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

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Saturday, 02 February 2019 13:25

Ephesians 6:14 - Stand then, having your loins girded with truth, and endued with the breastplate of righteousness. Part 2: Our Identity in Christ is Our Victory! The righteousness of God we have been given by Christ must be our whole identity (Ephesians 4:24; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 10:3, 10). Satan uses the weapons of condemnation and lies to disarm the saints and strip them of their faith and boldness. If we will stand strong in the certainty of God's righteousness and truth, all the demonic lies will be ineffective. Righteousness is a breastplate of faith and love, and with it we can execute the judgments of God against all sin, sickness, and disease (1 Thessalonians 5:8). With His righteousness and truth, we can stand boldly in the face of every earthly and demonic thing, and speak the words of faith and power. In this place of divine confidence and assurance, the winds and the waves must obey, mountains must move, and the course of nature is altered at our command (Joshua 10:12-13; Hebrews 11:33-34; Isaiah 43:2, Daniel 3:23-25; Matthew 21:21). We must forsake our own identity, lay aside the weapons of own understanding, and take up that which God has supplied: His truth and righteousness! For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God! (2 Corinthians 10:4-5) Special Note: Please be praying daily for our mission work in Kashmir!

 

Daily Bread - February 1, 2019 (The Sixth Day - Genesis 1:24-31)

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Friday, 01 February 2019 06:26

Ephesians 6:14 - Stand then, having your loins girded with truth, and endued with the breastplate of righteousness. Part 1: The Righteousness of God in Christ Jesus We can stand victorious in any situation we face, as long as we stand in the truth and righteousness that are not our own, but that belong to God! Peter told us to "gird up the loins of our mind," and Isaiah described righteousness and truth as the belt of the loins (1 Peter 1:13; Isaiah 11:5). What we believe about ourselves, and our willingness to conform to the image of Christ, are fundamental to our success (Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 1 Corinthians 15:48-49). God described who we are in His Word, and we must be fully persuaded of these things. All that we are has been purchased for us by Jesus, and is supplied to us by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of the Lord is all around us and the presence of the Lord is our shield. We are immersed in the glory of the Holy Spirit, Who supplies us with the truth and righteousness of God (Ephesians 5:8-10, 4:24). We must receive these gifts of truth and righteousness, and continue in them (Romans 6:13). It is here we stand and refuse to be moved, like a tree planted by the water (Psalm 1:3; Jeremiah 17:7-8). In this submission to God and obedience to the truth, we find all the supernatural works of faith! We are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21) Special Note: Please be praying daily for our mission work in Kashmir!

 

Daily Bread - January 31, 2019 (The Fifth Day - Genesis 1:20-23)

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Friday, 01 February 2019 06:25

Ephesians 6:13 - Now take up the whole armor of God, that you may have the ability to stand in the time of evil, and having conquered all, stand. Part 2: Subdue and Conquer! God has made us more than conquerors. Through the conquest of the Cross, our victory is certain (John 12:31, 16:11; Colossians 2:15). We have the faith that conquers the world, and are seated together with Jesus in Heavenly places, far above all spiritual wickedness, and above all rulers of darkness (Ephesians 1:20-23, 2:2, 6:12). The Greek word 'katergazomai' has a more aggressive and colorful meaning than just "withstand" -it means "to overpower and conquer." With each attack of Satan, we will find ourselves the winner if we rely on the strength of the Lord and the power of His might (Ephesians 6:10). We will prove ourselves victorious over everything through Christ Jesus (Romans 8:37; 1 Corinthians 15:57). We will not only stand our ground in this high place of faith and authority, but we will also subdue and conquer -not by might nor by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord (Zechariah 4:6)! It is God who has girded us with strength and will make our way perfect -all we need to do is to be strong and courageous (Psalms 18:32; Joshua 1:6-9, 10:25; 1 Chronicles 28:20; Daniel 10:19). Be endued with the armor of God by being endued with Jesus! (Romans 13:14; Galatians 3:27; Ephesians 6:11) Pastor Mark Spitsbergen Special Note: Please be praying daily for our mission work in Kashmir!

