Daily Bread - April 6, 2020 (The Second Day - Genesis 1:6-8)

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Monday, 06 April 2020 12:03

1 John 5:11 - And this is the witness that God has given us: eternal life - and this life is in His Son. God has given us His life - eternal life - and the Father, Christ Jesus, and the Holy Spirit testify to this. The proofs of this new life in Christ Jesus are evidenced by the power of the Holy Spirit at work in our lives, manifesting the life and ministry of Jesus in us. The most important dimension of eternal life is the quality of life that we have received. The life of Christ Jesus, which is the life of God, is abundant and eternal life. God's life is filled with the rivers of His character and nature: His joy unspeakable and full of glory, His peace that passes understanding, and His love that goes beyond all knowledge (Ephesians 3:19; Philippians 4:7; 1 Peter 1:8). Confidence and faith in His work of grace is vital to our salvation. The only way we can come near to God is by the blood of Jesus, with a true heart, in full assurance of the faith (Hebrews 10:22). It's not possible for us to please Him without this faith in what He has done for us and pledged to do for us (Hebrews 11:6). It is essential that we trust with absolute certainty how the blood of Jesus has removed every sin and has brought forth the life of God in us. We must believe we have been begotten of God, and be willing to be led by the Spirit. We must resign ourselves only to believe what the Word of God has said. The lies that would attempt to cast doubt on God's love for us, and the eternal life that has been given to us, must be cast down as the enemies of God. God so desires us to be convinced of this unspeakable gift that He has given us the greatest witnesses possible: the witnesses of the blood, the Spirit and the water. He wants us to be certain of the eternal life that has come to us through the testimony of the blood of Jesus, the ministry of the Holy Spirit, and the water of His Word. The certainty that eternal life has come to us through the blood is witnessed to us by the Spirit and the Word (Matthew 26:27; John 6:54; Hebrews 9:12). That we have been begotten of the Spirit has been forever settled by the testimony God has given to us of His Son (John 3:5-8; Galatians 4:29; Hebrews 4:12; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23). All of the witnesses of God --the blood, the Spirit, and the water-- are one, and they proclaim the message of God to everyone who will hear and believe. This message is that God has given to us His life, and we now live in Him!

 

Daily Bread - April 4, 2020 (The Seventh Day - Genesis 1:24-31)

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Saturday, 04 April 2020 08:34

1 Corinthians 2:14 - But the natural man cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolish to him; and he is not able to understand because they are spiritually discerned. Part 2 ~ The Natural Mind and the Superiority of the Spiritual There is the rational and logical understanding of the world that we all live in that is based on natural laws. Within this world of the natural, many things are left to luck and chance because they go beyond that which anyone can control. Within the confines of this reality men operate. The natural mind which is governed by natural laws (and then the pursuit to control things by one's own abilities) cannot participate with God's provision. The natural mind, ruled by what is observed only with the senses, shuts out submission to God's promises and reliance upon the miraculous. The power of faith that brings into existence things that do not exist is absolute foolishness to the natural mind. Men, therefore, become governed by what the arm of flesh can provide; and cannot look beyond what the eye can see, the ear can hear, and the heart can understand. They are not submitted to the laws of the Spirit, but the laws of nature. They cannot submit to the thinking of the Spirit and the mind of Christ, because the are dominated by circumstances and self-reliance. On the other hand, the realm of the Spirit is a spiritual reality superior to all things natural. The spiritual is under the direct and absolute command of God, where nothing is uncertain and nothing is left to chance or luck. We cannot understand this realm based upon our observation and understanding of natural laws. The realm of the spiritual can only be understood by the Word of God. The realm of the spiritual can only be taught to us by God the Holy Spirit, Who leads and guides us into all truth. Natural laws do not dominate in the realm of the spiritual, rather the natural is governed by those things that God has proclaimed. As the worlds were created by the Word of God, even so, all we have need of is provided by the same Word. The only way possible to begin to receive the reality of these things is to live by the Word and be led by the Holy Spirit (Romans 10:8,17; Psalm 119:160, 138:2; 1 Peter 1:23-25). Our hearts are united to walk with God because we are born of the Spirit and given a new spirit and a new heart to see what eyes have never seen, and hear what ears have never heard, and understand with our hearts those things that can only be taught by Holy Spirit (John 6:45, 16:13-15; 1 John 2:27; 1 Corinthians 2:7-11). It is time that we all come under the laws of the Spirit of life and live by the Word of God. Begin now to move mountains, set new courses for the people around you, cast out devils, raise the dead, walk on water, and fellowship with God!

