The Word | Daily Bread MAY/25/13 |
| Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen |
| Saturday, 25 May 2013 06:32 |
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1 Thessalonians 1:10 - And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead: Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath that is coming. One thing that everyone may be certain of is that the wrath of God is coming. The Lord hates the sin and iniquity that has polluted His world, and He has given every one a space of time to repent. In the days of Noah, the world became so wicked that God was forced to judge it, and He poured out His wrath with a great flood that destroyed all the inhabitants of the earth. The earth as we know it today is on a timeline that has an appointed day of judgment, in which the wrath of God will be poured out once again on a rebellious and sinful world (Colossians 3:6; Ephesians 5:6; Romans 2:5,8). How long that space of time will continue for all of mankind - only Father knows. How long that space of time will continue for all of mankind - only Father knows. However, that span of time is on average about 70 years for each individual, and then comes the judgment (Hebrews 9:27; Luke 16:22-24;Ecclesiastes 12:14). Someone may say, "Oh I have plenty of time to get right;" yet today your soul may be required of you (Luke 12:20). Those of us who have been born of God wait for the Son from heaven, and believe that we will not be subject to the wrath; because Jesus has rescued us from it (1 Thessalonians 5:9; Romans 5:9; Luke 21:36). Even as a provision was made to rescue Noah and His family, the church of the Lord Jesus Christ will also be brought out; and will arise above the storm of God's wrath into the place of safety. The wrath of God will only be poured out after those who are His are rescued; and thus this verse holds true to that order: first the Son will come from heaven to receive His church unto himself; and then the wrath of God will be poured out in the tribulation, as is revealed in the book of Revelation - beginning in chapter four, which describes the events immediately after the New Testament church age (Revelation 1:19; Revelation 4:1; John 14:3). We do not know when Christ Jesus will come, but we are commanded to continually watch in expectation, and to always be ready (1 Thessalonians 5:6; 1 Peter 4:7; Luke 12:36-37; Revelation 3:3;Matthew 25:1-46). |
| Daily Bread MAY/24/13 |
| Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen |
| Friday, 24 May 2013 06:42 |
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Ephesians 5:20 - Giving thanks at all times for all things to God and the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. The giving of thanks is not only recognizing that God is leading, protecting, and providing for you; it is also the realm of the Spirit where miracles take place. The first time this word 'euchariteo', or "giving thanks," is used in the New Testament is in Matthew 15:36. It was at this giving of thanks by Jesus that the miraculous event of the multiplication of the seven loaves and a few fish took place. The very next time that 'euchariteo' is used is when Jesus took the cup on Passover: He gave thanks and declared "this is my blood of the New Testament" (Matthew 26:27). The blood and body of Christ Jesus represent our communion or fellowship with God (1 Corinthians 10:16; John 6:53-58). It is this Eucharist, or communion, that should give us confidence that the Holy Spirit is leading and guiding us into all truth; and therefore whatever situation we find ourselves in, all things are working together for our good (Romans 8:28). There were many adverse situations that Israel found themselves in during the first few months of their travel from Egypt to the promised land. Unfortunately, they were unwilling to recognize that God was leading them and protecting them; and as a result they were unthankful, and murmured against the situation and against their leadership - which ultimately was directed at God Himself. There is a warning in the book of Hebrews that we should not fall into the same state of unbelief, lest we end up like those unthankful Israelites (Hebrews 3:7-19). Romans 1:21 drives home the same point, emphasizing that the lack of thankfulness is a chief characteristic of the unbeliever. The passage of scripture in Colossians that is almost a perfect match to this passage here in Ephesians says: "Whatsoever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him" (Colossians 3:17). If we will allow the Holy Spirit to fill us with the heavenly realm, then the word of Christ will dwell in us; and we will view things from the faith perspective, and realize that all things are working together for our good. Be certain of this one thing - that whatever situation you find yourself in, God is establishing and building confidence, persistence, faithfulness, and trust. |
