Daily Bread - Nov 30 2006
Acts 10:35 - "But in every nation those who fear Him and practice righteousness are acceptable."
The Greek word, 'dekton,' which means, "acceptable," is used often in the Old Testament sacrificial system. The acceptable offerings are those offerings which a worshiper can worship God with. "If his offering is a whole burnt offering of the oxen, it shall be a perfect male which he shall bring to the door of the tent of meeting; he shall come near; for it is acceptable before YHWH" (Leviticus 1:3).
Through the transformation of life that was brought to us through Jesus Christ, God has made us holy and acceptable so that we can live our lives as an offering to God which is "holy and acceptable" (Romans 12:1). Paul said that the Gentiles were made acceptable to God because they were sanctified by the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:16). In Proverbs, God says "to do righteousness and judgment is more acceptable than sacrifice" (Proverbs 21:3). All worshipers, along with the Psalmist, cry out to God and say, "Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight oh Lord my strength and my redeemer (Psalms 19:14).
When Jesus began His ministry He introduced the acceptable day of the Lord wherein God is calling all men to repent and turn back to the ways of righteousness, purity, and holiness for which we were created (Luke 4:19; Isaiah 61:2; Ephesians 1:4; 1 Peter 2:9). God has called us to live in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost to which Paul says that those who serve God in these things are acceptable to God and approved of men (Romans 14:17-18).
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Daily Bread - Nov 29 2006
Acts 11:18 - "And when they heard these things they grew silent and glorified God saying, also unto the Gentiles God has given repentance unto life."
The expression "repentance unto life" may be understood more clearly by analyzing the Greek word 'metanoian' which is translated "repentance." The Greek word 'metanoian' means "change of mind." Every time it occurs in the New Testament is translated "repentance." It is the noun of the Greek verb 'metanoeo' which is the primary word for "repent." The Greek word 'metanoeo' is derived from two Greek words 'meta' and 'noeo' which mean ''with" and "understanding" respectively. It may be said, then, that "repentance" means a change of life as a result of a change of thinking and attitude with regards to sin and righteousness.
Man is a deceived prisoner of sin. The eyes of his understanding are blinded to the truth and reality of God (2 Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 13:14). When God granted repentance unto life He gave to whosoever will the ability to escape from the prison of deception and spiritual blindness and come into the revelation of the life that is in God through Jesus Christ the Messiah. Repentance, then, by definition, is a change that occurs in a person which allows them to change their attitudes and behaviors.
The closest Hebrew word in the Old Testament that conveys the meaning of repentance would be 'shuv' which is translated "turn or return" as in Malachi 2:6 and Isaiah 6:9-10. This word denotes the way one conducts their life in relationship to another person such as Israel with God, thus, walking in the way of the Lord (Psalms 1:1). The contrast associated with the meaning of this word is understood between the way of Israel and the way of Canaan, the way of the righteous with that of sinners, the way of the Lord with the way of the evildoers. Thus, to deviate from the way in which God required His people to walk would demand that there be repentance on their part which would then result in their walking again in the way of Lord, as underscored in Amos 4:6-13; Hosea 5:15-6:5; Jeremiah 3:12-14.
In both Hosea and in Jeremiah, the love relationship that God had for Israel was drawn out as the love that a man has for a woman, so in Hosea God says, "I will woo her. I will go with her into the wilderness and comfort her; there I will restore." (Hosea 2:14-15) and in Jeremiah He said, "I remember the unfailing devotion of your youth, the love of your bridal days when you followed me in the wilderness through a land unknown" (Jeremiah 2:2; 31:3).
Finally, although the Hebrew word 'shuv' carries with it the New Testament meaning of repentance it is translated in the Septuagint by the Greek word 'epistropho' which means "to turn or be converted." There are two passages of scripture in Acts that bring 'metanoeo' and 'epistrepho' together: Acts 3:19, "Repent therefore and turn back that your sins may be wiped out" and Acts 26:20, "repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds." We may conclude that the act of true repentance results in one being converted and walking in the ways of God's righteousness. Calling men to repentance is calling men to come and to walk with God. It is the ministry of Jesus and all those who proclaim the good news (Luke 5:32; 24:47).
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Acts 11:18 - "And when they heard these things they grew silent and glorified God saying, also unto the Gentiles God has given repentance unto life."
The expression "repentance unto life" may be understood more clearly by analyzing the Greek word 'metanoian' which is translated "repentance." The Greek word 'metanoian' means "change of mind." Every time it occurs in the New Testament is translated "repentance." It is the noun of the Greek verb 'metanoeo' which is the primary word for "repent." The Greek word 'metanoeo' is derived from two Greek words 'meta' and 'noeo' which mean ''with" and "understanding" respectively. It may be said, then, that "repentance" means a change of life as a result of a change of thinking and attitude with regards to sin and righteousness.
Man is a deceived prisoner of sin. The eyes of his understanding are blinded to the truth and reality of God (2 Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 13:14). When God granted repentance unto life He gave to whosoever will the ability to escape from the prison of deception and spiritual blindness and come into the revelation of the life that is in God through Jesus Christ the Messiah. Repentance, then, by definition, is a change that occurs in a person which allows them to change their attitudes and behaviors.
The closest Hebrew word in the Old Testament that conveys the meaning of repentance would be 'shuv' which is translated "turn or return" as in Malachi 2:6 and Isaiah 6:9-10. This word denotes the way one conducts their life in relationship to another person such as Israel with God, thus, walking in the way of the Lord (Psalms 1:1). The contrast associated with the meaning of this word is understood between the way of Israel and the way of Canaan, the way of the righteous with that of sinners, the way of the Lord with the way of the evildoers. Thus, to deviate from the way in which God required His people to walk would demand that there be repentance on their part which would then result in their walking again in the way of Lord, as underscored in Amos 4:6-13; Hosea 5:15-6:5; Jeremiah 3:12-14.
In both Hosea and in Jeremiah, the love relationship that God had for Israel was drawn out as the love that a man has for a woman, so in Hosea God says, "I will woo her. I will go with her into the wilderness and comfort her; there I will restore." (Hosea 2:14-15) and in Jeremiah He said, "I remember the unfailing devotion of your youth, the love of your bridal days when you followed me in the wilderness through a land unknown" (Jeremiah 2:2; 31:3).
