Jeffrey B. Clifford Ministries

“That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit,'” (John 3:6-8, NKJV)

We all live in three story houses. We live on the second floor, this way we can choose to go upstairs toward heaven or downstairs toward the earth.

“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” (Genesis 1:27, NKJV)

If we are wise, we will choose to get all of our life’s needs from upstairs in the heavenly realm. This is the spiritual realm and it is where we were created to be, but because of man’s fall from grace, we lost the ability to go upstairs anytime that we wanted to. We were forced to be content with just the middle floor of the house and the stairs leading downstairs to the earth. We weren’t allowed to experience the spiritual things in life, so when redemption was given to us we took hold of it and Jesus made it possible for us to have access to the upstairs once again.

“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Romans 8:29)

The words, “to be conformed” tells us that this was the process for us to be transformed into the image of Jesus.

“Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for the obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.” (1 Peter 1:2)

The word “elect” this is everyone who has asked Jesus into their hearts, because of this decision we choose to climb the staircase to the heavenly realm. But first, we have to be conformed into the image of Christ. This can be done as we are sanctified by the Holy Spirit for “obedience.” When we fall short of this, the blood of Jesus cleanses us and we are forgiven. This will allow us to pick ourselves up and continue toward the goal of being in God’s presence.

Paul gave us what we needed to pick ourselves up, he said, “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12-14)

Some people do not share the desires that we do, and some of them are happy and comfortable where they are. Some people have a deep hunger within them to know more about the Lord, and that hunger stirs within them and the more they try to go downstairs, they find themselves heading upstairs.

“To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” (Revelation 3:21)

“For many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:14)

Man was not formed using clay, he was formed from the dust of the ground. If he had been formed of clay, then he would have been more manageable and he could be molded with ease. Instead man was formed from the dust of the ground and he was not manageable and therefore he was not moldable.

“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” (Genesis 2:7)

Man was created to live on two plains of existence. He was created to live on the earth and in heaven. When man was formed of the dust of the ground, his soul was formed, which was his will, mind and emotions. When breath came into his nostrils, his spirit was born.

Because man was created with a soul, he was placed upon probation to see what he would desire more, his own soul or the spirit that was in him. Would he choose the earth or will he want spiritual things.

“And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die,'” (Genesis 2:16-17)

God provided man with a will to choose Him or the earth. Man could be dependent upon God or he could be independent without God. He could serve his own self interests or serve God’s interest. His spirit could have intimate fellowship with the Father because that was what he was created for, or he could choose to please himself.

“And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.” (Genesis 3:8)

The spirit of man was created to have intimacy with God. When mankind chose the earth over God, the spirit of the man died and no intimacy could continue. Without the spirit, man was once again dust, a soul only and no active fellowship with the Father was possible.

The reason people are the way they are today, is because they are independent from God. This is why there is no active fellowship with the Father, their spirits are dead.

In order for man to be able to restore fellowship and intimacy with the Father there has to be something added to their lives. They have to have their spirits “re-born.” They have to have the breath of life breathed back into them.

“And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.'” (John 20:22)

When Jesus Christ came into our lives as our Lord and Savior, we received the breath of God and that which was dead was born again and now we are able to choose once again do we go upstairs or downstairs. After our spirits were “born again” they will become needed to be fed. Just like anything that is born, our spirits needed to be given substance in order for them to grow. First it would be fed milk and then after a while it will need to eat solid food, meat. Sadly though there are people who are still sucking on the milk, whereas, others are being fed healthy meat. Why is this? It is because of choice. How do we get substance in order to be fed? We receive it from God’s Word. The choice for everyone is what do we really want? Do we want meat or are we content with just taking milk. Still many are receiving meat and the more they eat the more they want. The meat of the Word makes us stronger, where milk just keeps us alive.

Because of Jesus’ work on the cross, we have redemption and we are faced with the two stairways. The one to the earth and the one to heaven. One is for our souls, reminding us of where we came from and that is dust, and the other is for our spirits, where the breath of God was breathed into us and it wants to be with the Father. One stairway leads to the natural life and the other stairway leads to the supernatural life.

Our natural life is from the earth, it is dust.

“And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly man.” (1 Corinthians 15:49)

We also bear the image of God in our spirits, which is His breath.

We function in the earth, that is part of what we were created for. We were created to interact and live with others like ourselves. we were made to eat the good of the land and we were created to have dominion over the earth and be fruitful and multiply, but we were also created to be in the spirit, to have an intimate relationship with the Father. That is why our spirits were “born again.” We were created to be dependent completely upon the Father.

We have seen what independence can do, this is how man fell in the first place. He was independent of the Creator and did things as he wanted to, not listening to the Word of God. The devil wants to keep us from climbing the stairway to heaven. He causes us to think independent of God, therefore, he tries to keep us focused on our soulish desires. He wants us to only believe that we are dust and that we belong to the earth.

