Daily Bread - January 10, 2019 (The Fifth Day - Genesis 1:20-23)

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Thursday, 10 January 2019 20:13

Romans 8:5-9 - For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace, for the carnal mind is hostile toward God, for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can it be, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. Now if any man does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. God has given us His Holy Spirit. There is a mind set and thinking realm that belongs to the Spirit of God set forth in Romans 8:5-9. This communion and supply of the Spirit of the Lord that we have been giving is under attack by all that is in the world (1John 2:15-17). All that is in the world: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life would attempt to impose itself on every person that has been born of the Spirit. However, we have been equipped by the power of God to bring every assailing thought into captivity and to cast it down (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). God's people must be warned: Everything belonging to the lust of this world abides under the wrath of God! These things are His enemies and in opposition to Him. Even the children of God can come under the strong hold of the same power that ruled their lives before they were born of the Spirit. Do not allow anything contrary to those things that belong to the Heavenly realm of the Spirit to occupy your thoughts. Think faith, speak faith, live faith, and do faith!

 

Daily Bread - January 9, 2019 (The Fourth Day - Genesis 1:14-19)

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Tuesday, 08 January 2019 21:39

Romans 8:2 - For the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has freed me from the law of sin and death. Whereas we were once controlled and dominated by the law of sin and death, we are now under the power and dominion of the law of the Spirit of life. The new birth brought to us a radical change. Now, we no longer trace our existence to the disobedient Adam, but rather to Christ Jesus. The death and sin that took dominion over Adam's life has been completely removed from our lives. We are now presented to God in the body of the flesh of Christ Jesus (Colossians 1:21-22). We have been born into the family of God and made partakers of the New Covenant where sin and death have no dominion. We are now empowered to walk in the ways of God and keep His Laws by nature. The ways of God are established in our lives being written now upon the tables of our heart and mind (2 Corinthians 3:3; Hebrews 8:10, 10:16). The prophet Jeremiah described the law of the Spirit of life when he said, "I will put my law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts." (Jeremiah 31:33). The prophet Ezekiel said, "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a new heart of flesh." (Ezekiel 36:25-27). As the law of sin produced death, now the law of life in the Spirit produces in our life the very life of God. Without the life of the Spirit that came to us through the New Birth we would remain under the stronghold of Adam's condemnation. But through Christ Jesus, we now live and walk in the life-giving power of God. The supply of the Spirit is a wellspring of provision, springing up in us and supplying us with every aspect of the life of God (John 4:14). The Spirit of God which we have been given is a river of divine power and ability (2 Peter 1:3). The power of God is at work on the inside of us supplying all we need to do all God has commanded us to do. As we are led by the Spirit and learn to walk according to His spiritual laws, we have the witness that we are the sons of God, and the fruits of our lives are holiness (Romans 6:16-19, 6:22, 8:14; Galatians 5:18, 5:22-23; 1 Corinthians 2:13; Matthew 7:16-20; Philippians 1:11) Let God and His Word be your vision!

 

Daily Bread - January 8, 2019 (The Third Day - Genesis 1:9-13)

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Tuesday, 08 January 2019 20:16

Romans 8:1 - There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Part 2 - Properly Understanding "Flesh" The flesh may be understood as walking after the human ability, which cannot fulfill the promises of God. However, it is made clear through what Paul says in Romans 8:5-9 that he is primarily referring to the nature of sin which is opposed to God and at enmity with Him. Now, it is certain that in the context of Romans 8:1, Paul could be referring to both. Jesus told Nicodemus the ruler of the Jews that those who had been born of the flesh were flesh (earthly or natural). In this case, flesh can refer both to the purely human realm (humanity) or to the fallen nature. Yet, when Jesus referred to his humanity, or self identity, and said He could do nothing ("I can of my own self do nothing" -John 5:19, 30) he was definitely not referring to something sinful within him. Likewise, it is with both the case of Paul, who could know nothing of his own self, and the believer, who is commanded to deny the self (John 5:19; 1 Corinthians 4:4; Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23). In all these cases, the reference to the human realm has nothing to do with the nature of sin. Jesus took on the nature of sinful flesh in order to become the sin offering for all of mankind. Jesus suffered in the flesh, and we are commanded to arm ourselves with the same mind (Philippians 2:6-11; 1 Peter 4:1-2; 1 John 2:6). So as Jesus was subject to temptation and suffered being tempted but did not yield, we are to do the same (Romans 6:10-14; Hebrews 2:18, 5:8). The last part of Romans 8:3 addresses the ability of Christ Jesus to condemn sin in the flesh, which is a state of being in the flesh or earthly existence. In like manner, we are to condemn fleshly lust in the flesh. There are several examples of Paul using flesh to refer to human ability. In Galatians chapter four, Abraham attempted to fulfill the promise of God through his own human ability (Galatians 4:23, 29). We know how Abraham did not stagger at the promises of God, but he at one point thought he would be able to fulfill God's promises through his own ability, and therefore took his concubine Hagar to wife (Romans 4:20; Genesis 16:3). This same human ability is addressed in Romans 8:3 as the reason for the Law being weak. The Law was powerless to impart the life or the Spirit of God, and therefore it was dependent upon man's human ability (flesh) and discipline to fulfill the righteousness of God (Galatians 3:21). Let God and His Word be your vision!