Finally, although the Hebrew word 'shuv' carries with it the New Testament meaning of repentance it is translated in the Septuagint by the Greek word 'epistropho' which means "to turn or be converted." There are two passages of scripture in Acts that bring 'metanoeo' and 'epistrepho' together: Acts 3:19, "Repent therefore and turn back that your sins may be wiped out" and Acts 26:20, "repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds." We may conclude that the act of true repentance results in one being converted and walking in the ways of God's righteousness. Calling men to repentance is calling men to come and to walk with God. It is the ministry of Jesus and all those who proclaim the good news (Luke 5:32; 24:47).
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Daily Bread - Nov 28 2006
Acts 13:2 - "And while they performed the service of the Lord and fasted the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart now Barnabas and Saul unto the work which I have called them."
This is one example of how actively in charge the person the Holy Spirit is in the church of the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 15:28; 16:6; 20:28). The Holy Spirit not only proclaimed that they were to be separated unto Him but is also the one who sent them (Acts 13:4). The Holy Spirit is the one who is here to teach the church everything that it is supposed to do (John 14:26).
When anyone spoke to the leaders of the church they were actually addressing the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3). When men spoke in the church they did so by the Holy Spirit (Acts 20:23; 21:11). When men refused to listen to the gospel they were, in fact, refusing to listen to the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:51). It was the Holy Spirit who spoke the word of God through the prophets of old such as Isaiah, and it is the Holy Spirit that speaks through His servants today (Acts 28:25; 1 Thessalonians 2:14).
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Acts 13:2 - "And while they performed the service of the Lord and fasted the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart now Barnabas and Saul unto the work which I have called them."
This is one example of how actively in charge the person the Holy Spirit is in the church of the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 15:28; 16:6; 20:28). The Holy Spirit not only proclaimed that they were to be separated unto Him but is also the one who sent them (Acts 13:4). The Holy Spirit is the one who is here to teach the church everything that it is supposed to do (John 14:26).
When anyone spoke to the leaders of the church they were actually addressing the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3). When men spoke in the church they did so by the Holy Spirit (Acts 20:23; 21:11). When men refused to listen to the gospel they were, in fact, refusing to listen to the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:51). It was the Holy Spirit who spoke the word of God through the prophets of old such as Isaiah, and it is the Holy Spirit that speaks through His servants today (Acts 28:25; 1 Thessalonians 2:14).
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Monday, November 27, 2006
Daily Bread - Nov 27 2006
1 Peter 2:24 - "Who Himself carried our sins in his own body upon the tree so that the sins being removed we might live righteously by whose wound you were healed."
Sin is an incurable disease that is passed from generation to generation. The only cure for this terrible plague is the blood of Jesus. It was through the bloody wound that Jesus received on the cross that our sins were put to death and the sicknesses and diseases, which are a consequence of sin, were cured.
When a cure for sin was provided in Christ Jesus, the cure for all sickness and disease was also revealed. For in Christ Jesus we have forgiveness for all our iniquities and healing for all our diseases (Psalms 103:3). It is God's will that every man find freedom from sin through the power of the blood of Jesus and healing for all their diseases through the wound which He bore. When men are healed from their diseases and sicknesses it is made known that the Lord Jesus has power to forgive sin (Matthew 9:6). It is through the prayer of faith in what Jesus has already accomplished for us that the sick are saved and sins are forgiven (James 5:15).
In both the Hebrew Bible (Leningrad Text/Cairo Text) and the Septuagint this verse simply reads, "by His wound we were healed" (Isaiah 53:5). Peter, who was speaking for God in the first person, did not include himself and therefore used the word "you" in an address by God to all mankind. The Greek word 'molops' appears in the singular form in both Testaments and both languages it means "wound, bruise, strip, or mark". However, the Hebrew word in Isaiah 53:5, 'chaburah' primarily refers to 'wound'.
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
1 Peter 2:24 - "Who Himself carried our sins in his own body upon the tree so that the sins being removed we might live righteously by whose wound you were healed."
Sin is an incurable disease that is passed from generation to generation. The only cure for this terrible plague is the blood of Jesus. It was through the bloody wound that Jesus received on the cross that our sins were put to death and the sicknesses and diseases, which are a consequence of sin, were cured.
When a cure for sin was provided in Christ Jesus, the cure for all sickness and disease was also revealed. For in Christ Jesus we have forgiveness for all our iniquities and healing for all our diseases (Psalms 103:3). It is God's will that every man find freedom from sin through the power of the blood of Jesus and healing for all their diseases through the wound which He bore. When men are healed from their diseases and sicknesses it is made known that the Lord Jesus has power to forgive sin (Matthew 9:6). It is through the prayer of faith in what Jesus has already accomplished for us that the sick are saved and sins are forgiven (James 5:15).
In both the Hebrew Bible (Leningrad Text/Cairo Text) and the Septuagint this verse simply reads, "by His wound we were healed" (Isaiah 53:5). Peter, who was speaking for God in the first person, did not include himself and therefore used the word "you" in an address by God to all mankind. The Greek word 'molops' appears in the singular form in both Testaments and both languages it means "wound, bruise, strip, or mark". However, the Hebrew word in Isaiah 53:5, 'chaburah' primarily refers to 'wound'.
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Daily Bread - Nov 25 2006
John 3:18 - "Whoever believes in Him is not condemned but whoever does not believe has already been condemned for refusing to believe in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
The Lord Jesus made freedom from condemnation and sin very easy; all one has to do is to believe in the Only Begotten Son, and they will be rescued from the imprisonment of spiritual death. The message of salvation that is contained within the title "Only Begotten Son" includes accepting that Jesus is God, that he became a human being to come and take upon himself the sins of the world, and that there is no other means of salvation but by Him.
We cannot trust in ourselves, our own good works or any other religious belief and Jesus too. The mixture will not do because it undermines the fact that unless man is born again and made a new creature he is unacceptable to God. All other religious activities are vain, including the Law because it cannot change the heart of man. There is only one possible way to be born of the Spirit and that is through the death of Jesus on the cross. For it was at the cross that Jesus broke the power of sin and Satan that took control of man when Adam sinned. When we believe on the Only Begotten Son we are taking notice that God has sent a personal invitation to us to come and join Him.
We are accepting the fact that God loves each of us personally (1 John 4:16). However, if we take a permanent position of refusing Jesus Christ as our savior then the result is eternal death. It is not that God chose death for us for He has chosen life for all mankind. In the very beginning it was man who walked away from God and became a prisoner to sin and death. God who is not willing that anyone perish has come to every person individually and given them the opportunity to accept what Adam refused (2 Peter 3:9; John 3:16). The choice is ours, God has opened the door of escape for us but if we refuse then there is nothing left but an eternal condemnation that God pronounced on sin from the very beginning.
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
John 3:18 - "Whoever believes in Him is not condemned but whoever does not believe has already been condemned for refusing to believe in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
The Lord Jesus made freedom from condemnation and sin very easy; all one has to do is to believe in the Only Begotten Son, and they will be rescued from the imprisonment of spiritual death. The message of salvation that is contained within the title "Only Begotten Son" includes accepting that Jesus is God, that he became a human being to come and take upon himself the sins of the world, and that there is no other means of salvation but by Him.
We cannot trust in ourselves, our own good works or any other religious belief and Jesus too. The mixture will not do because it undermines the fact that unless man is born again and made a new creature he is unacceptable to God. All other religious activities are vain, including the Law because it cannot change the heart of man. There is only one possible way to be born of the Spirit and that is through the death of Jesus on the cross. For it was at the cross that Jesus broke the power of sin and Satan that took control of man when Adam sinned. When we believe on the Only Begotten Son we are taking notice that God has sent a personal invitation to us to come and join Him.
We are accepting the fact that God loves each of us personally (1 John 4:16). However, if we take a permanent position of refusing Jesus Christ as our savior then the result is eternal death. It is not that God chose death for us for He has chosen life for all mankind. In the very beginning it was man who walked away from God and became a prisoner to sin and death. God who is not willing that anyone perish has come to every person individually and given them the opportunity to accept what Adam refused (2 Peter 3:9; John 3:16). The choice is ours, God has opened the door of escape for us but if we refuse then there is nothing left but an eternal condemnation that God pronounced on sin from the very beginning.
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Friday, November 24, 2006
Daily Bread - Nov 24 2006
John 3:14 - "And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, likewise it is necessary that the Son of Man be lifted up;"
Nicodemus being unwilling to simply accept the fact that God had made a way for him to be born of the Spirit continued to question Jesus as to how these things could be (3:9). Jesus then relates to him an incident in which the hardness of heart and the murmurings of Israel had made them victims to fiery serpents. As a remedy for the poison, God commanded Moses to place a serpent on a standard-bearing pole. Unfortunately for many of the Israelites, their stubbornness and hardness of heart prevented them from responding to God's remedy, and they died. They were unwilling to simply believe the remedy that God had provided for the poisonous venom that circulated through their blood (Numbers 21:8).
Just as many refused to be taken to the place of the pole to look upon their cure, many today refuse to be taken to the cross to see that it was Jesus who bore their sin away. Even as those Israelites only needed to look on the serpent in order to live, all we must do is to look to Jesus. If any man comes to the cross and believes in Jesus they are healed from the poison of the serpent that injected its venom into the heart of man in the garden.
Through the work of redemption accomplished for us when Jesus was lifted up, we are transformed into new creatures and translated into the Kingdom of God (Colossians 1:13).
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
John 3:14 - "And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, likewise it is necessary that the Son of Man be lifted up;"
Nicodemus being unwilling to simply accept the fact that God had made a way for him to be born of the Spirit continued to question Jesus as to how these things could be (3:9). Jesus then relates to him an incident in which the hardness of heart and the murmurings of Israel had made them victims to fiery serpents. As a remedy for the poison, God commanded Moses to place a serpent on a standard-bearing pole. Unfortunately for many of the Israelites, their stubbornness and hardness of heart prevented them from responding to God's remedy, and they died. They were unwilling to simply believe the remedy that God had provided for the poisonous venom that circulated through their blood (Numbers 21:8).
Just as many refused to be taken to the place of the pole to look upon their cure, many today refuse to be taken to the cross to see that it was Jesus who bore their sin away. Even as those Israelites only needed to look on the serpent in order to live, all we must do is to look to Jesus. If any man comes to the cross and believes in Jesus they are healed from the poison of the serpent that injected its venom into the heart of man in the garden.
Through the work of redemption accomplished for us when Jesus was lifted up, we are transformed into new creatures and translated into the Kingdom of God (Colossians 1:13).
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Daily Bread - Nov 23 2006
John 3:16 - "For God loved the world so much that He gave His only begotten Son that everyone who believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
God was so earnest to redeem man that "He spared not His own Son" in order to bring us into relationship with Himself (Romans 8:32). This amazing action of God's love underscores God's desperation to have fellowship with us. All that God asks of us is to believe (pisteuo) in Jesus (1 John 5:11, 13).
To believe is simply to act in faith. God did not even leave faith in the sphere of our own human ability but has supplied it to us by His Spirit which He has given to us (1 Corinthians 12:9; Galatians 3:2; 5:22). Faith is a gift that has come to us from God and unless we move in this faith we cannot please Him (Romans 12:3; Ephesians 2:8; Hebrews 11:6).
When we observe Abraham's life we learn that he was counted righteous because he believed what God said and was willing to obey Him.
If there is any one attribute that characterizes Job it was his absolute confidence in his relationship with God. When Job's wife and comforters attempted to convince Job to give up on God's favorable relationship with him he was unmovable. Job's confidence in God was fervently expressed in this verse: "My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go; my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live" (Job 27:6). Certainly, it was through Job's belief in his redeemer, whom he had come to know by revelation, that he was able to have such confidence - a belief expressed when he said, "For I know that my redeemer lives and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth" (Job 19:25).
All that Father has asked of us is to believe the testimony that He has given to us of His Son. He wants us to lay hold on what Jesus has done for us and not doubt His love for us for one second. We must be willing to be unmovable and unshakeable from the fact that God so loved us that He gave Jesus to die for us so that we may possess His righteousness!
Do not allow yourself to waiver from this so great salvation. Never trust in yourself but trust in Jesus who died and rose again so that you might be saved. Never allow anything or anyone to separate you from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. Never allow anyone to cause you to doubt the salvation that He has given to you. Find yourself safe and secure in Him where there is no condemnation.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
John 3:16 - "For God loved the world so much that He gave His only begotten Son that everyone who believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
God was so earnest to redeem man that "He spared not His own Son" in order to bring us into relationship with Himself (Romans 8:32). This amazing action of God's love underscores God's desperation to have fellowship with us. All that God asks of us is to believe (pisteuo) in Jesus (1 John 5:11, 13).
