Daily Bread - DEC/07/07
2 Corinthians 1:21 - But it is God who establishes us with you in Christ (The Anointed One) and has anointed us.
The anointing, by definition, is the empowerment of an individual with a special divine ability to accomplish extraordinary things. The anointing confers the glory and honor (kavod) of the Lord upon whoever is anointed. The anointing is usually given through a blessing. Abraham received a blessing directly from God that made him heir of the world (Genesis 12:2; 22:17; Romans 4:13). The blessing came upon Isaac and he sowed even in the time of famine and reaped a hundredfold and became a man of great wealth (Genesis 26:12-14). Jacob received a blessing from his father that resulted in an anointing (empowerment) which brought him glory and honor both with man and God (Genesis 27:33; 32:28). The glory and honor that each man received was in proportion to the anointing that was received from the blessing that was given. Joshua could not lead Israel with the glory and majesty of God until Moses blessed him and gave to him some of the grace that he had received from God (Deuteronomy 34:9; Numbers 27:18-20). Saul could not be king until a "divine enabling" was imparted to Him by the Spirit of God (1 Samuel 10:1-12). Elisha did not have the ability to prophesy until the gift of the double portion was released to him (2 Kings 2:9-14). Jesus was like any other man until the heavens were opened and the Spirit of the Lord came upon Him without measure (Matthew 3:16; Luke 4:14; John 2:11; 3:34). The 120 could not represent the glory and majesty of the resurrection until they were endued with power from on high (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-8; 2:33).
It is through the anointing that greatness is forged. This greatness that is in the anointing is for the sole purpose of bringing glory and honor to the Almighty God. The anointing that Joseph had brought him to the highest position of the rulership in the earth (Genesis 45:13). The anointing that God gave to David made him undefeatable in battle: the oracle of the word of God and the king that brought glory and honor to the nation of Israel. God anointed Solomon to be king and also gave him a special wisdom and understanding that was superior to all others. The anointing that he received not only resulted in riches and material wealth but in greatness of conduct and accomplishment.
The anointing that God gives and the glory that it brings is all found in the presence of God. God descends into that which is consecrated just as He did in the Tent of Meeting or on the Mount where Moses stood before the Lord (Leviticus 9:23-24; Ex 19:16). As He came down and inhabited the temple that Solomon built, He also inhabits those who are consecrated by the blood of Jesus and the Holy Spirit today (1 Kings 8:10; 1 John 3:24; 1 Corinthians 3:16). As many as will receive His blessing have been anointed to be sons of God (John 1:12; 17:21; 1 John 3:1; Romans 8:29-30). We have been given the honor to share in the same anointing of Jesus as heirs and co-inheritors (Romans 8:17; Galatians 3:29). The Anointed One who is Jesus the Savior has given to us the same glory that the Father gave to Him because we have received the same anointing. Father conferred all of this greatness upon us when He blessed us with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies and anointed us together with the Anointed One. Therefore, arise and shine for your Light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you (Isaiah 61:1; 1 Peter 2:9; John 1:4).
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org
Friday, December 07, 2007
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Daily Bread - DEC/06/07
Genesis 28:18 - And Jacob rose up early in the morning and set up the stone that he had used under his head and he set it up as a pillar and he poured oil on the top of it.
The whole concept of being anointed began with Jacob anointing (mashach) the stone where God had revealed Himself (Genesis 31:13). The act of anointing something is then specifically tied to the consecration of the place where God dwells. That which was anointed by Jacob is the place where God's glory and power were revealed and the place where He was worshipped. From a New Testament perspective, all of these elements are more fully realized in that we have been made the living stones that are built up a spiritual house where God Himself dwells (1 Peter 2:5; Ephesians 2:21-22; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19). We were born of the Spirit and filled with the Spirit so that we can worship God in Spirit and in truth (John 4:23). Like Jesus, the Anointed One, we have been anointed with the divine ability of God too so that His glory and power may be revealed in our lives.
