Daily Bread - Jan 13 2007

1 John 2: 5 - "But whoever keeps His word truly in him is the love of God perfected. This is how we know that we are in Him."

The word 'agape,' 'love,' is defined by its New Testament application as divine love or the love that God loves us with. The usage of 'agape' in Classic Greek is rare. When it is found it is neither dramatic nor colorful. It was usually translated, "to like, prefer, be content."

However, when it appears in the New Testament Greek it defines the kind of love that the Father has for the Son and the kind of Love that the Christian should have since the Holy Spirit has come to dwell in them (John 13:34; 14:15; 14:21; 14:31; 15:10; 15:12; 15:17; 17:23). This kind of love does not have a human origin but is purely divine flowing into and then out of us by the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Raymond Brown writes "Agape is not a love originating in the human heart and reaching out to possess noble goods needed for perfection; it is spontaneous, unmerited, creative love flowing from God to the Christian and from the Christian to a fellow Christian" (The Epistles of John, pages 254 - 255).

Jeremiah writes, that love comes through a circumcised heart, Jeremiah 31:33. Proverbs says that God loves us as a Father loves his son (Proverbs 3:12). Although the Hebrew word for love is 'ahav' and is translated in the Septuagint exclusively by 'agapan,' perhaps the closest example to the New Testament meaning of 'agape' is found in the Hebrew word 'chesed' in Exodus 34:6. The Hebrew word 'chesed' means 'covenant love' or loyal, unfailing love. When God Almighty revealed to Moses who He is, He made known that He is the One that is "full of covenant love and truth." The reading would be similar to that found in John 1:14 but instead of "full of grace and truth" it would be "full of covenant love and truth" (Exodus 34:6).

I believe that the biggest problem that many of God's people face today is that they do not know how to experience the presence of God which is fundamental to the love of God flowing into them. The burden is upon the pastors and leaders of the churches of the Lord Jesus Christ to teach people how to yield to the Holy Spirit so that they may enjoy the wonderful and all-consuming Divine presence of God.

Blessings,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org

Daily Bread - Jan 12 2007

2 Peter 1:21 - "For prophecy did not come at any time by the will of man but was brought forth under the Holy Spirit as holy men of God spoke."

It was through prophecy that the Word of God came. Prophecy is the utterance of the Holy Spirit brought forth through the mouth of man. When men are totally yielded to God they may come under the control of the Holy Spirit and be a mouthpiece for the Holy Spirit to speak. This utterance may be so exact that it may be called the Word of God. Such influence and control of the Holy Spirit would be likened to the utterances given to the 120 on the day of Pentecost. They so came under the divine influence and control of the Holy Spirit that they had no control over what they spoke. They spoke as the Holy Spirit gave them the utterances (Acts 2: 4).

Blessings,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org

Daily Bread - Jan 11 2007

1 John 4:3 - "And every spirit that does not confess Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God, and this is that antichrist that you heard would come and now is already in the world."

The word 'antichrist' is found four times in the Bible and is a word that is only used by John in his Epistles (1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3; 2 John 7). Although John refers to a specific individual that will come, he views a more subtle manifestation of the deception which will then be fully manifested in the one whom Paul calls the man of sin and the son of destruction (2 Thessalonians 2:3). The deception begins subtly with slight variation about who Jesus is but ultimately ends in one who declares himself to be God in the middle of the Tribulation (Matthew 24:15; Daniel 11:31).

The antichrist presents Himself as a savior and righteous one as depicted in Revelation 6:2 but is ultimately revealed to be the one who subdues men to which war, famine, death, and hell will follow. Satan's power of deception will ultimately bring the nations to such a deception that they will gather themselves together to fight against Jesus Christ in the battle of Armageddon. It is little wonder then that men fight against the name of Jesus now.

Blessings,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org

Daily Bread - Jan 10, 2007

Leviticus 16:16 - "And, thus, He shall purge the sanctuary from the sins of the sons of Israel. From their pollution and rebellion unto all their sins and so shall he do for the Tent of Meeting that dwells in the midst of their impurities."

The common translation for 'kipper' is 'atone' or 'expiate.' However, there is much evidence that 'kipper,' in many cases, means purify. In poetry, its parallel synonym is usually 'macha,' 'wipe' (Jer 18:23) or 'hesir,' 'remove' (Isa 27:9) which suggests that 'kipper' means purge (The Anchor Bible Leviticus 1-16, Jacob Milgrom, Nov 1991).

