Daily Bread - NOV/30/07
Luke 6:38 - Give and good measure will be given to you, pressed down, shaken together, and running over they will give into your bosom; for the same measure that you measure will be measured back to you.
God's people must always maintain a disposition of giving. God is the biggest most unselfish giver that exists and He wants us to be just like Him. He is the one that causes the sun to rise upon the evil as well as the good and sends rain on the unrighteous and righteous alike (Matthew 5:45). Our heavenly Father wants us to act just like He does so that we may be called His children. Jesus even goes so far as to command us, in this context, to be perfect even as our Father in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48). If we are going to accurately represent our heavenly Father then we must be willing to give generously and not withhold from anyone no matter how we feel about them.
The generosity of our heavenly Father overwhelms us with so many benefits and blessings every day. It is essential that we do not take them for granted and forget all of His benefits and become unthankful and stingy (Psalms 103; 68:19). Of course, the greatest gift that He gave us was His only begotten Son who counted our lives more precious than His own and gave Himself as a ransom for our sins. Oh, we must not let our souls forget to bless Him for all of the gifts that He daily loads us up with; all these wonderful things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).
When we consider all that He gave to us when we were alienated from Him by wicked works how much more can we now expect Him to do for us as His sons and daughters? Our faith should rise up with a shout of thanksgiving and a cry of praise for all that God has done and continues to do (Romans 8:32; 1 Corinthians 2:12).
In that we have been given so much we must also freely give. However, if we do not freely receive what is given then we will not freely give. If we have received forgiveness then we are empowered to give forgiveness just as generously. God who is so generous in His nature requests that we show forth His glory with the same generosity. God reveals to us that through cooperating with His generosity we will discover a realm where men themselves will also rise up and give to us, heaping their things into our bosoms (Isaiah 60:17). The Lord Jesus tells us here in this passage some of the things that He wants us to give. He wants us to love our enemies, do good and lend and expect nothing in return, not to judge nor condemn, to be merciful, to forgive, and to give. The Lord Jesus is asking for us to give in every respect of life. We must understand that, in every dimension of our lives, the way we give is the way that we will receive. The way that we judge is how we are going to be judged (Matthew 7:2).
The way that we sow mercy is how we will receive mercy. In whatever measure we give - whether good or bad - is the measure that we will receive multiplied back again (Mark 4:24). If we sow to the flesh we will reap a whirlwind, and if we sow to the Spirit we will reap everlasting life (Gal 6). If we sow sparingly then we will reap sparingly, and if we sow generously we will reap generously (2 Corinthians 9:6-8). If we will forgive 490 times in a day we will also be forgiven as much (Matthew 18:21-35). Therefore, if we are willing to be generous even as our Father in heaven is generous then we will be overwhelmed with even more than can be imagined by the one who will cause all grace to abound in our lives so that we may have all sufficiency in all things (Ephesians 3:20; Psalms 40:5; 2 Corinthians 9:8-11).
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org
Friday, November 30, 2007
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Daily Bread - NOV/29/07
2 Corinthians 8:9 - For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that though He was rich for your sake He became poor so that by His poverty you might become rich.
If we want to understand how God has made us rich then we have to understand the riches of God that are in Christ Jesus. How was Jesus rich before He laid aside all of His wealth to become our sin offering? When we consider God's wealth then we must reach beyond everything that anyone has because God owns it all. God is rich in love and in every other attribute of goodness that can be thought of and more. All of the treasures of heaven and the earth are His possessions and He knows where every one of them is.
We must also consider the situation of the Macedonians and understand the context that Paul is speaking to them in. The Macedonians had made themselves poor by giving of their material goods to the gospel (2 Corinthians 8:2-3). However, Paul is making it known that through the miracle supply of God's grace they are about to receive an abundance of what they have given (2 Corinthians 9:5-8). Paul encouraged the Macedonians again in the Epistle to the Philippians and reminded them in the same context that God would supply their needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19). We may rightly conclude then that material things are definitely a part of the riches that Paul is referring to in this passage.