Anointing with oil was first extended to the priest in the sequence of events (Exodus 29:7). The anointing gave the priest the special ability of power and glory to minister before the presence of God in the sanctuary (Exodus 28:41; 40:13). The anointing oil was also used in a similar fashion as Jacob used it when it was used to anoint the dwelling place of God (Exodus 30:26; 40:9). The anointing oil was then used for the king and became more specifically tied to the empowerment of the Spirit of God given to those who were anointed. Saul was symbolically anointed by Samuel with the oil, but the actual event that brought the change and the divine power to be king took place when Saul met the prophets who were on their way to Bethel to worship (1 Samuel 10:1, 3). When Saul met them he was anointed with an oil of a different kind, and this oil was the power and glory of the Spirit of God that changed him into another man (1 Samuel 10:6, 10). The oil was also used to anoint the prophets which once again would be linked to the special endowment of divine ability to represent God (1 Kings 19:16).
Now those who were anointed king were referred to as the anointed (mashieach) of Yahweh or the messiah of Yahweh. It was from this that the whole concept of the Messiah - who is called Christ in the Greek - would be developed. We may understand then that every time we speak of Christ Jesus we are speaking about the anointing of the one who was anointed above all others (John 3:34; Colossians 2:19). Jesus is the one who was anointed without limitation and received the Spirit without measure. Jesus is the source and fountainhead of all the anointing (Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33; Colossians 1:18; 2:19; Ephesians 4:12-15). The anointing that He has flows out of heaven into our souls supplying an unlimited flow of the glory and power of God like rivers of living water (John 7:37-39; Revelation 22:1-2, 17-18).
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org
Genesis 28:18 - And Jacob rose up early in the morning and set up the stone that he had used under his head and he set it up as a pillar and he poured oil on the top of it.
The whole concept of being anointed began with Jacob anointing (mashach) the stone where God had revealed Himself (Genesis 31:13). The act of anointing something is then specifically tied to the consecration of the place where God dwells. That which was anointed by Jacob is the place where God's glory and power were revealed and the place where He was worshipped. From a New Testament perspective, all of these elements are more fully realized in that we have been made the living stones that are built up a spiritual house where God Himself dwells (1 Peter 2:5; Ephesians 2:21-22; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19). We were born of the Spirit and filled with the Spirit so that we can worship God in Spirit and in truth (John 4:23). Like Jesus, the Anointed One, we have been anointed with the divine ability of God too so that His glory and power may be revealed in our lives.
Anointing with oil was first extended to the priest in the sequence of events (Exodus 29:7). The anointing gave the priest the special ability of power and glory to minister before the presence of God in the sanctuary (Exodus 28:41; 40:13). The anointing oil was also used in a similar fashion as Jacob used it when it was used to anoint the dwelling place of God (Exodus 30:26; 40:9). The anointing oil was then used for the king and became more specifically tied to the empowerment of the Spirit of God given to those who were anointed. Saul was symbolically anointed by Samuel with the oil, but the actual event that brought the change and the divine power to be king took place when Saul met the prophets who were on their way to Bethel to worship (1 Samuel 10:1, 3). When Saul met them he was anointed with an oil of a different kind, and this oil was the power and glory of the Spirit of God that changed him into another man (1 Samuel 10:6, 10). The oil was also used to anoint the prophets which once again would be linked to the special endowment of divine ability to represent God (1 Kings 19:16).
Now those who were anointed king were referred to as the anointed (mashieach) of Yahweh or the messiah of Yahweh. It was from this that the whole concept of the Messiah - who is called Christ in the Greek - would be developed. We may understand then that every time we speak of Christ Jesus we are speaking about the anointing of the one who was anointed above all others (John 3:34; Colossians 2:19). Jesus is the one who was anointed without limitation and received the Spirit without measure. Jesus is the source and fountainhead of all the anointing (Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33; Colossians 1:18; 2:19; Ephesians 4:12-15). The anointing that He has flows out of heaven into our souls supplying an unlimited flow of the glory and power of God like rivers of living water (John 7:37-39; Revelation 22:1-2, 17-18).
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Daily Bread - DEC/05/07
Luke 6:19 - And all the multitude sought to touch Him because power went out from Him and healed them all.
It is wonderful to realize that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8; Psalms 102:27; 2 Corinthians 11:4). The power of God that was manifested in Jesus Christ is available more today than when Jesus walked the earth 2,000 years ago (John 14:12; Acts 2:33; Mark 16:17; Isaiah 9:7). Today Jesus pours forth His power to heal and deliver through those who will receive.
