Daily Bread
Ephesians 1:23 - "Who is His body the fullness of Him that fills all in all."
The church is able to be the fullness of the Lord Jesus Christ because of the fullness of the Holy Spirit that has been given. The Greek word 'pleroma' designates that which is filled up and overflowing. This same word is used in John 1:16 which declares of all the saints "And of His fullness have all we received." It is also used of the believer in Ephesians 3:19, "that you may be filled with all of the fullness of God." And again in Ephesians 4:13, "come to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." All fullness dwells in Christ and Christ dwells in us (Colossians 1:19, 1 John 4:4; 3:24; John 14:23). Those who would relegate the function of the Holy Spirit and the measure that was given to the apostles solely to the first century church have no basis to do so. In fact, scriptures such as these emphasize that the same revelation and measure of the Spirit is available to all for all time (John 14:16; 16:13-15; Colossians 1:26; Galatians 3:14; Luke 11:13; Acts 2:39; 11:15-16; 15:8-9).
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Friday, August 18, 2006
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Daily Bread
Ephesians 1:23 - "Who is His body the fullness of Him that fills all in all."
The mystery of how the church is the body of Christ is revealed in part in Ephesians 5:31-32. Because the church has been joined unto the Lord even as a man is joined unto his wife, the church is one flesh with Jesus even as a man is with his wife, bone of bone and flesh of flesh (Genesis 2:23).
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Ephesians 1:23 - "Who is His body the fullness of Him that fills all in all."
The mystery of how the church is the body of Christ is revealed in part in Ephesians 5:31-32. Because the church has been joined unto the Lord even as a man is joined unto his wife, the church is one flesh with Jesus even as a man is with his wife, bone of bone and flesh of flesh (Genesis 2:23).
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Daily Bread
Acts 10:4 - "And he stared at him in fear and said, What is it Lord? And he said, your prayer and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God."
These prayers and offerings of Cornelius were viewed as the ascent offering (whole burnt offering) and memorial portions of the Old Testament that were turned into smoke for a sweet-smelling aroma to the Lord (Leviticus 2:2,9,16; 5:12; 6:15). Paul also likens the offering in which the saints sow into the ministry as an ascent offering that the Lord receives as a sweet smelling aroma because it is holy and acceptable to Him (Philippians 4:18). The response of God's favor toward those who offer such offerings is underscored here. Because of the prayers and offerings that Cornelius gave continually he was chosen to be the first gentile to receive the riches of heaven, the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Acts 10:4 - "And he stared at him in fear and said, What is it Lord? And he said, your prayer and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God."
These prayers and offerings of Cornelius were viewed as the ascent offering (whole burnt offering) and memorial portions of the Old Testament that were turned into smoke for a sweet-smelling aroma to the Lord (Leviticus 2:2,9,16; 5:12; 6:15). Paul also likens the offering in which the saints sow into the ministry as an ascent offering that the Lord receives as a sweet smelling aroma because it is holy and acceptable to Him (Philippians 4:18). The response of God's favor toward those who offer such offerings is underscored here. Because of the prayers and offerings that Cornelius gave continually he was chosen to be the first gentile to receive the riches of heaven, the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Monday, August 14, 2006
Revised Daily Bread
Acts 17:31 - "Because He has set a day in which He is going to judge the inhabitants in righteousness by a Man whom He has appointed having provided everyone with faith by His resurrection from death."
There are three very important facts that are established here:
1- There is an appointed time for judgment.
2- Everyone will be judged by God's standard of righteousness.
3- Jesus is the Man that has been appointed by God to be the Judge. This judgment refers to the judgment seat of Christ and also the Great White Throne of judgment. The Judgment Seat of Christ will take place before the one-thousand-year reign of Christ, and at that time all of God's saints will be judged. Paul states emphatically that we must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ to give an account for the deeds done in our body whether they are good or bad (2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 2:16; 2 Timothy 4:1). Jesus said that all judgment was given to Him in heaven and in earth, and it would be by the word which He spoke that every man would be judged. We may then understand that the measure of righteousness which God will use is described in His word (John 12:48). Jesus also gave us an understanding of God's expectation for our lives when He demanded that we overcome as He overcame. In fact, in His address to the seven churches of Revelation chapters 2 and 3, He makes the standard of righteousness very clear. God's expectation is that we walk in His righteousness and purity; otherwise, our names will be blotted out of the Lamb's book of life. The manner of Jesus' life and conduct is the standard of righteousness, and we are to follow in His example (1 Peter 2: 21-24). John said, "Let no one deceive you; he that does righteousness is righteous even as He (Jesus) is righteous" (1 John 3:7; 2:29). God's judgment is not subjective; He has plainly made known His will to all men and has provided us with the ability to fulfill His will. We should all take heed to the warning that Jesus gave when He said, "Not everyone that says 'Lord, Lord' will enter in but they that do the will of my Father." There can be no doubt concerning the will of the Father; for He has made it painfully clear (Matthew 7:21-27; 1 John 2:15-17).
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Acts 17:31 - "Because He has set a day in which He is going to judge the inhabitants in righteousness by a Man whom He has appointed having provided everyone with faith by His resurrection from death."
There are three very important facts that are established here:
1- There is an appointed time for judgment.
2- Everyone will be judged by God's standard of righteousness.
3- Jesus is the Man that has been appointed by God to be the Judge. This judgment refers to the judgment seat of Christ and also the Great White Throne of judgment. The Judgment Seat of Christ will take place before the one-thousand-year reign of Christ, and at that time all of God's saints will be judged. Paul states emphatically that we must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ to give an account for the deeds done in our body whether they are good or bad (2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 2:16; 2 Timothy 4:1). Jesus said that all judgment was given to Him in heaven and in earth, and it would be by the word which He spoke that every man would be judged. We may then understand that the measure of righteousness which God will use is described in His word (John 12:48). Jesus also gave us an understanding of God's expectation for our lives when He demanded that we overcome as He overcame. In fact, in His address to the seven churches of Revelation chapters 2 and 3, He makes the standard of righteousness very clear. God's expectation is that we walk in His righteousness and purity; otherwise, our names will be blotted out of the Lamb's book of life. The manner of Jesus' life and conduct is the standard of righteousness, and we are to follow in His example (1 Peter 2: 21-24). John said, "Let no one deceive you; he that does righteousness is righteous even as He (Jesus) is righteous" (1 John 3:7; 2:29). God's judgment is not subjective; He has plainly made known His will to all men and has provided us with the ability to fulfill His will. We should all take heed to the warning that Jesus gave when He said, "Not everyone that says 'Lord, Lord' will enter in but they that do the will of my Father." There can be no doubt concerning the will of the Father; for He has made it painfully clear (Matthew 7:21-27; 1 John 2:15-17).
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
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