Saturday, January 05, 2008

Daily Bread - JAN/05/08

Acts 13:52 - And the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.


When the gospel was preached in the days of the apostles the fruit of the Holy Spirit was always present being manifested in joy unspeakable (Acts 8:8; Romans 14:16; Galatians 5:22; John 15:11; 16:24; 1 John 1:4; 2 John 12; 1 Thessalonians 1:6; Acts 2:28; 1 Peter 1:8). The joy that the Holy Spirit desires to produce in our lives is an ecstatic joy, an overwhelming pleasure of pure happiness produced by being in the presence of the Almighty God (Psalms 16:11; 36:8; 21:5-6).

Be blessed,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org

Friday, January 04, 2008

Daily Bread - JAN/04/08

1 Thessalonians 5:19 - Do not quench the Spirit.


When the church was anointed with the Holy Spirit, tongues of fire came and rested upon each one of them (Acts 2:3-4). The tongues of fire then began to be expressed through their words as their tongues were set on fire of God. The word that is used here in this text (sbennute) refers to the putting out of that flame which has ignited every dimension of the manifestation of the Spirit in the lives of those who believe. This particular word (sbennute) is used in several other verses in the New Testament and in each case in reference to the putting out of fire (Ephesians 6:16; Hebrews 11:34; Matthew 12:20; Mark 9:44, 46, 48).

The tongues of fire that came by the enduement of power from on high is very important to the church and to the individual believer. It was an activity of the Spirit so important to Paul that he boasted that he spoke in tongues more than anyone (1 Corinthians 14:18). It was one of the signs given to the believer that would be used to evangelize the world as they spoke with new tongues: tongues that had never existed before (Mark 16:17; 1 Corinthians 14:21-22). It is a power of prayer that results in the saints of God being built up and strengthened to function in every supernatural realm of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 14:2, 14-15; Jude 20; Ephesians 6:18). To the first century church, tongues of fire was the evidence that a person had been baptized by Jesus in the Holy Spirit and fire (Acts 10:45-47; 11:15-18; 19:2, 6). The tongues of fire are the only manifestation of the Spirit that is associated with the fire of God in the New Testament (Matthew 3:11; Luke 3:16; Acts 2:3). Tongues of fire is both the first gift to the church and the one representing the enduement of power from on high (John 7:38-39; Luke 24:49; Acts 1:5,8; Acts 2:33).

Be blessed,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org

Thursday, January 03, 2008

Daily Bread - JAN/03/08

1 Thessalonians 5:16 - Rejoice always.


There is nothing ambiguous about this verse of scripture. The command is direct and essential for the well-being and spiritual growth of the saints of God. The Greek word for rejoice (chairo) shares a relationship with the word for grace (charis). The grace of God that is brought to us by the Holy Spirit fills us with joy and rejoicing if we will yield to Him (Titus 2:11; Galatians 5:22; Romans 14:17; Colossians 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 1:6; 1 Peter 1:8). There is a constant need for this infilling and divine inspiration so that we might continually enjoy this glorious fellowship as well as shine as a light to a lost and sad world (Ephesians 5:18-20; John 7:38-39). As we yield to the joyful inspirations of the Holy Spirit we will discover the acts of His grace (charismata) being revealed in us and through us (1 Corinthians 12:4-11).

Be blessed,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org
Daily Bread - JAN/02/08

Psalms 118:24 - This is the day Yahweh made we will rejoice and be glad in Him.


When we consider all of God's goodness and the blessing, if we were in our right mind we would not be able to contain ourselves for the joy (Hebrew-giyl) and gladness (Hebrew samach) that should be expressed. Unfortunately, many of God's people allow the cares of this world to choke out the joy and excitement of life. We become so overwhelmed with our responsibilities and wants that we become prisoners of disappointment and greed failing to recognize the overwhelming riches that are ours in Christ Jesus.