There have been those who would want to limit the riches that we have in Christ Jesus to spiritual riches. However, they failed to realize that through the benefit of spiritual riches we come to have every other area of our lives enriched as well. Through the prosperity of our souls we are also enriched in health and in material goods (3 John 2; Matthew 6:33; Mark 10:29-30). The notion that God is not interested in material wealth is foreign to the God of the Bible. From the very beginning God lavishly supplied Adam and Eve with a garden paradise rich in material goods. Unfortunately, many pagan ideas were incorporated into Christianity over the centuries that attributed a mystical and spiritual benefit to poverty. These religions - that have some of their counterparts in modern-day Hinduism and Buddhism - think that a desire for material things is evil and restrains the mystical development of the spirit. Those who would attempt to limit this passage to Neoplatonic and metaphorical interpretations are actually violating the context of Paul's message in order to remain true to their philosophy of the superior spiritual attributes of poverty. These concepts and ideas are entirely foreign to the way God has presented Himself and His will for our lives in the Bible. It is God who makes us rich and adds no sorrow with it (Psalms 112:3; Genesis 13:2; 14:23; 36:7; 1 Samuel 2:7; 1 Chronicles 29:12, 28; 2 Chronicles 1:12; 9:22; Proverbs 3:16; 8:18; 10:4, 15; 10:22; 22:4).
We share in the riches of Christ Jesus as heirs and coheirs together with Him (Romans 8:17, 29; John 1:12; Galatians 3:29). We have been blessed with all spiritual blessings and given an unlimited provision to ask what we will and He will do it (Ephesians 1:3; John 15:16). We know that He is providing for our needs according to His riches in glory. We also know that asking God for material prosperity is one of the prayers of the Bible (Psalms 118:25). To think that God is not going to resource us to accomplish the things that He has purposed for us to do in this life is nonsense. If we take just one of the many things on the list of responsibilities that God has given to us then we must recognize that material provision becomes an essential part of our purpose. For example, if we see a brother or sister in need we are supposed to open up our purse and meet that need (1 John 3:16-20). Well, what if there is nothing in our purse? We are called to take care of the orphans, the widows, the poor, the needy, the ministry, and the advancement of the gospel throughout the world. Certainly, we don't have to think too long and we realize this takes lots of material provision.
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org
2 Corinthians 8:9 - For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that though He was rich for your sake He became poor so that by His poverty you might become rich.
If we want to understand how God has made us rich then we have to understand the riches of God that are in Christ Jesus. How was Jesus rich before He laid aside all of His wealth to become our sin offering? When we consider God's wealth then we must reach beyond everything that anyone has because God owns it all. God is rich in love and in every other attribute of goodness that can be thought of and more. All of the treasures of heaven and the earth are His possessions and He knows where every one of them is.
We must also consider the situation of the Macedonians and understand the context that Paul is speaking to them in. The Macedonians had made themselves poor by giving of their material goods to the gospel (2 Corinthians 8:2-3). However, Paul is making it known that through the miracle supply of God's grace they are about to receive an abundance of what they have given (2 Corinthians 9:5-8). Paul encouraged the Macedonians again in the Epistle to the Philippians and reminded them in the same context that God would supply their needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19). We may rightly conclude then that material things are definitely a part of the riches that Paul is referring to in this passage.
There have been those who would want to limit the riches that we have in Christ Jesus to spiritual riches. However, they failed to realize that through the benefit of spiritual riches we come to have every other area of our lives enriched as well. Through the prosperity of our souls we are also enriched in health and in material goods (3 John 2; Matthew 6:33; Mark 10:29-30). The notion that God is not interested in material wealth is foreign to the God of the Bible. From the very beginning God lavishly supplied Adam and Eve with a garden paradise rich in material goods. Unfortunately, many pagan ideas were incorporated into Christianity over the centuries that attributed a mystical and spiritual benefit to poverty. These religions - that have some of their counterparts in modern-day Hinduism and Buddhism - think that a desire for material things is evil and restrains the mystical development of the spirit. Those who would attempt to limit this passage to Neoplatonic and metaphorical interpretations are actually violating the context of Paul's message in order to remain true to their philosophy of the superior spiritual attributes of poverty. These concepts and ideas are entirely foreign to the way God has presented Himself and His will for our lives in the Bible. It is God who makes us rich and adds no sorrow with it (Psalms 112:3; Genesis 13:2; 14:23; 36:7; 1 Samuel 2:7; 1 Chronicles 29:12, 28; 2 Chronicles 1:12; 9:22; Proverbs 3:16; 8:18; 10:4, 15; 10:22; 22:4).