Jesus tells us a different story, He tells us that we are supposed to be there with Him in the heavenly places. We are supposed to surrender our soul of independence and become dependent upon Him. We are supposed to climb the stairs to heaven. We are to see ourselves as He sees us, as heirs, sons and daughters, children of God and righteous in God’s sight. We are to see that we are no longer just dust formed from the ground, but we are alive because of the breath of God inside of us. We have the ability to be in the Father’s presence and we have the ability to have fellowship with Him, this is what we were created for.

“And raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:6)

We were created with a soul and a spirit to be able to function on the earth and in the heavens. The Lord created us this way so that we can grow and mature in both the natural and the spiritual life. We are able to exist within the natural and the supernatural.

We are able to exist in the natural realm through our five senses. We can see, hear, taste, smell and touch the natural things around us, but this is not all we were created to do, we were created to go into the the spiritual realm and use our senses there as well. In this realm we can see, hear, taste, smell and touch the supernatural things around us.

“In whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:22)

This of course is a wonderful thing, for us to be able to have an intimate relationship with the Father. To be able to see His face, to hear His voice, to taste and know that He is good and to be able to smell His fragrance. It is amazing that this infinite being who created us would want to commune with us, the finite creatures that we are, but that is what we were created for, to depend completely upon Him.

“Now concerning spiritual gifts,” (1 Corinthians 12:1). The word “gifts” was italicized , which means that it was added to the original text. It should have read, “Now concerning spiritual.” Our spirits were re-born, which means that our spiritual senses had to be developed just like our natural ones developed.This is why it is very important for us to spend quality time with the Lord In prayer, so that our souls and spirits can develop all their senses. The more we walk upstairs to the heavenly realm, the stronger our senses will become. As we become more in love with Jesus, more of our senses will become in-tune to His presence. We may not feel Him in our souls or within our minds, but our spirits will sense His presence. If we are only interested in letting our souls dictate our lives, then we will only function within the earthly realm. If we are desiring above everything else to set ourselves into the spirit, we will be able to function in both the earth and the heavens. We will be able to put the two together and bring the heavens to the earth.

As we learn to grow in soul and spirit, we will develop new and exciting gifts to be used in both places. These gifts will help us usher in the kingdom of God upon the earth.

The Father told man that he was to have “dominion “ over the earth. “Dominion,” means that we are to take authority over the things of the earth. This means everything in, above and upon the earth is subject to our authirity. This was what God wanted Adam to do, but Adam traded it away by wanting to be independent of God. Now, we are to go forth and proclaim the glory of God upon the earth. We are to remain dependent upon Him and we are to bring heaven to the earth.

We are capable to function in both the natural and the supernatural. We were given this ability when we were “born again.” In order for us to do what we were created to do, we need to be obedient to the Holy Spirit. We have the anointing and therefore, we have what we need to bring heaven to the earth, but without discipline and guidance we will be lost. That is why we have to listen to the Holy Spirit.

“I love them that love Me; and those that seek Me early shall find Me.” (Proverbs 8:17)

The key to opening any door in heaven is intimacy with God.

“That I may cause those that love Me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.” (Proverbs 8:21)

The Bible says that we have the mind of Christ Jesus. We didn’t get this through natural means, we received it by being in the presence of God. Our spiritual senses develop into maturity as we are tested and tried as to obedience of God’s Word. Just like Adam was tried and tested in the garden, so must we be tested to see where our heart is. Are we more interested in ourselves or God? Abraham was also tested in this way, when God saw his love for Isaac, He wanted to see where Abraham’s heart was. He asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac to Him. As we know, Abraham showed that his love for God was above all else, even his own son. God knew that Abraham’s heart was dedicated to Him. That is where God wants us to be. Are we dedicated to Him over everything else? Are we ready to bring the heavens to the earth?

The “Tree of Life” has risen from the dry ground. Jesus is that tree. The “Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil” is being used against us today. Satan asks us the following questions, “Has God said? Does He really want to take all this away from us? Does He want to deprive us from the pleasures of life? Would God really do this to us?” Looking at these questions, we can only conclude that God makes it easy for us to fall short should we choose to take this path, but that is not what He is doing at all, He is looking to see if we desire Him or do we want self gratification.

We must choose what we want, self or Him. Do we want to go downstairs or do we want to go upstairs. The “Tree of Knowledge” is downstairs and the “Tree of Life” is upstairs. If we give more thought on the things of the world over the things of God, we will cause the soul to become stronger and the spirit will weaken. We have the choice of which is fed, our soul or spirit. After all, isn’t that what Adam did, he fed his soul, the dust of the ground and let his spirit, the breath of God die.

