Christian

Listen for the Voice – Karen Austin

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My love shall be a place of refuge for you. For in Me are all things to pertain to life and godliness [2 Peter 1:3]. As you take your position in Heavenly places [Ephesians 2:6], I shall cause you to see situations as they truly are. For in this place, there shall be no fretting, no worry, no fear – but instead shall enter you such a knowing, an experiencing of My goodness.

So I say to you, “rejoice”! When others say fear, I say “love and faith”. I say “provision“. I say “protection“. I say a “lifting up” of those who are Mine. For you shall truly come to know, to experience and to understand what it means when I said, I delivered you out of the kingdom of darkness and brought you into the Kingdom of Light [Colossians 1:13].

As you yield to Me, as you chose to ascend into My Presence, you shall become ones that will radiate My light. Ones that I call to be a city upon a hill to draw many, many out of darkness [Matthew 5:14]. For this is My season of gathering those who have strayed – those who have wandered away. This, too, shall cause great rejoicing in your midst!

So look not at the shaking upon the earth, but look to Me, the author and finisher or your faith [Hebrews 12:2], and radiate all that I have placed within you and you shall be a light house of My glory!

Keep Your Eyes Upon The Lord – Karen Austin

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Keep your eyes upon Me. For as I said in My Word, there will be wars and rumors of wars. Know that wars can come in many different forms but they are all a plan to steal, kill and destroy. I have given you My Word as an anchor for your soul. I have given you My Spirit to lead, to teach and to instruct you in the ways of life and the path that you are to follow. Consider My Word. Consider My way. Consider the promptings of My Spirit.

For My way is peace. My way is love. My way is always for you to prosper: spirit, soul and body. My way is to lead you through life’s circumstances in a way to bring you into a place of becoming a mature son. Know My plans for you are always good.

So look not to the shaking of the world, even your nation. These things must take place for I am aligning all things, all things, for these last days. The script has already been written. The battle plan has already been drawn out and you are a part of this end-time victorious army.

We must Love Because Liking is not Enough – Frank Work

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Today the Lord really spoke to me, well let’s be honest, the Holy Spirit really convicted my spirit about how I view my brothers and sisters in the body of Christ. Not only how I view but what I say to them because of the judgement I may or may not hold against them. This morning I was reading in the word and this scripture jumped out like an anvil. The scripture is out of 1 John 4:21

21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Now before you say, “Ok I love God and I love my brother, what more do you want Frank?” Exactly.

The question, I need to be asking myself on a constant basis, “God what more do you want?” In my opinion I am really good at superficial love, I can smile, laugh, shake your hand, or even give you a hug. I can have a long conversation with you about whatever topic may be on our hearts at that time. Sure, no problem let’s go grab a coffee at the local coffee cafe and enjoy the music of a young man playing a guitar, singing a song called Cherry Grove. It’s amazing what I can do when I really set my mind to it. All in the name of superficial relationship.

That of course until you decide to rub me the wrong way, or say something I don’t agree with. Oh and let’s not even discuss about the disagreement we have in scripture, because you know in your heart that I am absolutely correct, you just haven’t realized it yet. You will hear my battle cry come forth, “Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war!” Oh, my, then and only then will you know what it means when I make the statement, “I love you brother, but I don’t like you very much.” That’s right….you got my point…right? I mean you know I still love you, don’t you? You still love me to, right?

Honestly, that has been the style of my relationships that I have had with my fellow christian brothers and sisters through most of my life in knowing Jesus. I thought through the action of love, I could somehow obtain the reality of love, which is the love Jesus spoke about in John 13:35,

35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Jesus was not just talking about the emotion of love, but the actual commitment of love. I am not much of a Greek scholar, but it has always intrigued me how complex the Greek can be. One word can have many meanings, which are all in depth depending on the mood and tense. Below are 4 types of love the bible consistently speaks of;

  • Storge is an affectionate love, the type of love one might have for family or a spouse.
  • Eros is passionate or sexual love eros is important within a marriage relationship and is created by God (see Song of Solomon)
  • Agape speaks of the most powerful, noblest type of love: sacrificial love. Agape love is more than a feeling—it is an act of the will. This is the love that God has for His people and that prompted the sacrifice of His only Son, Jesus, for our sins.
  • Phileo refers to brotherly love and is most often exhibited in a close friendship. Best friends will display this generous and affectionate love for each other as each seeks to make the other happy. The Scriptural account of David and Jonathan is an excellent illustration of phileo love.