 

Daily Bread - April 3, 2020 (The Sixth Day - Genesis 1:20-23)

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Friday, 03 April 2020 08:37

1 Corinthians 2:14 - But the natural man cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolish to him; and he is not able to understand because they are spiritually discerned. Part 1 ~ The Spiritual Realm Where the Faith of God Operates Paul introduces a word in this verse that he will ultimately set everyone's attention on as a focal point for that which should be craved by the saints (1 Corinthians 14:1). The concept that he introduces is the spiritual (pnematikos). He reveals to us that this is the realm opposite to the natural (psuchikos). The spiritual realm is the realm in which God lives. It is the eternal realm from which all of the things God possesses flow. The spiritual (pneumatakos) is far more than "spiritual gifts" for it is from this realm that the spiritual gifts and every other spiritual revelation and manifestation of the character and power of God comes from. It is the realm of purity and everlasting joy, it is the realm of revelation and miracles. It is the realm where we interact with God in the Heavenlies. The natural (psuchikos) is purely earthy, whereas the spiritual (pneumatakos) is purely Heavenly (1 Corinthians 15:44, 46). There are many people who have been born of the Spirit who remain unwilling to function in this realm where the Spirit would lead and guide us into everything that is Heavenly -a realm where mountains are moved and the supernatural is an everyday reality. It is the realm of the overcomer, of those who walk and live in the Spirit, the realm of the unseen (2 Corinthians 4:18; Romans 8:6; Hebrews 11:1,3). We were born into an earthly realm (psuchikos) full of earthly limitations -a realm that is not necessarily evil, but one that is confined to human ability. The Lord Jesus opened the door for all mankind to leave this realm of human ability and step over into a place of the unlimited and unrestricted place of the spiritual (pneumatikos). When Abraham attempted to produce the desire and plan of God for his life with Hagar it was limited by the inability and effort of the human realm. As such it was likened unto Mount Sinai the place of bondage . But when Abraham and Sarah no longer could rely on human ability because there was no more strength within their own selves, then God worked a miracle by His Spirit and brought about that which the natural man and the natural mind cannot conceive (Galatians 4:21-31). Likewise, those who rely on the Spirit belong to a spiritual and Heavenly realm: the New Jerusalem (Galatians 4:26; Hebrews 12:22; Revelation 21:10; Isaiah 40:31) Those who walk in the flesh of human ability (psuchikos) are unable to cooperate with the realm of the Spirit that leads us into the realms of faith that supersedes all natural laws. The realm of the spiritual provides a relationship with God where nothing is impossible. In this realm men walk on water, turn water to wine, have peace in the midst of a storm, and are made one with God (John 17:21; Matthew 8:8, 14:28). Because this realm is so unlimited -containing all the fullness of God and eternity- even those who are not lacking in any of the gifts (charismata) still have a call to so much more -the spiritual (pneumatikos) (1 Corinthians 1:5-7).

 

Daily Bread - April 2, 2020 (The Fifth Day - Genesis 1:20-23)

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Thursday, 02 April 2020 08:30

