Daily Bread - 04/27/07
Colossians 2:2 - "That your hearts might be encouraged joined together in love and unto all riches of the full assurance of the understanding unto an exact knowledge of the mystery of the Father God and the Christ."
There is a key given to us throughout the scripture that allows us to understand how to come into all of the fullness of God. Paul revealed in Ephesians 3 that as a result of knowing the love of Christ we can be filled with the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:19). Jesus made loving one another the precursor to fullness of joy (John 15:11). He also made this love one for another the means by which all men would know that we are His disciples (John 13:35). Jesus made it very clear that if we would love Him that both He and the Father would come and make their dwelling with us (John 14:23).
The realm of love is the realm where God dwells, and, so, when we dwell in love we dwell in God (1 John 4:16). We learn that love is the greatest and most important thing of all. It is by love that faith works, and it is through love that salvation was brought to us (1 Corinthians 13:13; Galatians 5:6; John 3:16). With 115 commands and examples given to us of the importance of love we should make it the foremost priority of our lives.
Perhaps we spend so much time and effort searching for a model, and a hidden key to revival, and an increase in the anointing, and the manifest presence of God while the whole time we pass over the answer. If we would only give ourselves over to His love continually and completely we would realize all of the things in God that we have desired. I am certain that on the Day of Judgment we are going to be primarily brought into question on how well we loved.
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org
Friday, April 27, 2007
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Daily Bread - 04/26/07
John 14:1 - "Do not allow your heart to be troubled; have faith in God also have faith in me."
The heart is the spiritual place in man where faith works. Paul said that the faith is in the heart and in the mouth (Romans 10:10). In keeping with the simile of the heart, we may understand the spiritual heart to be that which supplies life to the whole of the inner man as the physical heart supplies blood to the organs of the body. In Proverbs we learn that the heart is the place where the word is to be kept and that the heart is to be kept with all diligence for the issues of life flow out of it (Proverbs 4:20-23).
At the end of this chapter Jesus says, "let not your heart be troubled and do not be afraid" (14:27). Jesus reveals how that fear is opposed to faith in His commands to those who were looking for a miracle as in Luke 8:50, "Fear not, believe only, and she shall be made whole." Jesus also draws out the association of fear and doubt in the situation of Peter walking on the water who when he became afraid began to sink. Jesus revealed that the fear was associated with the doubt when He said, "why did you doubt?" (Matthew 14:30-31). Don't look to your human ability today but keep the eyes of your heart fixed on His Word.
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org
John 14:1 - "Do not allow your heart to be troubled; have faith in God also have faith in me."
The heart is the spiritual place in man where faith works. Paul said that the faith is in the heart and in the mouth (Romans 10:10). In keeping with the simile of the heart, we may understand the spiritual heart to be that which supplies life to the whole of the inner man as the physical heart supplies blood to the organs of the body. In Proverbs we learn that the heart is the place where the word is to be kept and that the heart is to be kept with all diligence for the issues of life flow out of it (Proverbs 4:20-23).
At the end of this chapter Jesus says, "let not your heart be troubled and do not be afraid" (14:27). Jesus reveals how that fear is opposed to faith in His commands to those who were looking for a miracle as in Luke 8:50, "Fear not, believe only, and she shall be made whole." Jesus also draws out the association of fear and doubt in the situation of Peter walking on the water who when he became afraid began to sink. Jesus revealed that the fear was associated with the doubt when He said, "why did you doubt?" (Matthew 14:30-31). Don't look to your human ability today but keep the eyes of your heart fixed on His Word.
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Daily Bread - APR/25/07
1 John 5:14 - And this is the confidence that we have towards him that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us.
Jesus modeled a very simple method for receiving whatever we need from the Father, He simply said: ask. John does not use the more common word for prayer (proseuchomai) in any of his writings. John's direction to us from the Holy Spirit is to simply ask the Father in faith in the name of Jesus, John 14:13, 26; 15:16; 16:23, 26. It is God's desire that we represent Him on the earth. Therefore, He has made it very easy for us to receive those things that we need. Just come to the Father in the simple childlike faith and ask Him for whatever you need.