So there I have 4 rules which by all rights, should be easy, comprehensible, and fulfilled in my everyday walk with Jesus, and my brothers and sisters. Problem is my carnal flesh has no idea what real, spirit lead love is. My flesh desire is to fulfill its’ own need, which is lustful and carnal in nature. To understand what true love is in the spirit, I must allow Jesus to show me through the scriptures and through the leading of the Holy Spirit, what true, blood bought love is. I must walk, depending on the type of relationship I have with someone, in all 4 of those examples of love. This is only done by following the leading of the Holy Spirit, and the will of the Father. Any other motivation of love is born of the flesh, and leading to a path of disillusionment, disappointment, and ultimately destruction.

Lastly, I have to understand that I can’t sustain relationship through my own will and intent. Desire of the Fathers love, and understanding what it means to be a son in the Lord, is the only way I will be able to sustain my relationships in the Lord, which envelops my wife, my children, grandchildren, family members and so on. Be rich in the Lord, and walk in His ways, and we will have a true concept of love.

A Year of Restoration and Restitution – Karen Austin

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I declare over you that this shall not only be the year of restoration, which in itself shall be great, but I decree over you that this year shall also be the year of restitution. You can be content with restoration, but oh, believe Me now also for restitution! [Proverbs 6:31]

You shall see the goodness of the Lord coming upon you and overtaking you. The seeds that you have sown, some in years past, seeds that you have forgotten, I have not forgotten! It shall be the beginning of the plowman overtaking the reaper [Amos 9:13]. Multiplied harvest in this new season.

But heed this instruction: Be sure that you have uprooted all seed that was sown out of anger, rebellion, bitterness or revenge. This is a harvest that you do not want to reap! Then plant in its place My Word.

For I am raining upon seeds that you have sown. You shall see some 30, some 60 and some 100 fold return [Matthew 13:8]. Does not the world give interest on your monetary deposits? How much more shall I, the creator of all things, give unto you?

For you see, these are the days of Kingdom finance and Kingdom multiplication. You shall even reap where you have not sown. Those who have taken what I have entrusted to them and brought forth an increase, more shall be given unto them. Be faithful with all that I entrust to you.

Should Women Keep Silent in the Church? (Part 2) – Gary Florence

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Let’s go ahead a pick up where we lift off shall we. I was sharing about the word is the same yesterday, today and forever, actually that is not even in the bible. In Heb. 13:8 it says “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever”. I realize that according to John 1:1 it talks about Jesus being the word. There were many situations when I would argue about the word being the same, I actually was talking about the bible and the 66 books that is in it. I would say that the 66 books of the bible are the same yesterday, today and forever. Then one day I was reading something and was challenged on it. Moses was told by God if a son was disobedient to his parents and they couldn’t get it resolved they were to go to the elders and stone him. I don’t’ know about you, but I don’t read those types of headlines in the newspapers anymore.

He was also told that they were to circumcise their male children on the eighth day. Can you image in this day to tell the people working at the hospitals “We will be back in 8 days to have a child circumcised.” Here is a little tidbit concerning why God had them wait till the eighth day. That was when the vitamin K was at its highest level in their body to help with the clotting of the blood. Now a days they can just give them a shot.

Here is one from the New Testament. If somebody would come up to us and say that they sold 2 dozen Easter eggs for the building project but they only sold 1 1/2 dozen. Should we then like Peter with Ananias and Sapphira call down the judgment of God and strike them dead? So I need to ask myself a question, “Is the Bible the same yesterday, today and forever. I have discovered when just grabbing scripture out of context and applying them into the culture of our days that there is somethings we need to do. When need to ask “Who wrote it”

“Who was it written to” and “What the historical context of that day was.” The next time we get together we are going to apply them to Paul’s saying of should women keep silent in the church. Some of you might being thinking to yourself “I just want to know your answer so I can either hit my hot button or not.”

This is one reason why we have to dig a little deeper so we are not taking scripture out of context and throwing it into someone’s face. Trust me it will be worth the wait. In the meantime start your own bible study and read Acts 19: 22-28, this will give you a jump start for the next time we meet.

