1 Peter

How to Battle the Wolves – Karen Austin

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Today I want to address something that is very important for the days that we live. This subject was spoken of as a warning repeatedly in the Scripture. What I want to address today is the wolves in sheep’s clothing infiltrating the church and social media. I came across this very subject three times today so I know it is on the heart of the Father.

1 Peter 5:8 “Be on your guard and stay awake. Your enemy, the devil, is like a roaring lion, sneaking around to find someone to attack.”

As believers, we inherently want to think the best of everyone and that everyone else who claims to be a Christian has the same character qualities that we work to reflect. It is actually difficult to even write about anyone who would pretend to be a Christian so as to influence others’ lives, decisions and morals negatively. I remember when I was first saved, I believed every Christian was as passionate about Jesus and wanted to reflect His character as I did. I was so disheartened when I found out that wasn’t always the case.

Some of these wolves are very easy to pick out. The mistruths they slyly speak are so out of line with Scripture, that if you read the Word at all, you will quickly recognize them as false. Religion is quick to quote the Word in situations, but it is absent of the heart of the Father. Love always overcomes law. This is another excellent example of why it is so very important to read and study the Word. Here you will not only read about His will, but you will get to know His character. This makes it quicker to discern the true followers of Christ from the false.

The enemy will stop at nothing to get his agenda accomplished…even deceiving well-meaning Christians. For many, many years he has been quoting scripture with a twisted application. This is what is hard for immature believers to discern. They reason, “Well yes, the scripture does say that so it must be true.” His goal is to mislead and manipulate the Word to lead many astray. The problem is, many wolves know the scriptures better than most would think. Their goal is to get us to question ourselves and what we really believe.

When we begin to see the miraculous, signs and wonders, we must look at the fruit of the one ministering. Who do they associate with? I have witnessed so many humble ministers who that are so easy to know they walk in purity and the fear of the Lord. I’m not speaking of false humility…that is another subject. We know even the enemy performs signs and wonders. Remember the miracles the magicians of Pharaoh performed at the time of Moses.

2 Thessalonians 2:9 “The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders,”

Matthew 24:23-25 “…false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you ahead of time.”

~~to be continued

Walk as Children of the Light (Conclusion) – Karen Austin

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Approximately fifteen years ago while in prayer, I got a deep sense that something regarding “light” was going to be significant in the days to come. I had no further revelation, just a knowing. I am now just beginning to receive a bit of revelation on the subject and am seeing others begin to teach on the subject of light.

In the natural sense, light therapy is beginning to be used as a healing therapy, which I find very interesting! They even have created “Happy Lights” that “mimic sunlight to enhance mood, energy, sleep and focus”. This is a created light, but the light I want to focus on is our Creator’s light.

The first thing that God did in creation was to release light. “…Now the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light.” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness.…” Genesis 1:2-4

When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, His light was released to us. “…to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ Acts 26:18

His light is continually being shed upon us as we read His Word and spend time in prayer. His light reveals darkness in us just as when Isaiah saw the glory of God. “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” Isaiah 6:5. When His light shines, revelation comes.

I truly believe in answer to our many times of intercession and tears, He is answering our prayers. It may not look like we thought it would, but He is doing just what we have been crying out for. We may wish we didn’t have to see the things that are being exposed, but they have existed for a long time, even if we didn’t want to acknowledge them. His light is shining exposing corruption in nations. His light is exposing the plans of evil to destroy and to silence the church. His light is also exposing wrong motives, jealousy, selfishness, pride and other works of the flesh in the church. The church is to be building His Kingdom, not our own Kingdoms. He is coming back for a spotless Bride and will have no less!

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.” Ephesians 5:8-13

His brilliant light has been shining in our hearts, especially during this time of being shut-in, to expose bondage in our lives and reveal things we didn’t know even existed in our hearts. My prayer is that His Bride is allowing Him to expose darkness in us so we will shine even more brightly for Him. He promises to give us light. If we make a determined choice to remain in the light, we will become more like Him every day.

If you haven’t noticed, the world has not been running to our doors. Honestly, in many instances, the church has not looked much different from the world. The one thing that will set us apart is holiness. Holiness and purity. Not holiness as an outward adornment, but an inward beauty. Jesus was raised from the dead “…with power, according to the spirit of holiness” Romans 1:4. The resurrection power of God is from true holiness. “For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness” (Hebrews 12:10).

The world has yet to see this Bride coming out of these times of wilderness shining with the light of Jesus, clothed with the garments of holiness and resurrection power. Now is the time for this mighty army to arise because this is the hour that the world will need us the most. “Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.” Isaiah 60:3

Jesus is still saying to us today, “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” It is time, Bride of Christ, to allow His purifying light to search our hearts to see if there is any evil way that we may be made clean and pure to shine forth His glorious light in the days that lie ahead. I ask, by the power of Holy Spirit, that I do not allow my flesh to dim my light.

1 Peter 2:9, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” … You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession.