Daily Bread - Oct 27 2006
John 2:11 - "This Jesus did as the beginning of His signs in Cana of Galilee and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed on Him."
There are two dimensions of the glory of God revealed in the Old Testament: First - The visible manifestation of the glory (Hebrew 'kavod') wherein God revealed the majesty of His person. When Moses desired to see the 'kavod' (glory), God showed him a dimension of His own person (Exodus 33:22). Secondly -The invisible manifestation of God's 'kavod' which are acts of His power. Moses when telling the children of Israel that God was going to give them manna said, "In the morning you shall see the glory of God" (Exodus16:7-10).
Both of these two dimensions of the 'kavod' were embodied in the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ. As the incarnate Word He was the express image of the Father and the fullness of God dwelling in man (Hebrews 1:3; John 14:9; Col 1:15). Through the signs and wonders and acts of power, such as, turning the water into wine, Jesus revealed the invisible glory of God (John 14:10; 10:38; 5:19).
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Friday, October 27, 2006
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Daily Bread - Oct 26 2006
John 1:4 - "In Him was the life and the life was the light of man."
Jesus stepped into a dark and chaotic world, one that was empty and desolate and became the only source of light. He was just as the light that God commanded to shine into a desolate and chaotic world in Genesis 1:3.
When the light began to shine into the world in Genesis chapter one, God began to create and make all things new. And as it was for the redemption of the earth, even so, John taught that men must come into the Light by receiving Jesus; otherwise, they walk in the lifeless chaos of darkness. John equates the light of God to the life of God and therefore where there is no light there is no life. He is not only speaking of the light of revelation but more importantly the light of God's presence.
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
John 1:4 - "In Him was the life and the life was the light of man."
Jesus stepped into a dark and chaotic world, one that was empty and desolate and became the only source of light. He was just as the light that God commanded to shine into a desolate and chaotic world in Genesis 1:3.
When the light began to shine into the world in Genesis chapter one, God began to create and make all things new. And as it was for the redemption of the earth, even so, John taught that men must come into the Light by receiving Jesus; otherwise, they walk in the lifeless chaos of darkness. John equates the light of God to the life of God and therefore where there is no light there is no life. He is not only speaking of the light of revelation but more importantly the light of God's presence.
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Daily Bread - Oct 25 2006
John 1:9 - "The true Light which gives light to every man which comes into the world."
The doctrine of who can be saved finds its support in this verse of scripture. Jesus is the one who gives the light - or the revelation knowledge of God - to everyone who comes into the world. John will testify many times to the fact that God desires all men to be saved by the use of the Greek word "pas" which may be translated all, anyone, everyone, or whosoever. Two examples of John's witness to God's grace are "that all who believe in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life" and "If I be lifted up I will draw everyone unto me" (John 3:16; John 12:32).
Paul also testifies many times to God's will concerning who can be saved; two examples are "For anyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved" and "the Grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men" (Romans 10:13; Titus 2:12). Finally, Peter testifies that the Lord, "is not willing that anyone perish but all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:8).
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
John 1:9 - "The true Light which gives light to every man which comes into the world."
The doctrine of who can be saved finds its support in this verse of scripture. Jesus is the one who gives the light - or the revelation knowledge of God - to everyone who comes into the world. John will testify many times to the fact that God desires all men to be saved by the use of the Greek word "pas" which may be translated all, anyone, everyone, or whosoever. Two examples of John's witness to God's grace are "that all who believe in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life" and "If I be lifted up I will draw everyone unto me" (John 3:16; John 12:32).
Paul also testifies many times to God's will concerning who can be saved; two examples are "For anyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved" and "the Grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men" (Romans 10:13; Titus 2:12). Finally, Peter testifies that the Lord, "is not willing that anyone perish but all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:8).
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Daily Bread - Oct 24 2006
John 1:51 - "And He said to him I tell you for certain, from now on you will see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."
The first chapter of John thoroughly identifies who Jesus Christ was and is today. The 15 titles given to Jesus Christ our Lord in the first chapter of the gospel of John are: The Word, God, The Light, The Only Begotten, the Only Begotten Son, The Only Begotten Son of the Father, Lamb of God, Baptizer in the Holy Spirit, The Son of God, Rabbi, The Messiah, The Christ, Jesus the son of Joseph, King of Israel, and Son of Man.
The first chapter of the Gospel of John establishes that Jesus is the Eternal God and was also the One alongside of God. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all three identified in this chapter. The fact that Jesus is the life and the creator of all things is established here. As the Light, Jesus is the one who gives the revelation of the truth to all men and is also the one who has come to reveal the Father. He is the one who gives to all who will receive the authority to be sons of God. The incarnation and, thus, the virgin birth are established. That Jesus is the author of the New Covenant, the Lamb of God, the Redeemer of man, and the one who came to take the sin of the world away is made known here. He was the one whom the Spirit came upon and remained and the one who is the baptizer of men in the Holy Spirit. The operation of the gifts of the Spirit to open the hearts of men such as Nathaniel is revealed - and, finally, the divine aid and communication of angels to assist Jesus in His ministry.