This day did not happen by itself. It is not a product of natural laws but the very act of a joyful and loving God who invites us to come and share it with Him. Yes, there is work that needs to be done and responsibilities that need to be met, but they can be done joyfully. If we would cast aside our self-interest and fears and recognize that the provider of the day is also the provider of all that we have need of we can rejoice in knowing all is well. No matter where we find ourselves we can begin to dream for bigger things in God and take courage that He is devoted to our success. Decide today that from now on you are going to, "Glory in His holy name," and realize that all who seek the Lord must find rejoicing in their heart (Psalms 105:3; Deuteronomy 12:7). Let the joy of the Lord be your strength; for as you rejoice in God, the Holy Spirit will strengthen you in your inner man (Nehemiah 8:10; Ephesians 3:16). When you see a mountain of hindrance before you do not lose heart or become sad and discouraged but rise up in shouts of joy and begin to proclaim grace, grace! (Zechariah 4:7). There is only one way to welcome the King of Kings into your life - who will come, fight your battles, and promote you into all the things that He has purposed for your life - and that is with shouts of joy (Matthew 21:9; Nehemiah 12:43; Psalms 24:7-9).

Be blessed,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org
Daily Bread - JAN/01/08

Philippians 4:4 - Rejoice in the Lord always: again I say Rejoice!


We must recognize exactly how imperative it is for us to rejoice. If there is no rejoicing then there is no giving thanks; there is no praise and no worship; for all of these actions are found in rejoicing. The very fact that joy and rejoicing are found more than 200 times in the Bible should seize our attention and cause us to recognize that it is key to discovering the things of God. When we add words like the giving of thanks and praise then the totals begin to go well above 600 verses of scripture devoted to this subject.

Paul placed a demand upon those at Philippi and told them, with an imperative that he repeated in the same verse, to rejoice! In this context he assures the Philippians that they will not need to worry about anything because God would surely supply everything that they had need of (4:6-7, 19). When we recognize that God rules over everything at this very moment then we should begin to rejoice (Psalms 97:1; Ephesians 1:21; Revelation 19:16). Even though Satan continues to create havoc in the world right now, God has given man power in His absolute reign to stop everything that Satan is doing (Luke 10:19; Mark 16:17; 1 John 3:8; Hebrews 2:14; 2 Timothy 1:10; Ephesians 6:10).

We must recognize that everything that God has ever wanted man to do is to trust Him (Jeremiah 17:7; Genesis 22:16:18; Hebrews 11:6). God is devoted to doing whatever it takes to teach us to trust Him. When we make God the sole object of our trust we find a joy unspeakable that is glorious! It is in this realm of praise and thanksgiving that God rises up on our behalf and subdues all of our enemies and produces supernatural faith by His Spirit that works in us (Psalms 60:12; 118:15-16; 2 Chronicles 20:22; 1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Happy New Year!

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org

Monday, December 31, 2007

Daily Bread - DEC/31/07

1 Chronicles 16:9-10 - Sing unto him, sing psalms unto Him. Talk of all His wondrous works. Boast in His Holy Name: let the heart of them rejoice who seek Yahweh.


One of the most essential aspects of seeking God is to rejoice before Him for all of the wonderful things that He has done and has promised to do (Psalms 70:4; 100:2; 105:3; Isaiah 25:9; Hebrews 11:6). God desires for us to be continually filled with the Spirit so that we may be supplied with the supernatural resources to be all that He has called and chosen us to be. When the Holy Spirit is allowed control over our emotions and given place to prophesy through us then our tongues will be glad, and we will shout for joy, and the Lord will be magnified (Psalms 132:9, 16;Galatians 5:22; Romans 14:17; Acts 2:11, 26). God's will for our lives is that we continually give thanks speaking to ourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in our heart (Ephesians 5:19-20; 1 Thessalonians 5:18). He has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light for the purpose of making known all His goodness (1 Peter 2:9; Ephesians 2:10; Isaiah 61:6).

