Daily Bread
1 Corinthians 12:4 "Now there are divisions of Charismata but the same Spirit."
The best way to translate 'charismata' is "gifts of grace." The word charismata is derived from the Greek root 'charis' which means 'grace.' Grace means far more than just favor; grace is revealed to be the divine empowerment that supplies the saints with the ability to do and be everything that God has purposed for our lives. Grace may be extended to mean any divine act of God which results in either His protection or help but more than anything else His empowerment of an individual. Charismata (gifts) is found 17 times in the New Testament. It first appears in Romans 1:11, "that I may give you a share of spiritual 'charisma' (gift) to establish you." Although this word is used to refer to the gift of salvation in Romans 5:15, 16 and 6:23 it is also used of the spiritual gifts of prophecy, faith, and ministry in Romans 12:6-7. Paul opens up his letter to the Corinthians with this word recognizing that those at Corinth had the testimony of Christ confirmed in them which resulted in them having all of the 'charismata' (1:7). Charismata is used five times in the 12th chapter of 1 Corinthians all with respect to the gifts that are manifested as signs and wonders in the church (1 Corinthians 12: 4, 9, 28, 30, 31).
Blessings
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Friday, June 09, 2006
Daily Bread
John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and he said, Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
John gave witness to Jesus before Satan was allowed to tempt Him in the wilderness and now again after the temptation. Jesus was the spotless Lamb who was without sin before He went up into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. Jesus also remained the spotless Lamb after the temptation to which John once again gave testimony. This examination by John was similar to the examination that the priest had to give to ensure that the offerings were without blemish. Jesus was not just any kind of lamb; He was the Passover Lamb. The Passover was used by Jesus to declare the New Covenant and in fact was changed by Him to be the occasion of celebrating the birth of the New Covenant. It is the Passover supper which is the model for New Testament communion (1 Corinthians 11:20-30). The fact that Jesus is represented by the Passover lamb of the Old Testament is further emphasized in that He was killed at the time of the slaying of the Passover lamb (John19:14, 31; 18:28; also Jub. 49:10, 19; m Pesach 5:1; Philo, Laws 2.145; R. Natan in Mek. Bo 5). Jesus was shown to be a Lamb without spot or blemish and His body was to be taken an eaten and not a bone was to be broken, a treatment specifically required of the Passover lamb (John 19:31-37; Exodus 12:26; Numbers 9:12). Paul taught that Jesus was the Passover Lamb in 1 Corinthians 5:7. "for Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us." Peter also taught that Jesus was a "lamb without blemish and without spot." Finally, Isaiah the prophet called him a lamb (Isaiah 53:7; Acts 8:32). The blood of the Passover lamb represents the power that broke the yoke of the 10th plague and of the domination and trickery that Pharaoh exercised over Israel (Exodus 11:1). The Passover night was the time that God laid the sins of the people upon the firstborn. Only the blood of Passover lamb, which represented the blood of the firstborn, could expiate for a family that night (Exodus 13:2; 11-16). The blood of the Passover lamb represents redemption; for it was on that night that God redeemed all of Israel through their firstborn (Exodus 13:15; 6:6). It represents deliverance because God delivered Israel from bondage (Exodus 12:27). It represents the beginning ofGod's Covenant with Israel for it is "the beginning of months" and it is the event that set the covenant into motion that was promised to Abraham (Exodus12:1; 13:9; 6:4,7,8; Hebrews 8:9). The Passover represents the very day that Israel was born as a nation and, as such, the covenant people of God. Finally, it is the time that Israel was released from slavery to serve God and be His people (Exodus 13:3). The particular Greek word used for lamb in Exodus 12:5 is 'arnos.' This Greek word first occurs in Exodus 12:5 and then is used 33 times in the Septuagint afterwards. The Hebrew word that 'arnos' translatesis 'seh,' (lamb), which first occurs in Genesis 22:7 and 8 when Isaac askAbraham his father "where is the lamb" Abraham said, "God will provide for Himself a Lamb," a statement that can be easily understood as a prophecy of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. The offering of Isaac as a whole burnt offering unto God is the perfect typology for the offering of Jesus Christ by God the Father. Jesus said that Abraham saw His day, and it makes perfect sense that at the moment that Abraham was offering the ultimate sacrifice of His only begotten son on what would become the temple mount that he would have looked up and not only seen a lamb caught in the thicket but also the Lamb of God which John the Baptist announced in this verse.
