Daily Bread - March 17, 2020 (The Third Day - Genesis 1:9-13)

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Tuesday, 17 March 2020 11:24

Matthew 24:4-12 - And Jesus answering said to them, "Beware that no one deceives you. For many will come in My Name saying, 'I am the Christ' and they will mislead many. But you are about to hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not disturbed. For it is necessary that all these things take place, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there shall be famine and pestilence and earthquakes in different places. For all of these are the beginning of labor pains. Then, they will deliver you up to be afflicted and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations on account of My Name. And many will be offended, and will betray one another, and hate one another. And many false prophets shall arise and lead many astray. Because of the increase of iniquity, the love of many will grow cold." Part 2 ~ People should be far more afraid of sin than they are of a disease... The mystery of iniquity and the spirit of antichrist was already at work in the days of Paul, but it will continue to get worse (2 Thessalonians 2:7; 1 John 4:1-2). Before the second coming of Jesus, there will be a great falling away wherein those who profess the Name of Jesus will give themselves over to every evil lust (2 Thessalonians 2:3). Paul described this falling away as perilous times, and also spoke urgently by the Spirit of God regarding it (1 Timothy 4:1-3; 2 Timothy 3:1-5). Jude and John both mention how they will be like Cain, who slew his brother because his brother was righteous, and he was evil; Jude goes on to describe how they will run after the example of Balaam, who with a disobedient heart violated the will of God and the anointing, so that he could make money; and how, just like Korah, who rebelled against the Word of the Lord and the leadership God had established, they fight against the authority of the Church (Jude 1:11; 1 John 3:10-12; Numbers 16:1-3). Of course, we can look throughout the history of the Church and see many teachings and beliefs that are different from the Word of God. Many today know precious little about the moving of the Holy Ghost and the signs and wonders that Jesus demands of our lives (John 14:12; Mark 16:17-18; Luke 24:49; 1 Corinthians 14:26; Ephesians 1:23). How far can we drift from the faith that was once delivered unto the saints and still be right with God, and hear those gracious words: "Well done my good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:21-23; Jude 1:3)? This we can know for sure: if we are deceived by the spirit of iniquity and allow sin to have dominion in our lives, then we have a witness we have been swept away by the spirit of antichrist (Romans 6:17-23).

 

Daily Bread - March 16, 2020 (The Second Day - Genesis 1:6-8)

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Monday, 16 March 2020 11:43

Matthew 24:4-12 - And Jesus answering said to them, "Beware that no one deceives you. For many will come in My Name saying, 'I am the Christ' and they will mislead many. But you are about to hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not disturbed. For it is necessary that all these things take place, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there shall be famine and pestilence and earthquakes in different places. For all of these are the beginning of labor pains. Then, they will deliver you up to be afflicted and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations on account of My Name. And many will be offended, and will betray one another, and hate one another. And many false prophets shall arise and lead many astray. Because of the increase of iniquity, the love of many will grow cold." Part 1 ~ Signs of the Times: Priorities of Focus The Bible tells us many things about the spiritual, social, and political events of the future. The most important of these are the spiritual events that will unfold. If we are not mindful of the warnings and the signs, we may be lead away from the truth that is in Christ Jesus. We must also recognize how some of these false prophets would have already come, and therefore, be that much more careful we only hold to what has been written in the Bible. We can look throughout the history of the Church and see that there have been many who have brought in doctrines not in direct keeping with the Word of God, and that there are even many denominations established on some of these unique ideas -which produce a form of godliness, but deny the power of godliness. We can see where not only did men attempt to turn the grace of God into lasciviousness in the days of Jude, and say, "Let us continue in sin that grace may abound," but where there has been an ongoing attack to hold the redeemed of the Lord in the chains of unrighteousness (Jude 1:4; Romans 6:1). Even today, we see where many hold the truth in unrighteousness, and demand that we must sin more or less everyday (Romans 1:18). However, the foundation of God stands sure: Everyone who names the Name of the Lord, departs from iniquity (2 Timothy 2:19). Jesus delivered us from all iniquity, but the spirit of antichrist works to place that iniquity upon us and demand we submit to his demonic influence of sin (Titus 2:11-14). Yet, Jesus plainly revealed what He will say to the workers of iniquity: "Depart from me, I never knew you." (Matthew 7:22-23, 13:41; Luke 13:24-27). "People should be far more afraid of sin than they are of a disease..."

