God spoke to me!

God spoke to me!  What is the thought that just ran through your mind?  We live in a culture around us and even in the church that is becoming increasingly cynical about the statement, “God spoke to me!”  There have been many people that have justified their actions, feelings, and attitudes to other people by using those indisputable words. When you use those words no one can argue with your decision or tell you that you are wrong because God spoke to you.  Now we see a tide of cynicism that has permeated the church that God really does speak to his people.  So I pose this question to you.  Do you believe that God speaks to His people, outside of the Word of God? Can you know God's voice, often not audible, and distinguish it from the thoughts in your brain?  This is the voice that comes from your Spirit man and not your carnal soul man. Friend, God does still speak to you and I every day if we are listening and are prepared to hear His voice.  God wants to talk to you so badly that He sent His son Jesus to bring you to a place of no sin so that you could rest perfect before Him and know His voice.  Sure there will always be those who will abuse this truth and trash its credibility. However, the fact still remains that God will speak to you through His Word, through a burning bush, or even through your thoughts. Now some may say that I am crazy if I am hearing voices in my head.  Well I am only crazy to those who are perishing, but to those who have the Spirit of God you know that God does speak to you and you can hear his voice with Spiritual ears.  1 Corinthians very clearly states, "The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned." When we open our spiritual ears and recognize that God does desire to speak to us, we will experience amazing confidence and security in making any decision because we will know we truly have heard from God.  It is also important to guard your hearts when someone mentions that they heard from God when you believe it is only to justify their actions.  For every time you become cynical about their decision it will often times cause you to become less receptive to listening for God's voice in your own life.

What If?

Exodus 4:1 "Moses answered, ‘What if they do not believe me or listen to me....’”  

What IF!  Two words that have been uttered many times throughout history.  Never have there been two words that can have such a range of affect on our attitudes instilling either faith or fear. They possess the power to keep people from stepping into their destiny and can also have power to cast vision when there is vast discouragement. What IF! As a tool of Satan it will cause you to question every promise of God while breeding fear.  "What if they don't believe me?" "What if God doesn't heal me?"  "What if God doesn't come through and it all falls apart?"  "What if I didn't hear from God and I lose everything?" Yet as Believers we can only Believe.  Our “What if's” look at difficult and even impossible situations but we proclaim Vision. "What if this is God's way of delivering his people?"  "What if God is trying to show you the wonders and blessings of His Will for you?"  "What if this experience is meant to help your marriage or save your kids?"  "What if this struggle is pregnant with God's Favor?"   

Take an account of your “What Ifs.”  Are you inspired by them? Or are they the prefix to an attack that Satan is assaulting you with?  Let me leave you with this thought. No matter how tough life may seem ask yourself these questions. "What if God showed up?"  "What if God is proud of me and desires to favor me?"  "What if all of God's promises were true and for me?"  "What if I Believed The Bible?"  

Friend , get ready and ONLY BELIEVE!

Family Matters

We need each other!  I know, you have heard it said many times.  However, it is true.  If you are going to have a successful walk with Christ you need a healthy peer group or community.  This is why a church body and small group is so important.  The Bible states that Believers should not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing.  The common comeback to this is, "Well I don't have to attend church or a small group to be a believer."  That is a true statement, however, once you pull away from other believers you become a sitting duck for the attack of the enemy.  This idea that I can make it on my own comes purely from “the pit.”  Relationships are necessary for a strong spiritual walk and experience on earth.  Have you ever wondered why it seems to always be a struggle to get to church or to your small group? Could it be that there is an all out assault to keep you from attending so that you will not be encouraged by being around other believers in Christ? How often does that thought come, "You don't really need to attend that group", "I don't get anything from it anyway", "Just relax today you desire a break", "You have too much to do today, you should just skip church."  These are all arguments that Satan will use to keep you from experiencing the pure joy of being around and worshipping with other Believers.  When we even use logic we will discover that yes it is true church attendance and small group participation does not save you, but it goes a long way in maturing you.  In fact, how many Strong Christians walking in Faith do you know that do not attend church or a small group?  If any, there are not many. Friend, that is not a coincidence.  The people around you are there to be strength to you and to be used by God as Corinthians would say, "For our common GOOD".  So make it a point to plan each week to be around other Believers on Sundays and in your small group.  I promise you will not regret it.

