Daily Bread - September 6, 2017

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Wednesday, 06 September 2017 09:17

1 Corinthians 2:13 - And which we speak, not in words teaching man's wisdom, but the teaching of the Holy Ghost; connecting the spiritual to the spiritual. Everything the Holy Spirit teaches is spiritual; and what men teach is carnal. The Holy Spirit stands in a Heavenly realm to make known to us all that the Father is doing. The Holy Spirit reveals what is going on in Heaven, while men teach their perception of what they think is going on in earth. Each one of us then stand in a place of decision as to what we are going to believe. The pressures are great to believe the physical evidence we see with our eyes, rather than the spiritual evidence regarding which God has sworn with an oath and cannot lie about. We were born of the Spirit so that we can be taught of God, not men. There should be a whole new set of spiritual laws that we live by, instead of natural laws. The Word of God and the Spirit of God define for us a whole new reality. Yet, many remain content to both think the same way, and function the same, as they did before they were born of the Spirit. They have submitted to the pressures that men have imposed upon them to expect the same things that the rest of the world expects. If the doctor, lawyer, or financial expert says it's so, then that is what they believe. Failing to realize we are not of this world, and we have been given authority to speak to the mountains to be removed, and call into existence those things that God has spoken (John 14:17, 15:19, 17:14,16,25). The spiritual language, the spiritual songs, and the spiritual understanding are unacceptable to a world governed by the mind of men. The world and the natural thinking of men cannot receive the things of the Spirit. There is no connection between man and God through the natural realm and natural thinking. The connection to God and to the faith that He has given comes only by the Holy Spirit, Who has come to teach us how to participate with the Kingdom of Heaven. The Spirit of God causes us to understand the Word of God, and empowers us to believe that the impossible is possible. The Holy Spirit will make no connection with your doubt and unbelief. He will not agree with fear and disappointment. He will not be limited to the laws of nature, or the understanding of men. Instead, He will teach us to believe the Word of God, not the opinions of men (John 15:7-10; 1 Peter 1:24-25; Isaiah 40:6-8). A connection has been made to the realms of God's eternal glory and His supernatural provision. The Holy Spirit has come to show us the life and authority of Jesus, Who lives within (John 16:13-15; 1 Corinthians 6:17; 2 Corinthians 13:5; Colossians 1:27; 1 John 4:4; Colossians 3:16). Let the Holy Spirit reveal Jesus to you and through you!

 

Daily Bread - September 5, 2017

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Tuesday, 05 September 2017 15:12

1 Corinthians 2:12 - But we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit of God; that we may know what has been bestowed to us by God. We have God's Spirit in us! Someone in whom the Spirit of God may be found is certainly to be recognized with insight and wisdom that is not earthly -even as Joseph was in Egypt and Daniel in Babylon (Genesis 41:38; Daniel 4:8, 9, 18, 5:11, 14). In the Old Testament, the Spirit of God came upon men such as Gideon and Samson, who were given extraordinary abilities of power and strength (Judges 6:34; Judges 15:14). The Spirit of God would bestow the abilities to be skillful in the arts and all kinds of workmanship as was granted to Bezaleel (Exodus 31:1-5). Those in the Old Testament were given divine ability to be priest, prophets, kings, and mighty men -all by the Spirit of God. When we were born of God, He not only gave us a new spirit and a new heart, but He put His Spirit in us and gave us the divine ability to be sons of God (Ezekiel 36:26; John 1:12, 3:6). The Spirit of the living God is dwelling in us right now -at this very moment (1 Corinthians 3:16; Romans 8:9). When we consider the reality that we have the Spirit of God, then certainly we must recognize that there is nothing outside of our reach (Philippians 4:13; Ephesians 3:19, 6:10; Mark 9:23). The wisdom and knowledge of God reaches beyond all the abilities and insights of mankind. God's strength and His power know no limitations. All we have to do is to be willing to be lead and directed by the Spirit of God, and the things of God will be known to us and revealed in our lives (Romans 8:1, 14; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Galatians 5:25; 2 Corinthians 3:3). How do we find this walk? How do we learn to give ourselves over to the direction and guidance of the Spirit of God? It is actually very simple: all we must do is to obey the Word of God. God's Word is our wisdom and our knowledge. It is the power that created the Universe. It is living and working mightily in those who believe. As we will walk in simple obedience to the Word of God, we will discover ourselves taken over by the direction and guidance of the Spirit of God. If we are going to enjoy all the blessings that He has blessed us with, and all the power and authority that He has vested in us, then we must understand that it all begins with simple obedience to His Word. The Spirit of God will lead us and guide us into all the truth; and God's Word is that truth. It is the life and person of Jesus that is Truth. Many people recognize the importance of speaking by the Spirit; but equally important is speaking according to the Word. It is also essential that we walk in the Spirit and be lead by the Spirit; but equally essential is that we walk in the Word and are lead by the Word. For even as Jesus, Who is the Word of God, and the Holy Spirit, Who has brought to us the Spirit of God, are one and will always agree; even so, the leading of the Spirit will always agree with the Word of God. In fact, the work of the Holy Spirit is to reveal Jesus, Who is the Word made flesh; and it is also the work of the Spirit to reveal the Word of God that instructs us in all the will of God for our lives (2 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Peter 1:19-21; Ephesians 4:15; Romans 10:8, 17; Galatians 6:6; Ephesians 1:13, 5:26, 6:17; Philippians 2:16; Colossians 1:5, 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23, 25, 2:2). Live and speak by the Spirit, as you live and speak by the Word!