To believe is simply to act in faith. God did not even leave faith in the sphere of our own human ability but has supplied it to us by His Spirit which He has given to us (1 Corinthians 12:9; Galatians 3:2; 5:22). Faith is a gift that has come to us from God and unless we move in this faith we cannot please Him (Romans 12:3; Ephesians 2:8; Hebrews 11:6).
When we observe Abraham's life we learn that he was counted righteous because he believed what God said and was willing to obey Him.
If there is any one attribute that characterizes Job it was his absolute confidence in his relationship with God. When Job's wife and comforters attempted to convince Job to give up on God's favorable relationship with him he was unmovable. Job's confidence in God was fervently expressed in this verse: "My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go; my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live" (Job 27:6). Certainly, it was through Job's belief in his redeemer, whom he had come to know by revelation, that he was able to have such confidence - a belief expressed when he said, "For I know that my redeemer lives and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth" (Job 19:25).
All that Father has asked of us is to believe the testimony that He has given to us of His Son. He wants us to lay hold on what Jesus has done for us and not doubt His love for us for one second. We must be willing to be unmovable and unshakeable from the fact that God so loved us that He gave Jesus to die for us so that we may possess His righteousness!
Do not allow yourself to waiver from this so great salvation. Never trust in yourself but trust in Jesus who died and rose again so that you might be saved. Never allow anything or anyone to separate you from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. Never allow anyone to cause you to doubt the salvation that He has given to you. Find yourself safe and secure in Him where there is no condemnation.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Daily Bread - Nov 22 2006
Genesis 1:26 - "And God said we shall make Adam in Our image with Our likeness and they shall rule over the fish of the sea and over the foul of the heavens and over the animals and over all the earth and over all the moving things moving upon the earth."
The Hebrew word 'cidmutenu,' meaning "after our likeness," refers to the inward nature of God. God's unique purpose for man has never been fully realized. Paul expressed the will of God for man in Romans 8:29 when he said that we have been predestinated to be conformed to the image of the Son. Now because of His unspeakable gift and wonderful work of grace we are able to walk in His glorious likeness (2 Corinthians 3:18).
The enemy of God, Satan, was able to deceive and corrupt man but God sent His Son to break the power of deception and corruption so that the redeemed man can be renewed in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness after the image of God (Colossians 3:10; Ephesians 4:24; 2 Peter 1:4).
Will you participate with the will of God today and allow God's glory to be revealed through your life? All Father is asking us to do is to simply yield ourselves to Him so that He may be revealed through us (Romans 6:13; 8:14; Galatians 1:16; 5:16).
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Genesis 1:26 - "And God said we shall make Adam in Our image with Our likeness and they shall rule over the fish of the sea and over the foul of the heavens and over the animals and over all the earth and over all the moving things moving upon the earth."
The Hebrew word 'cidmutenu,' meaning "after our likeness," refers to the inward nature of God. God's unique purpose for man has never been fully realized. Paul expressed the will of God for man in Romans 8:29 when he said that we have been predestinated to be conformed to the image of the Son. Now because of His unspeakable gift and wonderful work of grace we are able to walk in His glorious likeness (2 Corinthians 3:18).
The enemy of God, Satan, was able to deceive and corrupt man but God sent His Son to break the power of deception and corruption so that the redeemed man can be renewed in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness after the image of God (Colossians 3:10; Ephesians 4:24; 2 Peter 1:4).
Will you participate with the will of God today and allow God's glory to be revealed through your life? All Father is asking us to do is to simply yield ourselves to Him so that He may be revealed through us (Romans 6:13; 8:14; Galatians 1:16; 5:16).
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Daily Bread - Nov 21 2006
John 2:3 - "And having a shortage of wine, the mother of Jesus said to him, 'they are out of wine.' "
The first miracle that Jesus worked was to supply what seemed to only be an indulgence so that men could celebrate a joyous occasion. But what Jesus actually did was to begin to reveal who He was and what He was going to do for all mankind.
The majority of Jesus' ministry and teaching was focused on the water of the Spirit and the wine of His blood. When we consider the message of communion and fellowship in the Spirit and in the blood of Jesus, this miracle takes on a whole new dimension of meaning and purpose. Jesus liberally supplies communion to all those who are willing to drink and rejoice in the goodness of God. It is through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that we are giving the miracle of intimate and unlimited communion with God.
The prophets testified of the blessing of God and the abundance of wine that He would supply in the last days (Amos 9:13- 14; Hosea 14:7; Jeremiah 31;12). In fact, we may view this event and miracle as the proclamation of the Messianic Age as well as the beginning of the call to the New Covenant. God is calling all men everywhere to come and fellowship with Him and rejoice in His presence. And as recorded in Enoch 10:19, the vine has provided wine in abundance.
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
John 2:3 - "And having a shortage of wine, the mother of Jesus said to him, 'they are out of wine.' "
The first miracle that Jesus worked was to supply what seemed to only be an indulgence so that men could celebrate a joyous occasion. But what Jesus actually did was to begin to reveal who He was and what He was going to do for all mankind.
The majority of Jesus' ministry and teaching was focused on the water of the Spirit and the wine of His blood. When we consider the message of communion and fellowship in the Spirit and in the blood of Jesus, this miracle takes on a whole new dimension of meaning and purpose. Jesus liberally supplies communion to all those who are willing to drink and rejoice in the goodness of God. It is through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that we are giving the miracle of intimate and unlimited communion with God.
The prophets testified of the blessing of God and the abundance of wine that He would supply in the last days (Amos 9:13- 14; Hosea 14:7; Jeremiah 31;12). In fact, we may view this event and miracle as the proclamation of the Messianic Age as well as the beginning of the call to the New Covenant. God is calling all men everywhere to come and fellowship with Him and rejoice in His presence. And as recorded in Enoch 10:19, the vine has provided wine in abundance.
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Monday, November 20, 2006
Daily Bread - Nov 20 2006
Jesus gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. He did this in the body of his flesh through death, to present us holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight. So that we may be a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that we should be holy and without blemish (Titus 2:14; Colossians 1:22; Ephesians 5:27).
It is Jesus who shall also confirm us unto the end, that we may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. For He has sanctify us wholly; so that our whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:23). So that we may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom we shine as lights in the world.
Therefore, beloved, seeing that we look for such things, be diligent that you may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless (Philippians 2:15; 2 Peter 3:14).
