Daily Bread - October 24, 2019 (The Fifth Day - Genesis 1:20-23)

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Thursday, 24 October 2019 05:25

Ephesians 4:24 - And be endued with the new man which is created after God in righteousness and true holiness. Part 1 ~ The Honor and Privilege of Being Endued with Christ The new man is in the likeness and nature of Jesus Christ, as established in Romans 13:14, "Be endued with the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to do its desires." The Epistle to the Ephesians repeatedly speaks of our life "in Christ Jesus," which is referred to thirteen times in chapter one alone. A corollary verse is found in Colossians 3:10, which says we are "renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created [us]." God created all things by Christ Jesus, and has also made this new creation by Him. This is compatible with the the call of God for the saint to mature into all the fullness Christ and to grow up into Him in all things (Ephesians 4:13, 15). What an honor and privilege God has given to us that we may be clothed with the same majesty, splendor, and authority of His only begotten Son. We have been entrusted by God to be endued with Christ that we might live His life. It is the life of Christ Jesus that is the light unto the world. Let the world see the glory of the only begotten Son alive and living in you (Colossians 1:27; 2 Corinthians 4:6; Philippians 1:21; Ephesians 3:18-19; Galatians 3:27; and Romans 13:14).

 

Daily Bread - October 23, 2019 (The Fourth Day - Genesis 1:14-19)

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Wednesday, 23 October 2019 05:15

Romans 13:14 - But be clothed with the Lord Jesus Christ and make no allowance for the flesh to allow for lust. Part 3 ~ Say 'No' to the Evils of this World Today we can be clothed with all the graces that were in Christ Jesus. We can walk in the realm of heavenly places and enjoy the well-springs of life. All we have to do is simply say no to the things belonging to the evils of this world; its envy, strife, and hatred. The realm of self-interest will quickly lead into the actions of sin. Self-pursuits quickly change into the activities of the demonic. Just as Eve pursued for herself wisdom and knowledge, only to be taken prisoner by devils and the power of sin -even so, those who give place to that which is earthly and sensual find no blessed thing (Romans 8:5-7; Galatians 6:8). Give no place to sin, to all that is in the world; for its wages you cannot afford. Rather, yield yourselves to the Spirit of the Lord, Who presently lives within those who have been redeemed (Romans 6:1-23). You have an armor to protect you from all worldly things: it is the Spirit and nature of Christ. Sin has been condemned in the flesh; it has been proven to have no place (Romans 8:2-3; 1 Peter 4:1-2; 1 Timothy 3:16). That which belongs to sin and its lust has no place in our life, and it should not be given any rights or power: for our bodies are the temple of the Lord (Romans 6:12,14; 1 Corinthians 3:17, 6:19).

 

Daily Bread - October 22, 2019 (The Third Day - Genesis 1:9-13)

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Tuesday, 22 October 2019 05:15

Romans 13:14 - But be clothed with the Lord Jesus Christ and make no allowance for the flesh to allow for lust. Part 2 ~ The Glorious Life of Jesus! Paul more perfectly defined an absolute surrender to following Jesus when He used these words: "Be clothed with the Lord Jesus Christ." God will not make us follow Him; it is voluntary. Once we decide that the kind of life Jesus lived is the life we want to live, all of the resources of the Spirit are provided for us. The life of holiness and power awaits all who are willing to turn from their own ability and deny those things inspired by demon spirits - to follow the life Jesus modeled for us. Religion only thinks about self-denial; but the Holy Spirit shows us a life far better than self-interest and worldly pursuits. It is a life so glorious that we would rather have Jesus manifested in our lives than all other things that could be accomplished or achieved in this world. If we are going to truly deny the life of self-interest and human ability, then we are going to have to allow God to touch us with His presence and fill us with the refreshing waters of the Spirit. We must discover the realm of relationship where we are continually strengthened by the Spirit in our inner being (Ephesians 3:16, 5:18; Jude 1:20-21). Trying to deny yourself so that you can walk in the life of Jesus is like selling all that you have for a pearl of great price you have never seen, nor can find. Once finding the pearl, however, you sell all that you have with great excitement and joy; and so it is with this glorious life of Jesus!

 

Daily Bread - October 21, 2019 (The Second Day - Genesis 1:6-8)

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Monday, 21 October 2019 11:10

Romans 13:14 - But be clothed with the Lord Jesus Christ and make no allowance for the flesh to allow for lust. Part 1 ~ Our Responsibility To Live The Life of Jesus Make no mistake: the life that God granted to us as a free gift is the life of Christ, which is the life of the Spirit (Ephesians 4:24; 2 Corinthians 3:3, 5:17, 11:3; Colossians 1:28; and 1 John 4:4; Philippians 1:21; 2 Peter 1:3-4). If we walk in the Spirit (or the life of Christ), then we are the children of God (Romans 8:14,16; Galatians 5:16). This is more than our job description - this is our life description! We have a responsibility to follow Him and to imitate those things that He did (1 Corinthians 11:1; Ephesians 5:1-2; 1 John 3:7; 3 John 11; 1 Timothy 6:11; and 1 Peter 4:1-2; Philippians 2:5-8). We are to understand the ways of the Spirit and be obedient to conduct ourselves as He commands (Colossians 3:12; Galatians 5:24; 2 Peter 1:4-10). After all that God has done for us -providing as a free gift this abundant life and more- how could we do anything less than give ourselves to an absolute consecration to be what God has made us to be in Christ Jesus? We should make a study of His actions and conduct, and then devote ourselves to the same behavior. There is nothing any of us will ever learn unless we give ourselves to the study of it, and then devote ourselves to the practice. We must awake out of our sleep and the pursuit of our own interest; and perfect holiness in the fear of God (2 Corinthians 7:1)!

 

Daily Bread - October 19, 2019 (The Seventh Day - Genesis 2:1-3)

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Saturday, 19 October 2019 09:00

1 John 5:5 - Who is conquering the world if not the one believing that Jesus is the Son of God? If we believe that Jesus is the Son of God, then we are vested with the power to overthrow Satan at every point of attack. When we were born of God and filled with His Spirit, we were given the authority to stand against all of the powers of darkness and defeat them in His name. Christ Jesus is above all principalities and powers -and we, having been indwelled by Him, brought into union with Him, and being seated together with Him in His heavenly authority now live in the overcoming power He won for us (Ephesians 2:6, 4:10-13)! The verb used here for "the overcomer" is the present participle of 'nikan,' (νικάν) and is found at the end of every address to the seven churches in Revelation (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26, 3:5, 12, 21). We can all rest assured we will be held responsible before God to live in the overcoming victory won for us by Christ Jesus.