Abiding Place Ministries

Abiding Place Ministries Reach A City. Reach A Nation. Reach The World.

Welcome to Abiding Place Ministries in San Diego, CA - We are dedicated to see revival in San Diego, Southern California, the United States and the World!

08/18/2026

Daily Bread - August 17, 2026 (The Second Day - Genesis 1:6-8)

John 8:31-32 - Then Jesus said to the Jews who believed in Him, "If you remain in My Word, then you are truly My disciples. And you shall know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

We Must Know The Truth In Order To Be Free

The promise Jesus proclaims to all is that through believing on Him one will be liberated, or set free, from the tyrannical rule of sin. The "truth” referred to here is the “revelation of Jesus", which is further emphasized by verse thirty-six which says, “the Son shall set you free.” The Greek word for "free" is ‘eleutheroo’ which the Authorized Version renders "make free" six times and "deliver" one time.

We have been empowered to both know and to do those things which God has spoken - but how can you do that which you do not know, nor are mindful of? We must submit ourselves to the simplicity of God's Word, and be willing to obey the things He has commanded (Matthew 11:25; Luke 10:21). If we love Jesus, we will love His Word - and we will do it (John 14:23-24; 1 John 2:5). If we are going to be doers of the Word, then His Word must be a part of how we think and reason. The way in which we think and reason is the way in which we speak and conduct our lives. To make the Word of God the abiding place of both our hearts and intellects, we must give ourselves to knowing the Word.

The practice of having only a casual encounter with the Word must come to an end. The people of God are going to have to grow up and stop living as babies who expect to be spoon-fed the Word of God on a weekly basis. We must cease to be slothful, and rather, become diligent with the Word of God. The idea that we can put more time and enthusiasm into things that make us successful in the world, while we neglect the spiritual, is a terrible deception! The command to "study to show yourself approved, a workman that does not need to be ashamed" is not just for preachers and teachers of the Word - it is for every person who would be a disciple of Jesus (2 Timothy 2:15; 2 Peter 3:14; 1 Timothy 4:6; Hebrews 2:3).

Blessings,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

08/16/2026

Sunday PM - August 16, 2026

08/16/2026

Sunday AM - August 16, 2026

08/16/2026

Saturday - August 15, 2026

08/15/2026

Daily Bread - August 15, 2026 (The Seventh Day - Genesis 2:1-3)

John 8:31-32 - Then Jesus said to the Jews who believed in Him, "If you remain in My Word, then you are truly My disciples. And you shall know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Remaining In The Word By Doing The Word

Jesus has called us to live by His Word, and to make the conduct of His Word the manner in which we live - now and forever (John 15:17; Colossians 3:16; Matthew 4:4, 12:37, 24:35; Luke 11:28; 1 Peter 1:25). To live there, we must know the Word, speak the Word, and do the Word (John 3:34, 14:23, 8:32, 17:17; James 1:22-23; Acts 20:32; Romans 10:8; 2 Corinthians 5:19, 6:7; Ephesians 5:26; Philippians 2:16; 2 Thessalonians 2:17; Titus 1:9; 2 Timothy 1:13; 1 Timothy 4:5, 6:3). The very life of Jesus was the personification of the Word (John 1:1-4). His conduct, manner of life, and deeds are the standard for what a life fully given to the expression of the Word of God looks like.

The Greek word translated "remain/continue/abide" (menein) is often used by John to describe how we are to carry on a proper relationship with God. We are to remain in Him and in His Word (John 14:17, 15:4-10). If we will continue to dwell in His Word, which means to live by His Word, then we are those who follow Him and who do the will of the Father.

Continuing in the Word does not merely speak of knowing the Word - but more specifically of doing it. Paul testified that those who were born of God were living epistles - the very expression of the Word that all men could read (2 Corinthians 3:3). Peter said that we were begotten of the Word (1 Peter 1:23). Through the new birth, we became the offspring of the Word, or a child of the Word of God (James 1:18; Hebrews 8:10, 10:16). The creative power of the Word of God created a new creation in us. We have been empowered to both know and to do those things which God has spoken.

Blessings,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

08/14/2026

Daily Bread - August 14, 2026 (The Sixth Day - Genesis 1:24-31)

Psalms 86:11 - Teach me, Yehowah, Your way, that I may walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your Name..

It never ceases to amaze me how many people I run into that think somehow God is no longer a God of judgment. They call themselves born-again believers, but confess very little change - if any at all. God granted us the greatest gift - the ability to have all of our past sins forgiven and completely removed. Furthermore, after giving us the ability to have our hearts united with His and the ability to live by the power of His own Spirit of Holiness, if we do sin, He makes provision for us to be forgiven if we confess our sins and turn from them.

The fear of the Lord is the means by which Jesus Christ, the Son of God, lived and walked with God (Isaiah 11:2-3; Hebrews 5:7). The fear of the Lord is not something bad. Rather, it is a defense given to us by the Holy Spirit against all evil. It teaches us to depart from evil and love righteousness (1 Peter 3:10-11; Psalms 34:9-14). Make no mistake, there is no one who loves righteousness that does not hate evil. God has united our hearts with His so we will have the fear of the Lord (Galatians 4:6; John 14:17, 20-21, 23).

I know there are a lot of people with many ideas about God and His Bible. However, their ideas and concepts will never be a replacement for the Word of God that is available for everyone to read. It is in the Bible where the whole counsel of God is given. It was all inspired by Him so we may have a complete understanding of His will and the ability to fulfill it. It's a tragic mistake to emphasize only part of the Word of God and not the whole of what He has given. Don't allow anyone to explain any part of it away.

