Christian

Life Flow (Conclusion) – Karen Austin

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Have you ever come from a delicious meal but still did not feel satisfied? You wanted something else, but wasn’t sure exactly what it was that you still wanted. It is the same with our spirit man. We can come from an eloquent service but not have encountered God. We still feel dissatisfied. Now, our soul may be satisfied because we did what we are supposed to do, but our spirit man will still be hungry. The Father created us to come to Him for our life source, our sustenance.

Isaiah 28:11,12 “He will speak to His people, to whom He said, “This is the rest with which you may cause the weary to rest and this is the refreshing.”

REST – place of stillness; peace; a quiet place.

Psalm 23:2,3 “He leads me beside the still waters, the waters of quietness. He restores my soul.”

Acts 3:19 “. . . . times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.”

God’s heart is to bring restoration to our life and to those in the world. When we come into His Presence, allow Him to speak to you, heal you and give you direction. Don’t just give Him our list of needs, but listen to what He would say. There is nothing that the world has to offer that will give us the confidence, peace and refreshment as sitting in His Presence. The world is looking for peace, security and rest. They are choosing substitutes, but they know they are not truly satisfied. Only our Creator can truly satisfy and give us true rest.

There is a place, especially in spirit and truth worship, where we experience a tangible heavenly atmosphere. This is the place where the life flow of God will bring life to the very cells of our body. It will refresh our soul. In this place we will experience this God life flow….where discouragement, oppression, sickness begin to fall away. We must go to the source of life – our Father in Heaven. Rev. 22:1 “And he showed me a river of water of life, bright as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.”

His invitation is “Come unto Me, all you who labor and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.” Take My yoke upon you and you will find rest, relief and ease, and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiteness for your soul.” Matthew 11:28-29. Yoke up with the One who created you instead of yoking up with your problems and what the enemy is telling you.

In His Presence, we breathe in His strength, His life. We must take the time to sit at His feet and enter into His life source. The Word says “If He be lifted up then He will draw all men unto Him”.

I sensed the Lord saying: “I have a high road that I have prepared for My people. A way, that to the human reasoning, does not appear to be profitable. But I say, I know all things. All things are in the power of My hand for My people. Just as I led My people out of the bondage of the Egyptians; as I led Lot out Sodom before the destruction of the land, I too, will lead you out of bondage of the world’s system. I will lead you out before the end of all things. Trust Me, My children in the hour of turmoil. Know that these things I have said in My Word will come upon the earth. All the earth is groaning for the revealing of the sons of God. As you stay connected to your life source, My very Presence, you will hear in stillness My spirit speaking to you, you will hear My will and My desire for you. Know that I love you with a love that you cannot even comprehend. But oh, you may come, taste of My love. I have called you and chosen you to stand out from the world. You who hear My voice, listen to what the spirit says. Do not forsake your daily time in My Presence. My Word to you is life to you and health to all your flesh.”

The Crowd and the Crown (Conclusion) – Karen Austin

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In conclusion to the messages regarding the “crowds” that come against us in life, I submit this word to you. We are to not only bring words of encouragement, but at times, we are to sound the alarm, which is released as protection and to bring an awareness. As we are coming out of this time of quarantine, know it is a time of passing over and we do not want to take any of the baggage of the latter day with us. It’s a new day, it’s to be a new way…a coming out of the wilderness and entering into our promised land. My prayer is that this will encourage you, while awaken you.

“A stampede of a variety of crowds are coming against My people in this hour to cause them to lose faith, to lose courage to stand up against the battle that is being waged against them. But I release this alarm to cause My people to awaken to the reality of the pressure of these crowds and to understand the significance of this hour.

The purpose of the crowds of the enemy is to lead My people down paths that I did not intend them to follow. The enemy desires to bring condemnation upon My people at the place where they have stopped and compromised, saying “Look at where you are! Look where you have failed.” But know this, the enemy is a liar! I will always have a plan of redemption for you, a plan to bring you back to My plan of life for you.

There has been a distinct attack of compromise and lethargy that has come against My Body. Be wise My people. Do not conform back to this world, but be renewed in the spirit of your mind. Follow the leading of My Spirit in all matters of your life. The price is too costly to submit to compromise… to remain complacent…to not recognize the lateness of the hour. For the enemy will attempt to bring one thing and then another to slowly move you from your place of abiding in Me. Just as a pioneer who would wander away from the camp would be open game for the enemy’s attack, so also will you be if you move from the place I have called you to stand.

Hear what I say to you this day. Know that the enemy is very subtle. His suggestions always sound good. They always have, but know he is a deceiver and a liar. There is not truth in him for he comes to steal, kill and to destroy. But I have come to bring you life and life abundantly!

Press on My children for I have the victor’s crown waiting for you. Know that I am for you and not against you. I have given you all that you need for the battle. I have overcome the world and you are more than a conqueror because of the victory that I have won for you. Walk in it. I have given you the power and authority to walk away from the crowds that seek to draw you from My best for your life.

I have a place of peace for you and in this place, you will see clearly – where you are to go and what you are to do. Receive My strength today. Receive My grace today. I love you and I call you an overcomer! You can do all things through Me, the OVERCOMER who strengthens you!”

The Call is Coming. Are You Ready? – Frank Work

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I was praying one morning this week and this is what I felt the Lord was speaking to me about the urgency of the body of Christ rising up and taking their place on the front lines.

The Holy Spirit is speaking. The Holy Spirit is moving. The Holy Spirit is empowering the saints of God. We need to stay focused on His word, His heart and His love. It’s so easy to stray away from our focus of Him when we get caught up by fear, panic and confusion. My belief is that one of the greatest silent killers of our faith has been our inability to discern truth. When we find the truth of God’s heart on a situation, we can find peace. When we look for truth from other sources, i.e. television, social media, newspapers and so on, we start to stray away from the truth that the Holy Spirit is trying to infuse us with.

“Well Frank I listen to this pastor, or this prophet or this evangelist and they say…”

I say let’s make sure we are lining up what they are saying with the word of God. I say, let’s make sure we aren’t straying away from the precepts of what God is trying to tell us through His word. Let’s not be a body of believers who are swayed by every wave of teaching (Ephesians 4:14), but we are being transformed and renewed daily by our time with the Lord. That we are testing every spirit

1 John 4:1-3

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.”

That we haven’t become stagnant in our faith because of the recent isolation from one another. That Jesus is with us, and for us. Hebrews 12:1 tells us “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”

Let that sink in to the very deepest parts of your spirit. That we are being rallied to the front lines, that we being called in to our destinies. That we ARE the light of Christ that goes forth, by the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit, into the enemy’s camp to set the captives free in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord of Host!

Our General and Commander is calling! The trumpets are sounding! The host of heaven are yelling their battle shouts! Will you join them? Will you be saints of God that He has called you to be? The Lord told Joshua to be strong and courageous 3 times. I will respond three times. Say it with me!

YES LORD!

YES LORD!

YES LORD!

The Crowd and the Crown (Part 2) – Karen Austin

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Yesterday, I wrote about different types of crowds that keep us from God’s plan and destiny for our lives. Another type of crowd is the crowd of life. Even though we are in a time of being shut-in, we can still be busy. There is a crowd of false belief that pressures us to feel as if we are not valuable if we are not productive. There always seems to be one more thing that must be done. There are pressures to obsessively throw ourselves into our jobs. Now, we should work if able but not to the extent that that is all we do and all we talk about. I know you have met some of these folks. I walk away feeling tired just listening to all they have accomplished and what is yet on their “to do” list. We must have balance in our lives. One of the most productive times you can have is when you sit before the Lord and listen to His instruction and direction for your life. We will avoid many missteps if we will take this time to be still. Listen and then obey.

“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

Pressure will come to tempt you to perform for another rather than God. Anything that you put before God is an idol. What is it that you bow down to that you know you should not? What gets in the way of you doing what you are called to do? What causes you to compromise walking in the ways of God? This is a type of a crowd coming against you to press you out of the will of your Father.

“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.” James 1:17

Hebrews 4:15-16 “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weakness, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” This verse tells us that Jesus, our High Priest, is a feeling person. He feels your pain and your struggles. He was temped like we are and He knows what it is like. The next verse says “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

When you feel the pressures of any of these crowds, I encourage you to go boldly to the Father. Tell Him the things on your heart. Tell Him the pressures that you are facing…your hurts, worries, anxieties, fears, disappointments…the things that you are struggling with. He will give you guidance, peace and strength to overcome and obtain victory.

“No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.” Romans 8:37

Overcome is a military term which suggests combat. We are combating against forces of evil and, at times, our own flesh. These have purposed to keep us out of the place of receiving that crown of victory.

You and I must press through every one of these crowds. He has already given the crown of righteousness to those who are His. Press on to receive your crown. Every one of these crowds that you overcome will give you the fortitude, strength and courage to overcome the next crowd that comes against you.