Why was this test given? It was because there was such a high value at stake, that is why God placed such a huge penalty if man made the wrong choice. “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:17) Adam made the wrong choice and he died and he was unable to stand in God’s presence. Adam said, “…I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”(Genesis 3:10) Adam was “naked” and this had nothing to do with him being without clothing. He was naked because his spirit had died and he no longer had the breath of God within him. With the breath of God he was covered with the “Shekinah Glory.” Without the glory upon him he had no covering to enter into the presence of the Father. There was no communion, instead he was experiencing conviction and condemnation so he tried to hide from the presence. The glory is the covering that is required for us to enter into the presence of God. Because the glory was not upon Adam anymore, there was no fellowship in the heavens and the Shekinah Glory became a “flaming sword” keeping man from the “Tree of Life.”

The Father loved man and because of His compassionate love for them, He slew an animal and covered their nakedness, (their bodies and souls) this was a kind of “redemption” for them. This was a way for them to commune with the Father again. This would not be easy for them, but if they desired it above all else, it would be possible. The blood had to be shed in order for Adam to be covered. It was put in place for them to temporarily replace the shekinah covering that they once had. It allowed fellowship, but it didn’t allow the presence that they once knew.

“So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.” (Genesis 3:24)

Jesus died on the cross for our sins. Jesus’ redemption was just part of what He was doing for us. On the mountain top when He was with His disciples, He revealed to them the Shekinah Glory . He did this when He transfigured Himself before them. He was revealing to them what soon would be available for them. In His resurrection and ascension to the Father , the Shekinah Glory was covering Him. The reason the veil was rent is because now we have access into the presence through the Shekinah Glory that is covering Jesus. The flaming sword is no longer keeping us from the Tree of Life, and we can walk into the presence and experience the glory.

“The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.” (Ephesians 1:18)

When God came into the garden in the cool of the day, He called out to Adam, “Where are you?” Adam answered Him and this shows us that there was communication between God and man. We can choose to speak to God from our souls or we can choose to speak to Him from our spirits. Adam was able to speak to God from his soul because his spirit was no longer living. Many people speak this way to God, but they still have the choice to go upstairs or downstairs. Many are content with just being saved instead of trying to seek God’s presence.

Adam made a choice and we also have to make a choice. We can choose to stay content with just being saved and having a ticket to heaven, or we can choose to seek God and His kingdom and be able to go into his presence and bring heaven to the earth. The Lord is looking to see what we really desire. Do we want to go upstairs or downstairs?

Just yesterday it was “Father’s Day,” and on this day which comes every year children honor their fathers. It is a time of thankfulness for our father’s and how they care and love us. It is a time where we lift them up and give them praise for the work that they have done to make us each better and stronger. It is a time when we celebrate their accomplishments with us and how they have molded us into who we are.

Sadly though, not all children have fathers to look up to, because of circumstances which can be too numerous to discuss here. Children remember the good times with their fathers, the times of going to the beach, camping and hearing stories around the campfire, seeing dad come home from work and pestering him until he gives you a wink, smile or a hug, and then there were times we would have a nice sit down movie watching night or game night. Yes our fathers are great.

It wasn’t that way with me. My father decided he didn’t want to stay home and I was raised by other men in my life, good men don’t get me wrong but they weren’t my father. I got to see him at times, after the divorce from my mother, he was required to take me during the summer. That was the agreement drawn up by the courts. Was I disheartened by all this? No, I was only 5-6 years old what could I possibly know about divorce, but I did remember. My father was my idol, and even though he hurt me deeply, he was still my father and I respected him. As for loving him, I am sorry to say that was never a reality, because I knew that he didn’t want me, I heard him argue with my mother over their mistake. He kept saying that was me. I believed he left because of me.

Every summer my father would come to the house, pick me up and take me with him to Florida, where I would stay with him until summer was over. I did this every summer, but it was only because he had to, not because he wanted to. When I was 15 years of age, my father picked me up as usual for the summer and we went to his house in Ft. Lauder-dale, Florida, where I learned more about how it was to be an orphan child. What I mean by this is that my father wasn’t the best guy in my life and when he wanted to have women over for the evening I was either put at the restaurant he ran or I was taken and dropped off at the beach. Let me tell you the beach in Ft. Lauder-dale, isn’t as nice during the evening hours as it is during the day.

Here I was a fifteen year old boy, walking around the beach at night, and this is where I learned about my father’s love for me and I found out how to survive. I grew up in those years, very fast, matter-a-fact, you might say I grew up too fast. I avoided the police because people on the beach said that they would lock me up. I avoided very friendly people and I tried to stay in well lit areas. I also avoided the Jesus freaks, you know the people with the long hair, beards, and that big humongous Bible in their hands. Little did I realize it back then, but I soon would become one of them. Not the long haired flower type, hippie, follower of Jesus, but more. The courts back home would have my father’s head, but for some strange reason I felt safe wherever I went. It seemed that an angel or some protective force kept me from harm.