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Jesus gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. He did this in the body of his flesh through death, to present us holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight. So that we may be a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that we should be holy and without blemish (Titus 2:14; Colossians 1:22; Ephesians 5:27).
It is Jesus who shall also confirm us unto the end, that we may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. For He has sanctify us wholly; so that our whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:23). So that we may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom we shine as lights in the world.
Therefore, beloved, seeing that we look for such things, be diligent that you may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless (Philippians 2:15; 2 Peter 3:14).
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Daily Bread - Nov 18 2006
Colossians 2:19 - "And not strengthening the Head from whom all the body being supplied and being knit together through the joints and bands increases with the increase of God."
Jesus Christ is the head of all of those who have been redeemed. Every dimension of our life should be under his instruction and control.
Everything we do should be done to bring him glory and honor in the same way the natural body functions in obedience and support of its head. As we give Jesus His proper place in our life and the credit for every dimension of our salvation then we continue to increase and mature into every dimension of those things that he has purposed for our lives (Ephesians 4:16).
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Colossians 2:19 - "And not strengthening the Head from whom all the body being supplied and being knit together through the joints and bands increases with the increase of God."
Jesus Christ is the head of all of those who have been redeemed. Every dimension of our life should be under his instruction and control.
Everything we do should be done to bring him glory and honor in the same way the natural body functions in obedience and support of its head. As we give Jesus His proper place in our life and the credit for every dimension of our salvation then we continue to increase and mature into every dimension of those things that he has purposed for our lives (Ephesians 4:16).
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Friday, November 17, 2006
Daily Bread - Nov 17 2006
John 8:3 - "But the scribes and the Pharisees brought to Him a woman having been taken in adultery and stood her in their midst."
Many scholars believe that the passage contained in John 7:53 through John 8:11 is not original. The story of the woman caught in the act of adultery is considered by these scholars to have been an oral tradition in the early church but was not in the original manuscript of the gospel of John.
However, it is equally important to remember that most of these scholars doubt that John the brother of James the son of Zebedee and disciple and apostle of Jesus Christ wrote this gospel. Their basis for not believing that this passage is original is that approximately 27 manuscripts out 5130 omit this passage. In any other discipline, the 27 manuscripts would be viewed as being wrong and the majority would be considered as the more accurate representations of the original. Those who argue to omit this passage believe that they should give more weight to the older manuscripts such as a (Sinaiticus), B (Vaticanus), p66 and p75. The assumption is that these older manuscripts are more accurate. Unfortunately, there are many reasons to question the accuracy of some of these particular "older" manuscripts. There are also some of the oldest manuscripts which contain this passage, such as, p23, p25, p37 p45, A, and others.
Another bias of these scholars is the assumption that the shorter version of a passage is likely to be the original. This is yet another reason they argue to exclude this passage on the adulterous woman. It is argued that the list of manuscripts that do not contain this passage are diverse from different geographical areas, but the same argument can be used in favor of this passage. It is also argued that the majority of lectionaries do not mention this passage, yet in the legalistic and institutionalized Christian environment such as were in Rome, Greece, and Egypt it is not surprising that it would not have been popular to talk about an adulterous woman having been so favorably treated by Jesus.
Jerome said in (A.D. 346-420) that this passage was contained in "many Greek and Latin manuscripts" while he was yet alive. Certainly these manuscripts that were available to Jerome were an accurate representation of the original gospel.
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
John 8:3 - "But the scribes and the Pharisees brought to Him a woman having been taken in adultery and stood her in their midst."
Many scholars believe that the passage contained in John 7:53 through John 8:11 is not original. The story of the woman caught in the act of adultery is considered by these scholars to have been an oral tradition in the early church but was not in the original manuscript of the gospel of John.
However, it is equally important to remember that most of these scholars doubt that John the brother of James the son of Zebedee and disciple and apostle of Jesus Christ wrote this gospel. Their basis for not believing that this passage is original is that approximately 27 manuscripts out 5130 omit this passage. In any other discipline, the 27 manuscripts would be viewed as being wrong and the majority would be considered as the more accurate representations of the original. Those who argue to omit this passage believe that they should give more weight to the older manuscripts such as a (Sinaiticus), B (Vaticanus), p66 and p75. The assumption is that these older manuscripts are more accurate. Unfortunately, there are many reasons to question the accuracy of some of these particular "older" manuscripts. There are also some of the oldest manuscripts which contain this passage, such as, p23, p25, p37 p45, A, and others.
Another bias of these scholars is the assumption that the shorter version of a passage is likely to be the original. This is yet another reason they argue to exclude this passage on the adulterous woman. It is argued that the list of manuscripts that do not contain this passage are diverse from different geographical areas, but the same argument can be used in favor of this passage. It is also argued that the majority of lectionaries do not mention this passage, yet in the legalistic and institutionalized Christian environment such as were in Rome, Greece, and Egypt it is not surprising that it would not have been popular to talk about an adulterous woman having been so favorably treated by Jesus.
Jerome said in (A.D. 346-420) that this passage was contained in "many Greek and Latin manuscripts" while he was yet alive. Certainly these manuscripts that were available to Jerome were an accurate representation of the original gospel.
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Daily Bread - Nov 16 2006
1 Peter 2:5 -"We also as living stones are built up a spiritual house into a holy priesthood lifting up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."
Even as it takes many members to be a body, it takes many stones to be a house. God has so ordained that the individual believers go beyond their individualism to find a unity which will result in a place from which spiritual sacrifices may be offered that are acceptable to God. In the first covenant, God established a place of worship, a Priesthood, and the proper protocol for worship. Today that has all been changed. Father is now looking for those who will worship in Spirit and in truth and who are willing to walk in the unity of the Spirit that produces the house from which God is praised (John 4:24; Ephesians 2:20-22).
A spiritual house is produced when God's people gather together in unity and the Holy Spirit is allowed to take charge. The stones serve only that the house may exist and, as such, their individualism, while noted, is lost in the splendor of the building itself. The church is entirely a supernatural working of the grace of God governed by the Holy Spirit with one purpose: to reveal Jesus Christ. Those gatherings, which are merely the activities of men and of individual worth, cannot claim to be the church; for the church is the activity of Christ, the fullness of God (Ephesians 1:23).
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingnplace.org
1 Peter 2:5 -"We also as living stones are built up a spiritual house into a holy priesthood lifting up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."