In Ezekiel 43:20 and 26, it is used as a synonym for 'taher' which means to purify. Additionally, the Hebrew root word 'kapar' corresponds to the Akkadian word 'kaparu,' which means 'rub' or 'smear' and the Akkadian 'kuppuru' whose Hebrew equivalent is 'kipper' means 'rub' or 'wipe off.' Although we understand from the Epistle to the Hebrews that it was not possible for the blood of bulls and goats on the Day of Atonement to take away sin and purge the worshippers, (Hebrews 10:2-4), yet there was a purifying (Gr. katharoteta) of the flesh (Hebrews 9:13).

With respect to the application here in Leviticus, it would have been essential that the Cover of the Ark - which had been contaminated by the pollution, rebellion, and sins of Israel - be purified so that YHWH would be able to remain in the midst of Israel. It is of the utmost importance that the dwelling place of YHWH be pure and undefiled - which is the context of Leviticus 10 through 15; therefore, to understand this act of 'kipper' as removing the contamination of sin is in keeping with the purpose of this sacrifice. In fact, the ancient use of the word is associated with a cleaning detergent; thus, we could view the blood of the covenant as a divine detergent designed to remove the stains of sin. If one views this as an expiatory role then the effect of removing the sin is compromised by virtue of the meaning of expiate - which is to nullify the effects of sin. However, the center piece of the Day of Atonement was the purification of the Cover of the Ark. Perhaps this is why Ezra and those who returned from exile kept the Feast of Tabernacles but did not keep the Day of Atonement because there was no Ark of the Covenant (Ezra 3:1-6).

Today, through the blood of Jesus, our sins have been removed and and our iniquities have been purged. He has purified us with His own blood, and if we sin He is faithful and just to cleanse us from all our sins.

Be blessed,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org

Daily Bread - Jan 9 2007

1 Corinthians 10:16 - "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not fellowship of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a fellowship of the body of Christ?"

There are reasons to believe that when the early church came together they always partook of communion - which may be understood as a fellowship with the blood and body of Jesus (Acts 2:42; 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:26). One of the many reasons that we need to continually have communion placed before us is to remind us that it is only by the blood and body of Jesus that we are able to have communion with God.

The communion should cause us to remember that we are bone of His bone and flesh of His flesh, that, through this new covenant, He has made us one (1 Corinthians 10:17; Romans 12:4,5; 12:12,13,20; Ephesians 4:4; Colossians 3:15; Ephesians 5:30; 1 Corinthians 6:15; Colossians 2:19).

The Holy Spirit leads us into a heavenly realm where we worship God in Spirit (Ephesians 1:3; 2:6; Hebrews 6:4; 12:22). The heavenly realm is the place where Christ Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father or the heavenly Holies of Holies. It is a realm of fellowship where we personally interact with God in Spirit and in Truth. When we come into this realm of God's glory, we do so by and through the blood and body of Jesus (Hebrews 10:19). It is the blood and life of Jesus that has given to us righteousness, purity, and holiness, and we must always remember the source of our communion (1 John 1:7; Hebrews 9:14; 1 Peter 1:19).

Be blessed,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org

Daily Bread - Jan 8 2007

Genesis 2:23 - "And Adam said, 'This is, at last, bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh. And she shall be called Woman; for she was taken from Man.' "

The first covenant that we observe in the Bible is the covenant of marriage. God established this covenant by cutting the man open, and, in the midst of the blood, He brought forth the bone and marrow from which He built the woman. Through this act, the man and the woman became one flesh, bone of bone and flesh of flesh (Genesis 2:23).

We were also made one with Christ Jesus through the redemption that He purchased for us with His own blood. It was through the blood and body of Jesus that we were created anew (Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:25; 10:16; Ephesians 2:5,10; 1 John 4:9; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15; John 17:22). It may be said that as Eve was built from Adam, we were built from Jesus Christ - insomuch that we have been made one with Him and find all of our identity in Him (Galatians 2:20; Philippians 1:21). What Adam said of Eve, Christ Jesus has said also of us, "For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and His church" (Ephesians 5:30-32).