1 Corinthians 15:24 - Then the end, when He hands over the Kingdom to God and the Father; when every ruler and every authority and power is put down. We must recognize that we are engaged in a great conflict against the powers of darkness (Ephesians 6:11-12; 1 Peter 5:8; James 4:7; and Acts 26:18; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Titus 2:11-13). Through Christ Jesus, Who alone has defeated all the powers of darkness, we are promised both authority and victory over every one of their works. We have been given the strength of the Lord and the power of His might to engage these diabolical forces that would attempt to once again overthrow us, even as they did Adam. We have been given the very power of God and the authority of Christ to destroy their works, if we are willing to walk in the authority that is in Christ Jesus. Jesus, Who has been exalted to the highest place of authority, will reign in His supreme position until every ruler, authority, and power has no more place to function in God's world (Acts 2:33; Hebrews 1:13). Jesus, by Himself, disarmed every ruler and authority, and destroyed Satan's stronghold over man (Colossians 2:15; Hebrews 2:14-15; 1 John 3:8). Through Christ Jesus, God delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the Kingdom of the Dear Son where Jesus Himself reigns, every power and authority being subject to Him (Colossians 1:13; 1 Peter 3:22; Ephesians 1:19-23). Jesus, as a man, overthrew every power and authority of Satan that Adam had become subject to; insomuch that Jesus said, "Now is the prince of this world judged, now is the prince of this world cast out" (John 12:31, 16:11). As the sons of God, we are commissioned by God to walk in absolute authority over all of these powers of darkness. The prince of the power of the air --the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience-- is made subject to every demand of Jesus and His saints (Matthew 28:18; Luke 10:19; Ephesians 1:19-23, 2:1-6; 1 Peter 3:22). Although Satan still has the power to oppose mankind and to fight against the saints, Christ Jesus has ensured our conquest against all of their forces (Ephesians 6:10-12; 2 Corinthians 10:4; Luke 10:19; and 1 John 2:14, 4:4, 5:18). We are commissioned by God to tear down and overthrow their works, wherever we encounter them (John 14:12; 1 John 3:8, 5:4-5; and Revelation 2:7,11,17,26, 3:5,12,21, 21:7). Everything we are engaged in today is moving to one final conclusion: the ultimate removal and destruction of every ruler, authority, and power that is opposed to God. Soon, Satan will be cast into the bottomless pit for 1000 years, and Christ Jesus and His saints will rule with a rod of iron (Revelation 20:1-3, 2:27, 19:15). At the end of the 1000 years, Satan will be released for a season; and every rebel and every ruler, authority, and power opposed to God will be destroyed in one final judgment (Revelation 20:7-11, 21:1-5; 2 Peter 3:10,13; Isaiah 65:17).

 

Daily Bread - April 1, 2020 (The Fourth Day - Genesis 1:14-19)

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Wednesday, 01 April 2020 08:52

1 Corinthians 15:25 - For He must reign until He has put all enemies under His feet. Christ Jesus reigns today! He began His reign to put down all his enemies 2000 years ago when He was exalted to the right hand of the Father (Acts 2:33, 5:31, 7:55-56; Hebrews 1:13, 10:13; and Ephesians 1:20; Philippians 2:9; Psalm 110:1; Matthew 22:44; 1 Peter 1:21). After having defeated the powers of darkness, He was given the place of sovereign authority to rule until everything opposed to the Kingdom of God is brought to an end (Revelation 1:18; Colossians 2:15; 1 John 3:8). The rulership of Jesus Christ has begun among those who have willingly received His rulership, and have embraced the transformation that has been brought to us through His Name. To those who have come under His dominion, He has also given power through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and Fire to exercise authority over all of the enemies of God. We must be willing to recognize that Jesus reigns for the purpose of destroying every power of sin and death. Should we make the mistake of believing that somehow God is at peace with sin and death --and is not militant against them-- then we would believe a lie, and be damned! He is reigning now in our lives, and where He reigns, sin and death have no power; but rather, are destroyed wherever they raise their rebellious and treasonous head (1 John 3:8; John 12:31, 16:11; and Luke 10:19; Mark 16:17; Romans 6:12,14). In the future, Jesus will come and reign for 1000 years over all mankind, whether they willing accept Him, or not. He will rule with a rod of iron, and He will crush all rebellion and opposition (Psalm 2:9; Revelation 2:27, 19:15, 20:3-7; Zechariah 14:16-19). At the end of that age, Satan and every power of sin and death --and all those who joined league with them-- will be cast into the lake of fire; and the age of sin and death will be eternally over. God has given us the power to live in the glory of His nature and will (John 1:12-13; 2 Peter 1:3-4). He has made us His temple and dwelling place (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 2 Corinthians 6:16-18). Will you continue to listen to the deceptions and propaganda of the Satanic lie that gives power to sin and disobedience? Or will you instead rise up together in His righteous cause, and say: "Christ Jesus reigns supremely, and His will shall be done!" (Matthew 6:9-13; Ephesians 6:10-18)