Daily Bread| Daily Bread SEP/08/10 |
| Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen |
| Wednesday, 08 September 2010 12:18 |
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Luke 1:35 - And the angel said to her: "The Holy Spirit shall come upon you, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow you; and therefore the holy child shall be called the Son of God." The Holy Spirit has always served a central role in everything that God has done. From the beginning we read of His role as the One who moved upon the face of the waters to bring forth that which the Word of God announced (Genesis 1:2; Psalm 104:30). Now at the fullness of time, the Holy Spirit overshadowed a young virgin named Mary so that the Word might be made flesh. The Holy Spirit (who is equated with the Most High in this verse) brings forth the greatest miracle of creation: Christ Jesus! We must recognize that the Holy Ghost is the overseer of the church (Acts 20:28; John 14:26; John 16:7-15; Acts 13:2,4; Acts 15:28; Acts 16:6). He is the One whom the Father and Christ Jesus sent - to lead us, to help us, and to teach us to do the things that please God. Who is the Holy Ghost, and how do we begin to understand His work? It was by the Holy Ghost that David wrote the Psalms (Mark 12:36; Acts 1:16). It was by the Holy Ghost that Isaiah prophesied (Acts 28:25). It was by the Holy Ghost that the scriptures were brought forth (2 Peter 1:21). It was by the Holy Ghost that men like Zachariah prophesied (Luke 1:67). It is by the Holy Ghost that men now prophesy (Acts 2:17; 1 Corinthians 12:10-11; 1 Corinthians 14:5,24; 1 Corinthians 14:31). It was by the Holy Ghost that Jesus gave commands (Acts 1:2). It was by the Holy Ghost that Jesus was conceived (Luke 1:35). It was with the Holy Ghost that Jesus was anointed (Acts 10:38). It is with the Holy Ghost that Jesus will baptize (Matthew 3:11). It was by the Holy Ghost that demons had to flee (Matthew 12:28). It is by the Holy Ghost that miracles will work (Galatians 3:5). It is by the Holy Ghost that we must be born again (John 3:5-6). It is by the Holy Ghost that we receive power from on High (Acts 1:8). The gospel must be preached in power, and in the Holy Ghost (1 Thessalonians 1:5). It is by the Holy Ghost that we are sanctified (Romans 15:16, 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Corinthians 6:11). It is the Holy Ghost who teaches us how to speak (1 Corinthians 2:13). The Holy Ghost is the promise of the Father (Acts 2:33; Luke 24:49). When men refuse to believe, it is the Holy Ghost whom they resist (Acts 7:51) It is the Holy Ghost who now resides inside of those begotten of God; we are His temple (1 Corinthians 6:19). Jesus now dwells in us by the Holy Ghost (1 John 3:24). We keep those good things given to us by the Holy Ghost (2 Timothy 1:14; John 14:17). |
| Daily Bread SEP/07/10 |
| Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen |
| Tuesday, 07 September 2010 14:15 |
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John 1:13 - Who, not of blood descent, neither of a fleshly will nor of man's will; but were begotten of God. This verse of scripture may be regarded as having a dual meaning: both with regard to the birth of Jesus, and to the miracle new birth of those who believed and were made sons of God. The authority to be sons of God came as a direct result of having be born of God. One of the clues that this verse is referring to the new birth of the believer is the usage of the plural form of the Greek word 'egennethesan', which speaks of more than one person having been begotten of God, i.e. "were begotten" (John 3:3-6). God has used the most radical terminology possible to make us aware of the absolute transformation of our life and nature, which took place when we were born again (1 Peter 1:23; 1 John 2:29; 1 John 3:9; 1 John 4:7; 1 John 5:1,4; 1 John 5:18). John will use this word again a total of seven times in chapter 3 - to describe the essential will of God for every man to be born of the Spirit (John 3:3,4; John 3:5,6; John 3:7,8). Everywhere the new birth is mentioned, the authority and power given to the saint is also revealed: 1- They are in the Spirit, not in the flesh; 2- They do righteousness; 3- They do not sin; 4- They keep themselves; 5- They love as Christ Jesus loves; 6- They overcome the world; 7- The wicked one cannot touch them. Jesus, who is the eternal God, was miraculously incarnated into flesh; and born of a virgin who was genealogically of the house of David. We who were born of flesh are given the privilege to receive a miracle birth by the Spirit, and be transformed into a new creation in Christ Jesus. |
| Daily Bread SEP/06/10 |
| Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen |
| Monday, 06 September 2010 12:32 |
