Josh Kiefer

My Portion

March 30, 2011 — 1 Comment

Josh 13:33
But Moses gave no allotment of land to the tribe of Levi, for the Lord, the God of Israel, had promised that he himself would be their allotment.

When God called Amy and I into full time ministry he did it in a supernatural unquestionable way! That time of our lives was so exciting and we were so full of this passion that was very much like the passion I felt in the moments I first fell in love with my beautiful wife. It was so new, and so exhilarating that it was the first thing we felt when we woke up, and we fell asleep talking about it every night. We were so passionate, and trusted God so much that we were willing to do the work without pay knowing that God would miraculously make a way. Like I said, God supernaturally orchestrated the whole thing and we were able to be put on staff, but our Faith was so elevated we would have done the work anyway. We were just so honored to serve the Kingdom
Well, years later, I can honestly say, not every moment of this journey has been as exciting as those first days. In fact, some weeks have been absolute Hell on earth. This is by far the hardest, and sometimes the most stressful, lonely, terrifying, heart breaking, exhausting, at times unrewarding and thankless job you will ever do. I have been taking advantage of, betrayed, ridiculed, abandoned by some I had given my life for, and hated by those I had loved unconditionally. As a youth pastor I have even been despised, blamed, and accused by parents. On top of all that, financially we have had to believe for miraculous provision time and time again just to live. Wow, what a glowing endorsement! Listen, having said all that, and after all we have gone through, I would still rather be here doing this work than anywhere else in the universe.” How can you possibly feel that way” you might ask.. And trust me I have asked myself the same thing many times. But every time I come to the same conclusion. God is my portion. You see we had to learn early on, and occasionally(meaning every day) have to learn all over again, that doing the work of the ministry can not be done to find some source of fulfillment, or for monitory reward. I get really ticked off when people tell me “I know if I could just be in full-time ministry I will feel fulfilled”. If that’s why you do it you will be sorely disappointed. I am fulfilled as I walk in the will of God, but I am not “entitled” because of my service. Well, maybe I am… I’m entitled to suffer as Jesus did…to be hated and despised and to pick up my cross, and lay down my life. But, as I do lay down my life, as I follow the example of Jesus and serve those God has giving into my care, in return, God has promised to be my reward. When others work to acquire riches, God reveals his face to me, which is far more precious and supplies ALL my needs according to his riches in Glory and gives me all the desires of my heart … As others labour to find fame, God calls me friend and says my name is written in his book and in Jesus has given me his Glory …as others strive and strive for some semblance of peace, I rest in Gods peace which passes understanding…When I am hated, I am loved…When I am abused, I am comforted…when I am abandoned, I am never forsaken…when I’m without, I abound. God almighty,the creator of the universe, the Alpha and Omega, the King of Kings is my portion, and let me tell you, it’s enough.
Lord, whenever I .allow myself to covet or lust after material things, or to feel bitter about the struggles I often find myself in, remind me of the awesome blessing and privilege it is to be a minister in your house. You are my portion and my allotment, and you have given me an eternal inheritance that never fluctuates in value, and will never pass away!

Never separated from the love of God,
Pastor Josh

Am I too Rich?

March 25, 2011 — Leave a comment

Matt 19:21
Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

What was the problem with this seemingly well rounded young man? He apparently lived a holy life, exemplifying what it meant to be a good Jew. The problem was, in a nut shell, he didn’t need Jesus. He was more than able to provide all he ever needed, or wanted for himself. When we trust in the riches of our hands, whatever form they may be, we don’t need God. That is the very nature of idolatry. I saw this all the time when I lived in India. Whenever there was any kind of call for prayer, people by the hundreds, thousands even, would come out of nowhere to be blessed. These were predominately hindu people, who by it’s very nature, worshipped many various Gods. They were more than happy to except Jesus. The problem is, they just added him to their collection. Whats one more God when you already worship at least 5 or 6. “Well, this has nothing to do with us here in America” you might say. But doesn’t it? How many things do we have in our lives, that fill a need, or take a place that God is supposed to fill. How do we know if something is in the wrong place in our lives? If God asked you to give it up, lay it aside, or put it on hold could you? Could you quit a job, cut off a relationship, give up on a dream, or even a ministry if God says it’s not part of his will or timing for your life? Or how about something as trivial as a T.V. Show or movie, or, God forbid, a CD you love so much. All of these things have the potential to become idols in our lives. Something that takes God’s place in some area ( emotionally, physically, spiritually, etc..) of our lives. When we can fill every empty space, there is no space left for God, and ultimately, we don’t need him. That was the rich young mans problem. not that he had money, but that his money was to important, more important even than being with the Son of God himself. Wow! If Jesus is calling you, and asking you to let go of something, trust me, what he’s offering will be so much more than what he’s asking you to leave behind.

Matt 19:29
And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life.