The same oneness between a man and a woman takes place today through the act of intimacy. The marriage between a man and a woman is very sacred to God and should be sacred to us as well. In fact, there really is no such thing as a casual sexual act; rather, it is a marriage that results in one person being joined unto another. This truth is made very clear by Paul when he says that if a man is joined unto a prostitute they are made one flesh (1 Corinthians 6:16).

Blessings,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org

Daily Bread - Jan 6 2007

Matthew 26:28 - "For this is my blood of the new testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins."

Whenever you think that there is a separation between you and God just remember the covenant. If you have been unfaithful to God and the accuser of your soul is wringing out every drop of condemnation that is possible then just remember the covenant. All you have to do is look to Jesus who died upon the tree for your sins and remember that it was for you. Remember that He said all manner of sin would be forgiven you.

Every time I see a beautiful rainbow I remember that God has established His covenant. The rainbow is one of those constant reminders that God is faithful and that He never forgets. As certain as the rainbow will appear when the light shines upon the water it is that certain that God will keep His covenant. God wants us to remember His covenant and to believe in His love and goodness towards us. He does not want us to walk around in fear and dread; He wants us to be secure and safe with the knowledge that He intends to bless us so that we can multiply and be fruitful. In fact, every time I see a rainbow I don’t think of the flood of water that destroyed the evil upon the earth. I think of Jesus that destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light. I think about the fact that when God established His covenant, it is beautiful, it is perfect, and it is eternal.

Remembering the covenant that Jesus made for us at Calvary is important. The covenant that was made that day was between the Father and His only begotten Son. Jesus, as the representative for all man, took every sin and iniquity of man upon Himself, and through His death He destroyed its power. "And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, likewise, it is necessary that the Son of Man be lifted up - that everyone believing on Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:14-18)

Blessings,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org

Daily Bread - Jan 5 2007

Mark 8:32-34 - "And He spoke that saying openly. And Peter took Him and began to rebuke Him. But when He had turned about and looked on His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, 'Get behind me, Satan; for you are not thinking of those things that are of God but the things that are of men.' And when He had called the people with His disciples also, He said unto them, 'Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."

Peter's idea of how things would work out in the divine plan was different than Jesus’. I am sure that Peter wanted Jesus not only to be accepted by the masses but also to be the King of Israel. Certainly, he had forecasted a plan of how that would come about. The death of Jesus made no sense at all. Human ability could not deal with death. Death means it is simply over. Peter was unable to understand how that the Divine ability at work on the inside of Jesus would do something greater than conquering men; it would conquer death.

True humility is where human ability has come to an end. The willingness to deny yourself is humility, to exalt God's Word and plan above your own. To rely solely upon His power at work in you, this is humility. It is this humility that God is looking for. It is this surrender to Him that will allow Him to show forth His glory through you.

Probably one of our greatest challenges is to stop trying to do it our way. We come up with great ideas on how to reach the lost. We can have programs and schemes, but human ability will never raise the dead. In fact, if God had done it Peter's way we would not be redeemed today.

If we are going to follow Jesus into the supernatural power of God then we must deny ourself, our own way of doing things. Our way of doing things is limited to human ability. As long as we are trusting in human ability we forfeit divine ability. Even Jesus said that He could of His own self do nothing (John 5:30). If we are going to follow Jesus, we must be willing to rely upon the supernatural working of the Holy Spirit. We must be willing to look to the Father, to acknowledge Him, and to yield to Him. We must believe that He will do the work if we will step aside. Jesus said, "...the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself, but the Father that dwells in me, he does the works." John 14:10.

Stop relying on your own ability. Recognize that it is not by your might, nor by your power, but by the Spirit of the Lord. If He is going to work in you, you must be willing to believe. You cannot have faith in yourself and faith in God at the same time. Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God. Watch what He will do as you acknowledge His power at work on the inside of you. You will find that it is not you doing the work but your Father which is in you.

Blessings,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org

Daily Bread - Jan 4 2007

Ephesians 2:21 - "In whom the whole building fitted together grows into a holy temple in the Lord."

The Greek verb 'auxano,' which is translated 'grow,' means increase of every kind and may be understood as referring to every dimension of the church in size, number, age, maturity, glory, and power. This growth is not something that is automatic but demands action and responsibility as Jesus taught in Mark 4:26-29.