Even as it takes many members to be a body, it takes many stones to be a house. God has so ordained that the individual believers go beyond their individualism to find a unity which will result in a place from which spiritual sacrifices may be offered that are acceptable to God. In the first covenant, God established a place of worship, a Priesthood, and the proper protocol for worship. Today that has all been changed. Father is now looking for those who will worship in Spirit and in truth and who are willing to walk in the unity of the Spirit that produces the house from which God is praised (John 4:24; Ephesians 2:20-22).
A spiritual house is produced when God's people gather together in unity and the Holy Spirit is allowed to take charge. The stones serve only that the house may exist and, as such, their individualism, while noted, is lost in the splendor of the building itself. The church is entirely a supernatural working of the grace of God governed by the Holy Spirit with one purpose: to reveal Jesus Christ. Those gatherings, which are merely the activities of men and of individual worth, cannot claim to be the church; for the church is the activity of Christ, the fullness of God (Ephesians 1:23).
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingnplace.org
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Daily Bread - Nov 15 2006
1 Peter 4:5 - "Who shall give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead."
One of the most important things that everyone must understand is that we will all give an account to God for the things that we have done in this life (Hebrews 9:27). Every person has been honored with the privilege of living in Father's sacred gift called life. The way in which we live our life is very important to God, and, make no mistake; He will judge us.
We are His workmanship and, as such, we have been endowed with the ability to do what is just and good. Consider the fact that we were created for His pleasure and He takes no pleasure in unrighteousness. We were created for His glory and there is no glory in wronging and abusing others. God wants us to walk in reverence of Him and He wants us to love every person. There are many people who think that they can do whatever they want to do and that somehow they can escape accountability. But God says there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed and that every secret will be shouted from the housetops (Luke 12:2-3). The way that we live our life is so important to God that He will even hold us accountable for every idle word that we speak (Matthew 12:36).
God has made known in His word what He will hold us accountable for. Jesus said that even though all judgment was committed to Him, He would judge no man; rather, the word that He had spoken would be our judge in the last day (John 12:48). It is Jesus who will judge the living and the dead (Acts 10:42; Romans 2:16; 2 Timothy 4:1; 1 Peter 4:5). It is Jesus who will bring the hidden things to light and will reveal the counsels of the heart (1 Corinthians 4:5).
When the saints of God appear before Christ Jesus they will be judged for both the good and the bad things that they have done (2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Peter 1:17). There are two places of judgment: the judgment seat of Christ where every redeemed person will be judged and the Great White Throne Judgment where all those who refused salvation will be judged (Romans 14:10; Revelation 20:11-12).
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
1 Peter 4:5 - "Who shall give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead."
One of the most important things that everyone must understand is that we will all give an account to God for the things that we have done in this life (Hebrews 9:27). Every person has been honored with the privilege of living in Father's sacred gift called life. The way in which we live our life is very important to God, and, make no mistake; He will judge us.
We are His workmanship and, as such, we have been endowed with the ability to do what is just and good. Consider the fact that we were created for His pleasure and He takes no pleasure in unrighteousness. We were created for His glory and there is no glory in wronging and abusing others. God wants us to walk in reverence of Him and He wants us to love every person. There are many people who think that they can do whatever they want to do and that somehow they can escape accountability. But God says there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed and that every secret will be shouted from the housetops (Luke 12:2-3). The way that we live our life is so important to God that He will even hold us accountable for every idle word that we speak (Matthew 12:36).
God has made known in His word what He will hold us accountable for. Jesus said that even though all judgment was committed to Him, He would judge no man; rather, the word that He had spoken would be our judge in the last day (John 12:48). It is Jesus who will judge the living and the dead (Acts 10:42; Romans 2:16; 2 Timothy 4:1; 1 Peter 4:5). It is Jesus who will bring the hidden things to light and will reveal the counsels of the heart (1 Corinthians 4:5).
When the saints of God appear before Christ Jesus they will be judged for both the good and the bad things that they have done (2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Peter 1:17). There are two places of judgment: the judgment seat of Christ where every redeemed person will be judged and the Great White Throne Judgment where all those who refused salvation will be judged (Romans 14:10; Revelation 20:11-12).
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Daily Bread - Nov 14 2006
John 3:8 - "The Spirit breathes out where He wills and His voice you hear but you do not know where He comes from and where He is going; so is everyone who has been begotten of the Spirit."
The Greek word 'pneuma' is found both at the beginning and at the end of this verse. One of the important issues to consider is that as the Spirit is so are those begotten by the Spirit.
Now it would make no sense at all if, for the sake of consistency, 'pneuma' was translated wind; for then as the wind is so are those begotten of the wind. The issue is not the inability of man to understand the mysterious nature of the wind but the fact that man cannot understand the realm of the Kingdom of God unless they are born of the Spirit. Although 'pneuma' can be translated wind, of the 360 times that it occurs in the New Testament it never means wind (A.T. Robertson, Word Picture New Testament). Thus, there is no reason to translate 'pneuma' wind even though it may be translated both wind and spirit.
The Latin version also translates 'pneuma' as 'Spirit' in this verse. The Holy Spirit is not only the subject of this passage He is the one by whom we are begotten. The mystery surrounding the Spirit's activity also surrounds those begotten of Him; for as the world cannot know Him neither can the world know those begotten of Him (John 14:17; 17:14; 1 John 4:17).
Green's Literal Translation by JP Green Sr. also supports a similar translation of this passage: "The Spirit breathes where He desires and you hear His voice, but you do not know from where He comes and where he goes - so is everyone who has received birth from the Spirit."
Nicodemus was drawn to Jesus because of the sound of the Holy Spirit that he heard in the voice of Jesus and because of the miracles which He had done. Although many things about the life and ministry of Jesus seemed to be out of sync with the Pharisees' doctrine, the heart of Nicodemus was drawn by the voice of the Holy Spirit. If Nicodemus was ever to understand the ways of the Spirit of God he would first have to be born of the Spirit.
The natural man cannot receive the things of the Spirit because they make no sense to him (1 Corinthians 2:14). The world cannot receive the Spirit because it cannot see Him nor know Him (John 14:17). However, once we have been begotten of God our senses are awakened to the reality of the ways and nature of God, and we are allowed of God to see what eyes have not seen and ears have not heard nor the hearts of man ever pondered (1 Corinthians 2:9-10).
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
John 3:8 - "The Spirit breathes out where He wills and His voice you hear but you do not know where He comes from and where He is going; so is everyone who has been begotten of the Spirit."