You may rest assured that it is the will of the Father to supply all of your needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19). It is also His will to prosper you and to bless you and even to give you the desires of your heart (Psalms 37:4; 3 John 1:2; Isaiah 58:14; Psalms 21:2).God wants you to believe for the impossible and be in expectation that He will perform a miracle for you at your request (Matthew 17:20; Luke 1:37; Mark 9:23; Luke 18:27).
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org
1 John 5:14 - And this is the confidence that we have towards him that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us.
Jesus modeled a very simple method for receiving whatever we need from the Father, He simply said: ask. John does not use the more common word for prayer (proseuchomai) in any of his writings. John's direction to us from the Holy Spirit is to simply ask the Father in faith in the name of Jesus, John 14:13, 26; 15:16; 16:23, 26. It is God's desire that we represent Him on the earth. Therefore, He has made it very easy for us to receive those things that we need. Just come to the Father in the simple childlike faith and ask Him for whatever you need.
You may rest assured that it is the will of the Father to supply all of your needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19). It is also His will to prosper you and to bless you and even to give you the desires of your heart (Psalms 37:4; 3 John 1:2; Isaiah 58:14; Psalms 21:2).God wants you to believe for the impossible and be in expectation that He will perform a miracle for you at your request (Matthew 17:20; Luke 1:37; Mark 9:23; Luke 18:27).
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Daily Bread - APR/24/07
1 Peter 1:16 - Because it has been written, Be Holy because I am Holy.
The call to Holiness is an absolute in both the New Testament and the Old Testament (Leviticus 11:44; 19:2; 20:7, 26). Everything that God redeemed in both covenants became holy, and He demanded then and now that we remain holy. God ordained from the very beginning that men should be holy and without blame before Him (Ephesians 1:4; 5:27; Rev 22:11). Father desires that we be consecrated to the realm of His righteousness and purity which is the realm of life and truth. He has washed away our filthiness with the blood of Jesus and empowered us by His Holy Spirit to be exactly what He created us to be: holy even as He is Holy.
It is important to remember that Holiness is something that we have because we have His indwelling presence. As we walk in obedience to His leading and remain submitted to His presence we walk in holiness. As we walk in holiness we do those things that are pleasing in His sight, and, as a result, whatsoever we ask of Him we receive (1 John 3:22).
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org
1 Peter 1:16 - Because it has been written, Be Holy because I am Holy.
The call to Holiness is an absolute in both the New Testament and the Old Testament (Leviticus 11:44; 19:2; 20:7, 26). Everything that God redeemed in both covenants became holy, and He demanded then and now that we remain holy. God ordained from the very beginning that men should be holy and without blame before Him (Ephesians 1:4; 5:27; Rev 22:11). Father desires that we be consecrated to the realm of His righteousness and purity which is the realm of life and truth. He has washed away our filthiness with the blood of Jesus and empowered us by His Holy Spirit to be exactly what He created us to be: holy even as He is Holy.
It is important to remember that Holiness is something that we have because we have His indwelling presence. As we walk in obedience to His leading and remain submitted to His presence we walk in holiness. As we walk in holiness we do those things that are pleasing in His sight, and, as a result, whatsoever we ask of Him we receive (1 John 3:22).
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org
Monday, April 23, 2007
Daily Bread - APR/23/07
Ephesians 3:7 - Of which I have become a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me according to the working power of His power.
Paul was able to represent Jesus by a life full of signs and wonders because he was given miracle power (Acts 19:11-12; 15:12; Romans 15:19; Hebrews 2:4; 2 Corinthians 12:12). That same miracle power of the life of Jesus resides on the inside of each one of us (John 15:5; Mark 16:17; Acts 1:8; 1 John 4:4; Colossians 1:27). There are two Greek words used here for power, "energeia" (working power/supernatural strength/ divine activity) and "dunamis" (the power of Pentecost/ God's power). The ability that Paul had to represent Jesus and live the Christian life was supplied directly to him through the Holy Spirit (Galatians 3:5).