“He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be His God and he shall be My son.” Revelation 21:7

~~to be continued

The Crowd and the Crown – Karen Austin

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Many of us have had to deal with crowds in our lives. I remember being in a mall right before Thanksgiving and it was so crowded that I had to walk sideways to get through. Finally, I had to go outside and get some fresh air because it was just too crowded for me. Today, I want to talk about the crowds in our lives….things that come to crowd you out of your identity, your place of time in the Word, and intimacy with the Father. Everyone of us are pressing through some things, some sort of crowd is pressing against us to keep us from the place of overcoming and receiving the crown of victory.

To Crowd: to press closely together; force into a confined space; cram; to push; shove; to fill to excess; fill by pressing or thronging into; to place under pressure or stress by constant solicitation.

We must understand our enemy is relentless, but John 16:33 assures us “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me, you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” As He is, so are we in this world! [1 John 4:17] So we have been given overcoming power and authority! Tribulation can be oppression, stress, anxiety, crushing, affliction or squash by distress.

For some of us it is the crowd of our past, and/or bondages from our past. Things that you may be trying to overcome from your past are crowding you from your freedom in Christ today. When you hang out with a crowd, it is easy to be influenced to do what they are doing. It is easy to get caught up with the press of the crowd and do what they are doing.

For others, it is the crowd of sickness, either you or a loved one. Your heart is to do so much for the Kingdom of God, but because of recurrent physical sickness or limitations, this crowd of symptoms and fear keep pushing you back. Well-meaning doctors continue to place you in the category of the crowds…”You have a 90% chance of being in a wheel chair in five years.” I’d prefer to be counted among the crowd of faith to continue to press into the promise of “By His stripes I am healed!” It is so very easy to be influenced by the crowd of infirmity and to not give into the crowd of pain and weakness. But as you step forward in faith, He will give you the strength to overcome.

For others, it is the crowd of emotional pain – the crowd of rejection. Somewhere along the way in this journey called life, things happened. Someone, through their words or actions, told you that you were not valuable…you were not good enough and didn’t measure up. They may have implied you weren’t smart enough or popular enough…you weren’t attractive enough, rich enough or you weren’t as successful as your older brother. You can fill in the blank. Whatever it was, the intent of the enemy behind those words or actions was the same…to cause you to see yourself as “less than” you were created to be.

You were made in the image of God. “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. The enemies plan is to get your focus (what you see) off who God says you are, what God said you can do and instead cause you to focus on (to see only) your failing. Whenever we self-inspect, we will always come up short in every area of our lives without Him. We cannot become all that we are meant to be while we look at ourselves through the eyes of judgment and not through the eyes of grace and the love of our Father. No one knows our shortcomings more than we do – except our Heavenly Father and He is crazy about you and knows your true identity. Do you know that He rejoices over you with singing [Zephaniah 3:17]? Do you know that you are the apple of His eye [Zechariah 2:8]? He is extravagant in His love towards you!

“Can a woman forget her nursing child and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you. See, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands.” Isaiah 49:15-16.

His love towards you is everlasting, His love for you is constant. When all everyone else fails us and our dreams seem to fade away, He is there. He is secure – always. His love and His mercy towards you are forever.

~~to be continued

Keep Your Gaze Upon Jesus – Karen Austin

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“Now is the time for My mighty warriors to arise in these times of uncertainty. For I will make that which is uncertain, certain. My Word stands firm and is the plumb line upon which you are to align your life. My word is the sure foundation upon which you can stand. It is only upon the Rock of My Word and the words that I speak to your heart that you will walk out in the days ahead.

Even as Peter stepped out of the boat at My Word…even while the waves and the storm was raging, his eyes were upon Me. Even when he began to look at the turbulent waves and began to sink, even then, I reached out to save, so it is today. I reach out My hand to those of you who feel that nothing in your life is secure…when you feel that you are sinking. I say I am reaching out to you to lift you above the storms that are raging around you in this world.

Lift up your eyes and reach out to Me as Peter, for I am the only One who has all power to deliver and to save. I am the Prince of Peace. I am the Way Maker when there seems to be no way. Invite Me into your storm. I am the Mighty Warrior who fights for you!”

Stability in the Lord – Karen Austin

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Today, I am going to speak from my heart regarding uncertainties. As I was spending time with the Lord today, the word “stability” came to me and I began contemplating its meaning especially in regard to what the world is facing right now. One definition of stability is the strength to stand or endure. The opposite is instability which means “the quality or state of being unstable; lack of stability or firmness. The tendency to behave in an unpredictable, changeable, or erratic manner: emotional instability” as per Merriam-Webster dictionary.

Times of this pandemic has caused many things to become unstable. Things we took for granted are no longer there for us. Jobs were shut down. We can no longer gather at our house of worship. Some have been faced with empty shelves at the grocery store. The ability to visit loved ones or friends is not permitted in many areas. Watching our children/grandchildren play their favorite sport is something we hope to do soon, but the timing of that is also uncertain. So many uncertainties have cause many to become unstable in their emotions when in times past they were as solid as a rock. It is like the floor beneath us is being shaken and what we once depended upon is no longer something we can depend upon.

I feel this is especially true for the Western church. Our brothers and sisters in Christ that live in other areas of the world have faced much persecution and even death for their faith. Others live in areas of deep poverty and have to believe God for every meal to feed their families. I don’t think the Western church and nation has understood just how blessed we are. I sense the greatest enemy we are facing is fear in these times of uncertainty. Afraid a loved one may contact the virus, and if they do, will they live. The lack of employment enabling us to provide an income for our families is another great cause of fear.

I cannot imagine facing what we are facing without having a knowledge of the Father’s love for me and having history of His faithfulness. Over my lifetime, I have seen My Father’s hand provide financially when I did not know how we were going to make it. I have witnessed His healing touch upon those whom I love and even raise them multiple times from their death bed. I have experienced His calming voice speak to my heart in times where there was absolutely no reason for me to experience peace. He has put me back together when I had nothing left inside of me to continue on. You see, I have known Him in the good times and I have experienced His tender care in the hard times. One thing I can tell you is this, He is faithful. The Word says He is close to the brokenhearted. This too, I have experienced.

I encourage you to get to know Him in His Word. Maybe begin reading the Book of Psalms until you find what you are feeling. King David wrote of his ups and downs, but always ends with praising God for His faithfulness. Spend time just talking to the One who loves you more than anyone else on this earth. He is waiting for you to come to Him no matter how unstable you feel…no matter how many times you have failed. No matter how unworthy you may feel. He has answers for those things in your life that seem to have no remedy. He has such peace to give you that you cannot even begin to imagine. Allow Him to bring stability to you in times of uncertainty.

“If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

Don’t Be to Hasty About Saul, the Not Paul – Frank Work

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You know when you read a portion of scripture and the Holy Spirit drops something into you about what you just read? You know it has to be God, because of the impact that scripture, or that story has on you. Sometimes it can alter the way you look at God, and your perception of His love for you totally changes.

That just happened to me recently while reading the story of Saul, not Paul/Saul, but King Saul, the young boy who was the first king over a nation of people who wouldn’t allow themselves to be governed by the Creator of the universe. The only God who is God, the one true King who led their ancestors out of Egypt, which I have to believe at that time, was still fresh history to them. The Father of heaven had led them through the times of the judges who brought order to a people of chaos. The people of Israel wanted a human king, like the pagan cultures around them. They wanted to have someone to rule them who they could see, because the unseen was too much for their minds to handle, similar to how the human race has been, and continues to even to this day.

Let’s imagine for a moment when Saul, the tall good looking young man, full of energy, full of life. 1 Sam 9 says this about Saul the son of Kish, “2 And he had a choice and handsome son whose name was Saul. There was not a more handsome person than he among the children of Israel. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.” So as you can see, he is everything that a carnal world is looking for in a leader, so far.

Obedient to his father when asked to search for the families lost donkeys. Armed with good intentions and enough food for a two day journey, Saul heads out with a faithful servant to retrieve his father’s lost animals. Let’s first approach the question that eluded me until revelation came concerning this question. Did the donkey’s wonder off by happenstance or did God lead the animals out into the wilds of Israel? I believe the animals were heeding the beckoning call of the Lord.

So here we have young Saul, with no aspirations whatsoever of being anointed king, let alone being called by the one true God of Israel, by name. It’s amazing what happens when we finally realize that God really does know who were are, and is concerned about our destiny in Him. Much like Samuel, he calls us by name to Himself, so that through us, we can walk and move and have our being. For the first few years of Saul’s life as the first king of Israel, he did the job asked of him. It wasn’t til later in his reign did he falter from the path that God has originally ordained for him, and the kingdom was “torn from him.” It even states in scripture in 1 Sam 10

6 Then the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man.

Also this was said about Saul;

9 So it was, when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, that God gave him another heart; and all those signs came to pass that day.

So Saul had become the man that the Lord had intended Him to be all because Saul was willing to be led by the Spirit of God, and not the spirit of man, which is the flesh.

Fast forward to my life today; All God is asking is that we become the men and women of God He has called us to be, both individually and corporately. Saul was a transformed man when the Spirit of God came upon Him. I believe that if Saul had chosen the fear of the Lord instead of the fear of man, he would have remained on the throne of Israel as their earthly king.