Blessings
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and he said, Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
John gave witness to Jesus before Satan was allowed to tempt Him in the wilderness and now again after the temptation. Jesus was the spotless Lamb who was without sin before He went up into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. Jesus also remained the spotless Lamb after the temptation to which John once again gave testimony. This examination by John was similar to the examination that the priest had to give to ensure that the offerings were without blemish. Jesus was not just any kind of lamb; He was the Passover Lamb. The Passover was used by Jesus to declare the New Covenant and in fact was changed by Him to be the occasion of celebrating the birth of the New Covenant. It is the Passover supper which is the model for New Testament communion (1 Corinthians 11:20-30). The fact that Jesus is represented by the Passover lamb of the Old Testament is further emphasized in that He was killed at the time of the slaying of the Passover lamb (John19:14, 31; 18:28; also Jub. 49:10, 19; m Pesach 5:1; Philo, Laws 2.145; R. Natan in Mek. Bo 5). Jesus was shown to be a Lamb without spot or blemish and His body was to be taken an eaten and not a bone was to be broken, a treatment specifically required of the Passover lamb (John 19:31-37; Exodus 12:26; Numbers 9:12). Paul taught that Jesus was the Passover Lamb in 1 Corinthians 5:7. "for Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us." Peter also taught that Jesus was a "lamb without blemish and without spot." Finally, Isaiah the prophet called him a lamb (Isaiah 53:7; Acts 8:32). The blood of the Passover lamb represents the power that broke the yoke of the 10th plague and of the domination and trickery that Pharaoh exercised over Israel (Exodus 11:1). The Passover night was the time that God laid the sins of the people upon the firstborn. Only the blood of Passover lamb, which represented the blood of the firstborn, could expiate for a family that night (Exodus 13:2; 11-16). The blood of the Passover lamb represents redemption; for it was on that night that God redeemed all of Israel through their firstborn (Exodus 13:15; 6:6). It represents deliverance because God delivered Israel from bondage (Exodus 12:27). It represents the beginning ofGod's Covenant with Israel for it is "the beginning of months" and it is the event that set the covenant into motion that was promised to Abraham (Exodus12:1; 13:9; 6:4,7,8; Hebrews 8:9). The Passover represents the very day that Israel was born as a nation and, as such, the covenant people of God. Finally, it is the time that Israel was released from slavery to serve God and be His people (Exodus 13:3). The particular Greek word used for lamb in Exodus 12:5 is 'arnos.' This Greek word first occurs in Exodus 12:5 and then is used 33 times in the Septuagint afterwards. The Hebrew word that 'arnos' translatesis 'seh,' (lamb), which first occurs in Genesis 22:7 and 8 when Isaac askAbraham his father "where is the lamb" Abraham said, "God will provide for Himself a Lamb," a statement that can be easily understood as a prophecy of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. The offering of Isaac as a whole burnt offering unto God is the perfect typology for the offering of Jesus Christ by God the Father. Jesus said that Abraham saw His day, and it makes perfect sense that at the moment that Abraham was offering the ultimate sacrifice of His only begotten son on what would become the temple mount that he would have looked up and not only seen a lamb caught in the thicket but also the Lamb of God which John the Baptist announced in this verse.