Rejection vs. Forgiveness

Have you ever felt rejected, unloved, or overlooked?  Can you relate with Leah in the Bible?  Here is a woman who was the eldest of two daughters to their father Laban. Your younger sister is very beautiful and you are not.  All the men bypass you and then look to your younger sister. Then on top of that, your own father manipulates an agreement with the groom of that younger sister to marry you.   He does this by putting you in the marriage bed with your sister’s fiancé.  (That is messed up) Then in the morning this groom realizes that you are not who he thought you were.  In anger he goes to your father and complains about how he had to take you as his wife.  This is probably not the kind of wedding night that you were dreaming of.  Can you imagine that kind of rejection and being unloved in that way?  In fact even after having four sons she hoped it would cause her unsuspecting husband to love her.  Every human person has to deal with rejection on some level.  For some it seems that at every turn of life they are constantly being rejected by somebody or something. It so important that we learn to deal with rejection. Remember, Jesus was rejected by everyone and even His Father God turned His head from him. He knew rejection like no one has ever known. Yet, he forgave his rejecters and loved them anyways.  Wow!  The power of forgiving those who reject us will allow us to draw from a power that flows from a source opened 2000 years ago on the Cross.  This is an active demonstration of the spirit's power in our life to do what we can't overcome by ourselves.  Now allow me to finish the rest of this story of these two sisters Rachel and Leah.  Rachel was loved by Jacob, while Leah was a tag along.  However, as life came to its finale Jacob buried Rachel in a grave along the way reserving the grave next to him for Leah. Through all that rejection Jacob and Leah actually became more “in love” then the love he had with Rachel.  It is amazing what God can do when you deal with your rejection, but it starts with you!

Birthright

In the Jonathan Biffert clan I am the proud possessor of the Biffert Birthright!  Now you may wonder why I am even wasting your time to brag about my position among my family.  Before you stop reading take a moment and consider your birthright if you have one, and think about how we really have no understanding of the importance of birthright in our culture.  In America all that our parents own is evenly dispersed among all of the children.  Often funerals can be a cat fight about who is going to get what.  However, in the ancient days, it was the first born that would inherit 'The Blessing' of the father.  The birthright was a very tangible mantle that was passed on through generations.  In the days of Abraham, Isaac, and Esau they understood the birthright.  Now your thinking wasn't it Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?  You are right, however, Jacob was not the firstborn.  In fact, Esau was the firstborn and entitled to his father’s birthright.  However, he lost sight of the importance of that mantle on his life.  Jacob was searching for a way to gain that favor and blessing.  One day the opportunity presented itself.  Esau famished from a long hunt in the wild happened upon Jacob making a pot of red stew (Wendy's chili).  It smelled so good and started peek the taste buds in Esau's mouth.  He begged Jacob for a bowl but he refused to give Esau anything until Esau surrendered his birthright.  In that moment Esau in total disregard for his destiny, The Blessing of his Grandfather, and the promises of his Birthright made the decision to change the course of history and sell his birthright (Salvation, destiny, favor and blessing) for a bowl of chili.  The cravings and appetites of his stomach beset Esau future.

Satan works in the same pattern against our lives.  Through Jesus Christ the believer possesses 'the birthright' of the Kingdom of God.  This ‘birthright’ is our mark of being a person of Christ, a possessor of His inheritance, and a channel of His Grace.  Satan’s whole existence is to create a stew that would be so tempting that it would cause you to sell your birthright for a temporary pleasure.  When you are in the valley, and your life seems famished and weary, beware of the man with a pot of chili.  Beware of the person, or philosophies, or even pleasures that try to get you to abandon your faith in the birthright for your life.  Never undervalue the importance of the birthright in your life. It is that birthright that will cause you to have True life on earth with a lasting legacy leading you to the eternal life in Heaven.  What is it that is trying to get you to sell out your birthright in order to possess a fleeting pleasure?

Unchanging

Life is always changing, and it is no surprise that there are times when we just want to take a break from all of the changes.  Yet, our hopeful wishes fall flat in the hands of a world that is kept moving by change.  So whether the word 'change' is a cuss word or a word to describe the vision of your life, we are all doing it everyday.  From changing our clothes, or changing our career path, we are constantly moving and changing to adapt to the surroundings we live in.  However, there is a place where nothing changes. It is the same yesterday, today and forever.  We can find it in the pages of the Bible, where we can discover a truth that brings light to all the changes around us.  Even though we have become used to the constant daily change we are faced with, we all need a place where we can go and find stability, consistency, promise, and faithfulness-a place that is never shaken or shifting.  That place is at the foot of our Father God.  If you are living in constant confusion, struggling to find security, or searching for something solid you will not find that any where in this world.  It can only be found when we stop and step into the throne room of God.  There you will find everything you need for Life.

Unwavering

God wants all of his people to be targets, to be lights, to be cities set on a hill which cannot be hid.  Where we, God's children, are so "In God"   that the World may know the difference from those who just say they are God's redemption and those who are the real deal.  Those who possess the Law of the Spirit. What will that Law do?  The Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus will make you free from the law of sin and death.  (Romans 8:2)

Sin will have no dominion over you. You will have no desire to sin, and it will be as true in your case as it was in Jesus' case when he said, "Satan comes, but finds no thing in me."  Satan cannot condemn; he has no power. His power is destroyed, as we see in Romans 8:10. "If Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness."  To be filled with God means that you are free: full of joy, peace, blessing, strength of character, molded new in God.  To be transformed by his mighty power till you LIVE, because Jesus lives in you manifesting his power through you as Sons of God.