We share in the riches of Christ Jesus as heirs and coheirs together with Him (Romans 8:17, 29; John 1:12; Galatians 3:29). We have been blessed with all spiritual blessings and given an unlimited provision to ask what we will and He will do it (Ephesians 1:3; John 15:16). We know that He is providing for our needs according to His riches in glory. We also know that asking God for material prosperity is one of the prayers of the Bible (Psalms 118:25). To think that God is not going to resource us to accomplish the things that He has purposed for us to do in this life is nonsense. If we take just one of the many things on the list of responsibilities that God has given to us then we must recognize that material provision becomes an essential part of our purpose. For example, if we see a brother or sister in need we are supposed to open up our purse and meet that need (1 John 3:16-20). Well, what if there is nothing in our purse? We are called to take care of the orphans, the widows, the poor, the needy, the ministry, and the advancement of the gospel throughout the world. Certainly, we don't have to think too long and we realize this takes lots of material provision.
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Daily Bread - NOV/28/07
Genesis 39:1-2 - And Yahweh was with Joseph and he was a prosperous man and he was in the house of his master in Egypt. And his master saw that Yahweh was with him and that Yahweh caused all that he did to prosper in his hand.
There should be no doubt that God wants His people to be successful in everything they do. God takes pleasure in the prosperity of His children and as Jesus said, "if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children how much more will your Father give good things to those who ask Him" (Psalms 35:27; Matthew 7:11). God is not the source of poverty or the God of oppression; He is the God of blessings who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings!
When we look at the men of the Bible who walked with God we see those who were blessed and prospered in everything they did. These men and their lives are an example to us of how we should live as well as a testimony of how God will bless and prosper our lives in every way. Our heavenly Father blessed Abraham and made him very wealthy because He walked with God (Genesis 13:2; Genesis 23:6). God blessed Isaac and Jacob, the seed of Abraham, in the same way because they were the people of God who had given themselves to walk with Him (Genesis 30:27; Genesis 33:11).
The means of the prosperity of God's people was plainly revealed in the life of Joseph; it was God who caused the things that Joseph did to prosper (Genesis 39:23). If we will walk with the Lord and do those things that are pleasing in His sight then whatever we do will prosper (Psalms 1:3; Jeremiah 17:7-8; Joshua 1:7-8; Deuteronomy 29:9; 1 Kings 2:3; 2 Chronicles 26:5; Psalms 84:11; 3 John 2). God wants to bless His people with such success beyond any others in this world that all mankind will have to take notice that God is with us (1 Kings 10:7; Jeremiah 33:9). Those who would think that God wants His people to be poor or have just enough to get by have no idea of the plans and purpose that God has for His people. We are called by God to be a blessing in every way to all mankind. We are called to take care of the poor and the oppressed, to clothe, house, and feed those who are destitute and to preach the gospel of the kingdom to the entire world.
If we will walk with God and do those things that He has commissioned us to do then He will prosper us so that we can rise up and build (Nehemiah 2:20; Haggai 1:7-8, 2:18-19; Matthew 6:33). Let us cry out with the Psalmist and say, "Save now, I beseech you, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech you, send now prosperity" (Psalms 118:25). As God prospers us and we bring those things into His house that He has prospered us with then God causes another realm of miracle blessing to fall upon our lives so that there is an additional multiplication of that prosperity (1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7). God's Kingdom should move stronger and faster than any kingdom on the earth. We should advance the message of God's love and grace more swiftly and effectively than can be done by anyone else. Let us cooperate with God so that the Kingdom of God may be seen by everyone to be above all of the Kingdoms of the earth and the blessings of God greater than the blessings of man.
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org
Genesis 39:1-2 - And Yahweh was with Joseph and he was a prosperous man and he was in the house of his master in Egypt. And his master saw that Yahweh was with him and that Yahweh caused all that he did to prosper in his hand.