It is impossible to worship God and interact with Him unless you are rejoicing in Him; for rejoicing is the act of praise and thanksgiving (Deuteronomy 16:11-15; 2 Chronicles 23:18; Psalms 5:11; 9:2; 26:7; 50:14; 69:30; 95:2; 107:22). When we rejoice in God we are declaring with our mouths all the things that He has done and that He has promised to do. Such a relationship with God will produce a state of even greater joy and thanksgiving. The more you will allow the Holy Spirit to lead you and guide you into truth you will discover that God has done more than can be reckoned and more than can be numbered (Jeremiah 15:16; Psalms 40:5; 68:19; 103:2). As you give yourself over to this state of joy and rejoicing in the Holy Ghost watch what will happen. Your eyes will be opened to the promises of God, and faith will rise up and produce a certainty that calls it all done! In such a state you will discover God's glory and presence all around you and a divine ability that will enable you to both boast of great things and do them as well. As you acknowledge all that God is doing and every good thing that is in you faith will begin to work, and you will find yourself living in a whole new dimension of glory. If we do what God has told us to do and agree with the things that He has said then we discover fullness of joy that will both boast and radiate with the wondrous works of God (John 15:11; 16:24; 1 Peter 1:8; 1 John 1:4). Rejoice and never allow a sad countenance to veil the glory of God that is on you.

Be blessed,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org
Daily Bread - DEC/29/07

Ephesians 4:13 - "Until we all come to the oneness of faith and the full knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man to the measure of the maturity of the fullness of Christ."


There are two challenging and yet glorious privileges expressed in this verse: First "the measure of the maturity of Christ" and second "the fullness of Christ". The fullness of Christ in ministry is promised to the believer by Jesus when He said, "He that believes on me the works that I do shall he do also and greater"(John 14:12).

When Jesus was baptized in the Spirit He was filled with the Spirit without measure (John 3:34; Matthew 3:16). Jesus came as the express image of the Father filled with all of the fullness of God (Colossians 1:19; 2:9). God made it possible for us to be filled with all of the fullness of Christ Jesus first by the new birth and secondly through the Baptism of the Spirit. When we were born of the Spirit Christ Jesus was formed in us (Colossians 1:28; Galatians 4:19; 1 John 4:4; Romans 8:29). This new creature that is created in Christ Jesus possesses both the abiding presence of the Father, the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit (John 14:23; 1 John 3:24).

Paul testified that he had received the fullness of Christ when he declared to the Romans that he would "come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ" (Romans 15:29). And then again when he made it known that he no longer lived but Christ which was in him (Galatians 2:20; Philippians 1:21). Paul also revealed that the fullness of God was made available to all of the saints through knowing the love of Christ: "to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge so that we might be filled with all the fullness of God" (Ephesians 3:19). In fact, he revealed that the church was the fullness of Him who fills all things (Ephesians 1:23). Although we look at such a promise and are overwhelmed with amazement and a sense of impossibility we must with awe and expectation embrace the call to this unspeakable gift of God. Father has revealed these things to us by His Spirit because it is His will for our lives. If we refuse to believe and take hold of the faith, by both accepting and expecting this to be the reality of our lives, then we will certainly never realize this glorious privilege.

Be blessed,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org
Daily Bread - DEC/28/07
Colossians 1:8 - Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.

The love that is given to the New Testament saint far exceeds human love. The love of God that has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit is divine love or Father's love (Romans 5:5; 1John 2:15). This love that we are commanded to have one for another is a love that only functions by the Holy Spirit therefore, to have it one must be 'in Spirit'. Being 'in the Spirit' begins in our life when we are born of the Spirit (John 3:6; Romans 8:9).

However, it is an ongoing act of our will to submit to the inspiration and leading of the Holy Spirit that is prompted by the Word of God. As we ask the Holy Spirit to love through us in the face of hate and rejection, refusing the human inspiration of self- defense, we find ourselves overwhelmed with the inspiration of divine love pouring out like a river.

The Greek phrase that is used here 'en pneumati', literally means 'in Spirit' and is found 36 times in the New Testament. The many context in which it is used helps to underscore the dependency that we must have on the Holy Spirit, if His fruits or characteristics are going to be revealed in our lives. Jesus said, "If I cast out devils 'en pneumati' then the kingdom of God is come" (Matthew 12:28). When David prophesied and foretold of the coming Messiah he did so 'in Spirit' - "how then did David 'en pneumati' call him Lord?" (Matthew 22:43). These are two scriptures out of many examples, which should serve to underscore that 'in pneumati' refers to something that is produced by the Spirit of God and not by any quality or attribute of an individual. Whether it is love, peace, joy, faith, power to cast out devils, miracles, healings or prophecy it only can function in our life as we give ourselves over to the working of the Holy Spirit in us and through us.

Be blessed,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org