Daily Bread 7/17/2024

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Email from Abiding Place     Daily Bread – July 17, 2024 (The Fifth Day – Genesis 1:20-23) Acts 2:33 – Therefore, God exalted Him to His right hand. And having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured out this, which you now see and hear. Jesus’ Ministry Has Not Changed Many today want to end the message of the Gospel with Jesus’ death on the cross. But when Peter preached, he not only declared the resurrection – but also the proof Jesus was exalted to the highest place of authority over every power (Acts 2:34, 5:31, 7:55-56; Mark 16:19; Romans 8:34; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 1:3,13, 10:12, 12:2; 1 Peter 3:22). The proof of His resurrection and his authority over all things was found solely in the outpouring of the Holy Ghost. All who were around on that day could both hear and see this proof as the tongues of fire proceeded from the lips of the redeemed. The sign of the Holy Ghost was manifested by tongues and by the ecstatic state of those who had received power from on High (Acts 2:3-4,15, 10:45-46, 11:15-16). It was a witness to all of those who knew the Scripture that the Messiah had come, and the work of His Kingdom had begun (Joel 2:28-29; Isaiah 32:15, 44:3; Ezekiel 11:19, 36:26-27, 37:14). The ministry of the exalted King of Kings has not changed. He is still the great Baptizer Who continues to pour out the Holy Ghost upon all those who will believe. Unless we are baptized in His power and authority which are given by the Holy Ghost, we can neither be His witnesses nor the representatives of His Kingdom (Luke 3:16; Acts 2:38-39; Romans 14:17; Matthew 12:28). When Paul preached the Gospel, he did so by the power of the Holy Ghost with mighty signs and wonders (Romans 15:19). Christ’s disciples today must understand nothing has changed – the will of God is still the same. The Holy Ghost is the One Who is to be in charge of our lives to lead us and to guide us (John 14:26, 15:26; Romans 8:14,16). He is the One Who is to preside over our Church meetings, and the only One with the ability to reveal the Person of Jesus Christ (John 16:13-15; 1 Corinthians 12:7,11; Acts 5:3,32, 13:4, 15:28, 16:6, 20:28; Romans 14:17, 15:16; 1 Thessalonians 1:5). Blessings, Pastor Mark Spitsbergen