There should be no doubt that God wants His people to be successful in everything they do. God takes pleasure in the prosperity of His children and as Jesus said, "if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children how much more will your Father give good things to those who ask Him" (Psalms 35:27; Matthew 7:11). God is not the source of poverty or the God of oppression; He is the God of blessings who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings!
When we look at the men of the Bible who walked with God we see those who were blessed and prospered in everything they did. These men and their lives are an example to us of how we should live as well as a testimony of how God will bless and prosper our lives in every way. Our heavenly Father blessed Abraham and made him very wealthy because He walked with God (Genesis 13:2; Genesis 23:6). God blessed Isaac and Jacob, the seed of Abraham, in the same way because they were the people of God who had given themselves to walk with Him (Genesis 30:27; Genesis 33:11).
The means of the prosperity of God's people was plainly revealed in the life of Joseph; it was God who caused the things that Joseph did to prosper (Genesis 39:23). If we will walk with the Lord and do those things that are pleasing in His sight then whatever we do will prosper (Psalms 1:3; Jeremiah 17:7-8; Joshua 1:7-8; Deuteronomy 29:9; 1 Kings 2:3; 2 Chronicles 26:5; Psalms 84:11; 3 John 2). God wants to bless His people with such success beyond any others in this world that all mankind will have to take notice that God is with us (1 Kings 10:7; Jeremiah 33:9). Those who would think that God wants His people to be poor or have just enough to get by have no idea of the plans and purpose that God has for His people. We are called by God to be a blessing in every way to all mankind. We are called to take care of the poor and the oppressed, to clothe, house, and feed those who are destitute and to preach the gospel of the kingdom to the entire world.
If we will walk with God and do those things that He has commissioned us to do then He will prosper us so that we can rise up and build (Nehemiah 2:20; Haggai 1:7-8, 2:18-19; Matthew 6:33). Let us cry out with the Psalmist and say, "Save now, I beseech you, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech you, send now prosperity" (Psalms 118:25). As God prospers us and we bring those things into His house that He has prospered us with then God causes another realm of miracle blessing to fall upon our lives so that there is an additional multiplication of that prosperity (1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7). God's Kingdom should move stronger and faster than any kingdom on the earth. We should advance the message of God's love and grace more swiftly and effectively than can be done by anyone else. Let us cooperate with God so that the Kingdom of God may be seen by everyone to be above all of the Kingdoms of the earth and the blessings of God greater than the blessings of man.
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Daily Bread - NOV/27/07
Psalms 84:11 - For Yahweh God is a sun and a shield; Yahweh gives grace and glory; He will not withhold any good thing from those who walk uprightly.
Our God is our protector and provider, so we have nothing to fear. Just as He told Abraham not to fear, we should hear the same reassuring voice of God telling us that He is our shield (Genesis 15:1; 1 John 4:17-18). If we will make the purposes of God first in our lives then God will give us all those things that men spend their lives seeking for. If we are willing to walk with God then we will surely discover that He is our exceeding great reward Matthew 6:33; Mark 10:28-30; Philippians 4:19; Hebrews 11:6). God's grace and glory are everything that we need to walk in the fullness of His blessings. God's grace is the means by which we are empowered to do everything that He has purposed for us to do. His grace provides us with His wisdom and understanding and the ability to accomplish every task. God's glory carries with it every attribute of His power and wealth. If we are willing to walk upright, God will honor us in this glorious way. For He desires to show the immeasurable riches of His grace that He has given to us through Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6-7; 1:3; Proverbs 22:4; 1 Chronicles 16:27; 2 Peter 1:3).
The most important thing is the manifest presence of Jesus that is brought to us by the Holy Spirit (John 16:13-15; 1 John 3:24). The Holy Spirit has come to help us and to teach us how to increase with the increase of God (Colossians 2:19; 1 Thessalonians 4:10; Ephesians 4:15; 2 Thessalonians 1:3; 2 Peter 1:8, 11). As our souls prosper in this relationship with God there will be an increase in His manifest presence in our lives (3 John 2; 2 Peter 1:3; Ephesians 1:18). As the glory of His manifest presence increases in our lives so will everything else. As a result, we will prosper and be in health in direct proportion to the prosperity of our souls. We should recognize that God has a fast track for our increase. If we will be obedient we will have a thirtyfold, sixtyfold, and even one hundredfold increase in every dimension of our lives - especially in the realms of the Spirit.