| Daily Bread MAY/23/13 |
| Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen |
| Thursday, 23 May 2013 11:24 |
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Joel 2:23- You children of Zion, rejoice and be joyful in the Lord your God, for He has given to you the early rain of righteousness and will cause to come down showers of rain, both the early and the latter rain. Zion refers to the eternal dwelling place of God who will live in the midst of His people in the ages to come (Isaiah 8:18; Hebrews 12:22). The earthly Zion was first established after a time of great war and conflict. The territory was entirely occupied by other nations until Joshua began to drive out the wicked inhabitants. The heights of the Promised Land became fortified against the people of God by the giants and the great nations and men of war. Much of the territory continued to be under the control of those who served the powers of darkness until David began to deliver God's inheritance out of their hands. Finally, David brought the ark of the Lord to rest upon the peaks of Zion in the place now called Jerusalem. The giants and the kings of the earth had fought to hold on to this beautiful territory to keep it forever shrouded under their dominion, but God raised up a deliverer who would lay down his life for the kingdom of God. When the Lord said, "This is my rest forever here will I dwell; for it is my desire." He was referring to the heavenly Zion that will come down out of heaven for which the earthly Zion was only a figure (Psalms 132:14; Revelation 21:10). David was also only a figure of the true Messiah that would come to overthrow the powers of darkness that had held dominion over mankind and occupied the dwelling place of their lives. Mount Zion is the city of the great king situated on the sides of the north. It is the mountain of His holiness that will abide forever (Psalms 48, 125:1; Micah 4:1-5; Isaiah 2:3, 51:11; Revelation 3:12, 21:10; Hebrews 12:22). The earthly types foreshadowed the heavenly Zion, which is the heavenly city, the New Jerusalem. It is for the heavenly Zion that the Lord will not rest; neither will He keep silent until the majesty of the New Jerusalem shines with the brightness of righteousness (Isaiah 33:5, 62:1-2; Revelation 21:22-24). The people of Israel and the nations of the earth are all included in the seed of Abraham, but only through Christ Jesus the Savior who is the corner stone of Zion (Isaiah 28:16; 1 Peter 2:6). Jesus is the One who delivered us out of the hands of our enemies that we might serve God in righteousness and holiness, both for the Jew and the Gentile (Luke 1:75; Romans 10:12; 1 Corinthians 1:24, 12:13; Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 1:10, 2:14-17, 3:6; Colossians 3:11). Jesus is the King of Zion, the heavenly city of God, and the door of entrance into this realm for everyone who will repent and be changed. Even as the nation of Israel carried the torch of the kingdom, as the inhabitants of Zion today, that torch and that glory of the heavenly is only found within the church of Jesus Christ where God the Holy Ghost dwells (Isaiah 12:6; Matthew 21:43). All who have entered into the covenant of the Lord and have been born of the Spirit, begotten of God, are the children of Zion, the New Jerusalem, which is the mother of us all (Galatians 4:26). |
| Daily Bread MAY/22/13 |
| Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen |
| Wednesday, 22 May 2013 06:26 |
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Hebrews 12:22- But you are come to Mount Sion and the city of the Living God, the heavenly Jerusalem and myriads of angels. When we are in a church where the Holy Spirit is in charge, then we have come unto the city of the living God. The city of God is the heavenly Jerusalem that was described by John in Revelation 21:10-27. It is the city that Abraham sought and in which he dwelt as a stranger and sojourner not willing to set down roots until he entered into that land (Hebrews 11:10-16). We are to be as Abraham and seek that city, desiring the heavenly (Hebrews 13:14; Colossians 3:1-5; Philippians 3:20). Above all things the kingdom of God, which is synonymous with the city of God, is to be first in all our desires and pursuits. There is an earthly Jerusalem, but more importantly there is also a heavenly one (Galatians 4:25-26). The heavenly city of God will one day come down out of heaven and will be the dwelling place of God and all of His saints here upon the earth. Yet, God turns our attention to the reality that we already interact with that eternal and heavenly realm. When we assemble ourselves in the church that Jesus purchased with His own blood and baptized in the Holy Ghost and fire a miracle takes