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
John 1:51 - "And He said to him I tell you for certain, from now on you will see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."
The first chapter of John thoroughly identifies who Jesus Christ was and is today. The 15 titles given to Jesus Christ our Lord in the first chapter of the gospel of John are: The Word, God, The Light, The Only Begotten, the Only Begotten Son, The Only Begotten Son of the Father, Lamb of God, Baptizer in the Holy Spirit, The Son of God, Rabbi, The Messiah, The Christ, Jesus the son of Joseph, King of Israel, and Son of Man.
The first chapter of the Gospel of John establishes that Jesus is the Eternal God and was also the One alongside of God. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all three identified in this chapter. The fact that Jesus is the life and the creator of all things is established here. As the Light, Jesus is the one who gives the revelation of the truth to all men and is also the one who has come to reveal the Father. He is the one who gives to all who will receive the authority to be sons of God. The incarnation and, thus, the virgin birth are established. That Jesus is the author of the New Covenant, the Lamb of God, the Redeemer of man, and the one who came to take the sin of the world away is made known here. He was the one whom the Spirit came upon and remained and the one who is the baptizer of men in the Holy Spirit. The operation of the gifts of the Spirit to open the hearts of men such as Nathaniel is revealed - and, finally, the divine aid and communication of angels to assist Jesus in His ministry.
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Monday, October 23, 2006
Daily Bread - Oct 23 2006
John 1:13 - "Who not of blood descent neither of a fleshly will nor of man's will but were begotten of God."
This verse of scripture may be regarded as having a dual meaning - both with regard to the birth of Jesus and the miracle new birth of those who believed and were made sons of God. The authority to be sons of God came as a direct result of having be born of God. One of the clues that this verse is referring to the new birth of the believer is the usage of the plural form of the Greek word 'egennethesan' which speaks of more than one person having been begotten of God, "were begotten" (John 3: 3-6).
God has used the most radical terminology possible to make us aware of the absolute transformation of our life and nature which took place when we were born again (1Peter 1:23; 1 John 2:28; 3:9; 4:7; 5:1,4,18). John will use this word again in chapter 3 a total of seven times to describe the essential will of God for everyman to be born of the Spirit (John 3:3,4,5,6,7,8). Everywhere the new birth is mentioned the authority and power given to the saint is also revealed:
1- They are in the Spirit not in the flesh;
2- They do righteousness;
3- They do not sin;
4- They keep themselves;
5- They love as Christ Jesus loves;
6- They overcome the world;
7- The wicked one cannot touch them.
Jesus, who is the eternal God, was miraculously incarnated into flesh and born of a virgin who was genealogically of the house of David. We who were born of flesh are given the privilege to receive a miracle birth by the Spirit and be transformed into a new creation in Christ Jesus.
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
John 1:13 - "Who not of blood descent neither of a fleshly will nor of man's will but were begotten of God."
This verse of scripture may be regarded as having a dual meaning - both with regard to the birth of Jesus and the miracle new birth of those who believed and were made sons of God. The authority to be sons of God came as a direct result of having be born of God. One of the clues that this verse is referring to the new birth of the believer is the usage of the plural form of the Greek word 'egennethesan' which speaks of more than one person having been begotten of God, "were begotten" (John 3: 3-6).
God has used the most radical terminology possible to make us aware of the absolute transformation of our life and nature which took place when we were born again (1Peter 1:23; 1 John 2:28; 3:9; 4:7; 5:1,4,18). John will use this word again in chapter 3 a total of seven times to describe the essential will of God for everyman to be born of the Spirit (John 3:3,4,5,6,7,8). Everywhere the new birth is mentioned the authority and power given to the saint is also revealed:
1- They are in the Spirit not in the flesh;
2- They do righteousness;
3- They do not sin;
4- They keep themselves;
5- They love as Christ Jesus loves;
6- They overcome the world;
7- The wicked one cannot touch them.
Jesus, who is the eternal God, was miraculously incarnated into flesh and born of a virgin who was genealogically of the house of David. We who were born of flesh are given the privilege to receive a miracle birth by the Spirit and be transformed into a new creation in Christ Jesus.
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Daily Bread - Oct 21 2006
John 1:33 - "I did not know Him but the One who sent me to baptize in water He said to me, the One that you see the Spirit come down on and remain upon He is the one that will baptize in the Holy Spirit."