 

Daily Bread - September 4, 2017

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Monday, 04 September 2017 09:09

1 Corinthians 2:2 - For I have determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Many people have different ideas about what is good, and what is bad; about what we should emphasize, and what we should avoid. However, what we are called to do is to follow Jesus (Matthew 4:19, 8:22, 9:9, 16:24, 19:21; John 10:27, 12:26). If Jesus said to do it, then there is a blessing in it. All that Jesus showed us was the wonderful ways of the Father (John 14:9). He made it very clear that all He did was what the Father showed Him to do (John 5:20, 8:28, 10:38). Jesus said that no one knows the Father, but the Son; and whosoever the Son will reveal Him to (Matthew 11:27; Luke 10:22). Jesus is the only way to the Father (John 14:6). If we want to live in the abundant life, which is the eternal life, then we must be willing to do what He said for us to do (Matthew 7:21, 12:50; John 10:10, 17:3-4). The right thing to do is to recognize that all of the Gospel is about Jesus. When we know Jesus, we know all the fullness of God; for it pleased God that all the fullness of the Deity should dwell in Him (Colossians 2:9-10). Everything that the Holy Spirit is doing is about revealing Jesus and making Him known (John 16:13-15). It is Jesus Who redeemed our life from destruction and crowned us with lovingkindness and tender mercies (Psalms 103:4). If our heart is right, then all we should desire is to know Him (Ephesians 1:17-19; Philippians 3:8-10; John 17:3). Let us determine that, in everything we desire and purpose to do, it will be about Jesus. Discover that in Him is all wisdom and power, and that our whole life is about bringing glory and honor to the One Who loved us so much that He gave His life to ransom us from sin and death (1 Corinthians 1:24, 30; Mark 10:45; Revelation 5:9-10, 12-13). Let us lay all other things aside, and realize that it is all about knowing Jesus (John 17:3). Determine to know nothing except Jesus!

 

Daily Bread - September 2, 2017

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Saturday, 02 September 2017 00:20