The word of God and the Holy Spirit are given to us so that we may learn to walk uprightly (Matthew 13:23). We must not allow hard and stony places to prevent our growth and maturity in the things of the Spirit. We must be mindful not to allow the thorns of life to grow and choke the word of God that would otherwise bring forth the fruits of this abundant life. Jesus uses these impediments to the successful growth of a plant (such as hard ground, stony ground, and thorny ground) to describe, among other things, the cares of this life, the deceitfulness of riches, and the pleasures of this world (Luke 8:14; Mark 4:19). Besides those things that would prevent our spiritual growth, we must also recognize the thief that would come to steal, kill, and destroy. Sin is that thief that would not only rob us of all the blessings that God has intended for our lives but even destroy our souls as well (John 10:10; Jeremiah 5:25). If we will walk uprightly and seek God, we will discover that God rewards those who seek Him and that He will not withhold any good thing from those who walk uprightly.
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org
Psalms 84:11 - For Yahweh God is a sun and a shield; Yahweh gives grace and glory; He will not withhold any good thing from those who walk uprightly.
Our God is our protector and provider, so we have nothing to fear. Just as He told Abraham not to fear, we should hear the same reassuring voice of God telling us that He is our shield (Genesis 15:1; 1 John 4:17-18). If we will make the purposes of God first in our lives then God will give us all those things that men spend their lives seeking for. If we are willing to walk with God then we will surely discover that He is our exceeding great reward Matthew 6:33; Mark 10:28-30; Philippians 4:19; Hebrews 11:6). God's grace and glory are everything that we need to walk in the fullness of His blessings. God's grace is the means by which we are empowered to do everything that He has purposed for us to do. His grace provides us with His wisdom and understanding and the ability to accomplish every task. God's glory carries with it every attribute of His power and wealth. If we are willing to walk upright, God will honor us in this glorious way. For He desires to show the immeasurable riches of His grace that He has given to us through Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6-7; 1:3; Proverbs 22:4; 1 Chronicles 16:27; 2 Peter 1:3).
The most important thing is the manifest presence of Jesus that is brought to us by the Holy Spirit (John 16:13-15; 1 John 3:24). The Holy Spirit has come to help us and to teach us how to increase with the increase of God (Colossians 2:19; 1 Thessalonians 4:10; Ephesians 4:15; 2 Thessalonians 1:3; 2 Peter 1:8, 11). As our souls prosper in this relationship with God there will be an increase in His manifest presence in our lives (3 John 2; 2 Peter 1:3; Ephesians 1:18). As the glory of His manifest presence increases in our lives so will everything else. As a result, we will prosper and be in health in direct proportion to the prosperity of our souls. We should recognize that God has a fast track for our increase. If we will be obedient we will have a thirtyfold, sixtyfold, and even one hundredfold increase in every dimension of our lives - especially in the realms of the Spirit.
The word of God and the Holy Spirit are given to us so that we may learn to walk uprightly (Matthew 13:23). We must not allow hard and stony places to prevent our growth and maturity in the things of the Spirit. We must be mindful not to allow the thorns of life to grow and choke the word of God that would otherwise bring forth the fruits of this abundant life. Jesus uses these impediments to the successful growth of a plant (such as hard ground, stony ground, and thorny ground) to describe, among other things, the cares of this life, the deceitfulness of riches, and the pleasures of this world (Luke 8:14; Mark 4:19). Besides those things that would prevent our spiritual growth, we must also recognize the thief that would come to steal, kill, and destroy. Sin is that thief that would not only rob us of all the blessings that God has intended for our lives but even destroy our souls as well (John 10:10; Jeremiah 5:25). If we will walk uprightly and seek God, we will discover that God rewards those who seek Him and that He will not withhold any good thing from those who walk uprightly.