A seed is cast into the ground and the power is within the ground to produce of itself but the farmer rises day and night in tending and caring for the seed lest it be eaten or overrun by weeds and disaster. The proper growth or increase of the church is only possible when God's people are submitted to the Holy Spirit; for only He can provide the needed ingredients to bring forth the increase.

In Ephesians 4:14-16, we learn that the church both grows and makes increase of itself by functioning in love. Of course this divine love is supplied only by the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). The purpose of God is that we mature into the fullness of Christ. He has purposed that we be a perfect man standing as tall as Jesus now in this present world (Ephesians 4:13; 1 John 4:17). It is by the love of Christ that we are able to comprehend with all saints what is the breath, the length, the height, and the depth to know the love of Christ that passes knowledge so that we might be filled with all of the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:18-19). Our lives both individually and collectively must find their existence in the vine, Christ Jesus; for without Him we can do nothing (John 15:1-8).

Blessings,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org

Daily Bread - Jan 3 2007

Ephesians 2:10 - "For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God foreordained that we should walk in them."

God’s work was to bring about a means by which mankind could be spiritually recreated. The twisted nature of sin had produced its destructive ruin in Adam instantaneously. Adam was left trembling in fear and shame unable to endure the presence of God. Every generation following Adam only grew deeper into the spiritual darkness of this corrupt nature. God provided the means by which anyone who is willing can escape the corruption of sin and be made a new creation in Christ Jesus (2 Peter 1:4; Ezekiel 36:25-27; Hebrews 8:10; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 2 Peter 2:20).

The unspeakable gift of salvation is entirely the work of God and can only be accomplished in Christ Jesus. Neither the works of the law or of human discipline can erase the sins of the past nor change the nature of man. There was no reconditioning of the heart that could bring about the necessary change in the fundamental nature of man. Therefore, through the work of Jesus Christ, every claim of the satanic dominion was broken.

Through the miracle of the new birth, God made it possible for everyone to receive a new heart and a new spirit in which only righteousness dwells. The new creation possesses the nature of God’s own Holiness and Purity so that we may enjoy and fulfill God’s intended purposes for our life to “be holy and without blemish before Him in love” (Ephesians 1:4; Luke 1:74-75; Romans 8:29; Ephesians 4:24; 5:27; Philippians 2:15; Colossians 1:22; 2 Peter 3:14; Colossians 3:10). All that Jesus has in His nature and glory He has freely given to those who will believe (John 17:22; 1:16). When the seed of His life was sown at Calvary; it brought forth much fruit after His own image and likeness (John 12:24).

Blessings,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org

Daily Bread - Jan 2 2007

Ephesians 2:2 - "According to that which you once walked in the course of this world, according to the ruler the authority of the atmosphere the spirit that now works in the sons of disobedience."

The "spirit that now works in the sons of disobedience" is the demonic realm which has dominated men since the day that Adam sinned. The spirit that now works in the sons of disobedience is opposite of the Holy Spirit that works in the sons of God. This spirit of the world is the same power which Paul spoke of in Romans as "the motions of sins," and "sin that dwells in me" (Romans 7:17); the power of sin entered into the world through Adam's transgression and then passed upon all men (Romans 5: 12).

Jesus was manifested to destroy the works of the devil, and for all those who will believe in the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, this power and dominion of the Satanic realm has been destroyed (1 John 3:5; John 12:31; Hebrews 2:14). Jesus conquered Satan and now the church is commissioned to enforce His conquest.

Blessings,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org

Daily Bread - Jan 1st 2007

Ephesians 1:19 - "... and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us who believe according to the working power of His mighty power."

Our wonderful Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has loaded us up with all of the divine power and ability that we will ever need for anything that we will ever face. The biggest challenge on our part is to believe Him and look to Him for help in time of need. If we are willing to look to Him for help then He will supply all of our needs according to His riches in glory.

There are four "power" words used in this one verse of scripture:

1- dunamis
2- energeia
3- kratos
4- ischus

The Greek word "dunamis" is defined by the virtue that went out of Jesus to heal the woman with the issue of blood and the power that the Church would receive once the Holy Spirit came upon them. It has been said that "dunamis" is the ability to accomplish the promise; "energeia" is brute or muscular power or working efficiency - by application "supernatural strength" (Philippians 3:21, Colossians 1:29); "kratos" is the power to overcome obstacles, have dominion or controlling power; and "ischus" is the potential power, the power that will come to bear when needed (1 Peter 4:11). The word "ischus" is first used in Genesis 4:12: "When you till the ground it will not yield her strength to you..."