Rich in the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus,
Pastor Josh

Devine Purpose

January 26, 2011 — Standard — 1 Comment

Matt 1:17
All those listed above include fourteen generations from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the Babylonian exile, and fourteen from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah.

It’s hard to be a skeptic when you see the careful planning God put into bringing about our salvation. I’m not going to pretend to understand the symbolism behind every ” type and shadow”‘, nor do I know the significance of all the numbers and dates and so on and so on….but any idiot (a category that I may very possibly fall in to) can see that so many consistencies can’t possibly be a coincidence. Before man ever fell, God had a carefully laid out plan for restoration. Our God is the greatest strategist ever…OK, that’s kind of an understatement. Think about it though! You really have to have more faith to be a skeptic then a believer. But here’s the really awesome part. The same careful planning that went into salvation, went into our purpose and destiny! Check this out…..

Eph 1:4-5
4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.

Even before he made the world!!!!! What!!! There are no coincidences in our existence. before the world was even made there was a plan…for me. I was loved, I was wanted, therefore I am loved and I am wanted and I have a purpose and a destiny and a “call” that is eternal and irrevocable! Wow! Meditate on that one as you go through your day. What could the world possibly throw at me that could touch it!

Loved and Chosen,
Pastor Josh

Write the Vision

January 25, 2011 — Standard — Leave a comment

Habakkuk 2:2 Then the Lord said to me,
“Write my answer plainly on tablets,
so that a runner can carry the correct message to others.

Well, as all of you, my adoring public, know, I have not been to good at staying on top of this blogging thing. I do hope to change that in this coming year. God put it on my heart some time ago to write a yearly devotional for our young people, and have begun to peruse that the last few weeks. Something I have always tried to do is journal every day as I study the word. I heard someone say once that the mind doesn’t remember revelation so as God reveals himself to us through his word and prayer we should always record those things we receive. As I have been reading through my past years journals in preparation for the devotional, I have been overwhelmed by the amount of entries that I have completely forgotten about. Some of them were even revelations that actually changed the course and direction of my life! If I hadn’t written them down, they would now be lost in that one moment of encounter, which though it was an awesome moment, would have little to no lasting effect on the rest of my life. It is these revelations that I will be using to write the book that I hope will be a blessing to those who use it. I have decided to post some of my new daily journal entries here on my blog. I don’t pretend for one moment to assume that God is revealing anything to me that he is not revealing to anyone else that is truly pursuing him with a heart to hear, nor that my thoughts are any more important than anyone else’s….but, this is joshkiefer.com, which means I get to write what I want! Just kidding. I promise I won’t rant and rave about my opinion on this and that, or go off on tirades bashing the government, exposing some new conspiracy theory. Just quick little thoughts about what God’s showing me in his word. Nothing more, nothing less. So, check it out….or don’t. It’s all good.

Peace and Love,
Pastor Josh

Glorified

March 30, 2010 — Leave a comment

29 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. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. (Romans 8:29-30)

This year I have been consumed with this scripture. I’ll be the first to admit that last year was HARD.. I mean really hard. At times I felt like I’d lost more ground then I had taken. One step forward, two steps back. I know it was a season of shaking and testing in the body, and I was not exempt from that process. I kept being reminded “think it not strange when you fall into diverse trials”. In the end I came to the conclusion that no matter what, I was going forward, I didn’t have it in me to quit. But, sometimes when we’re in that place we tend to settle into this kind of comfortable mediocrity. You know what I mean..”I’m nothing, but God loves me the way I am”, or “I might fail, but God will still accept me”. OK, that is absolutely true. Nothing we will ever do will change how God feels about us. We didn’t earn it, and we can’t un-earn it. But this scripture says that those whom he calls he not only justifies, but he “Glorifies”! We justify our imperfection by saying “it’s not me, it’s Christ in me that matters”, but the scripture says “Christ in me, the HOPE OF GLORY”! It is Christ in us, but we are not just ugly imperfect puppets that get to be possessed by Jesus! It says that he was the fist born of many, and that we are being transformed into the image of the son, not possessed by the son. Listen, I know that I am not perfect, and probably will never be, but I refuse to settle for mediocrity. I know he loves me as I am, but he can make me more than what I am! I am not just a sinner saved by grace, but a new creation being metamorphisized (I just made that word up) into the image of Christ! I’m not talking about becoming “works” minded about my salvation, I’m talking about “putting on the new man”, the one that looks just like Jesus. He actually even prayed that for us himself over 2000 years ago.

20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. (John 17:20-23)

Wow! He didn’t say “just let them know you love them”. He said” the same glory you have given me, I give to them“. Yes we are loved, unconditionally, unequivocally loved by God almighty. We will never earn it, but we can honor it by becoming just like him.

Lord, make me more than just a man. Make me just like you.

Ever changing from Glory to Glory,

Pastor Josh