Ephesians 4:30 - And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by Whom you are sealed unto the day of redemption. We have been sealed by the Holy Ghost, marked by His presence, and placed under His leadership. By the Holy Spirit, we have been stamped with the character of God, and called to be conformed to His image (Romans 8:29; Ephesians 2:10). The seal is the mark that we have been purchased by God and are under His protection (1 Corinthians 6:20; 1 Peter 1:5). We are taught the ways of God by the Holy Spirit, and it is imperative that we learn to be sensitive to His leadership. If we are hard-hearted and self-reliant, then we will grieve Him. Even worse, if we continue to rebel against His conviction and resist Him, we will eventually lose all possibility of hearing His voice (Matthew 13:15; Acts 28:27; Hebrews 3:8, 15, 4:7) The Holy Spirit is grieved by anything that is not holy. Therefore, we must be careful not to give any place to the Devil in our conduct and attitudes. Anything contrary to unity and purity is a violation against the nature of the Holy Spirit and causes Him grief, which we should also feel because we have been born of the Spirit and united with His person. Whenever the believer pollutes his purified soul with the acts of deceitfulness, vengefulness, covetousness, or filthy thoughts, it is grievous to the Holy Spirit. All of those offensive things named in Ephesians 4:26-29 qualify as things that grieve the Holy Spirit, and they must not be allowed. The most precious thing that we have is the seal of the Holy Spirit. Each one of us should resolve to have the highest order of consecration to walk with God the Holy Ghost. We were purified by the blood of Jesus to give ourselves to being pure, even as Christ Jesus is pure (1 John 3:2-3). We must come to understand that God demands that we perfect holiness in the fear of God, for that is what our Teacher has come to instruct us to do (2 Corinthians 7:1; John 14:16-17, 16:13-15). The Holy Spirit was with Israel in the desert. He was afflicted with all of their afflictions, but they rebelled and grieved Him, and He became their enemy (Isaiah 63:10). God was grieved with the nation of Israel because they refused to learn His ways (Hebrews 3:10; 1 Corinthians 10:5-11). Israel continued on in their murmuring and complaint no matter what God did for them. We must be careful lest our hearts become hardened through the deceitfulness of sin (Hebrews 3:13). Through the hardness of heart caused by sin, we will lose all sensitivity to the instruction and leadership of the Holy Spirit. We need not pray, "Holy Spirit lead us," for He is dedicated to this purpose; we need only pray that we be made sensitive and yielded to His guidance and His will. If we would set our hearts on perfect obedience, then we would give far more attention and care toward His precious presence. Unwholesome speech is coupled with grieving the Holy Spirit. Saying bad things against another brother or sister is one of the ways to violate the nature of God, and grieve the Holy Spirit. One of the primary focuses of the Holy Spirit is to bring divine unity and oneness to the church. Satan, the divider and accuser of the brethren, does everything he can to stop such love; and we must be careful not to participate with his evil. If we would only be devoted to walking in love and learning the love that the Holy Spirit desires to teach us, we would find ourselves living in the fullness of God. The fullness of God's glory and power would be accessed and revealed through our lives if we would be devoted to these good things (Ephesians 3:19; 1 John 4:16). God put the Holy Spirit in charge of leading the people of Israel that He might make unto Himself a glorious name; and He has sent the Holy Spirit to both live and dwell in us as His people (Isaiah 63:14; John 14:16-17, 16:13-15). There is nothing like living in the overwhelming spirit, soul, and body-shaking glory of the Holy Spirit! Set your heart on walking in perfect obedience!

 

Daily Bread - September 1, 2017

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Friday, 01 September 2017 10:14

Philippians 3:3 - For we are the circumcision, that worship by the Spirit of God, and boast in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Every person has a choice: you can either have an outward ritual, and trust in your own abilities; or you can be changed on the inside, and learn to live by the Spirit of God (John 3:5; Romans 8:1, 4; Galatians 5:16; 5:25). The Greek word that is translated 'worship' in this verse has as its primary meaning 'to serve'. The only way that we can serve God is by the Spirit of God. Today, we must learn that without Jesus, we can do nothing; therefore, He calls us to come and dwell in union with Him (John 15:5). We must be willing to dwell in Him, and to allow the glory and strength of His presence to give us the ability to do all that He has asked of us. We must recognize that worship is far more than singing songs in church. Worship is interacting with God; and the only way that we can interact with God is by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:18; John 3:5, 4:24, 16:13; 1 Corinthians 2:12; Galatians 4:6). It is through this interaction with God that we find ourselves dwelling in His presence and receiving those things that only the Spirit of God can teach us (John 16:13-14; 1 Corinthians 2:9-10). In the Old Testament, the only way that men could interact with God was to bring an offering that represented their lives (Genesis 4:4, 22:3-5; Leviticus 1:1-3; 1 Kings 18:24) . They would lay their lives down upon an altar of sacrifice according to the commandment of the Lord, and God would respond to them. Today, we must recognize that the only access that we have to the Father is by the Spirit of God (Ephesians 2:18; 2 Corinthians 3:17; John 3:5, 4:24; Romans 8:14). If we are unwilling to lay down our lives, then we actually run interference with the Spirit of God. To be led by the Spirit is an act of choice. In every decision and action, we either choose our own ability, or we look to the Spirit of God for divine help. Paul reveals here in this verse that, those who are born of God serve God not by the flesh or human ability, but by the Spirit of God. God has called us to present our lives as a living sacrifice Holy and acceptable to Him (Romans 12:1). As we do, we lay aside our own human ability and interest; and recognizing that we can do nothing of ourselves, we reach out to God for help and yield ourselves to the Holy Spirit. We accept with the full assurance of faith that He is ready to give us the strength of the Lord and the power of His might at the moment that we make our request. When we do, the Holy Spirit begins to fill us with the divine ability and inspiration to enter into that realm of glory where we interact with and receive from the Almighty (Ephesians 3:16, 20; Philippians 2:13, 4:13; Colossians 1:11). We are the circumcision who have put off the impurity of heart and have confidence that the Spirit of God will give us the ability to walk in union with the Father and with our Savior Jesus Christ (John 17:16-23; Galatians 5:16). Trust in God, and make your boast in Christ Jesus!