Daily Bread
2 Peter 1:5- "And this is it also bringing in all diligence you supply in the faith virtue and with the virtue the knowledge. "
The Greek phrase "en te pistei" ("in the faith" or "by the faith"), takes this activity way beyond both the Law and human discipline. In the faith is not to be understood as "in religion" or some other concept of religious conviction. Faith is much more than these things; it is the activity of the supernatural and divine working of God's grace. Faith is how God created everything. It is how the mouths of lions were shut and how the violence of fire was quenched (Hebrews 11). Faith is how every miracle that Jesus worked by the Spirit took place (Acts 3:16; Galatians 3:5). Faith is always equated to the miracles that Jesus did throughout the gospels (Matthew 8:10, 26; 9:2, 22, 29; 14:31; 15:28; 17: 20; 21:21; Mark 11:22; Luke 17:5, 19; 18:42) The miracles which were done by those who believed on Jesus were done by the activity of faith (Acts 3:16; 6:8; 14:9; Galatians 3:5; 2 Thessalonians 1:11; James 5:15; Jude 21). These attributes of God's nature and God's people are to be supplied by faith not by human discipline.Therefore virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and love will be supplied through the faith realm. The Greek phrase "en te pistei" is found 4 times in the New Testament as such it is in the dative form and translated "in the faith" in every case except 2 Peter 1:5 in the Authorized Version, (1 Corinthians 16:13; 2 Corinthians 13:5¹ Titus1:13; 2 Peter 1:5).
Blessings
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Friday, July 07, 2006
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Daily Bread
1 Peter 4:12 "Beloved do not be surprised by the fiery trial which tries you as though a strange event happened to you."
Fiery trials are inevitable and no one should be concerned that something is happening out of the ordinary. We know that God allows the tests that we face but He does not allow us to be tested above what we are able to bear (1 Cor. 10:13 ). We know that God makes a way for us to escape every trial that we have to go through. It would be wrong to submit to a trial just as it would be wrong to submit to a temptation to sin. God expects that we should rise up in faith and bring an end to every opposition that we face; for it is the shield of faith that quenches every fiery trial of the wicked one (Ephesians 6:16). The way that we escape these fiery trials is to submit to God and resist the devil. Peter also said that we are to resist the devil,"firmly in the faith knowing that the same sufferings are accomplished by your brethren who are in the world: (1 Peter 5:9). The Psalmist said, "many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers him out of them all (Psalms 34:19). James said, "Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for after that he is tried he shall receive a crown of life which fades not away" (James 1:12). Jesus said, "in this world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer; for I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). Because He overcame we are also able to overcome.
Blessings
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
1 Peter 4:12 "Beloved do not be surprised by the fiery trial which tries you as though a strange event happened to you."
Fiery trials are inevitable and no one should be concerned that something is happening out of the ordinary. We know that God allows the tests that we face but He does not allow us to be tested above what we are able to bear (1 Cor. 10:13 ). We know that God makes a way for us to escape every trial that we have to go through. It would be wrong to submit to a trial just as it would be wrong to submit to a temptation to sin. God expects that we should rise up in faith and bring an end to every opposition that we face; for it is the shield of faith that quenches every fiery trial of the wicked one (Ephesians 6:16). The way that we escape these fiery trials is to submit to God and resist the devil. Peter also said that we are to resist the devil,"firmly in the faith knowing that the same sufferings are accomplished by your brethren who are in the world: (1 Peter 5:9). The Psalmist said, "many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers him out of them all (Psalms 34:19). James said, "Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for after that he is tried he shall receive a crown of life which fades not away" (James 1:12). Jesus said, "in this world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer; for I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). Because He overcame we are also able to overcome.
Blessings
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Daily Bread
1 John 3:5 "And we know that He was revealed to take away sins and in Him is no sin."
The only place that men can find freedom from the dominion of sin and power to live in the purity and splendor of God's Holiness is in Christ Jesus. Being "in Christ," is an expression of the relationship that we have been given through His salvation. Instead of continuing to live our own life of defeat and failure we now live a victorious life in Him. John also refers to this place of purity and glory as being "in the Light as He is in the Light" (1 John 1:7). It is His presence that results in purity and the power to live Holy. Purity and holiness belongs to all who are willing to abide in Christ which is emphasized in the next verse, "Everyone who abides in Him has no sin; everyone that sins has not seen Him nor known Him." When one remains in agreement and submission to Christ Jesus there cannot be sin because Christ Jesus will never lead us into such things. The same is true of being led by the Holy Spirit. We know that all who are led by theSpirit are the sons of God (Romans 8:14). If a person is always insubmission to the Holy Spirit then they will never be led to do anything contrary to the will of God. A similar concept is found in verse 9 below which includes agreement and submission to the Word of God resulting in a realm of absolute purity. Being "in Christ" is a message that is delivered many times by the Apostle Paul, "If any man be in Christ he is a new creature," (2 Corinthians 5:17). The fact that the benefits of salvation are only received through our willingness to be "in Christ" is communicated in many verses of scripture throughout the New Testament such as; Romans 8:1, 2, 39; 12:5; 3:24; 1 Co. 1:2, 30; 15:18, 22; 2 Co. 1:21; 2:14, 17; Ga. 3:28; 6:15; Eph. 1:3, 10; 2:6, 10, Col. 1:28.
Blessings
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
1 John 3:5 "And we know that He was revealed to take away sins and in Him is no sin."
The only place that men can find freedom from the dominion of sin and power to live in the purity and splendor of God's Holiness is in Christ Jesus. Being "in Christ," is an expression of the relationship that we have been given through His salvation. Instead of continuing to live our own life of defeat and failure we now live a victorious life in Him. John also refers to this place of purity and glory as being "in the Light as He is in the Light" (1 John 1:7). It is His presence that results in purity and the power to live Holy. Purity and holiness belongs to all who are willing to abide in Christ which is emphasized in the next verse, "Everyone who abides in Him has no sin; everyone that sins has not seen Him nor known Him." When one remains in agreement and submission to Christ Jesus there cannot be sin because Christ Jesus will never lead us into such things. The same is true of being led by the Holy Spirit. We know that all who are led by theSpirit are the sons of God (Romans 8:14). If a person is always insubmission to the Holy Spirit then they will never be led to do anything contrary to the will of God. A similar concept is found in verse 9 below which includes agreement and submission to the Word of God resulting in a realm of absolute purity. Being "in Christ" is a message that is delivered many times by the Apostle Paul, "If any man be in Christ he is a new creature," (2 Corinthians 5:17). The fact that the benefits of salvation are only received through our willingness to be "in Christ" is communicated in many verses of scripture throughout the New Testament such as; Romans 8:1, 2, 39; 12:5; 3:24; 1 Co. 1:2, 30; 15:18, 22; 2 Co. 1:21; 2:14, 17; Ga. 3:28; 6:15; Eph. 1:3, 10; 2:6, 10, Col. 1:28.
Blessings
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
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