Daily Bread - November 3, 2018

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Monday, 05 November 2018 07:24

Ephesians 4:26-27 - Be angry and sin not -let not the sun go down on your anger, and give no place to the devil. God wants us to have great boldness in the faith and authority in the Spirit. If we give Satan any advantage, it will impact our confidence towards God, and affect our boldness and authority in Christ (1 John 2:28, 3:19-21). If Satan is given the slightest opportunity, He will take advantage of us in every way he can (2 Corinthians 2:11). To help clarify the point, one accurate way to translate this verse is: "Do not give the accuser any standing room." Satan can gain an advantage to condemn us if we give place to sin. Whether it is relationship issues, anger, corrupt communication, bitterness, wrath, rage, arguments, slander, or malice -Satan will use whatever open door we give him to attempt to kill, steal, and destroy (Ephesians 4:25-31; John 10:10). All these things are opportunities for Satan to condemn us and bring reproach to our relationship with the Lord Jesus. Furthermore, all sin grieves the Holy Spirit; and the last thing that we want to do is to offend our Teacher, Mentor, and the Lover of our souls! There is immeasurable forgiveness with God if we sin, but something bigger is at stake -our effectiveness in the Kingdom. We must recognize we have been given a divine opportunity to be trained in the conduct and authority of Christ; we cannot allow Satan to interfere. We are of the household of God and His representatives on the Earth. We are called to greatness as those who represent the King, Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit empowers us to do the works of Jesus, and in every way invade the territory of Satan -to destroy his strongholds and render his works powerless. We have been called by God to cast out devils and run Satan and his demonic powers off wherever we find them. Let us walk in the authority we have been given so that all the wonderful things of Heaven may be displayed through our lives. Satan looks for ways to neutralize the impact God has ordained for us to have, so we cannot afford to be ignorant of his devices. Awake to righteousness, and don't sin; but rather be endued with the life of Christ Jesus making no provision for the flesh or vain and deceitful philosophy after the elementary principles of this world! (1 Corinthians 15:33-34; Romans 13:14, Colossians 2:6-10)

 

Daily Bread - November 2, 2018

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Monday, 05 November 2018 07:23

Ephesians 4:25 - For this reason, lay aside lying, speak the truth everyone with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. There is no question as to God's expectation of those who have been created in God's likeness. We are to always tell the truth, and there can be no cheating or stealing in any form. Those things we have agreed to do must be done without allowing any short cuts, which would include an honest day's work for those who hired us. We must not give any place to the devil by committing any acts of sin. God's people are characterized by truth, righteousness, and holiness now and in the New Jerusalem (Zechariah 8:1-15; Romans 14:17; Ephesians 4:24; Luke 1:74-75; Revelation 21:22-26; Matthew 13:43). To utilize this passage of Scripture as proof that men continue to possess an evil nature after being born again is not only a violation of the context, but also a violation of faith. Every person that has been born again can choose to agree with unholy things. Even as Adam chose to disobey God, so can we. The worst things are wrong models and examples from leaders that would by conduct, and even word, make wrong behavior acceptable. The Word of God ought to provide faith and power to the hearer. If we hear wrongly or believe things that are not true, then we are robbed of the divine power and ability that comes by the Word of God. It is the Word of God that produces faith in the hearers so that supernatural results may be realized in our lives. Whether it is healing for the body or authority over all of sin and the power of darkness, it is by believing and acting on the Word of God that divine results are produced. Be endued with the life of Christ Jesus and make no provision for the flesh, the rudiments of the world, or the philosophies of men! (Romans 13:14, Colossians 2:6-10)

 

Daily Bread - November 1, 2018

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Thursday, 01 November 2018 10:13