place. It is as though we are translated into that heavenly place where God Himself dwells. Through our access by the Spirit we are gathered around the throne in the company of a mighty host in the Holy of Holies that is in that city (Hebrews 10:19; Ephesians 2:6,18). As we flow in the rivers of divine power that has been given to everyone in the church, we are as the streams that make glad the city of God (Psalms 46:4; 1 Corinthians 12:7-11; John 14:19). There is a great need to have our eyes opened to the reality of what is really going on. Unless we are awakened to the truth, we will be as blind to this realm as the Pharisees were to Jesus. The only way that we will understand the truth of what Paul revealed here in Hebrews chapter 12 is to be hungry and thirsty, desiring the heavenly more than those things here upon the earth. If we interact with the church in any other way we will turn the glory of God into manmade programs and exercise our will and opinions while we falsely pray "Thy will be done." The church is a heavenly realm; it does not belong to men! Too often men have turned that which is sacred into something profane. By treating the things of God in a common and ordinary way, that which is sacred is desecrated. There is little wonder why the Holy Spirit would faintly visit many “churches.” To allow the church service to be anything other than the gathering to gather unto God is a departure from the faith. The church is the body and manifest being of Jesus Christ upon the earth (Ephesians 1:23). To misrepresent His name through being lukewarm is the greatest offense that can be given to our Savior Jesus Christ the Lord. It was a fearful and awesome sight to stand around that hallowed ground at mount Sinai, but it's far more wonderful where we now stand in the midst of His glorious church. |
| Daily Bread MAY/21/13 |
| Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen |
| Tuesday, 21 May 2013 07:56 |
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Hebrews 11:14 - For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. There is a city that is coming down out of heaven that will abide forever. The city is the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:10). Abraham caught a glimpse of this city and lived his life to find and enter into this realm that will last forever. Abraham refused all earthly attachments and chose rather to live undistracted from all other interest. Although He was promised an inheritance in the land where he sojourned, he never received one square foot of it in his lifetime (Acts 7:6). His eyes were instead set upon an inheritance that could not be seen with mortal eye. He looked for a city that had eternal foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Abraham was allowed to see that eternal realm in such a way that caused all earthly cares to disappear like the stars when the sun rises on the meridian. Like Moses, he saw the majesty and splendor of Christ that made the riches of this world appear as nothing (Hebrews 11:26). Once a person gets a vision of this eternal realm, its value causes the most intense adversary to be but a light affliction compared to the glory (Romans 8:18; 2 Corinthians 4:17). Many have failed to see the distinction between heaven and hell. They are continually captivated by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life for all their value in that which is temporal. The fading glory of the earthly has enticed men to believe that they can find joy and peace within the things it offers. But if we have been raised up with Christ we will seek those things which are above (Colossians 3:1-5). We will not live our lives in pursuit of earthly things, which can never satisfy, but instead we will seek first the kingdom as we seek a country looking for that city in which Christ the Lord is King (Matthew 6: 25-34)! The deceitfulness of riches and the pleasures of this world will only turn our hearts away from that which has true value (Matthew 13:22). These things of the world will promote one's selfish interest and cause those captivated by it to live only for their own will and pleasure. That which is earthly and sensual is but a region of darkness in which fallen Adam dwells, that will soon vanish away. The earthly desires only serve to drown out the voice of the Master who bids all to come into the eternal city. He who has gone to prepare a place for us cries out in earnest plea that we come and abide in Him, which is the only place of safety (John 14:2-3, 15:1-5). We must be willing to remain separate from these worldly things and as strangers and sojourners having nothing in this world with which we identify, for then we have the testimony that we seek a city (1 Peter 2:11; 2 Corinthians 6:18; Hebrews 13:14). |
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