At age sixteen, I found Jesus, the real Lord Jesus Christ at a movie theater in my home town. A man by the name of Pastor Anthony Testasecca was holding a showing of a Christian movie, so I went. When the movie ended I met this pastor and he led to Jesus. Since that day I found out that I was always loved by God Himself and He started proving this to me. As I grew older I gained my knowledge about Father God. My heart became more in tune with His. I was always thanking Him for everything. Jesus Christ came into my heart and so did the Father and the Holy Ghost. They made their abode inside of me. The earthly father that I never knew was replaced with a loving Father who cared for me know matter what. He saw to my needs. He watched over me and He assigned angels to care for me. He taught me His Word and He loved me as His son. Now I walk with Him wherever I go and he guides me where to help others. I am the man of God that He wanted me to be and I honor My heavenly Father everyday , not just on Father’s Day that would not be honor but I praise Him and thank Him everyday because He is my life.

You may ask did my father and I get to know each other? Yes, after I graduated from boot camp in Orlando, Florida. My father and I went to Disney World together and just hung out.. I didn’t realize it then, but my father was sick and while I was in the Mediterranean Sea on maneuvers, I received a message that my father had died. I want you to know I was devastated about the news, and I ran to the chapel on the ship and cried like a baby, not because of my father’s death, but because I never got a chance to say I forgive him. It took many hours in the chapel of pouring out my heart to Father God until I had peace. The Father touched me with an outpouring of peace and comfort that only the Holy Spirit can give me. I forgave my earthly father, by confessing to my heavenly Father. I returned home and buried my father.

I know what it means to walk with God. I know from experience what king David said in Psalms 27:10, “When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.” When I felt that I had nobody that cared for me and I am sure there are others that feel the same way look at this Scripture. The Lord will not forsake you and He will bring you to Him. He will love you and He will show many wonderful things. He is, “A father of the fatherless…” (Psalms 68:5) “Like a father who pities his children, so the Lord pities them that fear Him.” (Psalms 103:13) You have a God, a Father who is there for you no matter what you may be going through.

Today and forever I know who my father is, do you?

Be blessed, Jeffrey Clifford.

Have you ever asked yourself, “Why does God love you?” I have, many times over. I am not worthy of His love, yet He still chooses to love me no matter what, why is this so?

To begin with I have lied, cheated and much more, yet God is so merciful that He still doesn’t take that all in account, He still loves me. I can’t understand it. Let’s look together to see why?

In the book of Genesis, God started in the beginning to create the earth and everything within it. Then He decided to create us. He create mankind. Genesis 1: 26 says, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” Everything up to this point God spoke it into existence, but here in the passage of Scripture, He says, “Let (Us) make man (Mankind) in our own image.” As you can see I put parenthesis around us and mankind. There are two important thing to remember when you read the Bible, “US” refers to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And the word “man” refers to “MANKIND.” If we were to re-read the verse of Scripture again it may sound something like this, “Let the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, make mankind in their image. This is a gesture of love that goes beyond all meaning, to be able to understand that our God loves us so very much that He would create us in His image. To make us have His character, demeanor, compassion, and to have all of these attributes. No other part of creation had this privilege, not even the angels that served Him had such an honor.

Of course we blew it! We had everything going well for us, but instead of loving God by honoring His word, we rebelled and sinned against Him. We gave our inheritance of power and authority to Satan. Was God through with us? No, He began the plan to restore us back into His presence. To make us righteous again before Him, so that we could once again take on all His attributes, His character, His compassion and His love. To once again take dominion over all of creation. A lot of hope was there, but God was hopeful. Meanwhile the devil was having a heyday, he was causing mayhem all over the earth, and people were turning away from God and they were doing their own thing. Mankind were lovers of themselves and they engaged in all kinds of evil practices. God looked at mankind and He was sorry and vowed to destroy mankind, but He would be going against His plan for redemption, so he searched the earth and looked for someone that was loyal to Him and He found Noah. I know that you know the story, of how God had Noah build an Ark and mankind was spared while all the evil was wiped out. Not a real good story to tell our children right? God had a plan, and the devil didn’t know what it was.

In the top of the Ark was a widow that when opened it was used to see the sky. After the rains ceased and the earth was flooded, Noah would take two birds, a raven and a dove and send them from the Ark throughout the earth. The raven went out but never returned, but the dove found no place to rest and returned to the Ark. Noah pulled the dove back in and closed the window. What happened to the Raven? It is believed that the raven found places to rest.

Some say that the “raven” represented Satan and the “dove” represented the Holy Spirit. I am not sure, but if that is the case it would serve for us to look at the Ark as heaven. Satan left heaven and never returned, but he did gain the earth and there was plenty of places for him to rest, dead things, floating caucuses and bodies. Whereas, the Holy Spirit had no place to rest at this time except for heaven, for it wasn’t time for Him to go to the earth.

As you know, the dove was sent out within seven days and this time He returned with an olive branch in it’s beak, signaling that there was dry land for Noah and his family. Olive branches as does olive oil represents the Holy Spirit.

