course, this barely scratches the surface of the topic, but many times that's all we need to move us toward a deeper study.

Leonardo da Vinci once said,“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” I hope you'll find this clip fits the bill.  Enjoy!   ~Eve

The Mask of Sin

"If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do it, it is sin for them." - James 4:17

Throughout history, masks have been worn by many different cultures for various reasons. Such face coverings are usually worn temporarily, then removed after their purpose was served.

But there is another type of mask that cannot simply be removed at the end of the day. It is the "mask of sin" that we wear over our hearts. It matters not who we are or where we come from, all carry one.

We all wear this mask well, trying to hide our true heart. Some don't need a mask to hide behind as the sin they carry is very evident. In a sense, they are more open and honest about it than the rest.

No matter, we are sinners all (Romans 3:23). Funny, though, how most seem to go around without giving this a second thought. The "mask of sin" makes it too easy to sin, cover it up, and go right on sinning (Isaiah 30:1).

17th century English minister Richard Baxter, said: "The longer you delay, the more your sin gets strength and rooting. If you cannot bend a twig, how will you be able to bend it when it is a tree?"

All of us, at some time or another, will have to stand in front of God's throne and have our mask stripped away. There will be no hiding, there will be no deception, there will be no excuses (2 Corinthians 5:10).

We cannot gauge or measure the sin that is in our hearts. Nor can we compare our sins to others. Some may appear, though falsely, to repeatedly "get away" with sin, while others can't catch a break. All sin, however, will be revealed on Judgement Day! (Romans 14:12; Hebrews 4:13)

God minced no words when He told us, "The one who sins is the one who will die" (Ezekiel 18:4). Habitual sinners, and even those who aren't, live their life outside of Him. It all boils down to this: believe and repent, or suffer eternal death (Acts 2:38).

Scripture: Psalm 51:5; 1 John 3:4; John 8:34; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ecclesiastes 7:20

Prayer: Dear God, You know every one of my foolish sins; there isn't one that is hidden from You. I confess my sins and pledge my faith to You. Forgive my sins and cleanse me of all unrighteousness, amen.

Blessings always,

Cyndy

Succinct Scripture Studies: What is the Heart & Soul of the Church?

Welcome to a new Bible study series! This is a concise study, suitable for the busy believer. Naturally, there are lots of extensive studies available elsewhere, if that is your preference.

However, I hope you'll find the subject/context matter here interesting and inspiring enough to fit into your active schedule. Either way, thank you for checking it out. Let's jump in!...

Have you ever wondered what the early New Testament Church might have been like? On a piece of paper, try listing several attributes or features you think may have set it apart from the Synagogue, or other religious or social groups touched upon in the Bible.

I. Read 1 John 1:1-4 slowly and carefully one time. Repeat once more before proceeding to the following questions:

1. What types of evidence were laid out or presented to the disciples that convinced them about the nature and message of the Lord Jesus? (1 John 1:1,2)

2. What was the basic (fundamental) message that John and the other Disciples received from the Lord? (1 John 1:2b)

3. In (1 John 1:4), John gives a strong, emotional and/or spiritual acknowledgement to the message of Jesus. What does this tell us about John's outward emotional demeanor? How might it have revealed itself in John's life?

II. Read Romans 14:13-19. Again, read these verses slowly and carefully as many times as you feel the need to. Just make sure that you have a good idea of what is being said there before attempting the questions.

1. In Romans 14:17, Paul makes the Kingdom of God sound like it undeniably is at the heart of the Church. According to this passage, what is the Kingdom of God like?

2. The Christian is a part of the Kingdom of God, which entails with it some responsibilities. According to Romans 14:18, 19, what does he "do" in response to this fact?

3. Read Romans 14:17, 18, then briefly describe what you think would be the sacrifice involved, and the benefits given by God (sacrifice, rewards/benefits), if  a church were wholeheartedly dedicated to making this passage a reality.