Essential to the healing of these people was not the prayer of Jesus but the power that flowed through Him. In fact, there were many who did not even need Jesus to touch them; all they needed to do was to touch Him and they were healed (Matthew 14:36; Mark 6:56; Luke 8:44-47). When the power of Jesus flowed into a person whatever they needed was supplied by the life-giving flow of the Savior.
This same power of the Lord Jesus flows through His servants today. The life-giving flow that comes from the throne of God proceeds forth from us as rivers of living water (John 7:39; Revelation 22:1-2). These rivers of living water that flow out of us will make the lame to walk and the blind to see; it opens prison doors and sets the captives free. Jesus was not here for just a moment in time to bring the life and power of God to a needy humanity but He lives forevermore. If we will find our place in the realms of the heavenly then the power of Jesus will find a free course through our lives to touch all of humanity (Ephesians 2:6; 1:19- 20' Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:23; Colossians 3:2- 3; John 12:26).
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org
Luke 6:19 - And all the multitude sought to touch Him because power went out from Him and healed them all.
It is wonderful to realize that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8; Psalms 102:27; 2 Corinthians 11:4). The power of God that was manifested in Jesus Christ is available more today than when Jesus walked the earth 2,000 years ago (John 14:12; Acts 2:33; Mark 16:17; Isaiah 9:7). Today Jesus pours forth His power to heal and deliver through those who will receive.
Essential to the healing of these people was not the prayer of Jesus but the power that flowed through Him. In fact, there were many who did not even need Jesus to touch them; all they needed to do was to touch Him and they were healed (Matthew 14:36; Mark 6:56; Luke 8:44-47). When the power of Jesus flowed into a person whatever they needed was supplied by the life-giving flow of the Savior.
This same power of the Lord Jesus flows through His servants today. The life-giving flow that comes from the throne of God proceeds forth from us as rivers of living water (John 7:39; Revelation 22:1-2). These rivers of living water that flow out of us will make the lame to walk and the blind to see; it opens prison doors and sets the captives free. Jesus was not here for just a moment in time to bring the life and power of God to a needy humanity but He lives forevermore. If we will find our place in the realms of the heavenly then the power of Jesus will find a free course through our lives to touch all of humanity (Ephesians 2:6; 1:19- 20' Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:23; Colossians 3:2- 3; John 12:26).
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Daily Bread - DEC/04/07
Genesis 17:1 - And Abram was ninety-nine years old and Yahweh appeared unto Abram and He said, I am God Almighty walk before me and be perfect.
Most people are intimidated by the very idea that God would expect anyone to be perfect. However, if we look at this as an invitation from God to walk into a realm that His strength will supply then, in fact, God is honoring us with an invitation to receive from Him glory and honor. David said, "God girds me with strength and makes my way perfect" (Psalms 18:32). He recognized that it was God who would do the perfecting through the strength that He would supply. The perfection that God desires is a perfection that He provides (Philippians 2:13; 2 Thessalonians 1:11; Titus 2:12; Ephesians 3:16). If we were to look to ourselves then certainly we would throw our hands up in the air and say "impossible!" Yet when we trust in the Lord for the divine ability then we may say, "I will behave myself in a perfect way. O when will you come to me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart - 'betom levavie" (Psalms 101:2).
To understand the perfection that God desires is to recognize that it is in the walk or the relationship that He wants us to have with Him. Later God would judge the Kings of Israel based upon whether or not their hearts were perfect toward Him. God began with David whom He described as the one whose heart was even as His (1 Samuel 13:14). Even with David's failures his heart remained true to God and God described him as one whose heart was perfect toward Him (1 Kings 15:3). God commanded Solomon to have a perfect heart to walk in the statutes and to keep the commandments of God (1 Kings 8:61; 1 Chronicles 28:9). When Solomon turned to other gods then his heart was no more perfect toward the Lord; it had become divided with other devotions (1 Kings 11:4). King Asa remained devoted to Yahweh and, therefore, received the report that His "heart was perfect with Yahweh all his days" (1 Kings 15:14). Hezekiah's plea before the Lord was bolstered by the fact that he had walked with a perfect heart and had done that which was good in the sight of the Lord (2 Kings 20:3; Isaiah 38:3). In this context, a perfect heart described one who was serving God with all of his heart (levavechem shalem). In this respect, it was God's request of the whole nation of Israel (Deuteronomy 6:5). The prophet Hanani revealed that Yahweh searches throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are perfect toward Him (2 Chronicles 16:9).