God blessed Noah and his family, but even though He did this again God saw mankind being brought back into sin, but this didn’t deter God from His plan. The devil continued causing mayhem, and the destruction of men’s souls and he kept stealing the word of God from their hearts. God still had a plan and then as years went by and God listened to people cry out to Him for help, He sent Moses to free them from their bondage so that they could worship Him. As you know this story as well, God delivered Israel from the hands of the Egyptians and tried to get them to understand how much love He had for them, but again mankind was corrupted by sin and so instead of taking God’s hand as Moses was willing to do, they instead, wanted to have the law and yes that was when the Ten Commandments were composed. They chose to have a law of sin and death instead of taking the hand of God and receiving redemption.

This bring us to the greatest thing about God’s love for us, when He sent His Son Jesus to us. When Jesus was born, the devil knew that God was up to something, so he tried to destroy Jesus when He was young. Jesus escaped the devil every time. When Jesus was baptised in the Jordan River what happened? Let’s look at this together, because it is very important for us to see what happened? Luke 3:21-22 says, “Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, ‘Thou art My beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased,'” I want you to look close to the part of the dove descending upon Jesus. The dove left heaven and this time He found a place to rest. Do you remember the Ark? Noah sent the dove out from the Ark but it returned because it had no place to rest. Now the dove (Holy Ghost) leaves heaven and goes to the earth and rests on Jesus. The Holy Spirit of God rested upon His Son Jesus and after this Jesus begins His ministry of declaring that the love of God is available for all who call for it. Jesus comes and as you know He performs miracles, signs, and wonders within the earth. He is betrayed, crucified and dies. But this is not the end, know God’s plan was being fulfilled. Jesus is raised from the grave and he defeats Satan and He restores mankind to God’s presence. You see the greaatest act of love that God performed for us, was giving up His only son and having Him take all the sins of mankind uppon Himself so that we could be restored to right Standing before God Almighty. It was so that we were no longer seperated from God’s presence. It was done so that you and I can know that we are loved and that we are no more orphans serving the devil, but that we are children of God. We are blessed and we are favored.

I know what you’re thinking, I thought just like you. How can God love me so much that He would want me so much that He would give up His own Son so that I could be redeemed of all sin. After all I have done atrocious things since the day I was born. Family may forsake you, friends may not want you around, and people in general may hate you, but God never did nor does He now. His love for us greater than all of that. My friends it is all because of what Jesus di for us that we can be loved so very much. You know what this was God’s plan all along. The devil might of won a battle or two but God won the war.

As for him, the devil I mean, his time is coming and I have looked at the end of the Bible and his fate doesn’t look to good. If you are feeling like I was then know this, you too, can have this wonderful relationship with God and experience your rightful place with Him. You are loved!

What happened to the dove and where did it rest after Jesus went to be with the Father? He is still on the earth and now he rests on each one of God’s children. That’s right the Holy Spirit rests on each one of us. This story will have to wait until another time or you can read it for yourself in Acts Chapter Two.

Be blessed

If you accept this say Amen.

Romans 8:1 says, “There is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirt.”

How do we have the victory over our thoughts? Have you ever asked this question to yourself? From reading Romans 8:1, I have found that the solution to our sinful thoughts or desires is found in this Scripture verse. We all have thoughts that want us to engage in some type of sin, but as Christians we also have the power to cast down those imaginations.

I know that this doesn’t sound like we are able to confront our thoughts and our desires, but Jesus even told people to “Go and sin no more!” Why did Jesus tell people to do this? Is it even possible for us to sin no more? Was Jesus telling us something that we could not do, or was He telling us this because we are capable of doing this?

The woman who was caught in adultery was given this command, “when Jesus had raised Himself up and saw that no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those who accuse you? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.'” (John 8:10-11)

“Go and sin no more!” Notice one very import thing that Jesus says, “Who condemns you?” The apostle James knew what Jesus was talking about when He said, “But each one is tempted when He is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” (James 1:14-15) For years I have been beating myself up because I would have evil thoughts and desires that would light upon my mind. Thoughts of committing sin. We all have these sinful thoughts because of our sinful nature. I knew this to be true, but I really didn’t see it clearly until Jesus opened my eyes to see that the thoughts on my mind are just that thoughts and nothing more. Jesus reveled through Romans 8:1 that I am not condemned.

Most of us have this feeling that because we are Christians we should be perfect in our minds and bodies. God knows that we aren’t perfect but He does show us that we are righteous, and most of all because we are the righteousness of Christ we are not condemned. The woman caught in adultery was told by Jesus to go and sin no more because there is no one condemning her. Sin cannot take root inside of us if we are in Christ Jesus. If we are in Christ then we are in the righteousness, and if we are in the righteousness then we aren’t condemned by anyone. Sin has no power over us. We can’t stop sinful thoughts to place their selves on our minds, but we do have the power to stop those thoughts from becoming sin.

My friends, we have the power of Jesus Christ inside of us, the resurrection power to cast down imaginations that do not line up with the Word of God. When we reject condemnation we are no longer under the power of our temptations to sin. This is what it means to “Sin No More.”