Ephesians 4:24 - And be endued with the new man which is created after God in righteousness and true holiness. Part 4: Faith Is Union With God In Righteous And True Holiness! 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). The faith that was once delivered unto the saints is one of divine union with God. The union is the primary feature of the new birth that has resulted in the New Covenant fellowship (John 6:56). Jesus expressed the fullness of the Father through the union He had with the Father. There is a revelation and cooperation with the love of Christ that results in the same kind of union (Ephesians 3:19; John 1:12, 14:21-23) -a union with Christ Jesus resulting in the fulness that He has supplied by grace, and which goes far beyond what could ever be earned by works (John 1:16; 17:21-23). If we would simply look at what Jesus won for us rather than what we deserve, faith would begin to work in our lives. When we recognize Christ Jesus dwells in us, and by the Holy Spirit reveals His life through us, then the miracles of His life can be witnessed through us. However, as long as we are more captivated by our humanity and weakness than the brightness of the life of the Son God, then we will remain disconnected from the faith that produces the miracle life of Jesus. When Christ Jesus is all that we will see, then His life will be fully revealed through our lives. When He is all we are determined to know, then the power of God will not be limited in its divine flow through us. If we will remain in Christ Jesus, living by Him and existing in Him, then condemnation will have no place; and we will find our lives completely yielded to the Holy Spirit! Be endued with the life of Christ Jesus and make no provision for the flesh, the rudiments of the world, or the philosophies of men! (Romans 13:14, Colossians 2:6-10)

 

Daily Bread - October 31, 2018

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Thursday, 01 November 2018 09:53

Ephesians 4:24 - And be endued with the new man which is created after God in righteousness and true holiness. Part 3: The New Man Is Jesus Living In Us! The new man, which is Christ Jesus living in us, has the nature of Jesus, the glory of Jesus, and the power and authority of Jesus (2 Peter 1:3-4; John 7:38-39, 16:12-14, 17:21-23; Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8). Having newness of life and the image of Christ, we are empowered to walk as the sons of God (Romans 6:4, 8:14, 16; John 1:12-13; Colossians 3:10). However, it is absolutely essential that we believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths these great things God has done for us (Romans 10:10)! God created us anew in Christ Jesus and gave to us a new and pure heart, a new spirit, a purified soul and body, and made us His dwelling place - the temple of the Lord! There is no religious activity or belief that pleases God. All that is important to Him and accepted by Him are those who have been made a new creature, and who are willing to grow and mature in the life of a new man (Galatians 6:15; John 3:3-6; Colossians 2:6). Those who have been created anew in Christ Jesus have been made holy and acceptable to God by the same gift. His own hands have built for Himself a pure and holy dwelling place where His glory and majesty may be seen in the earthen vessels of those redeemed and created anew by One, Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:10; Ezekiel 36:26-27; 1 Peter 1:22-23; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 1 Corinthians 3:9, 16, 6:19; 2 Corinthians 3:18, 4:7, 6:16; Matthew 5:8; 1 Timothy 1:5; 2 Timothy 2:22; Hebrews 10:22). Be endued with the life of Christ Jesus and make no provision for the flesh, the rudiments of the world, or the philosophies of men! (Romans 13:14, Colossians 2:6-10)

 

Daily Bread - October 30, 2018

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Thursday, 01 November 2018 09:53

Ephesians 4:24 - And be endued with the new man which is created after God in righteousness and true holiness. Part 2: Endued With The New Man 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, and the life of Christ Jesus 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; Romans 13:14). If these things of the Spirit are to be accomplished in our lives, then we must be willing to believe the report of the Lord and the record He has given of His Son. If we fail to believe, then it is impossible for us to receive and be equipped with the identity of Christ. We must be willing to think differently about ourselves and believe that we have been transfigured and renewed, washed and regenerated by the renewing of the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 53:1; John 12:38; Romans 10:16; 1 John 5:10-11; Titus 3:5; Romans 12:1-2). Our Heavenly Father wants us to be convinced that we are His children: begotten of Him, having been born of the Spirit. We have been born of the Spirit (John 3:5), born of the Word (1 Peter 1:23), and born of the resurrection (1 Peter 1:3). We find ourselves yielded to the Holy Spirit by believing what God has said, and by being confident in Him and Who He has made us to be. Through the Holy Spirit, we are endued, and will continue to be endued, with the glory and authority of Christ Jesus. Through the gift of salvation, we are empowered with a new identity. By the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Jesus, we are empowered to live the life of Christ (Colossians 3:10; Ephesians 1:17-19). Be endued with the life of Christ Jesus and make no provision for the flesh, the rudiments of the world, or the philosophies of men! (Romans 13:14, Colossians 2:6-10)