III. Let's examine some other passages of interest. As you read through them, think about some ways in which the Holy Spirit helps or serves believers? And, what does He help them do? Read:

1. Ezekiel 36:27 (a prophecy concerning the work of the coming Holy Spirit).

2. Acts 1:8

3. 1 John 3:24

4. John 14:16, 26

5. 2 Timothy 1:14

IV. When the members of the New Testament Church wanted to secure the full effects of the Holy Spirit's ministry in their life, what did they believe God desired for them? Read:

1. Ephesians 5:18

2. Galatians 5:13-17

Summary: In your own words, what must one do to make room for the Holy Spirit's full effect in his/her life?

Pray for the ministry of the Holy Spirit in your life, and that it may arrive in all its mighty completeness.

Brightest blessings,

Jonna

But As for Me, I Choose the LORD

"Nothing harms or destroys us but the wrong use of that liberty of choice which God has entrusted to us."  - William Law

Some find themselves stuck in a cycle of actions or habits, of which they believe they can stop or quit whenever they want to. This line of thinking, more often than not, can lull one's conscience into a false sense of control.

Erroneous ideas, such as this, also tend to suppress good principles and values. They may promote a cheerful, easy-going attitude within, as one continues down the wrong path, disregarding right from wrong, and neglecting responsibilities (Mark 7:20-23).

The belief that bad habits are not dangerous, because we can change them at any time, appears to be grounded in an undersupply of love for God, and a lack of devoted compassion that, without either, anything we carry out is unfruitful (Psalm 106:25).

For example, the nation Israel dealt with this in the Old Testament; finding just how difficult it is to break bad habits. They struggled with obedience to God for a time, then fell back into disobedience; repeating the sequence many times (see Book of Judges).

Although God will help us (Deuteronomy 31:6), should we choose inappropriately and refuse to listen to His voice, He will grudgingly turn us loose to follow our own desires, whatever they might be (James 4:17).

The late Baptist pastor Curtis Hutson said, "When the believer is faced with a decision regarding a questionable matter, he should never proceed unless he has complete peace about it. If there is nothing wrong with it, then God is able to give complete peace."

Our lives here on earth are but a series of trials, proofs, and preparation for an everlasting placement of good standing following our passing. God placed in our hands the power to make our own decisions; but we must choose wisely (Romans 6:16).

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6; Revelation 2:10; Proverbs 16:1; Isaiah 30:21; Psalm 32:8

Prayer: Dear God, You gave me a spirit, not of fear, but of power, love, and self-control. May I demonstrate this in all that I say and do. Amen.

Bless you always,

Addison

Video - "Jesus Loves and Forgives"

When it comes to loving and forgiving others, what better teacher to show us "how-to" than Jesus? This animated lesson, though basic, demonstrates the merciful nature of Jesus in a simple, yet informative way. You may find the sources of this lesson in Matthew 26:31-35, John 18:15-27, and John 21:15-17.  ~Eve

Friday Faith Focus: Where To Lose, Means To Win!

"The blood of the cross is the amazing secret of understanding, spiritual change, and living a holy life."  - Anonymous

"Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." (John 12:24)

Consider the abundance of truth in these words spoken by the One who said them! No one had ever spoken or lived like he had. Even so, his ministry didn't reap the benefits it should have.

Large, curious crowds hung on his every word, but they were mostly uncommitted listeners. When Jesus was eventually prosecuted, only a few to none supported him. Like the single "kernel of wheat," he was alone.

However, following Jesus' death, at Peter's sermon at Pentecost (Acts 2:14-41), roughly three thousand souls joined the Church. But, it didn't stop there. Something interesting happened!

During the days that followed, even "more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number" (Acts 5:14), making the Crucified Savior more effective than the living Jesus.

Clearly displayed to the followers of Jesus Christ, is the message of the necessity of sacrifice in order to succeed. One must voluntarily deny himself/herself in order to claim victory.

