Daily Bread - Nov 25 2006
John 3:18 - "Whoever believes in Him is not condemned but whoever does not believe has already been condemned for refusing to believe in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
The Lord Jesus made freedom from condemnation and sin very easy; all one has to do is to believe in the Only Begotten Son, and they will be rescued from the imprisonment of spiritual death. The message of salvation that is contained within the title "Only Begotten Son" includes accepting that Jesus is God, that he became a human being to come and take upon himself the sins of the world, and that there is no other means of salvation but by Him.
We cannot trust in ourselves, our own good works or any other religious belief and Jesus too. The mixture will not do because it undermines the fact that unless man is born again and made a new creature he is unacceptable to God. All other religious activities are vain, including the Law because it cannot change the heart of man. There is only one possible way to be born of the Spirit and that is through the death of Jesus on the cross. For it was at the cross that Jesus broke the power of sin and Satan that took control of man when Adam sinned. When we believe on the Only Begotten Son we are taking notice that God has sent a personal invitation to us to come and join Him.
We are accepting the fact that God loves each of us personally (1 John 4:16). However, if we take a permanent position of refusing Jesus Christ as our savior then the result is eternal death. It is not that God chose death for us for He has chosen life for all mankind. In the very beginning it was man who walked away from God and became a prisoner to sin and death. God who is not willing that anyone perish has come to every person individually and given them the opportunity to accept what Adam refused (2 Peter 3:9; John 3:16). The choice is ours, God has opened the door of escape for us but if we refuse then there is nothing left but an eternal condemnation that God pronounced on sin from the very beginning.
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Friday, November 24, 2006
Daily Bread - Nov 24 2006
John 3:14 - "And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, likewise it is necessary that the Son of Man be lifted up;"
Nicodemus being unwilling to simply accept the fact that God had made a way for him to be born of the Spirit continued to question Jesus as to how these things could be (3:9). Jesus then relates to him an incident in which the hardness of heart and the murmurings of Israel had made them victims to fiery serpents. As a remedy for the poison, God commanded Moses to place a serpent on a standard-bearing pole. Unfortunately for many of the Israelites, their stubbornness and hardness of heart prevented them from responding to God's remedy, and they died. They were unwilling to simply believe the remedy that God had provided for the poisonous venom that circulated through their blood (Numbers 21:8).
Just as many refused to be taken to the place of the pole to look upon their cure, many today refuse to be taken to the cross to see that it was Jesus who bore their sin away. Even as those Israelites only needed to look on the serpent in order to live, all we must do is to look to Jesus. If any man comes to the cross and believes in Jesus they are healed from the poison of the serpent that injected its venom into the heart of man in the garden.
Through the work of redemption accomplished for us when Jesus was lifted up, we are transformed into new creatures and translated into the Kingdom of God (Colossians 1:13).
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
John 3:14 - "And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, likewise it is necessary that the Son of Man be lifted up;"
Nicodemus being unwilling to simply accept the fact that God had made a way for him to be born of the Spirit continued to question Jesus as to how these things could be (3:9). Jesus then relates to him an incident in which the hardness of heart and the murmurings of Israel had made them victims to fiery serpents. As a remedy for the poison, God commanded Moses to place a serpent on a standard-bearing pole. Unfortunately for many of the Israelites, their stubbornness and hardness of heart prevented them from responding to God's remedy, and they died. They were unwilling to simply believe the remedy that God had provided for the poisonous venom that circulated through their blood (Numbers 21:8).
Just as many refused to be taken to the place of the pole to look upon their cure, many today refuse to be taken to the cross to see that it was Jesus who bore their sin away. Even as those Israelites only needed to look on the serpent in order to live, all we must do is to look to Jesus. If any man comes to the cross and believes in Jesus they are healed from the poison of the serpent that injected its venom into the heart of man in the garden.
Through the work of redemption accomplished for us when Jesus was lifted up, we are transformed into new creatures and translated into the Kingdom of God (Colossians 1:13).
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Daily Bread - Nov 23 2006
John 3:16 - "For God loved the world so much that He gave His only begotten Son that everyone who believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
God was so earnest to redeem man that "He spared not His own Son" in order to bring us into relationship with Himself (Romans 8:32). This amazing action of God's love underscores God's desperation to have fellowship with us. All that God asks of us is to believe (pisteuo) in Jesus (1 John 5:11, 13).
To believe is simply to act in faith. God did not even leave faith in the sphere of our own human ability but has supplied it to us by His Spirit which He has given to us (1 Corinthians 12:9; Galatians 3:2; 5:22). Faith is a gift that has come to us from God and unless we move in this faith we cannot please Him (Romans 12:3; Ephesians 2:8; Hebrews 11:6).