God makes the same request of us today as Jesus commands everyone of us to, "Be therefore perfect even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect" (Matthew 5:48). Paul says in His final address to the Corinthians, "Be perfect" (2 Corinthians 13:11). He reveals to the Ephesians that the ministry is there to make them perfect so that they may all grow into a perfect man (Ephesians 4:12-13). He testified to the church at Colossae that their ministry was to present every man perfect in Christ Jesus (Colossians 1:28; 4:12). Both Paul and John reveal that love is the means and the realm of this perfection (Colossians 3:14; 1 John 2:5; 3:12,17-18). Love fulfills all that God has ever desired and requires. It is through divine love that we discover the means to a perfect relationship.
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org
Genesis 17:1 - And Abram was ninety-nine years old and Yahweh appeared unto Abram and He said, I am God Almighty walk before me and be perfect.
Most people are intimidated by the very idea that God would expect anyone to be perfect. However, if we look at this as an invitation from God to walk into a realm that His strength will supply then, in fact, God is honoring us with an invitation to receive from Him glory and honor. David said, "God girds me with strength and makes my way perfect" (Psalms 18:32). He recognized that it was God who would do the perfecting through the strength that He would supply. The perfection that God desires is a perfection that He provides (Philippians 2:13; 2 Thessalonians 1:11; Titus 2:12; Ephesians 3:16). If we were to look to ourselves then certainly we would throw our hands up in the air and say "impossible!" Yet when we trust in the Lord for the divine ability then we may say, "I will behave myself in a perfect way. O when will you come to me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart - 'betom levavie" (Psalms 101:2).
To understand the perfection that God desires is to recognize that it is in the walk or the relationship that He wants us to have with Him. Later God would judge the Kings of Israel based upon whether or not their hearts were perfect toward Him. God began with David whom He described as the one whose heart was even as His (1 Samuel 13:14). Even with David's failures his heart remained true to God and God described him as one whose heart was perfect toward Him (1 Kings 15:3). God commanded Solomon to have a perfect heart to walk in the statutes and to keep the commandments of God (1 Kings 8:61; 1 Chronicles 28:9). When Solomon turned to other gods then his heart was no more perfect toward the Lord; it had become divided with other devotions (1 Kings 11:4). King Asa remained devoted to Yahweh and, therefore, received the report that His "heart was perfect with Yahweh all his days" (1 Kings 15:14). Hezekiah's plea before the Lord was bolstered by the fact that he had walked with a perfect heart and had done that which was good in the sight of the Lord (2 Kings 20:3; Isaiah 38:3). In this context, a perfect heart described one who was serving God with all of his heart (levavechem shalem). In this respect, it was God's request of the whole nation of Israel (Deuteronomy 6:5). The prophet Hanani revealed that Yahweh searches throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are perfect toward Him (2 Chronicles 16:9).
God makes the same request of us today as Jesus commands everyone of us to, "Be therefore perfect even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect" (Matthew 5:48). Paul says in His final address to the Corinthians, "Be perfect" (2 Corinthians 13:11). He reveals to the Ephesians that the ministry is there to make them perfect so that they may all grow into a perfect man (Ephesians 4:12-13). He testified to the church at Colossae that their ministry was to present every man perfect in Christ Jesus (Colossians 1:28; 4:12). Both Paul and John reveal that love is the means and the realm of this perfection (Colossians 3:14; 1 John 2:5; 3:12,17-18). Love fulfills all that God has ever desired and requires. It is through divine love that we discover the means to a perfect relationship.
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org
Daily Bread - DEC/03/07
1 Corinthians 9:25 - Now everyone engaged in a contest is temperate in all things, they do it for a corruptible crown but we do it to receive an incorruptible one.