This use of four synonyms for power in one verse is similar to Ephesians 6:10, which commands the saints to be "endunamoo" (strong) in the Lord and in the "kratos" of His "ischus". The Almighty wants us to have a strong assurance of the faith to know for certain that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Father so wanted Abraham to be certain of the promise that He swore an oath to him, and in order to make us certain, Jesus sent the promise of the Father to both endue us and seal us with His Spirit (Luke 24:49; Hebrews 6:13-19; Hebrews 10:22-23).

Happy New Year,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org

Daily Bread - Dec 30 2006

Acts 6:5 - "And the word was pleasing in the sight of all the multitude and they chose Steven a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit and Philip and Prochorus and Nicanor and Timon and Pharmenas and Nicolas a proselyte from Antioch."

Stephen was not only a man full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, but he was full of faith. The Greek phrase "pleres pistis" (full of faith) is only found two times in the New Testament, and in both instances it is used of Stephen in this chapter (6:5, 8). Stephen serves as an example to us of how much faith God has made available to us.

God has made all of the fullness of Jesus available to whosoever asks (John 1:16; Ephesians 3:19; 4:13; Romans 15:29; John 14:12). The faith that comes by Jesus Christ and functions in our lives by the Holy Spirit is so full of power that a very small amount will empower a person with the ability to move mountains into the sea and makes nothing impossible (Matthew 17:20; Luke 17:6; Mark 11:22- 23; 1 Corinthians 13:2; Matthew 21:21) .

The power of faith is revealed in Hebrews 11:2 as the operation of God at work when He framed the ages by His spoken word. When Jesus ministered healing, He revealed that it was by their faith that they were made whole (Matthew 9:22, 29; Mark 5:34; 10:52; Luke 7:50; 17:19) The result of Stephen being full of faith and power was that the Holy Spirit worked great signs and wonders through his life.

Stephen was an account of an ordinary man who was willing to believe all that God had promised. He was not an apostle nor was he called a presbyter but simply a man who had taken a hold of the power of God that is made available to everyone who will believe. God who is no respecter of persons who is gracious to all and desires to do for you what He did for Stephen.

Blessings,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org

Daily Bread - Dec 29 2006

John 4:23 - "But an hour of the true worshipper is coming and now is when they shall worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth."

We now live in the time of the true worshipper. Not because of a special creed or liturgical practice but because God has poured out the water from on high (Isaiah 41:18; 44:3). The worshipper referred to here is a unique kind of worshipper never before talk about in the scripture. The true worshipper worships in a different way than any worshipper of the past has ever been able to worship. The true worshipper must worship in Spirit and Truth, something that is only possible through the living water that Jesus causes to come up out of our innermost being through the gift of God.

Jesus invited this woman - as well as all men in every generation - to come and draw water from the true well of life (Isaiah 12:3; John 7:38-39). The gift of God is supplied to us as a satisfying drink to a thirsty soul. When we drink of this water it becomes a wellspring and a river producing the limitless supply of Holy Spirit inspiration. Through receiving the miracle supply of the Spirit that Jesus desires to give, rivers from the deep places of our souls are released in worship unto God.

Jesus, who is the rock in the wilderness, now offers spiritual drink to everyone who is thirsty (1 Corinthians 10:4; Psalms 78:15; 105:14). He has come down to us like rain upon the mown grass as showers that water the earth (Psalms 72:6). For those who will receive the water that He gives, He turns the wilderness of our life into a standing water and the dry ground into water springs (Psalms 107:35).

Drinking is something that we do regularly because of a deep physical need. No matter who we are we also have a deep spiritual need for the living water. What many of God's people fail to recognize is that we need to come just as regularly to the fountain of life to satisfy the spiritual thirst that we have. Every time we drink of this spiritual water, the Holy Spirit will cause rivers of His pleasure to flow out of our innermost being. As we allow God to supply our deepest spiritual need, rivers of worship and truth flow out in praise unto our God.

Blessings,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org