Daily Bread - September 11, 2020 (The Sixth Day - Genesis 1:20-23)

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Friday, 11 September 2020 10:43

Matthew 7:24 - Everyone, then, who hears these words of Mine and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who builds his house upon a rock. Part 1 ~ The Wise Build By Obedience To The Word of God There is only one thing separating the wise from the foolish, and that is obedience to the Word of God. The wise hear the instructions of the Lord Jesus and do them, but the foolish hear and do nothing (Matthew 7:26; Titus 1:16; James 2:17-26). The religious may sit in every meeting, they may know how to reference every subject in the Bible, but the doing of the Word never becomes a part of their life. The disobedient may recognize the Bible is the Word of God, and though they come under conviction, still they are unwilling to repent and turn from their sins and put into practice what they know to be true. However, the wise person will see the ways of the Lord are good and righteous altogether. He will see there is a great reward in keeping the Word of the Lord and will diligently apply himself to the ways of God and grow. He will esteem the Word of God as great riches, and holiness as a great reward. The ways of the Lord will be as a pearl of great price, and as a treasure hidden in a field; which after finding, then gladly sells everything for its value (Matthew 13:44-46). Every act of obedience is constructing a house upon an immovable foundation. The house so built up by the Lord, through the obedience of His child, stands unmovable and unshakable forever. There is no force of nature or power of hell that can shake the life of the one who is devoted to being a doer of the Word. Obedience to the Word ensures we are always dwelling safely under the shadow of the Almighty as we walk with Him, clinging to Him with all of our soul (Galatians 5:16; Romans 13:14; Psalms 91:1).

 

Daily Bread - September 10, 2020 (The Fifth Day - Genesis 1:20-23)

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Thursday, 10 September 2020 11:14

Titus 1:1 - Paul, a slave of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ according to the faith of God's elect and knowledge of the truth according to godliness. Part 2 ~ The Essential Behavior of God's People: Godliness Both the faith and the knowledge of the truth granted to us by God through the Gospel are all about godliness. Through the divine power of God, we have been given everything pertaining to His life and to His godliness (2 Peter 1:3-4). We were redeemed by His blood so sin would be removed and we would be empowered to live in the glorious ways of the Most High. God did not make sin okay; rather, He further judged it and condemned it through the death and resurrection of Jesus (Romans 8:3, 6:6; John 12:31, 16:11, 1:12-14; 1 John 3:8; 2 Timothy 1:10; 1 Peter 2:24, 4:1-2; Colossians 2:15; Hebrews 2:14). Jesus destroyed the power of the devil and delivered us from his tyrannical reign. Through Redemption, we were entrusted with power and authority over every unclean spirit and every force of sin and evil (Luke 10:17,19; Mark 6:7, 16:17-18; Romans 6:12,14,18, 8:2; Titus 2:14). The will of God for our lives is manifested in this fact: if we give Him complete control, He will keep us from stumbling (Jude 1:24). Godliness is not some sort of Old Testament mentality steeped in legalism; godliness is the behavior and conduct of God. Godliness, righteousness, and holiness are the ways and nature of eternal life and the witness of the Spirit of God (Romans 8:14,16; Galatians 5:16,18,25; John 16:13; 2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13, 4:30). Those who would treat godliness, righteousness, and holiness as something other than essential to walking with God, know nothing: " If any teach otherwise, and consent not to sound words, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, He is proud and knows nothing... (1Timothy 6:3-5). Come now, let us walk in the light of the Lord (Isaiah 2:5)!

 

Daily Bread - September 9, 2020 (The Fourth Day - Genesis 1:14-19)

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Wednesday, 09 September 2020 10:55

Titus 1:1 - Paul, a slave of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ according to the faith of God's elect and knowledge of the truth according to godliness. Part 1 ~ Owned By God The word 'slave' is a repulsive word to those of the 21st century, but it's literal meaning is 'to be under the ownership of someone'. Paul was under the ownership of God, which He places first in His list of qualifications to Titus and those who would also read this letter. It is a great honor to be considered a slave, or servant, of God. We look back through the history of men and we discover that the greatest men were His slaves. Abraham. Moses, David, and Daniel were all called the slaves of God (Psalms 105:42, 89:3; 1 Chronicles 6:49; 2 Chronicles 24:9; Nehemiah 10:29; Daniel 9:11, 6:20). There is something so important about our need to recognize that when we were redeemed by the blood of Jesus, we were purchased. We were bought with a King's ransom. We belong to God, and we should live our lives under His ownership and do those things that bring glory and honor to His name (1 Corinthians 6:20, 7:23; 1 Peter 1:18). As those who are under the ownership of God, we are to walk in faith and truth which reveal and express godliness in our lives. Paul is leading up to make the point of how we are to deny ungodliness and worldly lust, and live righteously and godly (Titus 2:11-12). The world needs to see the light and revelation of the ways of God; and now that we are born of God, we can by nature walk in His ways. The knowledge of the truth and the faith of God's elect is that we were washed with the water of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:4-6). As those who have been born of the Spirit and of the water of life, we are to find all our identity in the One Who redeemed us. That identity is the life of godliness and purity of the life of Christ. As we walk in the life of Christ, the light and life of God is revealed to a perverse and wicked world.