When we observe Abraham's life we learn that he was counted righteous because he believed what God said and was willing to obey Him.
If there is any one attribute that characterizes Job it was his absolute confidence in his relationship with God. When Job's wife and comforters attempted to convince Job to give up on God's favorable relationship with him he was unmovable. Job's confidence in God was fervently expressed in this verse: "My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go; my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live" (Job 27:6). Certainly, it was through Job's belief in his redeemer, whom he had come to know by revelation, that he was able to have such confidence - a belief expressed when he said, "For I know that my redeemer lives and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth" (Job 19:25).
All that Father has asked of us is to believe the testimony that He has given to us of His Son. He wants us to lay hold on what Jesus has done for us and not doubt His love for us for one second. We must be willing to be unmovable and unshakeable from the fact that God so loved us that He gave Jesus to die for us so that we may possess His righteousness!
Do not allow yourself to waiver from this so great salvation. Never trust in yourself but trust in Jesus who died and rose again so that you might be saved. Never allow anything or anyone to separate you from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. Never allow anyone to cause you to doubt the salvation that He has given to you. Find yourself safe and secure in Him where there is no condemnation.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
John 3:16 - "For God loved the world so much that He gave His only begotten Son that everyone who believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
God was so earnest to redeem man that "He spared not His own Son" in order to bring us into relationship with Himself (Romans 8:32). This amazing action of God's love underscores God's desperation to have fellowship with us. All that God asks of us is to believe (pisteuo) in Jesus (1 John 5:11, 13).
To believe is simply to act in faith. God did not even leave faith in the sphere of our own human ability but has supplied it to us by His Spirit which He has given to us (1 Corinthians 12:9; Galatians 3:2; 5:22). Faith is a gift that has come to us from God and unless we move in this faith we cannot please Him (Romans 12:3; Ephesians 2:8; Hebrews 11:6).
When we observe Abraham's life we learn that he was counted righteous because he believed what God said and was willing to obey Him.
If there is any one attribute that characterizes Job it was his absolute confidence in his relationship with God. When Job's wife and comforters attempted to convince Job to give up on God's favorable relationship with him he was unmovable. Job's confidence in God was fervently expressed in this verse: "My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go; my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live" (Job 27:6). Certainly, it was through Job's belief in his redeemer, whom he had come to know by revelation, that he was able to have such confidence - a belief expressed when he said, "For I know that my redeemer lives and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth" (Job 19:25).
All that Father has asked of us is to believe the testimony that He has given to us of His Son. He wants us to lay hold on what Jesus has done for us and not doubt His love for us for one second. We must be willing to be unmovable and unshakeable from the fact that God so loved us that He gave Jesus to die for us so that we may possess His righteousness!
Do not allow yourself to waiver from this so great salvation. Never trust in yourself but trust in Jesus who died and rose again so that you might be saved. Never allow anything or anyone to separate you from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. Never allow anyone to cause you to doubt the salvation that He has given to you. Find yourself safe and secure in Him where there is no condemnation.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Daily Bread - Nov 22 2006
Genesis 1:26 - "And God said we shall make Adam in Our image with Our likeness and they shall rule over the fish of the sea and over the foul of the heavens and over the animals and over all the earth and over all the moving things moving upon the earth."
The Hebrew word 'cidmutenu,' meaning "after our likeness," refers to the inward nature of God. God's unique purpose for man has never been fully realized. Paul expressed the will of God for man in Romans 8:29 when he said that we have been predestinated to be conformed to the image of the Son. Now because of His unspeakable gift and wonderful work of grace we are able to walk in His glorious likeness (2 Corinthians 3:18).
The enemy of God, Satan, was able to deceive and corrupt man but God sent His Son to break the power of deception and corruption so that the redeemed man can be renewed in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness after the image of God (Colossians 3:10; Ephesians 4:24; 2 Peter 1:4).
Will you participate with the will of God today and allow God's glory to be revealed through your life? All Father is asking us to do is to simply yield ourselves to Him so that He may be revealed through us (Romans 6:13; 8:14; Galatians 1:16; 5:16).
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Genesis 1:26 - "And God said we shall make Adam in Our image with Our likeness and they shall rule over the fish of the sea and over the foul of the heavens and over the animals and over all the earth and over all the moving things moving upon the earth."
The Hebrew word 'cidmutenu,' meaning "after our likeness," refers to the inward nature of God. God's unique purpose for man has never been fully realized. Paul expressed the will of God for man in Romans 8:29 when he said that we have been predestinated to be conformed to the image of the Son. Now because of His unspeakable gift and wonderful work of grace we are able to walk in His glorious likeness (2 Corinthians 3:18).