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Psalm 100:2 - Serve the Lord with rejoicing; come before His presence with shouts of joy! Most of God's people are serious about wanting to serve the Lord. Now, there are certainly many ways to serve the Lord, because there are many things that need to be done. Yet in this passage of scripture we come to understand how God wants us to serve Him. He wants us to serve Him with rejoicing! This is similar to what Paul said when he told us, "This is the will of God concerning you in Christ Jesus: that in all things you give thanks" (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Yes, there are many things to do in the kingdom of God - but the attitude in which we do them is extremely important to our Father in heaven. Above all other things, the Lord wants us to worship Him with rejoicing and with shouts of joy. Far too many people enter into the place of worship on Sunday morning with all of their earthly cares and concerns. The stress and disappointments of life overwhelm their hearts. They fail to realize that they have a responsibility to get happy. Praise and thanksgiving are synonyms; and to be thankful and give praise, you must be happy. People bring their offerings of money, but fail to realize that God wants the offerings of a glad and joyful heart. The only worship that the Father is looking for is that worship that is produced by the Holy Spirit; and the Holy Spirit produces joy and gladness - not sorrow and sadness of heart (John 4:14,23; Isaiah 51:11). He is the Comforter who causes us to rejoice evermore! (1 Thessalonians 5:16; Philippians 4:4). The abundant life that we have received produces a joy that is a joy unspeakable, and full of glory (1 Peter 1:8; Isaiah 61:10). We must not allow our hearts to be so overwhelmed with the affairs of this life that the river of God has no watercourse within our souls (John 7:38-39; Psalm 46:4). |
| Daily Bread SEP/04/10 |
| Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen |
| Saturday, 04 September 2010 14:09 |
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Psalm 100:1 - A Song of Praise: Make a joyful shout, all the earth! Interaction with God is not to be a state of melancholy, but of exuberant and joyful praise. Somewhere along the way we have made a serious error, and a detour from the truth. The fundamental attribute of praise is the shout of joy. Everyone who puts their trust in Christ Jesus, and everyone who loves Him are to forever shout for joy (Psalm 5:11; Psalm 32:11; Psalm 35:27; Psalm 95:1; Psalm 132:16; Isaiah 44:23; Zephaniah 3:14). All who are righteous and upright before God are to shout for joy; for it is this kind of praise that is beautiful to Him (Psalm 32:11; Psalm 33:1). The joyful shout of praise glorifies the Lord, and magnifies His name (Psalm 35:27). Through Christ Jesus the oil of joy has been poured out upon us, and the shout of joy put within us; therefore let us shout for joy (Psalm 132:9,16; Isaiah 61:3). It is this kind of joyful praise that the Lord demands, and it is this kind of praise which the Lord provides to us - through the gift of the Holy Ghost! (John 4:14; Psalm 87:7). Both the feast of tabernacles that is celebrated every year, and the year of Jubilee which is celebrated every 50th year, are two amazing examples that describe the cause of our rejoicing and celebration (Nehemiah 8:9-10). When we come together to worship, we are to express these joyful reactions to the liberation and eternal inheritance - that has come to us through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. We are to be overwhelmed with the glory of God that was poured out on the day of Pentecost, and celebrate the infilling of God's glory into the tabernacles of our lives. Oh, put away your sighs and tears, and come and be full of joy - as you "sing unto the Lord a new song" for all the marvelous things which he has done! Joy is one of the manifestations of the kingdom of God (Romans 14:17). Joy is an evidence of the Holy Spirit at work in our lives (Galatians 5:22; Romans 14:17; Romans 15:13; Psalm 46:4). It is not only by joy and rejoicing that we enter into the presence of the Lord, but these are also the expressions of life that come from being in His presence (Psalm 16:11; Matthew 25:21,23; 1 Samuel 4:5). Shout for joy and watch God do wonders: for there is a creative power of God at work when the sounds of joy are heard (Job 38:7; 2 Chronicles 20:22; Nehemiah 8:10). |
| Daily Bread SEP/03/10 |
| Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen |
| Friday, 03 September 2010 10:31 |
|
Psalm 45:3 - Gird your sword upon your side, Mighty One: your glory and your majesty. The sword of the Savior is His glory and majesty! He cuts through the doubts and unbelief with the power of His mighty signs and wonders. He comes with His mercy to heal and to save, with outstretched arms welcoming all who would come into the fellowship of His love. Jesus turned the water into wine that He might show forth His glory: with mighty signs and wonders he turned back His enemies (John 2:11; John 4:48). He was anointed above all others with the oil of joy, so that the joyful sound of deliverance might be heard by everyone (Psalm 45:7; Hebrews 1:9). He was anointed with the Holy Ghost and power - that by His majesty and splendor every yoke would be broken, and every work of Satan destroyed (Acts 10:38; 1 John 3:8; Matthew 8:17; Matthew 10:1; Matthew 12:28; Mark 1:34,39). The sword of the Lord is the word of God. It is powerful and sharp! It is mighty to the pulling down of strongholds. It goes forth to conquer every foe, and to subdue the willing heart; to take the vilest of men and transform them into living epistles. The kingdom of God is advanced by the King of Kings, who is even now enthroned above all things! The Word of Life has come with authority to subdue and recreate all who are willing - into the image of God in righteousness and true holiness. It must be our duty in life, our pledge of consecration to join with His righteous cause: that Satan's deceiving power may be stopped. Behold the miracle working power of the sword of the Lord, as it dispels the darkness and transforms the lives of men! |
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