Blessings
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Daily Bread
1 Corinthians 12: 1 - Now concerning the spiritual brethren I would not have you ignorant.
Paul lays out in this chapter and in Chapter 14 very specific details as to how the saints should function in the context of the church. In the opening statements that Paul made in this letter he testified that the saints at Corinth were not lacking in any of the 'charismata' (gifts), 1 Corinthians 1:7. However, Paul is now speaking of something that extends beyond the charismata.' At this juncture Paul is talking about the 'pneumatikos' (the spiritual). The Authorized Version adds a word that does not exist in any Greek manuscripts, 'gift.' To include this word actually narrows the focus from a broader application of the 'spiritual.' The 'spiritual' is the realm of the Spirit - including all of the activities of the Holy Spirit. The spiritual refers to everything that pertains to the Kingdom of God, the realm in which God and all of His heavenly host function. As Jesus said inMatthew 12:28, "If I cast out devils by the Spirit of God then the Kingdom of God is come to you." When the Kingdom of God is revealed it is revealed through the spiritual activity of the Holy Spirit. In fact, when Jesus ministered, the scripture says that he "went about all of the cities and villages teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing all sickness and every disease among the people (Matthew 9:35). He also told His disciples to go and preach the gospel of the Kingdom by healing the sick, cleansing the lepers, raising the dead, casting out devils (Matthew 10:8; Luke 9:1-2). After that, Jesus sent out seventy other to declare the things of the Kingdom by the same signs and wonders(Luke 10:1,9,17). Finally, the same commission was given to everyone who believes, "These signs shall follow them that believe; in my name they will cast out devils; they will speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing it will not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover" (Mark 16:17). At the time that the Holy Spirit was poured out on the day of Pentecost the realms of the spiritual began to manifest through those in the church. They were baptized in Holy Spirit even as one may be baptized in water. And just as Jesus had promised out of their bellies began to flow rivers of living water, which is unlimited manifestations of the spiritual. Of the 27 times that this word is found in the New Testament Paul uses it 26 times to express the operation of the Holy Spirit through the saints in signs and wonders or to express that which belongs to the realms of God. The first time that Paul uses this word is in Romans 1:11 for the impartation of the spiritual into the saints. The first time that he uses the word in this letter to the church at Corinth is in 2:13 in which he describes how he ministers and uses it as the contrast to the realm of the natural. In chapter 2, Paul contrasts the spiritual 'pneumatikos,' which is the realm of God to the natural 'psuchikos,' which is the realm of men. The same contrast between the spiritual and the natural are made in 1 Corinthians 15:44-46). And, finally, both Jude and James define that which is of the natural realm 'psuchikos' as that which has not the Spirit (Jude 19; James 3:15).
Blessings
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
1 Corinthians 12: 1 - Now concerning the spiritual brethren I would not have you ignorant.
Paul lays out in this chapter and in Chapter 14 very specific details as to how the saints should function in the context of the church. In the opening statements that Paul made in this letter he testified that the saints at Corinth were not lacking in any of the 'charismata' (gifts), 1 Corinthians 1:7. However, Paul is now speaking of something that extends beyond the charismata.' At this juncture Paul is talking about the 'pneumatikos' (the spiritual). The Authorized Version adds a word that does not exist in any Greek manuscripts, 'gift.' To include this word actually narrows the focus from a broader application of the 'spiritual.' The 'spiritual' is the realm of the Spirit - including all of the activities of the Holy Spirit. The spiritual refers to everything that pertains to the Kingdom of God, the realm in which God and all of His heavenly host function. As Jesus said inMatthew 12:28, "If I cast out devils by the Spirit of God then the Kingdom of God is come to you." When the Kingdom of God is revealed it is revealed through the spiritual activity of the Holy Spirit. In fact, when Jesus ministered, the scripture says that he "went about all of the cities and villages teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing all sickness and every disease among the people (Matthew 9:35). He also told His disciples to go and preach the gospel of the Kingdom by healing the sick, cleansing the lepers, raising the dead, casting out devils (Matthew 10:8; Luke 9:1-2). After that, Jesus sent out seventy other to declare the things of the Kingdom by the same signs and wonders(Luke 10:1,9,17). Finally, the same commission was given to everyone who believes, "These signs shall follow them that believe; in my name they will cast out devils; they will speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing it will not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover" (Mark 16:17). At the time that the Holy Spirit was poured out on the day of Pentecost the realms of the spiritual began to manifest through those in the church. They were baptized in Holy Spirit even as one may be baptized in water. And just as Jesus had promised out of their bellies began to flow rivers of living water, which is unlimited manifestations of the spiritual. Of the 27 times that this word is found in the New Testament Paul uses it 26 times to express the operation of the Holy Spirit through the saints in signs and wonders or to express that which belongs to the realms of God. The first time that Paul uses this word is in Romans 1:11 for the impartation of the spiritual into the saints. The first time that he uses the word in this letter to the church at Corinth is in 2:13 in which he describes how he ministers and uses it as the contrast to the realm of the natural. In chapter 2, Paul contrasts the spiritual 'pneumatikos,' which is the realm of God to the natural 'psuchikos,' which is the realm of men. The same contrast between the spiritual and the natural are made in 1 Corinthians 15:44-46). And, finally, both Jude and James define that which is of the natural realm 'psuchikos' as that which has not the Spirit (Jude 19; James 3:15).