The enemy of God, Satan, was able to deceive and corrupt man but God sent His Son to break the power of deception and corruption so that the redeemed man can be renewed in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness after the image of God (Colossians 3:10; Ephesians 4:24; 2 Peter 1:4).
Will you participate with the will of God today and allow God's glory to be revealed through your life? All Father is asking us to do is to simply yield ourselves to Him so that He may be revealed through us (Romans 6:13; 8:14; Galatians 1:16; 5:16).
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Daily Bread - Nov 21 2006
John 2:3 - "And having a shortage of wine, the mother of Jesus said to him, 'they are out of wine.' "
The first miracle that Jesus worked was to supply what seemed to only be an indulgence so that men could celebrate a joyous occasion. But what Jesus actually did was to begin to reveal who He was and what He was going to do for all mankind.
The majority of Jesus' ministry and teaching was focused on the water of the Spirit and the wine of His blood. When we consider the message of communion and fellowship in the Spirit and in the blood of Jesus, this miracle takes on a whole new dimension of meaning and purpose. Jesus liberally supplies communion to all those who are willing to drink and rejoice in the goodness of God. It is through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that we are giving the miracle of intimate and unlimited communion with God.
The prophets testified of the blessing of God and the abundance of wine that He would supply in the last days (Amos 9:13- 14; Hosea 14:7; Jeremiah 31;12). In fact, we may view this event and miracle as the proclamation of the Messianic Age as well as the beginning of the call to the New Covenant. God is calling all men everywhere to come and fellowship with Him and rejoice in His presence. And as recorded in Enoch 10:19, the vine has provided wine in abundance.
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
John 2:3 - "And having a shortage of wine, the mother of Jesus said to him, 'they are out of wine.' "
The first miracle that Jesus worked was to supply what seemed to only be an indulgence so that men could celebrate a joyous occasion. But what Jesus actually did was to begin to reveal who He was and what He was going to do for all mankind.
The majority of Jesus' ministry and teaching was focused on the water of the Spirit and the wine of His blood. When we consider the message of communion and fellowship in the Spirit and in the blood of Jesus, this miracle takes on a whole new dimension of meaning and purpose. Jesus liberally supplies communion to all those who are willing to drink and rejoice in the goodness of God. It is through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that we are giving the miracle of intimate and unlimited communion with God.
The prophets testified of the blessing of God and the abundance of wine that He would supply in the last days (Amos 9:13- 14; Hosea 14:7; Jeremiah 31;12). In fact, we may view this event and miracle as the proclamation of the Messianic Age as well as the beginning of the call to the New Covenant. God is calling all men everywhere to come and fellowship with Him and rejoice in His presence. And as recorded in Enoch 10:19, the vine has provided wine in abundance.
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Monday, November 20, 2006
Daily Bread - Nov 20 2006
Jesus gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. He did this in the body of his flesh through death, to present us holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight. So that we may be a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that we should be holy and without blemish (Titus 2:14; Colossians 1:22; Ephesians 5:27).
It is Jesus who shall also confirm us unto the end, that we may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. For He has sanctify us wholly; so that our whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:23). So that we may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom we shine as lights in the world.
Therefore, beloved, seeing that we look for such things, be diligent that you may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless (Philippians 2:15; 2 Peter 3:14).
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Jesus gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. He did this in the body of his flesh through death, to present us holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight. So that we may be a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that we should be holy and without blemish (Titus 2:14; Colossians 1:22; Ephesians 5:27).
It is Jesus who shall also confirm us unto the end, that we may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. For He has sanctify us wholly; so that our whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:23). So that we may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom we shine as lights in the world.
Therefore, beloved, seeing that we look for such things, be diligent that you may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless (Philippians 2:15; 2 Peter 3:14).
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Daily Bread - Nov 18 2006
Colossians 2:19 - "And not strengthening the Head from whom all the body being supplied and being knit together through the joints and bands increases with the increase of God."
Jesus Christ is the head of all of those who have been redeemed. Every dimension of our life should be under his instruction and control.
Everything we do should be done to bring him glory and honor in the same way the natural body functions in obedience and support of its head. As we give Jesus His proper place in our life and the credit for every dimension of our salvation then we continue to increase and mature into every dimension of those things that he has purposed for our lives (Ephesians 4:16).
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Colossians 2:19 - "And not strengthening the Head from whom all the body being supplied and being knit together through the joints and bands increases with the increase of God."
Jesus Christ is the head of all of those who have been redeemed. Every dimension of our life should be under his instruction and control.
Everything we do should be done to bring him glory and honor in the same way the natural body functions in obedience and support of its head. As we give Jesus His proper place in our life and the credit for every dimension of our salvation then we continue to increase and mature into every dimension of those things that he has purposed for our lives (Ephesians 4:16).
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
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