 

Daily Bread - March 14, 2020 (The Seventh Day - Genesis 2:1-3)

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Saturday, 14 March 2020 06:04

Genesis 15:1 - After these things, the word of Yahweh came to Abram in a vision saying, "Fear not Abram, I am to you a shield, your exceeding great reward." Part 3 ~ Trust God We can be certain the same grace that was extended to Abraham will be extended to anyone who is willing to walk out a relationship with the Almighty God. God will be a suzerain to those who walk in righteousness (Proverbs 2:7). God will be a suzerain to all who will trust in Him (2 Samuel 22:31). Yahoah God will be a sun and a suzerain: He will give grace and glory to anyone who is willing to walk with Him (Psalm 84:11) The most important thing to God is that we trust Him. If we want His promises to be revealed, then we must believe them no matter what happens. If we will trust Him and believe those things that He has spoken, we will discover how God Himself will supply our every need according to His riches in Glory (Philippians 4:19). He will do superabundantly above all that we can think or ask according to the power that works within us, if we will simply live out a relationship of love with Him (Ephesians 3:20). When we dwell in this realm of His love, then all fear will be driven away (Psalm 46, 91; 1 John 4:18); and we will find that we can absolutely trust the One whose promises cannot fail, and whose Word endures forever (1 Peter 1:25; Psalm 119:89,160; 2 Corinthians 1:20; Hebrews 10:23). Let your heart now hear the same words that were spoken to Abraham repeated to you!

 

Daily Bread - March 13, 2020 (The Sixth Day - Genesis 1:24-31)

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Friday, 13 March 2020 19:06

Genesis 15:1 - After these things, the word of Yahweh came to Abram in a vision saying, "Fear not Abram, I am to you a shield, your exceeding great reward." Part 2 ~ God is Our "Suzerain" The Hebrew word 'magen' (shield) also means "suzerain." A suzerain is a person who is both a protector and a benefactor. God assured Abraham that He would be both Abraham's protector and provider, and in Him alone would Abraham find great reward. If we thought of the greatest thing we could ask God to be to us, could we think of anything better? Yet it is God Who says this to the man who is willing to walk with Him and believe. Similarly, God identified Himself as 'El Shaddai' (Genesis 17:1). El Shaddai is translated "God Almighty," denoting that God alone has absolute power and authority over all things. He alone is the All-Sufficient One. The absolute Sovereign over all Creation devoted Himself to the care and success of Abraham, and will also devote Himself to us as well. If we will walk with Him, obey and trust Him, the All-Sufficient One will cause all His favor and provision to abound to us so that we have all sufficiency in all things (2 Corinthians 9:8). God gave Abraham only one requirement: He told him not to fear; and so we can be certain this is a requirement for us as well, if we are going to walk in faith (Matthew 8:26; Mark 4:40; Luke 8:50).

 

Daily Bread - March 12, 2020 (The Fifth Day - Genesis 1:20-23)

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Thursday, 12 March 2020 05:57

Genesis 15:1 - After these things, the word of Yahweh came to Abram in a vision saying, "Fear not Abram, I am to you a shield, your exceeding great reward." Part 1 ~ God Is Looking For Those Who Will Trust Him What did Abraham do to gain such favor with God? Was this a promise only for Abraham, or does God desire to extend this same kind of love and goodness to anyone who will believe? God is definitely no respecter of persons (Romans 2:11; Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 3:25; 1 Peter 1:17; James 2:9). What He has done for one, He will do for another. He is the loving God Who will give liberally to anyone who asks (James 1:5). There is no good thing that He will withhold from those who are willing to walk uprightly (Psalm 84:11). He is willing to give us freely all things; and all who will believe are made heirs and co-inheritors with Jesus (Romans 8:17,32). The Holy Spirit has come to take all of God's fullness and convey it to us, so that we can understand what has never before been understood or received (John 16:13-15; Ephesians 1:17-19, 3:18-19; 1 Corinthians 2:9-10). The eyes of the Lord search throughout the Earth, looking for anyone who will believe Him and walk with Him so that He can make them great (2 Chronicles 16:9; Daniel 11:32; Psalm 18:32; Ephesians 6:10; John 14:12).