Lastly, before we are too harsh on Saul and the choices he had made, remember that Saul, nor anyone around him save Samuel, knew anything about being a king. Not to mention being a king so quickly and at such a young age. Saul had no idea whatsoever what it was to be a king over a nation that God deemed as His own. That’s why it’s vital that we listen to what the Spirit is saying in any given moment in our lives. I firmly believe that if we looked to God instead of looking to ourselves, we will draw closer to the heart of Christ and the destiny He has ordained for us.

I Still Believe! – Gary Florence

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There is something inside of me that continues to cry out in spite of this crisis that we find ourselves in, is this phrase “I Still Believe”.

I will not accept in my spirit that the best days of the body of Christ are behind us;

“I Still Believe!” that the best days of the body of Christ is to come. I know if we look through natural eyes and hear through natural ears that it may seem bleak and discouragement can easily set in but,

“I Still Believe!” if we can calm our soul down we can hear the still small voice of the Lord saying

“I Still Believe!” in you for I declared that greater things shall you do because I go to be with my Father.”

“I Still Believe!” that He is at the right hand of our Father interceding on our behalf.

“I Still Believe!” that any enemy of ours is an enemy of the Lord’s and that it must bow to the name that is above all names and become part of His footstool.

“I Still Believe!” that there is a move of God coming to this earth that the great cloud of witnesses’ have been anticipating and waiting to cheer us on.

“I Still Believe!” that the whole earth is in labor pains groaning for the manifestation of the sons and daughters of God to set it free from the curse that it was subjected to when Adam fell.

“I Still Believe!” that greater is He that is in me than he who is in the world.

“I Still Believe!” that the tiny mustard seed that was planted when Christ first came is growing into the largest of trees where the nations will come and find rest.

“I Still Believe!” that the resurrection power that brought Christ’s lifeless body back to life is inside of us and is restoring, delivering, healing and making whole our mortal bodies on this side of heaven also. So what am I going to do when the numbers and deaths continue to go up and that there is real pain and real hurt and it is coming at me from all sides and my emotions are like a rollercoaster going up and down being tossed to and fro.

I am going to “Still Believe” will you join me right now and say out loud “Bless the Lord all my soul and all that is within me.” “I Still Believe!”

Are You Ready Gideon’s? – Karen Austin

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I have been pondering the signs we see taking place before our eyes; the prophetic words that we are hearing that correlate with the Scriptures telling us that these are the last of the last days. We have prayed for these days. We looked forward to them with much anticipation. We have prayed for revival and get excited thinking of the revivals of the past that we want to experience again. But what if this move of God is completely different from what we have experienced before? Are we ready and willing to accept the responsibility that comes with being His last day’s generation?

There are multitudes that are waiting to hear the true gospel. There are many who are sick and have need of the Healer. There are so, so many who are trying to make the best of the circumstances they find themselves in, but are truly afraid.

When I think of the weight of what it means to be His disciple and a witness of Christ in this last move of God, I ask the Father, “Am I ready?” I am asking Him to search my heart because I want to be one who will represent Him well. I want to be one whose heart is pure so that my motives will be for Christ alone and point others only to Him. I don’t want to be presumptuous but be lead fully by His Spirit.

The Word says “For the eyes of the LORD roam to and fro over all the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is fully devoted to Him. 2 Chronicles 16:9. He is looking for ones such as you and I. Of all the times in history, you and I have been chosen by the Father to be alive in this hour. He has placed inside each of us what it will take to represent Him well upon this earth. We each have experienced life upon the mountain tops and we have experienced life in the valleys. But yet, we are still standing. We are still loving Him just as much as the day we accepted Jesus…probably we love Him so much more…because we know Him.

The thing is this, He knows us. He knows our rising and our sitting down. He knows our thoughts from afar [Psalm 139:2]. He knows the words we will say even before we say them [Psalm 139:4]. He knows you. He has trusted you with His precious Holy Spirit. He knows our weaknesses and our strengths…yet He chose us… He chose you.

Our confidence must now be in Him, no longer looking at our own abilities or inabilities. It is Christ in us, the hope of glory that the world is looking for. I have been so blessed by the websites, Facebook pages and videos where His church is coming out of hiding, out of places of intimidation and turning from the fear of man to the fear of God.

Our Father knows the end from the beginning…and He has chosen you to be part of revealing His glory upon the earth. My brothers and sisters in Christ…it is SHOWTIME for the greatest move of God this earth has ever seen and YOU are chosen to be a part!!