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org
Monday, November 26, 2007
Daily Bread - NOV/26/07
Psalms 84:11 - For Yahweh God is a son and a shield; Yahweh gives grace and glory; He will not withhold any good thing from those who walk uprightly.
Our God is our protector and provider, so we have nothing to fear. Just as He told Abraham not to fear, we should hear the same reassuring voice of God telling us that He is our shield (Genesis 15:1; 1 John 4:17-18). If we will set the purposes of God first in our lives then God will give to us all the things that men spend their lives seeking after (Matthew 6:33; Mark 10:28-30; Philippians 4:19; Hebrews 11:6). God's grace is the means by which we are empowered to do everything that He has purposed us to do. In the realms of His grace are wisdom and understanding and the ability to accomplish every task. God's glory carries with it every attribute of His power and wealth. If we are willing to walk uprightly we will discover that God has set us in a place of honor so that He can do the immeasurable riches of His grace that He has given to us through Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6-7; 1:3; Proverbs 22:4; 1 Chronicles 16:27; 2 Peter 1:3).
The most important thing is the manifest presence of Jesus that is brought to us by the Holy Spirit (John 16:13-15; 1 John 3:24). The Holy Spirit has come to help us and to teach us how to increase with the increase of God (Colossians 2:19; 1 Thessalonians 4:10; Ephesians 4:15; 2 Thessalonians 1:3; 2 Peter 1:8, 11). It is the soul prosperity and the increase in the manifest presence of God that must lead the way in our lives (3 John 2; 2 Peter 1:3; Ephesians 1:18). As the anointing of His presence increases so will everything else in our lives. We will prosper and be in health in direct proportion to the way that our souls prosper. We must recognize that God has a fast track for increase so that we can see thirtyfold, sixtyfold, and even one hundredfold increase in our lives, but the way is obedience to His word and being yielded to the Holy Spirit so that we may walk uprightly (Matthew 13:23). We cannot allow hard and stony places in our lives. We must beware that we do not allow thorns to grow up and choke the word of God that would otherwise bring forth the fruits of this abundant life. We have to see sin as a thief and a robber that is come to steal, kill, and destroy all the blessings that God has intended for our lives (John 10:10; Jeremiah 5:25). Those who walk uprightly and seek God will discover that God rewards those who seek Him and no good thing will He withhold from them (Hebrews 11:6)
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org
Psalms 84:11 - For Yahweh God is a son and a shield; Yahweh gives grace and glory; He will not withhold any good thing from those who walk uprightly.
Our God is our protector and provider, so we have nothing to fear. Just as He told Abraham not to fear, we should hear the same reassuring voice of God telling us that He is our shield (Genesis 15:1; 1 John 4:17-18). If we will set the purposes of God first in our lives then God will give to us all the things that men spend their lives seeking after (Matthew 6:33; Mark 10:28-30; Philippians 4:19; Hebrews 11:6). God's grace is the means by which we are empowered to do everything that He has purposed us to do. In the realms of His grace are wisdom and understanding and the ability to accomplish every task. God's glory carries with it every attribute of His power and wealth. If we are willing to walk uprightly we will discover that God has set us in a place of honor so that He can do the immeasurable riches of His grace that He has given to us through Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6-7; 1:3; Proverbs 22:4; 1 Chronicles 16:27; 2 Peter 1:3).
The most important thing is the manifest presence of Jesus that is brought to us by the Holy Spirit (John 16:13-15; 1 John 3:24). The Holy Spirit has come to help us and to teach us how to increase with the increase of God (Colossians 2:19; 1 Thessalonians 4:10; Ephesians 4:15; 2 Thessalonians 1:3; 2 Peter 1:8, 11). It is the soul prosperity and the increase in the manifest presence of God that must lead the way in our lives (3 John 2; 2 Peter 1:3; Ephesians 1:18). As the anointing of His presence increases so will everything else in our lives. We will prosper and be in health in direct proportion to the way that our souls prosper. We must recognize that God has a fast track for increase so that we can see thirtyfold, sixtyfold, and even one hundredfold increase in our lives, but the way is obedience to His word and being yielded to the Holy Spirit so that we may walk uprightly (Matthew 13:23). We cannot allow hard and stony places in our lives. We must beware that we do not allow thorns to grow up and choke the word of God that would otherwise bring forth the fruits of this abundant life. We have to see sin as a thief and a robber that is come to steal, kill, and destroy all the blessings that God has intended for our lives (John 10:10; Jeremiah 5:25). Those who walk uprightly and seek God will discover that God rewards those who seek Him and no good thing will He withhold from them (Hebrews 11:6)
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org
Daily Bread - NOV/24/07
Galatians 3:13 - Christ set us free from the curse of the law being made a curse for us; for it is written cursed is everyone who hangs upon a tree.