Keep in mind that, "Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it" (Matthew 10:39). Those who grasp this law of the divine economy will be all the better for it.

Scripture: Romans 12:1; John 3:16; Luke 9:23; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 2:17

Prayer: Dear Jesus, may I never forget Your sacrifice for me; and in return, I gladly give my heart in faith and love to You, amen.

May your weekend be blessed!

Raelynn

Pride: The Grand Illusion

"All human force is nothing without God, worse than nothing against him." - Matthew Henry

It is quite clear that there is an obvious tendency for individuals to value themselves on account of their wisdom. I'm not talking about the occasional patting oneself on the back for a job well done. No, it goes much further and deeper than that.

We have seen, first hand, various forms of blatant and unashamed self- aggrandizement, where a man glories in his own wisdom, strength, or riches. Outright boastfulness and shaming seemingly know no boundaries.

Where does this come from? It doesn't take much investigation to find the source is our ancient antagonist: sinful pride. Time and time again we have seen the end result of the foolish belief that we can successfully master this adversary on our own.

There is no amount of wisdom, strength, or riches that will allow us to outwit, conspire against, or evade it. It is far more intelligent, infinitely stronger, and more profound in wealth of resources than we could ever dream.

Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches," we are warned in Jeremiah 9:23 (ESV). 

In essence, wisdom may fail when it is needed most; victory is not always to the strong; and riches or wealth can be taken or lost. These are finite objects and have no infinite value. 

Natural wisdom, strength, and riches are gifts from God and should be embraced and made use of to promote kindness, justice, and righteousness. These are what God delights in. The praise and glory of it all belongs to Him, and not ourselves.

Scripture: Proverbs 16:18; James 4:6; 1 John 2:16; Galatians 6:3; Obadiah 1:3

Prayer: Dear Lord, keep me humble, vigilant, and grounded in You so that I may not fall into the enticing trap of pride and conceit, amen.

Stay blessed,

Becky Lynn

The Unhumbled Heart Is Not Heard

"God hears no more than the heart speaks; and if the heart be dumb, God will certainly be deaf." -Thomas Brooks

"Why doesn't God answer me?" This is not an uncommon question. Some feel that even though they have satisfied certain religious practices, God has not noticed any of it.

We can sense that there's a definite problem here, but what could it be? Something is amiss between ourselves and God. Perhaps the trouble lies internally rather than externally.

This is discussed in verses 1-14 of Isaiah 58. Here, it revolves around Israel and hypocritical fasts. They were concerned that even their compliance with the Law brought no relief from troubles.

Israel, following the same flawed logic as some today. They thought that they would be alright with God if they just performed some rituals according to the Law (e.g., fasting, ceremonies).

However, know this! God will not be cheated by those who think that only things like external services of religion will bring acceptance from Him. Merely going through the motions of religion won't do!

Unhumbled hearts that perform "external" services of religion only serve to cheat God. Cheated out of what? We are cheated out the acceptance God has promised only to the sincere and obedient.

If we do these things, yet continue to sin and mock Him, in other words, without any inward reality of faith, they are worthless. The Lord points out Israel's confusion with rituals and relationship, outward acts and obedience in verses 3-14.

When God does not answer, we have no reason to lay the blame on Him. The blame lies squarely on us. If you're not hearing from God, the answer rests in your own heart.

Scripture: James 4:3; John 15:7; Hebrews 11:6; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Psalm 66:18

Prayer: “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”  -Isaiah 12:2

Blessings always,

Cyndy

Love for Others, and Not Oneself

During Paul's second missionary journey he visited Philippi. Shortly after, a church was formed there. He wrote the Book of Philippians while in bondage, around 61 or 62 A.D., to recognize them for their assistance.

While he was at it, Paul also took the opportunity to call attention to some of the problems in their church. One of the things he didn't like was the self-centeredness they were exhibiting.