The Lord Watches from His Mountain – Karen Austin

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Today I am sharing with you a confession the Lord gave to me on August 25, 2018. As you proclaim this confession, may it lift you above every plan of the enemy and deep into His perfect love that cast out fear.

The favor of the Lord is a magnet to all that I need. He is my high tower that I run to and I am safe. I am seated beside Him in heavenly places. From this high place, I can see and have His counsel against the plots of the wicked. I can see them before they arrive. From the high place, I am positioned above the desires of the wicked. I am secure in My authority and my identity in Him. His shadow is over me and I am hidden in Him. His wisdom and His counsel are mine. I have access to all that He has provided for me. I sit in peace at His banqueting table in the presence of my enemies.

Holy is the Lord!.

“The Lord is my best friend and my shepherd I always have more than enough. He offers a resting place for me in his luxurious love. His tracks take me to an oasis of peace, the quiet brook of bliss. That’s where he restores and revives my life. He opens before me pathways to God’s pleasure
and leads me along in his footsteps of righteousness so that I can bring honor to his name. Lord, even when your path takes me through the valley of deepest darkness,
fear will never conquer me, for you already have!
You remain close to me and lead me through it all the way.
Your authority is my strength and my peace
The comfort of your love takes away my fear.
I’ll never be lonely, for you are near. You become my delicious feast even when my enemies dare to fight.
You anoint me with the fragrance of your Holy Spirit;
you give me all I can drink of you until my heart overflows.
So why would I fear the future?
For your goodness and love pursue me all the days of my life. Then afterward, when my life is through,
I’ll return to your glorious presence to be forever with you!”

~~ Psalm 23 TPT

I Am a Son, Not a Slave – Frank Work

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Ephesians 1:17-19
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 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, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power

This portion of scripture really opened up to me this past week. I remember years ago we had a four day conference at my church, and there were special speakers throughout that time who ministered and shared the heart of God concerning the “now “days of the Lord. What always comes to mind when talking about the “now” is how it pertains to my life on an everyday basis is Matt 6:34;

Matthew 6:34(NKJV)
34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Matthew 6:34(NIV)
34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

I personally am trying to remember that I can’t live on yesterday’s blessings but must live in the now, especially in these perilous days. Perilous because our society is decaying in and around us, and we are walking in a state of purposeful unawareness. We do this willing because we aren’t asking our Father, but we are begging Him. If I can remember that I am no longer a slave to sin, but I am a son of my heavenly Father and co-heir in the body of Christ, I am assured by the Word of God, and His Holy Spirit that if I ask, then it will be given (Matt 7:7-8, 21:22). I look at it this way, a slave begs, a servant begs, a son ask.

When I was a slave to sin, I had no one to ask, so I had to beg of the world to obtain what I wanted. Now, I don’t have to beg of the world, I only need to ask of my heavenly Father. Now, now that I am in the kingdom of God I don’t ask for myself, because I do not know what to ask. I must take my lessons from Jesus when He said in John 5:19, “Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” I must hunger and thirst after the desires of God’s heart for my life, and not my own.

When scripture speaks of God giving us the desires of our heart, it’s not about our own selfish desires and wants. It’s about being in alignment with His heart and yearning to know what is on His heart, then when our hearts are in alignment with His heart, then and only then do we receive the desires of our heart. Because it’s no longer our desires that we long for, but Jesus.

I believe it’s essential to live in this day, this moment, this second. How am I to know what I am to do, unless I know what the Holy Spirit is saying to me? All dependency must be on Jesus.

Matthew 11:28 “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

The Secret is Love – Karen Austin

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I created you and formed you in My image so that what I do, you can do [Genesis 1:27; John 14:12]. I am your example of how to live, how to love, how to rightly discern without being judgmental and critical. Know you are Mine and I have you in the palm of My hand [Isaiah 49:16; John 10:28]. You are branded and sealed unto Me [Ephesians 1:13]

I have all that you need and will need to walk out all that I have called you to do. Do not limit Me in what I can do in you or what I can do through you.