The message of temperance is one of the three primary messages that Paul highlighted in his address to Felix (Acts 24:25). We should therefore place the subject of temperance along side of righteousness and judgment. Temperance is one of the fruits of the Spirit that many of us know very little about. It has basically been categorized as self-control and we leave it there without too much more consideration. However, there is more to temperance than just self-control for it is the ability to rule over every desire and thing that presents itself to an individual. In order to grasp the meaning of this very important word we must appreciate the fact that the stem 'krai' denotes power or lordship. The basic meaning of this Greek word is then grasped by its adjective 'enkrates' which is defined as one who has a status of power or rule. For the ancient Greeks this word referred to the truly free and independent man who was not dominated by anything. Socrates recognized this as a cardinal virtue. To Plato it meant superiority to every desire. In the Hermatic writings it was the ability that rises up in the decade of powers. Paul revealed it to be one of the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:23). Peter listed it as one of the necessary attributes of consecration to God (2 Peter 1:6). By definition then temperance (enkrateia) is the absolute power that one exercises over oneself or anything else.
Paul uses the word to describe the unwavering commitment of an athlete to his training. In order to walk in this divine ability or power that is supplied to us by the Holy Spirit we must yield to God as we would in any other way. If the nature of God is going to be manifested in our lives then we must be reminded at all times that without Him we can do nothing (2 Peter 1:4; John 15:5). As an athlete devotes himself to his training we must yield ourselves to the training and instruction of the Holy Spirit. We have a far greater reward awaiting us both now and throughout eternity: a crown of life, a crown of righteousness and a crown of glory (1 Peter 5:4; James 1:12,; Revelation 2:10; 2 Timothy 4:8). As the expert swordsmen learns through commitment and strict training to wield the sword we must be willing to give our members over to God so that they become the weapons of righteousness that He has ordained (Romans 6:13; 2 Corinthians 6:7).
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org
1 Corinthians 9:25 - Now everyone engaged in a contest is temperate in all things, they do it for a corruptible crown but we do it to receive an incorruptible one.
The message of temperance is one of the three primary messages that Paul highlighted in his address to Felix (Acts 24:25). We should therefore place the subject of temperance along side of righteousness and judgment. Temperance is one of the fruits of the Spirit that many of us know very little about. It has basically been categorized as self-control and we leave it there without too much more consideration. However, there is more to temperance than just self-control for it is the ability to rule over every desire and thing that presents itself to an individual. In order to grasp the meaning of this very important word we must appreciate the fact that the stem 'krai' denotes power or lordship. The basic meaning of this Greek word is then grasped by its adjective 'enkrates' which is defined as one who has a status of power or rule. For the ancient Greeks this word referred to the truly free and independent man who was not dominated by anything. Socrates recognized this as a cardinal virtue. To Plato it meant superiority to every desire. In the Hermatic writings it was the ability that rises up in the decade of powers. Paul revealed it to be one of the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:23). Peter listed it as one of the necessary attributes of consecration to God (2 Peter 1:6). By definition then temperance (enkrateia) is the absolute power that one exercises over oneself or anything else.
Paul uses the word to describe the unwavering commitment of an athlete to his training. In order to walk in this divine ability or power that is supplied to us by the Holy Spirit we must yield to God as we would in any other way. If the nature of God is going to be manifested in our lives then we must be reminded at all times that without Him we can do nothing (2 Peter 1:4; John 15:5). As an athlete devotes himself to his training we must yield ourselves to the training and instruction of the Holy Spirit. We have a far greater reward awaiting us both now and throughout eternity: a crown of life, a crown of righteousness and a crown of glory (1 Peter 5:4; James 1:12,; Revelation 2:10; 2 Timothy 4:8). As the expert swordsmen learns through commitment and strict training to wield the sword we must be willing to give our members over to God so that they become the weapons of righteousness that He has ordained (Romans 6:13; 2 Corinthians 6:7).
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org
Daily Bread - DEC/01/07
Acts 20:35 - I have showed everyone of you how that laboring you should give aid to the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus that He Himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Although, this saying is not recorded in the gospels it must have been one of the more popular sayings of the oral tradition as Paul speaks in such a way that it was common knowledge among those at Ephesus. Paul was not only an example in preaching the gospel in faith and power but also in working so that he could participate in taking care of those who were poor and unable to provide for themselves (1 Thessalonians 2:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:7-8; Acts 18:2; 1 Corinthians 4:12; 9:12,15; 2 Corinthians 11:7; 12:13). It was Paul's desire that everyone see their responsibility to support those who were unable to take care of themselves (Ephesians 4:28; Galatians 6:2). Paul's concept of both the ministers and the saints was that they were supposed to be servants and givers.