 

Daily Bread - September 8, 2020 (The Third Day - Genesis 1:9-13)

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Tuesday, 08 September 2020 11:12

Titus 3:6 - Which He poured out abundantly through Jesus Christ our Lord. God, Who is rich in mercy, has done for us what we could have never done for ourselves. Our Heavenly Father loves us so much, He gave us the most valuable and sacred things precious to His heart: the blood of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. He poured out the blood of Jesus at Calvary so every stain of sin could be removed and every power of Satan broken. Through the blood of Jesus, the life of God flowed into everyone who would look to the sacrifice of God and accept so great a salvation. He poured out the Holy Spirit upon us so the miracle of new life could be formed within us - the miracle of a new heart and a new spirit, the very life of Christ conceived and brought to life, all through one act of grace. We are washed and regenerated by the power of the blood of Jesus and by the Holy Ghost. The fountain of life pours out His undiminishing grace freely and continuously upon all who will receive. The blood of Jesus is as active today as it was when it first flowed from His body at Calvary. It will cleanse you, and wash you, and make you whiter than snow. It is undiminishing in its power, and is a continuous witness of God's mercy supplied, as He calls all men everywhere: "Come to the fountain that flows from Emmanuel's veins!" His forgiveness is unlimited when we confess our sins and take hold of His mercy, which He has poured out abundantly by the blood of Jesus to cleanse us from every one of sin's stains (Matthew 26:28; Isaiah 1:18; 1 John 1:7; Revelation 1:5, 3:18, 19:8; Romans 3:25). The fountain from on High of the Holy Spirit - which creates the miracle of the life of Jesus within us and the supply of the Spirit to do all the Father demands - it is like a mighty river. This fountain cannot run dry; this river is deep and wide, forever flowing to the heart of man from God. All Heaven cries out, "Come and drink!" The Spirit and the Lamb say "Come!" The Bride, and everyone who has received, cry out in unison, "Come, take freely of these waters of life and live!" (Revelation 22:17) The provision of God is more than enough to do all He commands. The grace He has given cannot fail those who will put their trust in Him. The blood of Jesus is always there to cleanse, and the Holy Spirit is always there to give us the ability to do what God demands. These two can never fail if we will only put our trust in them. There is no reason to linger in your doubt, or be overcome with sin or disappointment. There is a fountain flowing - the refreshing from the Lord! Come and abide here; His love will never fail!

 

Daily Bread - September 7, 2020 (The Second Day - Genesis 1:6-8)

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Monday, 07 September 2020 14:24

Titus 3:5 - Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy, He saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit. We were saved from the former way of life through the new birth. Because of what Jesus did for us at Calvary, the whole of mankind were made candidates to be born of the Spirit (John 1:12, 12:32; Titus 2:11-12; 1 John 2:2; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:13). Through the new birth, the former life and conversation were washed away, the old things passed away, and everything became new (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15; Ephesians 2:10, 4:24; 1 Peter 1:23; Colossians 3:3; John 3:5; Romans 6:4, 8:9). We did not earn any special right to be born of God. Rather, by the unmixed mercy and grace of God, He reached down into our lives and gave us the opportunity to be born of Him. God not only gave us a new heart and a new spirit through this regeneration, He also put His Spirit within us. The new heart we have been given is a heart just like Father's. Our hearts have been inscribed with His laws, and He has establish His ways in our nature (Hebrews 8:10, 10:16; Jeremiah 31:33; Ezekiel 11:19; 36:26-27; 2 Corinthians 3:3; 2 Peter 1:4). One of the challenging things for even those who have been regenerated is to believe all things are new. Too many people hold on to the old and attempt to carry their former conversation and way of life into this glorious new creation. Satan lies against the truth and attempts to convince us nothing has changed. He tries to lay the sin and shame of the past on us. He would demand we carry the hurts and the iniquity of the former life along with us, but this is all a lie! Should we only believe that all the nature and goodness of God has been restored to us, then the faith which is by Christ Jesus would produce a miracle provision of grace, and we would discover we can live the abundant life of Christ Jesus. If we are to occupy all God has supplied, then we must walk in the Spirit. The only way that we can walk in the Spirit is to live by the Word of God.