This is not some esoteric activity of God that takes place absent of our will and consciousness. Rather, this is an activity of the Holy Spirit in our lives not unlike any other relationship (Ephesians 3:16; 6:10; Colossians 1:11; Isaiah 40:29-31). We must recognize His presence and both obey and yield to His direction. The Holy Spirit desires to supply us with miracle-working power every day. We must learn to depend upon the ability that God supplies to us through His power at work in our lives. Through interacting with the Holy Spirit in praise and worship, reading of the Word of God, and giving ourselves to prayer, He trains us to yield to Him. He builds up our faith and expectation to do everything that He said we can do (John 14:12; Philippians 4:3; John 15:7). As we walk with God we learn to expect a miracle instead of wondering how things are going to work out. Miracles should be an everyday experience for the child of God who is in expectation of seeing God at work in their lives.
Our life in Christ Jesus began with a miracle. As we yielded to the Holy Spirit and responded to the promise of salvation, He performed the greatest miracle of our lives and transformed us into a new creation (John 3:6; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 8:9). As we learn to walk in the love, joy, and peace of the Holy Spirit we will find ourselves continually overwhelmed with His presence. As we grow and mature in Christ we become more confident of what God will do than what we can do (Philippians 3:3; 1:6; 2 Corinthians 9:8; 2 Thessalonians 1:11; 2 Timothy 2:21; Hebrews 13:21; Zechariah 4:6). If we will simply take hold of the reality that without Jesus we can do nothing then we will begin to put our faith in the activity of God working through us. Right now the Holy Spirit has a supernatural supply of power for you, and it is God¹s will that you be endued with His divine ability (Romans 13:12,14; Galatians 3:27; Ephesians 4:24; Ephesians 6:11; Colossians 3:10, 12, 14).
Be a blessing,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org
Ephesians 3:7 - Of which I have become a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me according to the working power of His power.
Paul was able to represent Jesus by a life full of signs and wonders because he was given miracle power (Acts 19:11-12; 15:12; Romans 15:19; Hebrews 2:4; 2 Corinthians 12:12). That same miracle power of the life of Jesus resides on the inside of each one of us (John 15:5; Mark 16:17; Acts 1:8; 1 John 4:4; Colossians 1:27). There are two Greek words used here for power, "energeia" (working power/supernatural strength/ divine activity) and "dunamis" (the power of Pentecost/ God's power). The ability that Paul had to represent Jesus and live the Christian life was supplied directly to him through the Holy Spirit (Galatians 3:5).
This is not some esoteric activity of God that takes place absent of our will and consciousness. Rather, this is an activity of the Holy Spirit in our lives not unlike any other relationship (Ephesians 3:16; 6:10; Colossians 1:11; Isaiah 40:29-31). We must recognize His presence and both obey and yield to His direction. The Holy Spirit desires to supply us with miracle-working power every day. We must learn to depend upon the ability that God supplies to us through His power at work in our lives. Through interacting with the Holy Spirit in praise and worship, reading of the Word of God, and giving ourselves to prayer, He trains us to yield to Him. He builds up our faith and expectation to do everything that He said we can do (John 14:12; Philippians 4:3; John 15:7). As we walk with God we learn to expect a miracle instead of wondering how things are going to work out. Miracles should be an everyday experience for the child of God who is in expectation of seeing God at work in their lives.
Our life in Christ Jesus began with a miracle. As we yielded to the Holy Spirit and responded to the promise of salvation, He performed the greatest miracle of our lives and transformed us into a new creation (John 3:6; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 8:9). As we learn to walk in the love, joy, and peace of the Holy Spirit we will find ourselves continually overwhelmed with His presence. As we grow and mature in Christ we become more confident of what God will do than what we can do (Philippians 3:3; 1:6; 2 Corinthians 9:8; 2 Thessalonians 1:11; 2 Timothy 2:21; Hebrews 13:21; Zechariah 4:6). If we will simply take hold of the reality that without Jesus we can do nothing then we will begin to put our faith in the activity of God working through us. Right now the Holy Spirit has a supernatural supply of power for you, and it is God¹s will that you be endued with His divine ability (Romans 13:12,14; Galatians 3:27; Ephesians 4:24; Ephesians 6:11; Colossians 3:10, 12, 14).
Be a blessing,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org
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