Obviously, the problem of self-centeredness is nothing new. It was as evident in Paul's day as it is now. He saw that it posed problems for living the Christian life then, as it still does today.

When one is self-centered there's no room for Him in their life. "It's all about me" becomes the driving force in one's heart and thoughts. This is bad enough for anyone, but it is especially destructive to the Christian.

Paul was well aware of this. He knew that the only way to correct this way of thinking was to press them toward conforming to Jesus' example of humility and love, not of oneself, but of one another.

He talked about being "like-minded" or having the same love (Philippians 2:2). When we have the same love, we tend to be of the same mind, or on the same wavelength.

When a person is self-centered they are concerned only with their own desires, needs, or interests. It doesn't take much to see that this attitude can be problematic in our relationship with Jesus Christ.

This Christian love, or mutual love for others, is what Jesus taught (John 15:12). When we place ourselves first in line above Jesus Christ, we are crowding Him out of our our lives.

Jesus never once did this during His life and ministry here on earth. Even up to his death on the cross He was thinking of others, in love, over Himself (Luke 23:34; Luke 23:40-43).

There's no room for self-centeredness when your heart is filled with Christ. Follow His example all the days of your life. What a wonderful model of humility and love we have in the Lord Jesus!

Scripture: John 13:34; John 15:17; 1 John 3:11; 1 John 3:23; 2 John 1:5

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, help me focus on Your example of love for others and not of oneself. Fill my heart to the brim with Your loving and compassion, that I may share it with the world, amen.

Stay blessed,

Kate

Video : "What Is Grace..?"

How would you answer the question, "What is grace?" We hear about it, talk about it, even read about it, but do we really know what God's grace is..? Compare your response to that of others' in this revealing "person on the street" video.   ~Eve

Don't Play the Blame Game!

 "If you don't do your part, don't blame God."  - Billy Sunday

We sometimes think problems which we deal with today are exclusive only to our time and age. Nothing could be further from the truth!

When the Jewish exiles returned to the land of Israel in 520 B.C, the temple still lay in ruins (Isaiah 63:18; Isaiah 64:8-12), but its rebuilding had been prophesied (Isaiah 56:6-8).

However, prior to the Exile, Israel had problems with idolatry (Isaiah 57:1-13), hypocrisy (Isaiah 58), inequity (Isaiah 59:1-8); and spiritual deadness (Isaiah 64:1-7).

And before the restored community would be admitted into the religious community, these issues needed to be addressed.

During their exile, the people grew frustrated with God because they felt that He wasn't listening to their prayers, or noticing that they were fasting. "What else did He want from them?" they wondered.

They felt that they were doing their part, but God was simply ignoring them. "Why weren't they saved from the hands of their captors?" 

Notice how they blamed God for their predicament. They prayed and fasted, but to no avail. Nothing changed. They were still being held by their enemies.

They had trouble seeing that God wasn't to blame for their sad situation. They were where they were because of their own fault and no one else's.

I refer back to the problems mentioned above: idolatry, hypocrisy, inequity, and spiritual deadness. Why..? All of them are sins!

God never stopped trying to help the people. It was their sin that held Him back (Psalm 5:4). They put up a big barricade that blocked God's mercy from coming through.

Sin can obstruct or impede God's mercies from reaching us, like a wall that separates us and Him. It makes us focus on worldly pleasures and reject God’s blessings.

Sin can anger Him so that He hides His face from us. It may also interfere with our prayers being able to reach God.

The more we mess with sin, the more trouble we make for ourselves and our relationship with Him.

We shouldn't expect God to put up with us while we continue sinning without remorse, should we?

When things don't go the way we feel they should, don't blame God. Sin is more than likely the culprit, and we need to deal with it before God can deal with us!

Scripture: Romans 3:23; Romans 2:1; Proverbs 19:3; Proverbs 19:3; Ecclesiastes 7:29

Prayer: Dear Lord, when sin seeks to overtake me, please hear my prayers for help. Only Your powerful strength can rescue me, amen.