Jesus came to serve rather than to be served and to give His life as a ransom for all (Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45; John 13:5-14). By the example that Jesus gave we may conclude that servitude is one of the primary requirements of a legitimate ministry (Matthew 20:28; Mark 9:35; 10:43-44). The needs of others were constantly on His heart. I can see Jesus not only continually ministering to the spiritual and physical needs of people but to their financial needs as well. Evidently, it was so common for Jesus to provide money to the needs of the poor that on the night He was betrayed the disciples thought that Jesus wanted Judas to take some money to the poor (John 13:29).
Why is it considered more of a blessing to give rather than to receive? Do we really find it so? When we give our praise and adoration to God for all that He has done for us does it seem better than when He gives us the many everyday blessing and answers to our prayers? I believe that we find the answer to this in the realms of love. A person has their first great Christmas when they watch their children rip open their presents on Christmas morning. When we find ourselves loving someone more than we love ourselves we have stepped over into an unselfish realm of love. In this realm of love it is more blessed to give than to receive. By the Spirit of God we can yield to this kind of love that esteems everyone better than ourselves (Philippians 2:3). By yielding ourselves to the Holy Spirit we are able to experience this glorious unselfish love that moved the Father to give His only Begotten Son for us and that moved Jesus to willingly lay His life down so that we can live. Then on top of that we also discover that it is through giving that we receive miracle provision. As we give God opens up the heavens and pours out more than we can receive (Malachi 3:10; Proverbs 3:9-10). He also causes men to heap into our bosom, all as we discover the wonderful blessing of giving. God will take what we have given and multiply it insomuch that He will cause all grace to abound to us and again we will discover the blessedness of giving (2 Corinthians 9:8-11; Proverbs 28:27).
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org
Acts 20:35 - I have showed everyone of you how that laboring you should give aid to the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus that He Himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Although, this saying is not recorded in the gospels it must have been one of the more popular sayings of the oral tradition as Paul speaks in such a way that it was common knowledge among those at Ephesus. Paul was not only an example in preaching the gospel in faith and power but also in working so that he could participate in taking care of those who were poor and unable to provide for themselves (1 Thessalonians 2:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:7-8; Acts 18:2; 1 Corinthians 4:12; 9:12,15; 2 Corinthians 11:7; 12:13). It was Paul's desire that everyone see their responsibility to support those who were unable to take care of themselves (Ephesians 4:28; Galatians 6:2). Paul's concept of both the ministers and the saints was that they were supposed to be servants and givers.
Jesus came to serve rather than to be served and to give His life as a ransom for all (Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45; John 13:5-14). By the example that Jesus gave we may conclude that servitude is one of the primary requirements of a legitimate ministry (Matthew 20:28; Mark 9:35; 10:43-44). The needs of others were constantly on His heart. I can see Jesus not only continually ministering to the spiritual and physical needs of people but to their financial needs as well. Evidently, it was so common for Jesus to provide money to the needs of the poor that on the night He was betrayed the disciples thought that Jesus wanted Judas to take some money to the poor (John 13:29).
Why is it considered more of a blessing to give rather than to receive? Do we really find it so? When we give our praise and adoration to God for all that He has done for us does it seem better than when He gives us the many everyday blessing and answers to our prayers? I believe that we find the answer to this in the realms of love. A person has their first great Christmas when they watch their children rip open their presents on Christmas morning. When we find ourselves loving someone more than we love ourselves we have stepped over into an unselfish realm of love. In this realm of love it is more blessed to give than to receive. By the Spirit of God we can yield to this kind of love that esteems everyone better than ourselves (Philippians 2:3). By yielding ourselves to the Holy Spirit we are able to experience this glorious unselfish love that moved the Father to give His only Begotten Son for us and that moved Jesus to willingly lay His life down so that we can live. Then on top of that we also discover that it is through giving that we receive miracle provision. As we give God opens up the heavens and pours out more than we can receive (Malachi 3:10; Proverbs 3:9-10). He also causes men to heap into our bosom, all as we discover the wonderful blessing of giving. God will take what we have given and multiply it insomuch that He will cause all grace to abound to us and again we will discover the blessedness of giving (2 Corinthians 9:8-11; Proverbs 28:27).
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