John described Jesus as the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit. However, this dimension of Jesus' ministry would not begin until after he was crucified, raised from the dead, ascended and exalted to the right hand of the Father.
Our wonderful Lord and Savior would first destroy the power and domination of sin over man through His death on the cross and then began His ministry of baptizing each believer in the Holy Spirit. The baptism of the Holy Spirit would immerse the believer into the glory and power of the eternal God. It is a terrible tragedy that so many have made this glorious ministry of Jesus a point of debate and contention. The privilege that we have all been given of being endued with the glory and power of God should create in each of us an eager anticipation for the fullness of this glory in our lives. Jesus mentioned this outpouring of His glory on those who would believe, many times. One example of this was when He called out to the general population gathered at Jerusalem during the Feast of Tabernacles and invited them to come and drink of the water that He desired to give them so that "rivers of living water" would flow out of the depths of their lives, "Now this He spoke concerning the Spirit whom they that believe in Him were about to receive, for the Holy Spirit was not yet given because Jesus was not yet glorified." (John 7:38-39).
After sin and the inspiration of the Satanic realm was stripped off of man God desired to fill men with rivers of divine inspiration so that His very own glory might radiate from the heart and face of the redeemed. Therefore, Jesus told all those who followed Him to tarry in Jerusalem until they were endued with power from on high (Luke 24:49).
When Jesus ascended to the Father and was exalted having been given a name that is above all other names He baptized all those who obeyed Him with the Holy Spirit and fire. Peter makes it very clear that the baptism in the Holy Spirit was the sign that Jesus was exalted and thereby associates this outpouring with what John the Baptist had said of Jesus and with what Jesus had said during the Feast of Tabernacles six months earlier, "Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He has poured forth this, which ye now see and hear" (Acts 2:33). Jesus made it very clear that it was a command that His disciples receive this baptism of the Holy Spirit if they were to be his witnesses (Acts 1:4,5,8).
Approximately 20 years after the event of Pentecost Paul is still preaching the same message that John the Baptist had preached. Paul tells those whom he had found at Ephesus of their need for the baptism of the Holy Spirit and repeats what John the Baptist said concerning Jesus. Then when he had laid his hands on them they all began to "speak with tongues and prophesied." I pray that you will hunger and thirst for all that Father desires to bless you with.
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
John 1:33 - "I did not know Him but the One who sent me to baptize in water He said to me, the One that you see the Spirit come down on and remain upon He is the one that will baptize in the Holy Spirit."
John described Jesus as the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit. However, this dimension of Jesus' ministry would not begin until after he was crucified, raised from the dead, ascended and exalted to the right hand of the Father.
Our wonderful Lord and Savior would first destroy the power and domination of sin over man through His death on the cross and then began His ministry of baptizing each believer in the Holy Spirit. The baptism of the Holy Spirit would immerse the believer into the glory and power of the eternal God. It is a terrible tragedy that so many have made this glorious ministry of Jesus a point of debate and contention. The privilege that we have all been given of being endued with the glory and power of God should create in each of us an eager anticipation for the fullness of this glory in our lives. Jesus mentioned this outpouring of His glory on those who would believe, many times. One example of this was when He called out to the general population gathered at Jerusalem during the Feast of Tabernacles and invited them to come and drink of the water that He desired to give them so that "rivers of living water" would flow out of the depths of their lives, "Now this He spoke concerning the Spirit whom they that believe in Him were about to receive, for the Holy Spirit was not yet given because Jesus was not yet glorified." (John 7:38-39).
After sin and the inspiration of the Satanic realm was stripped off of man God desired to fill men with rivers of divine inspiration so that His very own glory might radiate from the heart and face of the redeemed. Therefore, Jesus told all those who followed Him to tarry in Jerusalem until they were endued with power from on high (Luke 24:49).
When Jesus ascended to the Father and was exalted having been given a name that is above all other names He baptized all those who obeyed Him with the Holy Spirit and fire. Peter makes it very clear that the baptism in the Holy Spirit was the sign that Jesus was exalted and thereby associates this outpouring with what John the Baptist had said of Jesus and with what Jesus had said during the Feast of Tabernacles six months earlier, "Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He has poured forth this, which ye now see and hear" (Acts 2:33). Jesus made it very clear that it was a command that His disciples receive this baptism of the Holy Spirit if they were to be his witnesses (Acts 1:4,5,8).
Approximately 20 years after the event of Pentecost Paul is still preaching the same message that John the Baptist had preached. Paul tells those whom he had found at Ephesus of their need for the baptism of the Holy Spirit and repeats what John the Baptist said concerning Jesus. Then when he had laid his hands on them they all began to "speak with tongues and prophesied." I pray that you will hunger and thirst for all that Father desires to bless you with.
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
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