 

Daily Bread - January 30, 2019 (The Fourth Day - Genesis 1:14-19)

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Tuesday, 29 January 2019 23:08

Ephesians 6:13 - Now take up the whole armor of God, that you may have the ability to stand in the time of evil, and having conquered all, stand. Part 1: Invincible and Unstoppable! An invincible, unstoppable soldier is pictured in this verse, clothed with glorious apparel. Having put on this glorious mantle and armor of God, we must go into action by the Spirit. We have been freely given the authority of sonship and the power of God -now we must appropriate what is ours (John 1:12; Galatians 4:7; Romans 8:17; Ephesians 6:10). We cannot bow our knee to sin, sickness, and disease. We cannot run in fear because of the storms of life and circumstances around us. We must lift up our voice with the faith that changes things, and hold fast our confession (Romans 10:10; Hebrews 10:23; Matthew 21:21). When Satan would come against us like a flood, there is a standard that must be lifted up: the Name of Jesus and the word of our testimony (Revelation 12:11)! There is healing in your hands, and songs of deliverance are in your mouth -lift up your voice and shout! This divine power is the authority of the believer, belonging not to just a few, but to all that will believe: the whole company of God's saints! (1 Peter 2:9) Be endued with the armor of God by being endued with Jesus! (Romans 13:14; Galatians 3:27; Ephesians 6:11) Special Note: Please be praying daily for our mission work in Kashmir!

 

Daily Bread - January 29, 2019 (The Third Day - Genesis 1:9-13)

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Monday, 28 January 2019 21:00

Ephesians 6:12 - Because we are not wrestling against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against the authorities, against the rulers of this world, the darkness of this age, against the spiritual iniquity in the heavens. Part 3: Freedom From The Darkness Of This Age Darkness is a place of judgment. When Satan rebelled against God, he was cast out of the presence of God. This realm of darkness and chaos is where Satan rules. The judgment of darkness also came upon men when Adam and Eve listened to the voice of Satan and died (Genesis 2:17; Romans 5:12; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22; Ephesians 2:1, 5; Colossians 2:13). The death that came upon Adam and Eve at the point of their disobedience separated them from the Life and Light in God; and they found themselves confined to a realm where iniquity ruled supremely. The darkness hides the glory of God, and blinds the eyes and minds of men from seeing and knowing God (2 Corinthians 4:3-4; John 12:35, 17:3; 1 John 2:11). In this darkness, God is absent and His goodness unseen. Mankind has grown so accustomed to the darkness that when the Light -Christ Jesus- came into the world, men loved the darkness rather than the light, because they loved evil (John 3:19). Jesus came to deliver mankind from death and darkness, inviting all to come and follow Him into the light of life (John 8:12). Through Christ Jesus, we are given power over the darkness and the ruler of the darkness, so that mankind's eyes can be opened; and they can be turned from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God (Acts 26:18). We must recognize that darkness is a realm of the demonic, a holding place for those whose judgment is eternal death (Matthew 8:12, 22:13, 25:30; Jude 13). With joy and resolve therefore, we should cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light (Romans 13:12). There should be nothing more precious to us than knowing and exercising our freedom to walk in the light of life. Fellowship with the darkness of death should be the last thing any liberated child of God should want to return to (2 Corinthians 6:14-18). Those of us who were once in darkness, but are now light, must be willing to walk in the Light (Ephesians 5:8; 1 John 1:7; 1 Thessalonians 5:5; Matthew 5:14). We must decide whose side we are on, and what realm we will live in. God has translated us from the power of darkness into the Kingdom of the Dear Son; but if we say we know Him and have fellowship with Him, yet we walk in darkness, we lie (Colossians 1:13; 1 John 1:5-7). We should rejoice in our liberation from death and darkness, and have no desire to return to the prison of condemnation (1 Peter 2:9; Jude 12-13; Galatians 5:1)! Whoever the Son sets free is free indeed! (John 8:36; Galatians 5:16) Special Note: Please be praying daily for our mission work in Kashmir!