Daily Bread - March 8, 2019 (The Sixth Day - Genesis 1:24-31)

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Friday, 08 March 2019 06:28

1 John 1:3 - What we have seen and heard we proclaim to you, so that you may also have communion with us, and indeed our communion is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. The only way that anyone can receive this life is through the proclamation of the Gospel. The life of God imparted and received through the Gospel results in fellowship with the community of the redeemed, which is the family of God. The fellowship is with both the Father and the Son. This fellowship, or communion, is that of oneness. He imparts His glory to us, so that we may be one with them, even as they are one with each other (John 17:22-23). The verb 'apangellomen' (ἀπαγγέλλομεν) is translated as "proclaim" or "announce," and belongs to the same family of verbs and nouns as 'euangelion' (εὐαγγέλιον), from which "announce good news" or "gospel" is translated. These verbs can be used somewhat interchangeably. The important message, which lays the foundation for what will be ministered in the First Epistle of John, is the Greek word 'koinonia' (κοινωνία). 'Koinonia,' though difficult to translate, can roughly be understood as being equivalent to the Hebrew word 'yachad' (י ַ◌דּוָ֑ח ,( ְwhich is translated as "oneness," "unity," or "community." The Greek expression here (κοινωνίαν ἔχητε / koinonian echete) may express an even stronger message than "communion" - we may accurately translate this as "joined in communion." In either case, the communion or fellowship that all are being invited into is one of both real external experience with God and a oneness with God's people that is produced by the Holy Spirit. The 'koinonia' is only possible when one is born of the Spirit. Paul said that we are all baptized into one body by one Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13). Keep yourselves from idols. Amen. (1 John 5:21) Special Note: Please pray today specifically for our camp meeting in Portland, Oregon! Today is the last day of the meetings, and we are expecting souls to come into the Kingdom now, and for an ongoing awakening to the Gospel in Portland and the whole West Coast! Awake Portland!

 

Daily Bread - March 7, 2019 (The Fifth Day - Genesis 1:20-23)

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Thursday, 07 March 2019 06:23

1 John 1:2 - And the Life was revealed, and we have seen and bear witness, and we proclaim to you that Eternal Life which was with the Father and was revealed to us. The life, the Eternal Life, which is the very Life of God Who also was with God, was incarnated into flesh and revealed to all mankind. To have Jesus is to have life, and to be without Him is to be dead while you live. Jesus was the Eternal Life Who revealed the eternal life that God made available to all who would believe. The very Life of God was not only manifested, but also imparted through the redemption that God had granted. Jesus as the Son refers to God as His Father more than a hundred times in the writings of John. It was the Father Who gave us His Son, and Who was also active in bringing men to Jesus. He draws them to present them to His Son, Who alone can give them life (Matthew 16:17; John 6:44). Many people encountered Jesus, but they refused to see that He was the Life. Keep yourselves from idols. Amen. (1 John 5:21) Special Note: Please be praying with us for our camp meeting in Portland, Oregon THIS WEEK (Awake Portland, March 5-8th)!

 

Daily Bread - March 6, 2019 (The Fourth Day - Genesis 1:14-19)

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Tuesday, 05 March 2019 21:10