Favor, Abundance of Favor “

“Now in the sixth month [after that], the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee named Nazareth, To a girl never having been married and a virgin engaged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, a descendant of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, Hail, O favored one [endued with grace]! The Lord is with you! Blessed (favored of God) are you before all other women!”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭1:26-28‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

Mary was given great amounts of grace and she was highly favored.

“So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My wonders which I will do in its midst; and after that he will let you go. And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be, when you go, that you shall not go empty-handed. But every woman shall ask of her neighbor, namely, of her who dwells near her house, articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing; and you shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians.””
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭3:20-22‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

You see, with just one encounter with the favor of God, He will restore everything that we have lost.

Say this, “God’s favor will restore everything that the devil has taken from me.”

“And Jesus increased in wisdom (in broad and full understanding) and in stature and years, and in favor with God and man.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭2:52‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

“So it is evident that it was essential that He be made like His brethren in every respect, in order that He might become a merciful (sympathetic) and faithful High Priest in the things related to God, to make atonement and propitiation for the people’s sins.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭2:17‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

Jesus was made to be both divine and to be human. If He wasn’t, then He would have never known how to give mercy. He would have never been able to be sympathetic to us. He could never be the faithful High Priest for God and He would never be able make atonement by shedding His blood for our sins.

“For even to this were you called [it is inseparable from your vocation]. For Christ also suffered for you, leaving you [His personal] example, so that you should follow in His footsteps.”
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2:21‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

“I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father.”
‭‭John‬ ‭14:12‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

We are to be imitators of Jesus. We are to do the things that Jesus did and we are to do it in more abundance because of the favor that has been given us. We have favor that comes from God. Favor determines our destiny and He gives us not only favor with man but also divine favor.

If we are in Christ Jesus then we have abundance of favor. Favor makes us prominent. As was the case with Esther. Favor took Saul from a murderer to Paul a soul winner.

Confess this: “Favor comes from God. Favor determines my destiny in life. God gives me divine favor. Favor makes me prominent.”

“So [it shall be] that he who invokes a blessing on himself in the land shall do so by saying, May the God of truth and fidelity [the Amen] bless me; and he who takes an oath in the land shall swear by the God of truth and faithfulness to His promises [the Amen], because the former troubles are forgotten and because they are hidden from My eyes.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭65:16‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

We are to say so. The redeemed are to say so.

“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;”
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭30:19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

We are to say so. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭18:21‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Confess this daily and see what God can do:

“In the name of Jesus, I declare and decree from this moment forward that I see myself the way that God sees me.”

“I am highly favored of the Lord.”

“I am crowned with glory and honor.”

“I am the righteousness of God, in Christ Jesus.”

“I am reigning as a king in life through the One Man, Jesus Christ the Messiah.”

“Now, in Jesus’ name, I declare by faith that I walk in divine favor.”

“I have preferential treatment, supernatural increase, I have restoration, I have prominence, I have petitions granted, laws changed, policy and rules changed and battles won that I do not have to fight.”

“Why?”

“All because of favor “

“The blessing and favor of God is on my life .”

“In Jesus’ name, every morning when I arise, I will speak and expect divine favor to go before me and surround me as with a shield, with good will and pleasures forever more.”

“Doors are now open for me, that men have said are impossible to open.”

“No obstacle can stop me.”

“No hinderances can delay me.”

“In Jesus’ name, I am honored by my Father as I receive genuine favor that comes directly from God.”

“I am special to Him, I am the object of His affection, I am the apple of His eye, I am blessed, and I am highly favored of the Lord, in Jesus’ name. A-men.”

As you confess this daily over your life, impossible blessings will be available to you. This is God’s favor.

If you receive this say, “Amen.”

Please share with me about how God’s favor has come to you.

Be blessed
Jeffrey Clifford

P.S., North Carolina, Virginia and all of this world God has favor for you.

Following Blind Guides “

We have been given the nature and the characteristics of Jesus Christ and our testimony is what people see that leads them into the arms of the Lord. This is a great honor, but it is also a great responsibility. Everyone that we meet will learn about Jesus through our lives. It is not enough for us to just talk about Jesus. We are His witnesses here on the earth. How we react to situations can give people a positive or negative attitude about Jesus.

So, you don’t believe this to be true, but just think on this for a moment. Most unbelievers, seem to know how Christians should act. Still not convinced? Look at how people react when we do something wrong. A person who doesn’t believe will say things like, “Your not supposed to act like that, because your saved or Your a Christian and You are being unholy.”

The position that we hold is a very important one. We cannot be like everyone else. We are unique. We are a peculiar people. We are God’s ambassadors. We have a commission to take the gospel of grace to all people and spread the salvation message.