Bless you always,

Brielle

By His Light...

"As the sun can be seen only by its own light, so Christ can be known only by His own Spirit." - Robert Leighton

Light, as we know it, is only temporary. It disappears until tomorrow, it can be extinguished by water, a puff of air, or the flick of a switch. In other words, it is not permanent.

But we cannot apply this reasoning when it comes to Jesus Christ. He is not like a candle or lamp that radiates light brightly for a period of time, eventually burning out. He is much more!

Through Jesus' humanness, God unveiled Himself to us. We can see this in John's Gospels (John 8:12; John 9:5; 1 John 2:8). He revealed to us what, except to Him, had not been known before.

During His time here on earth as a Man, He was "the light of the world" in a very straight-forward and unique way. This was especially made manifest in the miracles He performed and lessons that He taught. 

As the sun provides light only for the body, Jesus provides light for both the bodies and souls of men. Whereas the sunlight provides light for our physical sight, Jesus Christ provides light for the spiritually blind (John 12:46).

Back when mules were used in coal mines, they would be given a reprieve from their dark, drudgery once a week, usually on Sunday. This was to allow them to to come up to the light. 

Without being exposed to light now and again the mules would go blind. We can go blind as well, spiritually blind, if left too long stumbling around in the darkness of this world in absence of Christ.

Like the blind man who was cured of his blindness because of his faith in Jesus (Luke 18:35-43), those who come to Him in faith are offered restoration from spiritual blindness. 

Let the power of the Spirit and of the Word, revealing Christ as the One sent by the Father, give you sight. 

Scripture: John 9:1; Ephesians 4:18; Isaiah 59:9; Proverbs 4:19; 2 Corinthians 4:4

Prayer: Dear Lord, send out Your light and truth, let them guide me. Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and light my path, amen.

Joyfully in Christ,

Abby

Video Clip - Sheila Walsh: If You Struggle to Pray

If you find yourself in a difficult place today, Evangelist and author, Sheila Walsh, offers encouragement to enhance your prayer life.  ~Eve

God, Our Refuge and Strength

"Only good things come from God's hands. He never gives you more than you can bear. Every burden prepares you for eternity."  - Basilea Schlink

There isn't a living person on earth who hasn't experienced grief, desolation, or any heavy burden of the heart and mind in their life. The thing is, a good portion of the burden(s) of daily life can be attributed to sin found within it.

When burdened by life's problems, many will seek solace in a variety of ways, though not all of them good. Sharing one's burdens with a friend, loved one, or professional might help to a certain degree.

In fact, one may find a certain level of comfort knowing they are not alone in bearing burdens, which is terrific! Still... it can be hard for others to sympathize with our burden(s) as each, knowing their own, might believe that theirs is the greater.

So whom can help with our common burdens? Psalm 55:22 tells us, "Cast your cares on the LORD," that is, we are invited to lay the crosses that we bear, our cares and fears, upon the Almighty, by faith and prayer. Only He can sympathize with us all.

Scripture: Isaiah 26: 3-4; Psalm 9:9-10; Nahum 1:7; Deuteronomy 31:8; John 14:27

Prayer: Dear Lord, I lay my burdens upon You, by faith and prayer. You are the God of the impossible. I have nothing to fear with You on my side, amen.

May God be with You always,

Chelsea

Essentially, Jesus!

"Jesus Christ did not come into this world to make bad people good; he came into this world to make dead people live."  - Lee Strobel

If we are to make any attempt to clarify the relationship between Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, God, and man, we must first carefully, and in humble dependence on the grace of God, examine the information provided to us in both the Old and the New Testament.

It was prophesied by the Prophets of old who testified to the coming of the Christ or Messiah, that He would be a person who might be considered to have a contradictory personality; and someone totally unlike anyone before.