1 John 1:1 - That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have felt concerning the Word of Life. Part 2: The Word Of Life The Word of Life is the pre-incarnate Christ, Who is from everlasting to everlasting, the Word made flesh; and is called Yehoah's Salvation or 'Yehoshua' (י ְ◌ע ַשֻׁ֣הוֹ / Jesus). Still, He will continue to be called the Word again throughout the ages (Revelation 19:13). God the Word was the One by Whom God created all things (John 1:3, 10; Ephesians 3:9; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 1:2-3). He became flesh and was called the only begotten Son, so that as a man, He might redeem mankind (John 1:14, 1:18, 3:16, 1:18; Acts 13:33; 2 Corinthians 8:9; 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 1:5; 5:5; 1 John 4:9). The Word became flesh so that all flesh might become one with the Word. He Who knew no sin became the sin offering so that He might restore man to His life of holiness and purity (2 Corinthians 5:21). The Word of Life became Christ Jesus to speak the words of life, so that His life could be imparted into us. God is passionate for us to receive His life and return to union with Himself. It would be impossible to imagine a more perfect and complete union than the one that God has given to us in Christ Jesus, for the very life of Christ was imparted into us (John 14:21, 23, 17:21). Before the revelation of the Word, Christ Jesus, redemption was a mystery ministered through types and allegories. But now, John reveals that Jesus and all of His glory may be heard, seen, and touched. Redemption and an unimaginable intimacy provided with the Eternal God has been made available to us. It is an intimacy and union that all creation cries out for, but few are willing to believe. Many who have been redeemed, who are born of God and made heirs and joint-heirs with Christ, long for such fellowship, but fail to lay hold of it, only because they fail to accept what the Word of Life has revealed. Our eyes must be fixed upon Him, even as all eyes in Heaven are on Christ Jesus. He has been exalted above everything in Heaven and Earth, and we must exalt Him too (Isaiah 45:23; Romans 14:11; Philippians 2:9-11). As Father has honored Jesus with a Name above every name, we must also place His Name above all authorities and interests. We must exalt Him above all principalities, powers, mights, and dominions that might attempt to influence us in this world. Should we step into such adoration and exaltation of Jesus, surely we would begin to see Him like we have never seen Him before. Through this devoted fellowship of love and admiration, we would begin to adore Him like never before. Should we hear and see and handle the Word of Life, we would stand in awe of Him and the inhabitants of the Earth would see the glory of the only begotten Son of God. Keep yourselves from idols. Amen. (1 John 5:21) Special Note: Please be praying for our camp meeting in Portland, Oregon THIS WEEK (Awake Portland, March 5-8th)!

 

Daily Bread - March 5, 2019 (The Third Day - Genesis 1:9-13)

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Tuesday, 05 March 2019 21:08

1 John 1:1 - That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have felt concerning the Word of Life. Part 1: The Word That Was From The Beginning Was Heard & Seen! The opening statement of The First Epistle of John is similar to the Gospel of John (John 1:1-14), and reaches back to the words of Genesis 1:1. Jesus was the One Who was there at the 'arche' (άρχή / the beginning). That which was from the beginning does not refer to God's beginning, but to the beginning of Creation and its redemption. The beginning more specifically refers to the time before the creation of the world. John refers to Jesus as the Eternal Word, Who was there at the beginning when the heavens and the Earth were created. Yet, more importantly, He is the Eternal One Who has no beginning. John avoids using the name of Jesus, which is the name given to the Word of Life at His incarnation, thus further emphasizing that He is the Eternal One Who has no beginning. He is the Life from which all life was derived. The first occurrence of 'arche' in the Septuagint is in Genesis 1:1 - its Hebrew counterpart is 'resheet' (ב ּ◌ ְ◌שׁית ִ֖רא ,) which is the first word of the Bible in Genesis 1:1. The Word was heard and seen. The Word was incarnated into flesh, and the very voice of God was heard in the ears of all who would listen and His body presented for everyone to see. He was not only seen, but gazed upon (θεάομαι / theaomai). Men would not only be allowed to see the One Who the Seraphim must veil their faces before, but to gaze steadfastly into His glorious countenance. The Apostles not only handled Him before His death and resurrection, but also afterwards. After He had risen from the dead and appeared to the Apostles for about 40 days, He told them to handle Him and see - for a spirit has not flesh and bones (Luke 24:39). Surely, John wanted to emphasize the certainty and accuracy of the message that he was about to deliver in this Epistle. He would with absolute words, distinguish between those who know the Lord Jesus and those who are liars. He would leave no room for darkness, sin, and iniquity to remain justified among the community of the Church. He would absolutely reveal the deceivers and those who refused the Gospel as it was spelled out to him by Christ Jesus, Whom he heard, saw, and touched. Keep yourselves from idols. Amen. (1 John 5:21) Special Note: Please be praying for our camp meeting in Portland, Oregon THIS WEEK (Awake Portland, March 5-8th) -BEGINNING TODAY!

 

Daily Bread - March 4, 2019 (The Second Day - Genesis 1:6-8)

Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Monday, 04 March 2019 20:07

Ephesians 5:32 - This is a great mystery, but I speak as to Christ and to the Church. Paul described the kind of relationship that should exist between a man and a woman based on the relationship that exists between Christ and the Church. If married couples would be willing to realize how sacred their relationship is with each other, perhaps more attention would be given to proper behavior and interaction. Considering that the marriage relationship actually testifies of Christ and His Church, we should understand that we are preaching the Gospel by the way we interact with our spouse (2 Corinthians 3:2-3; 1 Peter 3:1). Love one another deeply with a pure heart! (1 Peter 1:22) Special Note: Please be praying for our camp meeting in Portland, Oregon, THIS WEEK - March 5-8th: Awake Portland!