My friends, we are different from the people of the world. We are different, and being different makes us exposed to the scrutiny of the world. Many people like to hide in the crowd, but Jesus doesn’t want us to be hidden. He wants us to stand out. “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds and recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father Who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16, AMPC)

We walk the highways and byways within the world, wearing the attire of righteous living. But for many of us we still conceal under our robes of righteousness, the desires, struggles, and immorality of our past life. Most people only see our outward appearance not seeing the turmoil that we struggle with daily that is inside of us. From all appearances, we appear to be happy and content and that everything is ok with us.

For some of us we have become content in living the double standards, one living in righteousness and two, living in sin. We say to ourselves, “This is ok because everyone is doing it.” But in reality, not everyone is doing this. Not everyone is having sex with whomever they choose. Not everyone is using drugs or consuming mass amounts of alcoholic beverages. Not everyone is lying. Not everyone is cheating and stealing. This is just an excuse to justify why we want to keep sinning. We are called to a higher standard of living. We are not everyone, we are the sons and daughters of God.

Everyone likes to be liked by other people. We all want to be a part of other people’s lives. We want to be accepted, welcomed and embraced. We want to be understood and just be liked by others. But we have to understand one important thing that if we are in Christ, the world doesn’t understand us and they don’t like us. We are separated from the world, because we are in Christ Jesus.

This has nothing to do with us being in Christ’s body. When we are with other believers, we are of one accord. But when we are yoked with those who don’t believe we have to learn to separate ourselves from their life in darkness. “With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.” (Ephesians 4:17-19)

Paul says that the people of the world live for lustful pleasures and they eagerly practice impurities. They are devoid of the truth. When it comes to things of God they harden their hearts and avoid Him at all costs. Because of this, we as His children are to have no fellowship with the world.

Aren’t we supposed to be walking in the light? Paul compares darkness with being ignorant and light with having the knowledge of God. If we are ignorant in God’s Word than we are walking in darkness, but if we are knowledgeable of God’s Word then we will walk in light. An old saying is that “Knowledge is Power.” When we walk around in the dark, we can’t see where we are going and we fall, trip and become injured. Because of this, we become afraid and confused.

If we became knowledgeable, think of all that we could accomplish? But because we have chosen to be ignorant, we grope around in the darkness grasping at straws and hoping we can achieve something for our lives, so we take mediocre positions and jobs.

When we walk around in darkness we have no idea where we are going and no clue of when we get there. The darkness hides the truth of God’s love for us and therefore we never find out about God’s plan for our lives. When we don’t have the knowledge of the purpose for our lives we will never know the direction that we are to walk in.

Why is this so? It is because we choose not to know. It is not that we haven’t heard the truth, it is because we choose not to accept the truth. Paul said that we need to avoid these type of people. We are to not be partners to their dark walk through life.

We are to go behind enemy lines. We need to be an influence to the people of the world. We are to infiltrate the enemies stronghold, and be the voice of the redeemed. But we are not to walk as the world walks. We are to have more influence in the media, government, and the television programming. We are to expose the darkness by bringing the light of the gospel of truth.

“So this I say and solemnly testify in [the name of] the Lord [as in His presence], that you must no longer live as the heathen (the Gentiles) do in their perverseness [in the folly, vanity, and emptiness of their souls and the futility] of their minds. Their moral understanding is darkened and their reasoning is beclouded. [They are] alienated (estranged, self-banished) from the life of God [with no share in it; this is] because of the ignorance (the want of knowledge and perception, the willful blindness) that is deep-seated in them, due to their hardness of heart [to the insensitiveness of their moral nature]. In their spiritual apathy they have become callous and past feeling and reckless and have abandoned themselves [a prey] to unbridled sensuality, eager and greedy to indulge in every form of impurity [that their depraved desires may suggest and demand]. But you did not so learn Christ!”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:17-20‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

We were not taught this from God. It is time now, that we speak against evil. We need to speak against the mindless sexual immorality and self centeredness that attacks our minds daily. We are to take authority against the principalities and powers and bind them all in Jesus name. It is time to stand up for what we believe and show the world Jesus. We are to walk among the world, but not be a part of it.

We are not to follow blindly those who don’t believe. We don’t want to be led around by those who have no clue about life and godliness, yet that is what many of us are doing. We follow those people who have hardened their hearts to God and His Word.

Paul wrote this, “Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.” (Ephesians 4:18-19, NLT).

What he is saying is that people who have chosen to reject Christ have committed one of the greatest sin of all time. Because the person who chooses to reject God’s Word has chosen darkness over light. Their life is based on that they can do anything that they want, whenever they want, to whomever they want with out consequences.

Are you skeptical? Many of us are, but take a look around and tell me what you see? Is there sexual immorality? Do men and women have multiple sexual partners, both men and women? Is violence in every household? Are there drugs sold everywhere? Is there violence in our schools? Is there senseless killings on our streets? Is lust out of control? Is anger out of control? Are we all suffering because of our choices?