The Greek word 'pneuma' is found both at the beginning and at the end of this verse. One of the important issues to consider is that as the Spirit is so are those begotten by the Spirit.
Now it would make no sense at all if, for the sake of consistency, 'pneuma' was translated wind; for then as the wind is so are those begotten of the wind. The issue is not the inability of man to understand the mysterious nature of the wind but the fact that man cannot understand the realm of the Kingdom of God unless they are born of the Spirit. Although 'pneuma' can be translated wind, of the 360 times that it occurs in the New Testament it never means wind (A.T. Robertson, Word Picture New Testament). Thus, there is no reason to translate 'pneuma' wind even though it may be translated both wind and spirit.
The Latin version also translates 'pneuma' as 'Spirit' in this verse. The Holy Spirit is not only the subject of this passage He is the one by whom we are begotten. The mystery surrounding the Spirit's activity also surrounds those begotten of Him; for as the world cannot know Him neither can the world know those begotten of Him (John 14:17; 17:14; 1 John 4:17).
Green's Literal Translation by JP Green Sr. also supports a similar translation of this passage: "The Spirit breathes where He desires and you hear His voice, but you do not know from where He comes and where he goes - so is everyone who has received birth from the Spirit."
Nicodemus was drawn to Jesus because of the sound of the Holy Spirit that he heard in the voice of Jesus and because of the miracles which He had done. Although many things about the life and ministry of Jesus seemed to be out of sync with the Pharisees' doctrine, the heart of Nicodemus was drawn by the voice of the Holy Spirit. If Nicodemus was ever to understand the ways of the Spirit of God he would first have to be born of the Spirit.
The natural man cannot receive the things of the Spirit because they make no sense to him (1 Corinthians 2:14). The world cannot receive the Spirit because it cannot see Him nor know Him (John 14:17). However, once we have been begotten of God our senses are awakened to the reality of the ways and nature of God, and we are allowed of God to see what eyes have not seen and ears have not heard nor the hearts of man ever pondered (1 Corinthians 2:9-10).
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Monday, November 13, 2006
Daily Bread - Nov 13 2006
John 3:6 - "What is begotten of the flesh is flesh and what is begotten of the Spirit is Spirit."
It is worth taking note of the fact that the miracle birth of Jesus was described as being begotten of the Spirit, "for that which was begotten in Mary was of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 1:20). Of course there is a unique and very important difference between the message to Nicodemus and the birth of Jesus - for Jesus was the Eternal God incarnated into flesh.
When a man is begotten of the Spirit a "new man" created in Christ Jesus is brought forth. This new creation does not co-exist with the corrupt nature of unredeemed man for Paul revealed that the "old man" was crucified with Christ that the body of sin might be destroyed and likens the new birth to being raised up with Christ (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:11).
Paul further takes up the contrast between the "flesh" and the "Spirit" or the "unredeemed man" and "those born of the Spirit" in Romans 8. He makes it perfectly clear that when a person is redeemed they are no longer classified as being "in the flesh" but in Christ Jesus which he equates to being born of the Spirit (Romans 8:1-9). Jesus is not presenting a "Spirit Nature" that would co-exist with an "unredeemed nature" but rather an opportunity for a total regeneration of the nature of man (Titus 3:5).
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
John 3:6 - "What is begotten of the flesh is flesh and what is begotten of the Spirit is Spirit."
It is worth taking note of the fact that the miracle birth of Jesus was described as being begotten of the Spirit, "for that which was begotten in Mary was of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 1:20). Of course there is a unique and very important difference between the message to Nicodemus and the birth of Jesus - for Jesus was the Eternal God incarnated into flesh.
When a man is begotten of the Spirit a "new man" created in Christ Jesus is brought forth. This new creation does not co-exist with the corrupt nature of unredeemed man for Paul revealed that the "old man" was crucified with Christ that the body of sin might be destroyed and likens the new birth to being raised up with Christ (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:11).
Paul further takes up the contrast between the "flesh" and the "Spirit" or the "unredeemed man" and "those born of the Spirit" in Romans 8. He makes it perfectly clear that when a person is redeemed they are no longer classified as being "in the flesh" but in Christ Jesus which he equates to being born of the Spirit (Romans 8:1-9). Jesus is not presenting a "Spirit Nature" that would co-exist with an "unredeemed nature" but rather an opportunity for a total regeneration of the nature of man (Titus 3:5).
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Daily Bread - Nov 11 2006
John 10:10 - "The thief does not come except that he may steal, slaughter, and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."
The life that Jesus is referring to is a life full of the Holy Spirit; for it is through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that Christ Jesus lives in us (1 John 3:24; 4:13;5:12; Galatians 2:20; John 14:23; 17:21). The life that is in Christ Jesus is the life that Father intended all men to have when He created Adam and Eve (Genesis 1:26; Ephesians 1:4; 2:10; 4:23; Colossians 3:10). It is a life that not only reveals His glory but enjoys all of His goodness (John 17:22; 1:16; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 5:9; Philippians 1:11; Romans 15:13; 14:17).
This life that is in Chirst Jesus has joy unspeakable, peace that passes understanding, and divine love (1 Peter 1:8; Philippians 4:7; John 13:34; 15:12).
All of these glorious expressions of life flow out of us like rivers of living water.
The life of God produces the righteousness of God and the Holiness of God (Galatians 3:21; 2 Corinthians 3:21; Romans 14:17). The abundant life that is in Christ Jesus is eternal life which is not only a duration of time but a quality of life. Eternal life is not only for the future it is something that God's people possess now, and it is this life that is a light to the world and the salt of the earth (1 John 1:2; 3:15; 5:11,13; 5:20; John 3:15; 6:54; 17:3; Romans 5:21; 6:23;1 Peter 2:9; Matthew 5:13,14).
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
John 10:10 - "The thief does not come except that he may steal, slaughter, and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."
The life that Jesus is referring to is a life full of the Holy Spirit; for it is through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that Christ Jesus lives in us (1 John 3:24; 4:13;5:12; Galatians 2:20; John 14:23; 17:21). The life that is in Christ Jesus is the life that Father intended all men to have when He created Adam and Eve (Genesis 1:26; Ephesians 1:4; 2:10; 4:23; Colossians 3:10). It is a life that not only reveals His glory but enjoys all of His goodness (John 17:22; 1:16; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 5:9; Philippians 1:11; Romans 15:13; 14:17).