Consequently, before His coming, the Jews knew that the Messiah was to be born to a Virgin (Isaiah 7:14), and was to be hated and rejected by men (Isaiah 53:3). He was to come as a Teacher (John 3:2), Priest (Hebrews 2:17; 4:14), and King (Luke 1:30-33). He had been revealed to them as the Lord of David (Matthew 22:45) and the Son of David (Matthew 1:1; 9:27).

He was also be known as the Master (John 13:13), to rule, and the Servant (Philippians 2:7), to obey; the Priest and the Victim, the King, and the Subject; as rich and as poor. He would be Conqueror over His enemies, and surrendering His life in sacrifice.

Simply put, He was promised as God to Redeem (Psalm 19:14), and as man to obey and suffer (2 Corinthians 5:21). Now I ask, "Do you believe in, and have you received Jesus, the Son of Mary and the Son of God as your anointed Prophet, Priest, and King?"

Jesus received the gifts of grace not for Himself, but for His people. Can you look to Him, and trust in Him as the Prince who should come, who has come, and who will come again, to gather up His people to Himself? (Mark 13:27)

Take this opportunity today, right now, to look at Him! Trust in Him, and in all your thoughts, reflections, and prayers upon His names and titles (some of which we have seen here). And may you draw closer to Him, gaining a bigger and clearer idea of His glorious perfections!

Scripture: John 14:6; 1 Timothy 2:5; John 1:1; John 1:14; John 8:12

Prayer: Dear Jesus, may You glorify me in your own presence, and your light shine on me always, amen.

Bless you always,

Brielle

We Cannot Buy Our Redemption

"The work of redemption was accomplished by Christ in His death on the cross and has in view the payment of the price demanded by a holy God for the deliverance of the believer from the bondage and burden of sin. In redemption the sinner is set free from his condemnation and slavery to sin."
- John F. Walvoord

Many things in life can be purchased or bought through currency that is accepted in exchange for goods or services. For example, we might purchase basic necessities such as food or clothing. The need for medical or dental care may come up. And, if you're fortunate enough and have the means to do so, you may decide to buy a house or car.

Naturally, these are only examples and much depends on your particular situation, needs, and abilities. The point is that many of our earthly needs can be satisfied, in one way or another, by earthly means. But be aware! This is where it can be easy to go wrong if we aren't careful regarding the redemption of one's soul.

At the very least, scripture warns us "Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save" (Psalm 146:3). Jeremiah 17:5 puts it a little more harshly, "This is what the LORD says: 'Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind, who makes the flesh his strength and turns his heart from the LORD.'"

Yes, there are certain things, in this world, that can be bought; redemption of the soul just isn't one of them. Everyday and in every way our minds are filled with promises of happiness and fulfillment that can be purchased. Some basic needs are necessary for survival and health. However, there's an awful lot of "hucksterism" out there, so beware!

Never forget that all the riches, power, ability, or whatever in the world cannot buy redemption. And what's worse, none of these will do us any good when we die (1 Timothy 6:7-10; Matthew 16:26).

There is only one who redeems us and that is Jesus Christ. He alone has done for us what all the riches in world can't. Our redemption comes by way of His precious blood (1 Peter 1:18-19).

Scripture: Isaiah 44:22; Hebrews 13:5; Philippians 4:19; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14

Prayer: Lord, sometimes it seems that we, as a world, have put more of our time, energy, and love into things that will not last than into You. I pray that we turn our focus, and hearts, back onto You, because in the end You are all that truly matters, amen.

God bless you,

~Eve

Good-bye Until September 2019!

"Time is lost when we have not lived a full human life, time unenriched by experience, creative endeavor, enjoyment, and suffering."  - Dietrich Bonhoeffer, German Protestant theologian

As has been the case for almost 10 years now, the Coffeehouse Bible Ministry will be going on hiatus until September. Every summer, the Coffeehouse Bible Ministry staff branches out to work alongside other members of the church in various endeavors.