Paul also says, “who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.” (Ephesians 4:19, NKJV). People have become addicted to anything that is not of God. They have found profit in sin.

You don’t believe this to be true? Take a look around and see how people are manipulated to do immoral things in order to make money. Prostitution is on the rise. People are addicted to sex. The selling of drugs, not only on the corner of the streets, but within the corridors of our schools and upon our playgrounds. People have become addicted to drugs, they rule their lives. The drug supply is big business. Human slavery, people are being sold just for profit, men, women and children. Everything that is unholy is being used for making money.

Paul said, “But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:20-24,NKJV)

We are to be like Jesus, He never taught us these things. He taught us to resist these things, and flee from them. How do we do this? Through God’s Word and the power of the Holy Spirit. We are to listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and He will lead us in the right direction.

The Holy Spirit will let us know what is right and what is wrong. He will be the Spirit of Truth for us. He will instill God’s Word into our hearts and into our minds. As we study the Word, the Holy Spirit will unlock the pages for us and give us the truth of what is contained within it. He will open up how to be delivered from the oppression of the devil, how to be healed from all diseases, and how to be set free from the worries of life. He will reveal who Jesus really is and He will show us how to live a fruitful full life as God’s child.

“For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭5:13-14‬ ‭

There is no reason for us to have to follow after those who live in darkness. There is no reason for us to let blind guides lead us. We have the light and the light will guide us. “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5).

“If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.”
‭‭I John‬ ‭1:6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
‭‭I John‬ ‭1:7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Are you following a blind guide?

Be blessed
Jeffrey Clifford

“What do Words Do?”
“But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ””
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭4:4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
Ok I am on mission to get this Word out to as many people as I can.
If we live by the Word of God, then we will die by the words of the devil. The Word of God produces life-giving faith, the words of the enemy produces life-taking fear. When we are speaking words contrary to the Word of God we produce fear. We don’t realize that we are quoting the devil every time we speak contrary to God’s Word. Whether we realize this or not, when we speak the enemy’s words, we release spiritual forces from Satan which goes into our hearts.
“Keep my commands and live, And my law as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; Write them on the tablet of your heart.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭7:2-3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
“My heart is overflowing with a good theme; I recite my composition concerning the King; My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭45:1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
This is how it works…when we speak the devil’s words we are writing his words on the tablet of our hearts. The reason people are so afraid these days, is because they believe everything that they see and hear on their televisions, the internet and their radios. Jesus foretold this, “men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.” (Luke 21:26) Jesus did not say that men’s hearts would fail them for the things on the earth. He said, that men’s hearts will fail them from fear of the things which are coming to the earth – another words worrying and having anxiety over tomorrow.
Jesus was not talking about physical hearts, He was talking about our spirits. He was talking about the ground, the ground where the kingdom is. Jesus was saying that our hearts will not function properly because of fear.
Our faith may appear great when we are around other Christian men or women. The real test of faith comes when we are in the world surrounded by those who don’t believe. We have to resist fear just like we resist the devil. We do this by quoting God’s Word in every situation and circumstance that comes against us. Even though it seems like hell itself has come against us, we need to continually speak God’s Word.
When we speak God’s Word we release faith. Know this, that every time we speak the Word we speak life. Jesus told us this, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63) Every word that we speak from the Bible is filled with Spirit Life. On the other hand, when we speak the words of the devil, those words are filled with death. Our words affect our spirits. We can either speak God’s Word which is full of life and our spirits then agree with God’s Word, or we can speak the words of the devil which are filled with death and our spirits agree with the word of the devil. “The strong spirit of a man sustains him in bodily pain or trouble, but a weak and broken spirit who can raise up or bear?” (Proverbs 18:14, AMPC)
Our spirits will either hold on or hold off our weaknesses depending upon what we speak into them. Whatever we bind on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever we loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Binding and loosing are words filled with faith. We are given the creative power to either speak words of faith or words of fear. When we speak God’s Word we bring God into our situation with all His abilities. When we speak the devil’s word, we bring him and all his abilities.
Words that we speak are important. Just as we use natural laws, so can we use spiritual laws. Our words are the seeds that we plant. The words that we scatter will produce a harvest. Be careful though, and choose your words carefully. You don’t want to harvest the wrong crop. You don’t want to speak the problem, instead speak the solution to the problem. If you speak the problem, you will have more faith in the problem instead of God’s Word and the solution to the problem. You can speak so much about the problem that you destroy the faith for the solution.
Where do we find the solution to the problem? It is found in God’s Word.
Now we need to speak the solution by quoting God’s Word.
This will cause our spirits to hear and then the spiritual force of faith is released bringing the solution to our problems using God’s abilities.
The Holy Spirit sent this message to someone today. You need to hear what He is saying. Stop speaking the problem and start speaking His Word. He has given you the answer, now speak it into existence. He has already done what He is going to do. It is finish. Now step out of the boat and walk over your problem.
Bless you my friends
Jeffrey Clifford