Blessings
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Daily Bread
Daily Bread
1 John 3:5 "And we know that He was revealed to take away sins and in Him is no sin."
The only place that men can find freedom from the dominion of sin and power to live in the purity and the splendor of God's Holiness is in Christ Jesus. Being "in Christ," is an expression of the relationship that we have been given through His salvation. Instead of continuing to live our own life of defeat and failure, we now live a victorious life in Him. John refers to this place of purity and glory in chapter 1 verse 7 in terms of being "in the Light as He is in the Light." It is His presence that results in purity and power to live Holy. The sinless state of the saint who is willing to abide in Christ is emphasized in the next verse, "Everyone who abides in Him has no sin; everyone that sins has not seen Him nor known Him." When one remains in agreement and submission to Christ Jesus there cannot be sin because Christ Jesus will never lead us into such things. The same is true of being led by the Holy Spirit. We know that all who are led by the Spirit are the sons of God (Romans 8:14). If a person is always in submission to the Holy Spirit then they will never be led to do anything contrary to the will of God. A similar concept is found in verse 9 below which includes agreement and submission to the Word of God resulting in a sinless state. Being "in Christ" is a message that is delivered many times by the Apostle Paul, "If any man be in Christ he is a new creature," (2 Corinthians 5:17). The fact that the benefits of salvation are only received through our willingness to be "in Christ" is communicated in many verses of scripture throughout the New Testament such as; Romans 8:1,2,39; 12:5; 3:24;1 Co. 1:2,30; 15:18, 22; 2 Co. 1:21; 2:14, 17; Ga. 3:28; 6:15; Eph. 1:3, 10;2:6, 10, Col. 1:28, etc.
Blessings
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Daily Bread
1 John 3:5 "And we know that He was revealed to take away sins and in Him is no sin."
The only place that men can find freedom from the dominion of sin and power to live in the purity and the splendor of God's Holiness is in Christ Jesus. Being "in Christ," is an expression of the relationship that we have been given through His salvation. Instead of continuing to live our own life of defeat and failure, we now live a victorious life in Him. John refers to this place of purity and glory in chapter 1 verse 7 in terms of being "in the Light as He is in the Light." It is His presence that results in purity and power to live Holy. The sinless state of the saint who is willing to abide in Christ is emphasized in the next verse, "Everyone who abides in Him has no sin; everyone that sins has not seen Him nor known Him." When one remains in agreement and submission to Christ Jesus there cannot be sin because Christ Jesus will never lead us into such things. The same is true of being led by the Holy Spirit. We know that all who are led by the Spirit are the sons of God (Romans 8:14). If a person is always in submission to the Holy Spirit then they will never be led to do anything contrary to the will of God. A similar concept is found in verse 9 below which includes agreement and submission to the Word of God resulting in a sinless state. Being "in Christ" is a message that is delivered many times by the Apostle Paul, "If any man be in Christ he is a new creature," (2 Corinthians 5:17). The fact that the benefits of salvation are only received through our willingness to be "in Christ" is communicated in many verses of scripture throughout the New Testament such as; Romans 8:1,2,39; 12:5; 3:24;1 Co. 1:2,30; 15:18, 22; 2 Co. 1:21; 2:14, 17; Ga. 3:28; 6:15; Eph. 1:3, 10;2:6, 10, Col. 1:28, etc.
Blessings
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Daily Bread
Daily Bread
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 onefor 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 all of the 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
www.abidingplace.org
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 onefor 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 all of the 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
www.abidingplace.org
Monday, June 05, 2006
Fresh Bread - 6/5
Daily Bread
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; 1 John 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 the Spirit." Being "in the Spirit" is the result of having been born of the Spirit (John 3:6; Romans 8:9). The Greek phrase 'en pneumati' which literally means "in Spirit" is found 36 times in the New Testament. Jesus said if He cast out devils 'enpneumati' then the kingdom of God is come to you (Matthew 12:28). When Jesus was referring to the gift of prophecy recorded in scripture and spoken by David He said, "how then did David 'en pneumati' call him Lord" (Matthew22:43). Both of these scriptures serve to underscore the fact that 'inpneumati' refers to something that is produced by the Spirit through an individual whether it is love, faith, power to cast out devils, or the word of God spoken by prophecy.
Blessings
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
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; 1 John 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 the Spirit." Being "in the Spirit" is the result of having been born of the Spirit (John 3:6; Romans 8:9). The Greek phrase 'en pneumati' which literally means "in Spirit" is found 36 times in the New Testament. Jesus said if He cast out devils 'enpneumati' then the kingdom of God is come to you (Matthew 12:28). When Jesus was referring to the gift of prophecy recorded in scripture and spoken by David He said, "how then did David 'en pneumati' call him Lord" (Matthew22:43). Both of these scriptures serve to underscore the fact that 'inpneumati' refers to something that is produced by the Spirit through an individual whether it is love, faith, power to cast out devils, or the word of God spoken by prophecy.
Blessings
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
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