This life that is in Chirst Jesus has joy unspeakable, peace that passes understanding, and divine love (1 Peter 1:8; Philippians 4:7; John 13:34; 15:12).
All of these glorious expressions of life flow out of us like rivers of living water.
The life of God produces the righteousness of God and the Holiness of God (Galatians 3:21; 2 Corinthians 3:21; Romans 14:17). The abundant life that is in Christ Jesus is eternal life which is not only a duration of time but a quality of life. Eternal life is not only for the future it is something that God's people possess now, and it is this life that is a light to the world and the salt of the earth (1 John 1:2; 3:15; 5:11,13; 5:20; John 3:15; 6:54; 17:3; Romans 5:21; 6:23;1 Peter 2:9; Matthew 5:13,14).
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Daily Bread - Nov 10 2006
Ephesians 4:22 - "You shall lay aside concerning the former behavior the old man which is corrupt according to deceitful desires."
The old man refers to the condition of a person prior to salvation. The Greek word 'palaion' refers to the ancient state of things or the original condition. In this case it was the original condition of sinful man and his desires, thus, this is the spiritual paleontology of unredeemed man. The term 'old man' is used in Romans 6:6 and Colossians 3:9 in the same way that it is used here in Ephesians 4:22 to refer to the unredeemed and evil state of man. The old man has been crucified with Christ Jesus. It was destroyed so that the body or dominion of sin could also be destroyed. As a result, the redeemed individual who is made a new creation may now walk in newness of life having been freed from sin (Romans 6:4-7).
The very terminology leaves no doubt concerning the view of scripture with respect to the nature of sin; it has been entirely removed from man. However, the fact remains: every child of God must resist the temptations of the former behavior that would draw them back into the realm of the unredeemed. Just because our Savior Jesus Christ came and delivered us from the slavery and imprisonment of the devil does not mean that we cannot return into captivity and be imprisoned once again.
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Ephesians 4:22 - "You shall lay aside concerning the former behavior the old man which is corrupt according to deceitful desires."
The old man refers to the condition of a person prior to salvation. The Greek word 'palaion' refers to the ancient state of things or the original condition. In this case it was the original condition of sinful man and his desires, thus, this is the spiritual paleontology of unredeemed man. The term 'old man' is used in Romans 6:6 and Colossians 3:9 in the same way that it is used here in Ephesians 4:22 to refer to the unredeemed and evil state of man. The old man has been crucified with Christ Jesus. It was destroyed so that the body or dominion of sin could also be destroyed. As a result, the redeemed individual who is made a new creation may now walk in newness of life having been freed from sin (Romans 6:4-7).
The very terminology leaves no doubt concerning the view of scripture with respect to the nature of sin; it has been entirely removed from man. However, the fact remains: every child of God must resist the temptations of the former behavior that would draw them back into the realm of the unredeemed. Just because our Savior Jesus Christ came and delivered us from the slavery and imprisonment of the devil does not mean that we cannot return into captivity and be imprisoned once again.
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Daily Bread - Nov 9 2006
1 Peter 4:2 - "Beloved, do not be surprised by the fiery trial which tries you as though a strange event happened to you."
Fiery trials are inevitable, and no one should be concerned that something is happening out of the ordinary. We know that God allows the tests that we face, but He does not allow us to be tested above what we are able to bear (1 Cor. 10:13 ). We know that God makes a way for us to escape every trial that we have to go through.
It would be wrong to submit to a trial - just as it would be wrong to submit to a temptation to sin. God expects that we should rise up in faith and bring an end to every opposition that we face; for it is the shield of faith that quenches every fiery trial of the wicked one (Ephesians 6:16).
The way that we escape these fiery trials is to submit to God and resist the devil. Peter also said that we are to resist the devil, "firmly in the faith knowing that the same sufferings are accomplished by your brethren who are in the world" (1 Peter 5:9).
The Psalmist said, "many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers him out of them all" (Psalms 34:19). James said, "Blessed is the man who endures temptation for after that he is tried he shall receive a crown of life which fades not away" (James 1:12). Jesus said, "in this world you shall have tribulation but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). Because Jesus overcame we are also able to overcome through His divine power.
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
1 Peter 4:2 - "Beloved, do not be surprised by the fiery trial which tries you as though a strange event happened to you."
Fiery trials are inevitable, and no one should be concerned that something is happening out of the ordinary. We know that God allows the tests that we face, but He does not allow us to be tested above what we are able to bear (1 Cor. 10:13 ). We know that God makes a way for us to escape every trial that we have to go through.
It would be wrong to submit to a trial - just as it would be wrong to submit to a temptation to sin. God expects that we should rise up in faith and bring an end to every opposition that we face; for it is the shield of faith that quenches every fiery trial of the wicked one (Ephesians 6:16).
The way that we escape these fiery trials is to submit to God and resist the devil. Peter also said that we are to resist the devil, "firmly in the faith knowing that the same sufferings are accomplished by your brethren who are in the world" (1 Peter 5:9).
The Psalmist said, "many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers him out of them all" (Psalms 34:19). James said, "Blessed is the man who endures temptation for after that he is tried he shall receive a crown of life which fades not away" (James 1:12). Jesus said, "in this world you shall have tribulation but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). Because Jesus overcame we are also able to overcome through His divine power.
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Daily Bread - Nov 8 2006
1 Peter 4:17 - "Because the time of judgment has begun from the house of God and if first from us what shall the end of the disobedient be who do not follow the gospel of God?"
The prophet Ezekiel described how God's judgment begins at His sanctuary. The ones who have been given the responsibility to oversee the house of God are those who are judged first (Ezekiel 9:6). The judgment that is referred to here by Peter has already begun among God's people. This judgment not only began with the house of Israel 2,000 years ago but is also ongoing today. Paul says that if we are chastened then we are judged of God so that we will not be condemned with the world (1 Corinthians 11:32).
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
1 Peter 4:17 - "Because the time of judgment has begun from the house of God and if first from us what shall the end of the disobedient be who do not follow the gospel of God?"
The prophet Ezekiel described how God's judgment begins at His sanctuary. The ones who have been given the responsibility to oversee the house of God are those who are judged first (Ezekiel 9:6). The judgment that is referred to here by Peter has already begun among God's people. This judgment not only began with the house of Israel 2,000 years ago but is also ongoing today. Paul says that if we are chastened then we are judged of God so that we will not be condemned with the world (1 Corinthians 11:32).
Be blessed,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
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