Daily Bread - October 20, 2018

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Saturday, 20 October 2018 09:50

Ephesians 4:20 - But you have not learned this from Christ. If we have been taught by Christ Jesus, instructed by the Holy Spirit, and mentored by the anointing, then we will abide in Christ Jesus, the Son (1 John 2:27). Anyone who practices sin is not right with God (Ephesians 5:3-9; 1 John 3:10). You cannot live in darkness and have a relationship with Jesus (1 John 1:6; Ephesians 5:8, 11; Colossians 1:13). Even if you are a backslider, you may have once known Him, but you walked away from the relationship and allowed sin to separate you from Christ Jesus. The contrast between redeemed saints on the one hand, and the unregenerate, on the other, could not be greater. Those who have received a new nature, and have not turned back to the former ways, loathe sin and its iniquity. If they were to stumble into some kind of disobedience, they would not be insensitive to the conviction of the Holy Spirit and continue to partake in its evil. Instead, they would turn back with godly sorrow and repent (2 Corinthians 7:10). Indeed a stark contrast is made between those who are taught of God and those who are of this world. Nobody has an excuse to be confused on this issue, for the fruits of the Spirit bear unmistakable evidence to those who are taught of God (Ephesians 5:9; Romans 6:22; Galatians 5:22-23). Anyone can say he or she is a Christian, but the fruits of our lives tell the true story (Matthew 7:16-20). Being taught of God is fundamental to the New Covenant, and spiritual fruit is the paramount evidence that a person is being taught of God. It is Christ we have learned. We have not just learned about Him, but have received Him into our lives by the miracle of salvation. Due to having a changed nature, we now hunger for the things of the Spirit and walk in His righteousness and true holiness (Matthew 5:6; Ephesians 4:24). For just as we have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so we also walk in Him, and He in us (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:6; 1 John 2:6; Galatians 5:16, 25). The life and nature of Jesus that the born-again (born of the Spirit, born of God) person has received is the absolute opposite of the nature of those who live in sin and disobedience (John 1:12-13, 3:3-8; Ephesians 2:1-3, 4:17-19, 5:1-21; Galatians 5:16-25). For you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light and partake solely of the divine nature! (Ephesians 5:8; 2 Peter 1:3-4)

 

Daily Bread - October 19, 2018

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Friday, 19 October 2018 08:27

Ephesians 4:19 - Who themselves have lost all sensitivity are given over to sexual immorality, to every kind of uncleanness, with a desire for more. Part 3 - Covetousness The Greek word 'pleonexia' translates the Hebrew word 'betza,' which means "gain," "plunder," "greed," or "ill-gotten gain." It is primarily translated as "covetousness" or "greediness" in the New Testament. In Romans 1:29, 2 Peter 2:14, and here, it is one of the practices of those who are perpetual backsliders and have been handed over to a reprobate mind. In Colossians 3:5 and Mark 7:22, it is listed with the practices of an evil and unregenerate nature. The choice was made to further define covetousness and greediness in this translation for the sake of clarity as "a desire for more." In the life of a child of God, the act of sin would result in conviction and sincere sorrow, but to the one handed over to uncleanness, there is only a desire for more of the same iniquity. Don't covet, but rather show forth the love of God! (Romans 13:8-10)

 

Daily Bread - October 18, 2018

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Thursday, 18 October 2018 08:26

Ephesians 4:19 - Who themselves have lost all sensitivity are given over to sexual immorality, to every kind of uncleanness, with a desire for more. Part 2 - Sexual Immorality and Uncleanness Defined The Greek word 'aselgeia' refers to sexual immorality or licentious behavior. It is usually translated as "lasciviousness" by the Authorized Version. In some languages, the equivalent of "licentious behavior" would be "to 'live like a dog', to 'act like a goat', or to 'be a rooster' - in each instance pertaining to promiscuous sexual behavior" (From the "Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains"). The Greek word 'akatharsia' is found 63 times in the Septuagint (the Old Testament in Greek). It is fundamentally the opposite of holiness (1 Thessalonians 4:7). Commonly used in Leviticus and Ezekiel, the word is used to describe those things making a person unclean, such as: 1 - An issue from a man (Leviticus 15:3) 2 - An issue from a woman, especially a menstruating woman (Leviticus 15:21, 18:19; Ezekiel 36:17) 3 - Taking your brother's wife (Leviticus 20:21; Ezekiel 22:10-11) 4 - Eating unclean creatures (Leviticus 22:5; Ezekiel 4:13-14) 5 - Touching the dead in any way (Leviticus 22:4; Numbers 19:13) However, most relevant to its use here are the filthy practices of sin and iniquity (Ezra 9:11; Ezekiel 7:20, 36:18). Although this Greek word is commonly translated as "uncleanness" or "refuse," as in Matthew 23:27; figuratively, it refers to sexual immorality as in Romans 1:24, "God has given them over to uncleanness, to do the immoral things their hearts desire..." Have no fellowship, therefore, with these unfruitful works of darkness! (Ephesians 5:11)

 

Daily Bread - October 17, 2018

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Thursday, 18 October 2018 08:08

Ephesians 4:19 - Who themselves have lost all sensitivity are given over to sexual immorality, to every kind of uncleanness, with a desire for more. Part 1 - "Given Over" The Greek word 'paradidomi' is the same word that is used when Judas handed over Jesus, betraying Him to the Jews. The first time it occurs in the New Testament is in Matthew 4:12 in reference to John being "cast into prison." The first time it is used in reference to Judas' betrayal of Jesus is in Matthew 10:4. This same word is used three times in Romans 1:24-28 to describe those who have been given over to a reprobate mind. It is also used in twice in 2 Peter 2 (verses 4 and 21), which speaks of those who are ensnared by the perdition of false prophets and false teachers. Paul uses this same word when he gave the command to hand those over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh that their spirit might be saved (1 Corinthians 5:5). These were Gentiles who either rejected the counsel of the Lord and conviction of the Holy Spirit, coming to a place of being beyond any sensitivity toward God, or a sense of right and wrong; or who were once themselves Christians but were stuck as children (Ephesians 4:14) -therefore they were handed over or cast into the prison of the Satanic realm. Give all diligence to make your calling and election sure! (2 Peter 1:3-11)

 

Daily Bread - October 16, 2018

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Thursday, 18 October 2018 08:08

Ephesians 4:18 - Having their thoughts darkened, strangers from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the callousness of their heart. The Greek word translated "callousness" is 'porosis,' which literally refers to a covering with a callous, and figuratively means "blindness". It may also be translated as "dullness," "insensibility," or "obstinacy." Additionally, Hebrews 3:13 warns us that one will become hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. The miracle of salvation removes the stony callous heart and supplies a heart of flesh -one that is tender to the will and ways of God (Ezekiel 36:26; Hebrews 8:10, 10:14-24). Keep your heart with all diligence! (Proverbs 4:23; Jude 20-21)