The curse of the Law was that it had no remedy for sin. The Law was glorious in that it described the will of God and by means of the covenant separated a people unto God, but it was a ministry of death and condemnation (2 Corinthians 3:7-15). The Law could reveal God's holiness and purity but did not empower those who trusted in it to change (Galatians 3:21). Those who trusted in the Law to make them acceptable to God only became conscious sinners through it (Romans 3:20; 7:7; Galatians 3:10).
When Jesus hung upon the tree He bore our sins in His body so that we could be dead to sin and alive to righteousness (1 Peter 2:24; Romans 6:2,18; 1 John 3:4; 2 Corinthians 5:21). In the very instant of His death Jesus destroyed the power of the devil that held us in slavery (Hebrews 2:14; 2 Timothy 1:10; 1 John 3:8). Through Christ Jesus we were set free from the Law because we were set free from the sin it condemned (Romans 5:12-21; 6:14-15). The life of the Spirit of God was imparted into us and the law of sin and death was destroyed (Romans 8:2; Galatians 3:21). Yet at the same time we are warned that anyone who sins transgresses the Law and the judgement that it brings (1 John 3:4; Hebrews 10:26-27; Galatians 5:18). Jesus took away our sin and supplies to us a means of cleansing and forgiveness for any sin that we may commit (1 John 1:7,9; 2:1-2; Revelation 2:5, 21-22; 3:3,19; Matthew 6:14; 18:22-35). He has also given to us a new nature and filled us with the Holy Spirit to supply us with a desire for all of His ways. He sent the Holy Spirit to train us and to equip us so that we may grow up into all of the fullness of God that has been made available to us (John 16:13-15; Ephesians 3:16,19; 4:13).
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org
Galatians 3:13 - Christ set us free from the curse of the law being made a curse for us; for it is written cursed is everyone who hangs upon a tree.
The curse of the Law was that it had no remedy for sin. The Law was glorious in that it described the will of God and by means of the covenant separated a people unto God, but it was a ministry of death and condemnation (2 Corinthians 3:7-15). The Law could reveal God's holiness and purity but did not empower those who trusted in it to change (Galatians 3:21). Those who trusted in the Law to make them acceptable to God only became conscious sinners through it (Romans 3:20; 7:7; Galatians 3:10).
When Jesus hung upon the tree He bore our sins in His body so that we could be dead to sin and alive to righteousness (1 Peter 2:24; Romans 6:2,18; 1 John 3:4; 2 Corinthians 5:21). In the very instant of His death Jesus destroyed the power of the devil that held us in slavery (Hebrews 2:14; 2 Timothy 1:10; 1 John 3:8). Through Christ Jesus we were set free from the Law because we were set free from the sin it condemned (Romans 5:12-21; 6:14-15). The life of the Spirit of God was imparted into us and the law of sin and death was destroyed (Romans 8:2; Galatians 3:21). Yet at the same time we are warned that anyone who sins transgresses the Law and the judgement that it brings (1 John 3:4; Hebrews 10:26-27; Galatians 5:18). Jesus took away our sin and supplies to us a means of cleansing and forgiveness for any sin that we may commit (1 John 1:7,9; 2:1-2; Revelation 2:5, 21-22; 3:3,19; Matthew 6:14; 18:22-35). He has also given to us a new nature and filled us with the Holy Spirit to supply us with a desire for all of His ways. He sent the Holy Spirit to train us and to equip us so that we may grow up into all of the fullness of God that has been made available to us (John 16:13-15; Ephesians 3:16,19; 4:13).
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org
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