As you keep your eyes fixed on your Beloved, you will shine brighter and brighter as you are filled with His light [Isaiah 60:1]. You see the secret is love. Love makes a way where there is no way. Love creates. Love heals. Love delivers. Love even raises the dead! See yourself as this – My love dispenser upon the earth [John 13:34-35; 1 Corinthians 16:14] .

“Love is large and incredibly patient. Love is gentle and consistently kind to all. It refuses to be jealous when blessing comes to someone else. Love does not brag about one’s achievements nor inflate its own importance. Love does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honor. Love is not easily irritated or quick to take offense. Love joyfully celebrates honesty and finds no delight in what is wrong. Love is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others. Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 TPT

Should Women Keep Silent In the Church (Part 1) – Gary Florence

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I believe before we dive into this very controversial topic, I need to put a disclaimer out here. I am by no means claiming to have all the answers on this topic. This is one person’s opinion on the matter. You may agree with it or you may not agree with it. There may be portions you are ok with and others you are not ok with, and that is ok. We have to come to a place in the body that it is ok at times to disagree with one another in love but in our society we focus more on the disagreeing and proving we are right rather than on the loving part and that really needs to change in the body of Christ.

Now with that out of the way let’s begin shall we. If you read 1 Timothy 2: 11-12 out of the NKJV it reads,

“Let a woman learn in silence with all submission and I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence.”

Taking this scripture out of context and at face value one would think that Paul has a problem with women. Yet in some of his earlier writings he talks about women who are apostles and prophets. He also makes mention “I wish that you ALL would prophecy.” So what is going on here? Is Paul in his older years changing his mind or what? I have watched and heard from both sides of the aisle concerning this issue. As I stated earlier this is only one person’s opinion, who just happens to be a man. This is why grabbing a scripture out of context and inserting it into a circumstance and situation or even in our modern culture can at times be detrimental to us or to others. I know in my own life there have been many times depending on what was or wasn’t happening in my life I would grab a scripture out of context only to find out later that it really wasn’t for that moment in my life. Ok now I know some of you might be scratching your heads thinking to yourself “I thought the word was the same yesterday, today and forever.”

The next time we get together I will pick up right here where we left off because I want to explain myself a little better and clearer. Then I will give my answer, which is an opinion “Should Women Keep Silent in the Church”?  So you can put your hot buttons away for a few more days because this can be a very hot button topic.

The Moment the Bridegroom see’s His Bride – Karen Austin

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A few years back while in prayer I entered a vision where I was an observer of a wedding that was about to take place in a small church. The room was full of guests who came to witness the joining of this couple to become one. There was such joy and excitement in the air!

The bride was at the threshold just getting ready to enter the sanctuary. She was wearing a beautiful white gown with many sequins. As she took her first step into the sanctuary, she looked to the front where her bridegroom stood. It was then their eyes met. It was as if there was no one else in the room. They only had eyes for each other.

It was then my understanding was opened to know that the bridegroom was Jesus, our Bridegroom King. The bride was the Bride of Christ. There was such love between Jesus and His Bride. It was evident to all how deeply in love they were. As they locked gaze upon each other, I could see fiery love and light coming from His eyes to His Bride. With each step she took, as she slowly walked up the aisle, her dress became brighter and brighter reflecting His light. The people in the pews began falling over because the power of that radiant love and brightness of light between the Bride and her Bridegroom overcame them.

As she got to the altar, they stood face to face, Jesus then removed the veil from His Bride. No longer did she see in part. Her eyes were opened to see Him as He is! The officiant of the wedding was the Father. With such joy, He then presented His Bride to His Son, Jesus.

Holy Spirit revealed to me that each of us are as a sequin on the gown of the Bride of Christ. As we fix our eyes upon our Beloved, our magnificent obsession, our light becomes brighter and brighter, even as we become more pure of heart. I then heard these words, “How long it takes the Bride to get up the isle to meet her Bridegroom, it is up to her.” We must be about making ourselves ready to meet Him. We must endeavor to put aside all that would defile us. [Ephesians 5:25-27, 2 Peter 3:11-12, Revelation 19:8], 1 John 3:2-3, Revelation 19:7-8]

“And The Spirit and The Bride are saying, ‘Come’, and let him who hears, say, “Come”, and let him who thirsts come and take the water of life without charge.” Revelation 22:17 Aramaic Bible