Mark 5:36 "Be not afraid, only believe". The people in whom God delights are the ones who rest upon His Word without wavering. God has nothing for the man who wavers. James 1:6 "Let him that wavers expect nothing from God."

The Weary Woman

A certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years...came in the press behind, and touched his garment. (Mark 5:25, 27) 

This weary woman was beside herself. She had spent all her money on physicians, all her energy on hope in the latest cures and was left no further along than when she started.  In fact, even with all her efforts she was growing worse. This woman was past desperate. Then one day Jesus came into town.  She had heard about this Jesus, but would this pursuit leave her untouched like all the other promises?  If this woman felt that, you would have not seen it in her words.  This poor woman said, "If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole."  No doubt, her faith was strong.  She may have been very weary, but her faith was never weary.  The opportunity had come for her to touch him, and "immediately the flow of her blood stopped."  She was immediately healed.  

Jesus knew that something had went out of him and wanted to know why. So he stopped and asked, "Who touched me"?  The woman was fearful and trembling. Had she done something wrong? Maybe she had wondered if she should run. Instead, she fell down before the Lord and told him the truth. It is here that we must learn the key that unlocks many closed doors.  He said to her, "Daughter, thy faith has made you whole, go in peace and be freed from your suffering."

The opportunity comes to you now to be healed, delivered, and given new life.  Will you believe? Will you touch him?  There is something in a living faith that is different from anything else. Oh that you will believe even standing in the middle of the furnace. For if you call things that are not as though they were, you will walk in the days that are! 

Salty

We are the SALT of the world.  We are living in times that have been already described in the Bible.  God is not taken by surprise at the wickedness of our society and community.  He knew that the depravity of man would soon take them to godlessness and very dark places that would lead people into deep discouragement, brokenness, and despair.  He, however, sent His son to be a Light in this darkness and a beacon of hope that would show these sinful people another way.  He would show them a path of unshakeable truth, real life, and endless future.  We are that beacon of light. We are the SALT that flavors this city.  Although politics become more and more contentious and the people around you more and more evil, stay the course.  We know the truth.  Do not become discouraged by what you see in the news or through social media.  Rather, stand up and be salt.  Be light!  People, more than ever, are looking for that light.  Remember that the Bible says, where sin increases, grace will abound.  It also tells us, that when evil comes there will be a standard that will arise.  Evil will be met by the armies of Heaven and on earth.  WE are that army.  It is time to rise up and pray.  It is time to put on the armor of God and march.  It is time to confront evil, not with criticism, cynicism,  words and debate, but with the power of the blood, the cross and the Holy Spirit.  If God be for us, who will be able to stand against us?   Let's march to the drum beat of Heaven and preserve our generation from the pit of hell.  We can and will accomplish all that God has ordered.

Shaped by the Word of God

2 Timothy 3:1-5 "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God--HAVING A FORM OF GODLINESS BUT DENYING ITS POWER.  Have nothing to do with them."

We are living in these kinds of days. In fact, not only are we living in a world that is filled with this kind of culture, we are seeing this culture seep into the church.  Now in our culture we see Christians that have succumbed to the pressure to re-write the Bible to allow and accept a new form of morality.  They are replacing the morality of Scriptures with the morality of Politicians and Celebrities.  Even Pastors, Shepherds, Leaders that claim to be the mouthpiece of God have given in to the political will of their culture. This is not the first time we have seen this happen.  The prophets Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Ezekiel all found themselves among a people and Spiritual leaders that claimed to be in the light yet only preached darkness.  God used these prophets to be his voice to a stubborn people. These men were persecuted for their stand to proclaim a message that they themselves did not establish, but were called to preach.  In the same manner our message may not always be accepted but it must be pure and true to the Word of God.  You see we did not create the gospel, write the Bible, or think up God.  It was there before us and will be there long after we are gone.  So understand that if you are a BELIEVER, your life and culture will be shaped by the Word of God.  As believers we shouldn’t try to re-interpret the Bible and ignore truths, in order to make God more acceptable in our culture.  Although you may have a form of godliness you will possess no power.  Remember the Bible is our protection and within it is our joy, peace, grace, and freedom.

March Madness

If you live in America any length of time you will at least be familiar with the statement 'March Madness'. This is the time of the year that College Basketball takes center stage and teams battle to be deemed the National Champion of College Basketball. The best team in that year. Over Sixty teams are selected to compete to reach their ultimate goal. Often through the brackets teams will lose by one or two points by a last second heroic shots. In one moment they are done, failure, falling short of the goal they had set out to accomplish. No amount of Faith could change that reality for them.