We believe that it is important to our spiritual growth that we take this opportunity to experience other opportunities that are presented to us by God. It helps us to "spread our wings" a bit, if you will, and refresh ourselves.

We work hard to post regularly throughout the year, so naturally, we also use the summer break to spend well-deserved time, and reconnect, with family and friends, too.

I'd like acknowledge our amazing writers, administrative, and technical staff who provide an upbeat, fun environment for us all. They keep us moving along, and provide a smile or laugh at just the right moment. Thank you!

More importantly, a big thank-you to all of our regular followers, and new friends! Nothing gives our hearts more pleasure than to have you along on our walk with Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. God bless you!

We urge everyone to "pray continually" (1 Thessalonians 5:17), and keep reading your Bible so that you may "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18).

As always, our blog archives are always available for you to use as God moves you. We give our eternal praise to Jesus Christ for allowing us to help spread His message around the world, and pray that He will continue to do so.

Now for the hard part: saying good-bye. Again, we will return in September and hope that you will meet up with us again. May God always guide and protect you. Have a safe, fun, and blessed summer!  

Your friend in Christ,

~Eve

The Simple Gospel Message

"The simplicity of the gospel gives what the complexity of human wisdom promises but never delivers."  - John MacArthur

In life, there are many instances where we are required to demonstrate our proficiency/knowledge before we are permitted to perform a certain task, or work in a chosen field.

Common examples are acquiring a driver's license, completing a course of study and an examination to become a doctor or dentist, or fulfilling requirements to become a licensed contractor.

Many balk or hesitate at becoming a Christian because of their lack of knowledge in understanding the gospel message. They somehow feel intimidated, or unworthy of doing so. But nothing could be further from the truth!

God does not require a person to first show their expertise in understanding the gospel message before they can become a Christian. There is no test of competency or skills to take.

God in His infinite wisdom knew this might concern some, so He made it simple. It (the gospel message) doesn't have to be understood by those who seek Him. It only needs to be received in simple faith.

Let me clarify this even more. It isn't our total understanding of the gospel that gives us the blessing, rather, it is believing and receiving it. Unfortunately, there are some who "know" all about the gospel, but haven't progressed from there.

Nicodemus, in the Gospel of John, is a good example. He was was a leading member of  the Jews, a good moral, religious man; very educated, and meticulous in keeping with the letter of the law.

Yet with even all his "knowledge," after hearing Jesus speak he felt he was missing something. He recognized something special about Jesus. Jesus possessed a new quality of life in Him that aroused Nicodemus' interest.

Nicodemus asked Him about this. Jesus told him that unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3). He then explains the "new birth" further, which we can see in John 3:16.

In His brief, but powerful response, Jesus was trying to make it clear to Nicodemus that he didn't have to substantially raise his moral standards, or acquire more education. Neither are there any proficiency exams required.

What Nicodemus needed was to receive a new quality of life (eternal life) which begins in this world and transfers into the next. The first step of which begins with receiving the gospel message in faith.

The basics of the gospel message can be summed up as follows:

- All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23); A sinner must admit his guilt before God in order for forgiveness to happen, and  understand that the “wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).

- Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay for our sins; of which we could never be able to do on our own efforts.

- His death and resurrection was a victory over final death; the horrible penalty of sin. Instead, believers are promised "eternal life" with Him in heaven.

- Jesus Christ offers a free gift of salvation to all who believe. If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9).

Now you see, God has made His plan of redemption within reach of everyone. The essential idea of the of the gospel's saving message can be found within the pages of the Bible that sits on your shelf. The rest is up to you!

Scripture: Mark 1:1; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 1:16; John 3:17; 2 Corinthians 5:21;

Prayer:  Dear God, You showed us Your love by sending Your One and Only Son into the world that we might live through Him. May we reciprocate this act of love by giving You glory and praise from our hearts every day. Amen.

Bless you always,

Brielle