 

Daily Bread - January 7, 2019 (The Second Day - Genesis 1:6-8)

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Monday, 07 January 2019 19:45

Romans 8:1 - There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Part 1 - Condemnation Removed By Becoming A New Creation! Romans, chapter 3:1-20 and 7:1-25 outlined the condemnation that existed under the Law revealing a powerless and guilty condition of man held under the power of sin. The condemnation, or death sentence, came as a result of the disobedience and rebellion of Adam (Genesis 2:17; 3:7, 24; Romans 5:12-21). This condemnation has come upon all mankind whether they are Jew or Gentile (John 3:18). The only possibility of being set free from the condemnation is to be made a new creation in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17-21). When we are born into this world, we were born under the penalty of death that Adam was sentenced to. The only way the death penalty can be justly satisfied is we must be put to death with Christ Jesus. When we call upon the Name of Jesus, God works a miracle for us and allows us to be crucified with Christ (Romans 6:6; Galatians 2:20). At that moment, the old life that is under the condemnation of sin is destroyed (Romans 6:3; Colossians 2:11). Then, by the Spirit of God, a new creation is raised up that has perfect fellowship with God (Romans 6:4-6; Colossians 2:12). The new life functions in the righteousness of God in Christ and has the nature of Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9; John 3:6; Galatians 3:27; Ephesians 4:24; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Those who would hang on to any dimension of the Law (much less any other human program for justification) are foolish, because the Law is powerless to set anyone free from Adam's transgression and the rule of sin and death. In Christ Jesus, we have so radically been accepted that condemnation has no place for those who live the life of the Spirit. Although Satan will continue to condemn us and lie against the truth, we must stand fast in the freedom Christ has given to us, and not allow condemnation in our thoughts or behavior (Hebrews 9:14, 10:2). From this day forward, commit yourself to believing God. He has made you new; therefore, believe Him and see yourself as new. Let the Word of God rule your heart and mind, and let those things which you say and believe communicate the glorious works of the new creation (Philemon 1:6; Romans 10:10; Psalms 19:14; Matthew 12:37). Let God and His Word be your vision! Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

 

Daily Bread - January 5, 2019 (The Seventh Day - Genesis 2:1-3)

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Saturday, 05 January 2019 14:58

Ephesians 5:17-18 - For this reason, do not be foolish, but understand the will of the Lord. And be not intoxicated with wine, as one unsaved; but be continually filled with the Spirit. Being Filled With The Spirit - Part 2 Tongues are established as the utterance of the Spirit in Acts 2:4. Also, tongues can only be spoken as the Holy Spirit gives utterance. As a supernatural gift, it must be given the same status as miracles or signs and wonders. The only possible way to turn water into wine, or to walk on water, is by the miracle power of the Holy Spirit. Though these are gifts given to the believer, it is only by the will and power of the Spirit of God that they operate (Philippians 2:13). The Bible does not teach us to walk in our own will and desire, but instead to be totally surrendered to the will and mind of the Spirit (Jeremiah 17:5-8; Matthew 26:39; Luke 9:23; John 5:30; 1 Corinthians 2:6-16; 1 John 2:6). God has truly given us gifts, but only the Holy Spirit knows how to operate them. When Jesus described being filled with the Spirit, He did so with an allegory. He used rivers of living water flowing out as an allegory to describe the expressions of the Spirit in the believer (John 7:38-39). He also compared our desire for these rivers with thirst. When believers drink of the water (which is the gift of God - John 4:10), the rivers flow out of them. The rivers Jesus referred to could not be revealed until He was glorified (John 7:39; Acts 2:33). These rivers were observed as tongues, for this was the sign of Pentecost. The allegory of thirst expresses to us a constant and ongoing need. If we believe that being filled with the Spirit is a one-time event initiating the believer into Christianity, then the allegory Jesus used does not make sense. Salvation certainly is the one-time event resulting in a person becoming a new creation, and the allegory Jesus used was being born - truly a one-time event (John 3:3-6)! However, drinking is something we do regularly for the need of our physical body. In keeping with the allegory, then, we must also drink regularly in the Spirit for the need of our spiritual life; and when we drink, a river will begin to flow. Thus, Paul commanded those at Ephesus who were already baptized in the Holy Spirit to be filled with the Spirit continually. Therefore, be continually filled with the Spirit!