Blessings,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

08/14/2026

Daily Bread - August 13, 2026 (The Fifth Day - Genesis 1:20-23)

John 15:7-8 - If you dwell in Me, and My words dwell in you, then you may ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. My Father is glorified in this: that you bring forth much fruit, and be My disciples.

Dwelling In Christ & Receiving Whatever We Ask

Dwelling in Christ is a daily consecration to live the life of Christ freely given to us (2 Corinthians 5:14-15; Galatians 2:20). We dwell in Christ because His Word dwells in us, and we have believed and accepted everything He has said we are! We allow the Word of Christ Jesus to dwell in us richly because we hear it, read it, think on it, and do it (Colossians 3:16; Luke 6:47-48, 11:28; James 1:22-24; Matthew 12:50; John 14:23-24, 15:10). If we say we know Him and dwell in Him, but do not keep His sayings, then we are living a false life. Yet, if we simply obey Him and do His Word, then we will find ourselves in a love relationship resulting in receiving all that Father has bestowed upon those who will walk with Him!

If we dwell in Christ Jesus and His Word dwells in us, then we will receive whatever we ask (John 15:16; 1 John 3:22). Jesus reveals how easy it is to receive the answer to your request - He simply tells us to ask! Jesus tells us seven times in John chapters 14 through 16 to "ask." The kind of prayer we are to pray is an asking prayer - one that expects God to do the impossible! Elijah prayed, asking God to stop the rain, and it did not rain for three and a half years. Then, when he asked God to cause it to rain, it was so (James 5:17-18). James said, "You have not, because you ask not." Jesus said, "Everyone who asks shall receive," and, "All things whatsoever you ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive" (Luke 11:9-10; Matthew 21:22). How simple can it be? Jesus reduces the impossible to nothing more than a basic request - if we will walk in obedience to the life of Christ by allowing His Word to determine all that we think, speak, and do.

Blessings,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

08/12/2026

Daily Bread - August 12, 2026 (The Fourth Day - Genesis 1:14-19)

John 15:7-8 - If you dwell in Me, and My words dwell in you, then you may ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. My Father is glorified in this: that you bring forth much fruit, and be My disciples.

Faith Necessitates Obedience

The junction of where the works of Christ, the Word of God, and the power of faith produce the miraculous life of Christ is the point where we submit to this truth: "I no longer live" (Galatians 2:20). To live in Christ Jesus, we thus commit to live "by Him". In this commitment, we turn our lives over to Him in a dedication to do the things He is doing, and in a recognition that without Him, we can do nothing (John 14:12, 15:5). Now, this has nothing to do with washing dishes or working on your car. Rather, this is all about fulfilling the Great Commission. If we are going to do the works He did and greater works, then we are going to have to live the same life of obedience He lived.

The act of dwelling in Christ Jesus is a consecration of our will to doing His will. Dwelling in Christ Jesus is a commitment to obey Him in all things. It is a surrender to believe He has given us His life with all of the benefits and authority, thereof. It is the continuous commitment to follow Him and to be as He is in this world (1 Peter 2:21-22; 1 John 4:17). The only way we can follow Jesus is to know, and then do, what His Word tells us to do. Following Jesus is a refusal to live for ourselves, and instead, to live as living epistles (Matthew 16:24; Luke 9:23; John 5:30, 15:5; 2 Corinthians 3:3).

Blessings,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

08/12/2026

Daily Bread - August 11, 2026 (The Third Day - Genesis 1:9-13)

John 15:7-8 - If you dwell in Me, and My words dwell in you, then you may ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. My Father is glorified in this: that you bring forth much fruit, and be My disciples.

Dwelling In Christ Is Our Identity

The Greek word ‘menein’ is the same word that is translated "remain, abide, dwell, or stay". We are to let Christ dwell in our hearts by faith, and we are to dwell in Him by faith (Ephesians 3:17). Dwelling in Christ is an ongoing commitment to the fact that He is our Redeemer Who paid the price for our salvation. We, therefore, refuse to doubt in His love and commitment to us, and we refuse to doubt our love and commitment to Him.

‘Dwelling in Christ’ is in fact a relationship phrase. It is a relationship of the highest order because dwelling in Christ speaks of our identity in Him. Being in Christ means, “that as He is in this world, so are we”, and “for me to live is Christ” (1 John 4:17; Philippians 1:21). In the Gospel of John, we observe how through the relationship Jesus had with His Father, He did the mighty miracles (John 11:41, 6:11, 5:19-23). And through our relationship with Jesus, we are able to “ask what we desire, and it shall be done.”

Blessings,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

08/11/2026

Daily Bread - August 10, 2026 (The Second Day - Genesis 1:6-8)

John 15:4 - Dwell in Me, and I in you. Just as the branch has no power to bring forth fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in Me.

Jesus has made the reality of God's will very plain to us by the use of this allegory. The life God offers to us is a life totally united with Him that functions as a result of His care and provision. A botanical understanding of a vine thoroughly and simply drives home the point. The vine is the only connection the branch has to the source of the life-giving nutrients essential to its survival. The vine supplies the structure and resources from which the branch can produce the fruit. The fruit the branches produce is specific to the DNA of the vine, which in this case is the fruit of God's own nature.

The gardener's objective is to tend the branches in such a way as to maximize first, the quality of the fruit, then as the branch matures, the quantity. Both the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ have not only purposed we bring forth fruit, but They have dedicated Themselves to supply everything we need in order to do so. Our role as the branch is very simple: All we must do is obediently respond to the will of the Father, Who is cultivating our lives to fulfill the very specific objective of producing the fruit of the Vine. As a branch, we must see our whole identity and purpose defined by the Vine from which we grow. This intimate relationship and absolute identity ultimately results in Father doing whatever we ask (John 15:7, 14:12-14).

Blessings,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen

Address

San Diego, CA
92131

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+18585661700

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