In the same way, many Christians live with this same kind of mentality. We have goals and dreams that we pursue, hoping that we will accomplish them, but always fearing the worse. Thinking that in order to win I need to be the best. The problem with this kind of thinking is there is only one winner, leaving a whole lot of losers. So it is important for you to understand this very important Truth. Christ is the Winner, Satan is the Loser! If I am in Christ I am a Winner already, if I am in Satan I am a loser already. The Bible says that I am More Than An Overcomer. You are MORE THAN an Overcomer. We are in Christ and have already won, so we fight every battle, do every task, fulfill every dream with the understanding that I already possess the Trophy. It is already done. When we live life with that mentality, stress disappears, Faith is king and we experience abundant life. We will also overcome the little demons of Jealousy, envy, and covetousness that tries to trip us up. So today pray like you just won, walk with a holy swagger, and talk with words of confidence. If God is for you, who can be against you. Answer: NOOO ONE!

Seasoned With Salt

It is interesting to discover how much the great men of the Bible are just like us.  Over the last few weeks I have been studying the Epistles of Paul in the Bible. I came across one of those statements Paul makes that reveals how much like us he is.  Here is what he writes in Colossians 3:21, "Pray that I may proclaim it (Gospel) clearly, as I should." Paul, probably the greatest apostle of all time, asked for prayer that even he would be able to reveal the mysteries of the Gospel to the lost in mind and heart.  How do you share the gospel to a spiritually blind and deaf person?  Answer: With the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in you. Wow! If Paul needed help than I can take solace in knowing that I am not broken. There is one more thing I want to show you in this verse in Colossians. Paul then gives us all wisdom on how to present the mysteries of Heaven in our day to day life. In verse 5-6 it says "Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders: make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation always be full of grace, SEASONED WITH SALT...”  We all know people that put salt on their food, because it causes the flavor of the food to be more pronounced.  It makes the food taste better.  When our conversation with lost people is full of grace and seasoned with salt, we will find that they will want to talk more.  They will ask questions and inquire about issues of the heart either because they are just merely curious or because they have questions that need to be answered. There is something about when they converse with you that makes them believe you know something they need to know. Try seasoning your conversation this week with salt.  Drop little spiritual truths in your conversation. Make statements that they may not fully understand but would cause them to ask you to explain.  If you will do this not only will you have fun, but you will be strengthened in your faith and understanding because of the revelation God will give to you during the discussion. So start shaking the salt shaker.

Only Believe

One day a man by the name of Jairus fell at Jesus' feet. He and his wife were in serious trouble. Their little daughter was lying at the point of death. Everything they had tried had failed, but they knew that if they found Jesus, she would be made whole.  When they finally found Jesus, he implored him to come with them to help his daughter. "...he fell and pleaded earnestly with him, "My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live. So Jesus went with him," (Mark 5:22-23) This is the same Jesus that has come into your life today.  The same Jesus that said, I so loved you that I will go to the cross for you.  "While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. "Your daughter is dead", they said. "Why bother the teacher anymore?" (Mark 5:35) Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, "Don't be afraid, ONLY BELIEVE."  

If we ONLY BELIEVE, we will see what God will do for those when circumstances seem impossible or when our hopes and dreams seem to be going up in smoke and our back are up against the wall. We know that all things are possible if we Only Believe. God is rich to all who call upon Him. What possibilities lie ahead in our lives if we would just only believe in the divine presence of God?  For God is with us through the power of His Spirit.  If only you would dare to rise and say that even though it may appear to be insane, I will Only Believe.  Even though it looks to be impossible, I will Only Believe. This is our year to establish a mindset that will refuse to doubt, knowing God will move in an atmosphere of belief.

In the world we live in there are really two different approaches to everything.  There are two different perspectives to marriage, jobs, money, dreams, our belongings, and even our relationships.  Once we choose which direction we are going to go, we tend to stick to that line of thinking until something so powerful and transformational influences our life. It is then that we realize that we were either right or wrong. What are these two mindsets?  Although very simple, they will determine even the most important decisions in your life. It is the difference between living on an island and just being on the island. Here is your life, what do you choose?  Will you be a person that is always working for your good or are you a person that is looking to be an influence for the common good?  The choices and decisions we make are often made with the philosophy, "How does this benefit me?”  So if helping someone benefits me then count me in.  However, there is a way, a people, a path that can be taken where people think and believe they are here to benefit the COMMON GOOD. These are people that make decisions with the thought, "How will this bless the people around me?" Christ was the first to walk this “Common Good” path when He walked from the throne to a manger, from a manger to a cross, and from the cross to the grave. So let's take a look in the mirror and ask ourselves, what common good will my life bring to those around me this year?