christianity

Awakening II – Duo Steve Shoaf and Mark Crowe

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Music comes in all forms. That is one of the greatest attributes of our God, that He has given us the Holy Spirit to worship Him in song, whether with instruments or with our voice

Awakening ll is just such a group. If you get a chance please visit them at Awakening ll on their Facebook page to learn more about them.  The video below is a little older, but still captures the essence of their worship before the Lord. They are coming out with a new CD early this year. Take a moment and enjoy a time of intimate worship with Steve and Mark, as they minister before and to the Lord.

Sound of Thunder – Part 3 – Karen Austin

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Sound of Thunder – Part 3

So even in this time I’ve said to make sure that you have gatherings and you be at gatherings where the rain is being poured out, because I desire you to be so saturated by My Spirit that it will bypass your mind. Because in the days to come, you must be led of the Spirit. For those truly are the sons of God and the sons are the ones who are led by the Spirit. And you must be totally intoxicated, filled, filled, filled by My Spirit because if you are not, you can be washed under the flood that is coming. You must be as the five wise virgins. You must be filled with oil. You must be filled with oil and at the moment that I come down and the lightning strikes, you will illuminate and be light in the darkness.

And I say that there are different types of oil that are being poured out in this season. Be very careful of the oil that you put into your lamp, because there will be oil they will say you can get and it has a cheap price. And as the saying goes, “You get what you pay for”. The same as in the realm of the Spirit. Because this oil, this rich oil that I am talking about, there is a high price. And the high price is when others are playing, you are praying. When others are crying, you will be laughing, because you will be filled with My Spirit and that Spirit is the Spirit of joy because the joy of the Lord will be your strength. No, you will not laugh at the calamities and the things that will come upon the earth, but you will laugh at the enemy. When you laugh at the enemy, you join with Heaven because did I not say that I laugh in the Heavens?

Know that I have everything under control, everything under control. Everything under control! You must remain in My perfect love because it is perfect love that casts out fear. And fear will be rampant in this day and in this hour. But you shall be far from it, says the Lord, as you keep yourself filled with My love, filled with My peace, your oil filled. And because of those that the enemy would send along your path, that will appear as those who are righteous who would try to steal the oil, I am increasing the discernment in these days, because you will need it and you will need to know the difference. But My sheep, they know My voice.

So keep your eyes upon Me and the more that you spend time with Me, the more that you are in My presence, the more that you are in My Word, you will become acclimated to the feeling, the senses, the smell, the sight of the Spirit of God, that when you come into contact with that which is false, you will know immediately, because you have been with the real.

The Sound of Thunder (Part 2) – Karen Austin

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Sound of Thunder – Part 2

But when you hear the sound of the thunder, instead of running and hiding in the natural, I see you, My children, running out into the rain. You will not run and you will not hide, but you will run to the place where My Spirit is being poured out. You will be fountains of My rain, fountains of My rain to be poured out upon the earth. You will not run and hide, but you will run and go, because you know that I have sent you. You know that you have been called to walk upon this earth for such a times as this. And you have chosen to be such ones that will dare to be different. You are chosen to not just to be the status quo, but you have said, “Lord, if it’s You, I’m gonna go! I’m gonna to do it!” And God has found a people who are faithful, and not just you, but there are those all across the globe who are called by My name that hear the secret whispers of My Spirit.

So for My people, when you hear the sound of the thunder and it begins to rain, that’s your sign. That’s your cue!

Two Wolves – Frank Work

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I was talking to a couple of fellow co-workers the other day, and during our conversation, one of them said out of the blue, “Two wolves”. They both looked at each other with a knowing smile. Apparently, I wasn’t aware of what this phrase meant, especially in the context of what we were talking about, so I asked him to explain. He began to tell me that this phrase was from a movie he had watched with his children called Tomorrowland. I remember seeing the commercial on television, so I knew which movie he was referring to. He went on to say that during the movie there was a dialog between two of the characters and this dialog included the phrase “two wolves.” Now little did I know that this phrase comes from an old Cherokee proverb or fable, and this phrase actually has great spiritually meaning. Below is that proverb.

“One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, “My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all. One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other is good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, generosity, empathy, truth, compassion, and faith.” The grandson thought about this for a minute and then asked the grandfather, “Which wolf wins?” The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”

Interesting that the concept mirrors what Jesus said in the New Testament. Jesus said in Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.(NKJV)

In kingdom principles, there are only two mindsets. One that follows God, and one that follows the flesh. I know in my lifetime at some point or another I have feigned confusion about which one I am following, but in reality, I am not confused at all. The reality is that I am just turning a blind eye to the one I am allowing to lead me. My faith is fed by time spent in fellowship with the Holy Spirit, time spent in the Word, and time spent in prayer. What also feeds my faith is time spent in fellowship with my brothers and sisters in the Lord. Many times I will find myself forsaking the latter. Why? There could be many reasons, or there could be one reason, the point is that as a Christian in the faith, I need to be reminded that I am not in this fight alone. Not only should I have fellowship with the Holy Spirit (2 Cor 13:14), but I also must have fellowship with the breather of Christ, and honor them above myself. (Rom 12:10)

The real bottom line is though, who am I allowing dominance in my life? Who am I feeding? Am I feeding my soul, with the cares of this world, which leads to death and entices the carnal desires of my life? Or am I feeding my Spirit-man, with the word and breath of God, which is the blood of Christ and the Spirit of God? Doing so brings me closer in relationship with the Holy Spirit, and ultimately to the understanding of true peace and the Father’s heart for my life. It’s a life long struggle between the flesh and our spirit-man, our soul is in flux, but this doesn’t have to be a constant for us as men and women of God.

I like to think of my soul as Switzerland. It’s neutral in all conflicts, it’s neutral in all peace. What my soul wants is a leader. A leader to show it the way it should react, or respond. On one side of my neutral soul is my flesh and on the other side is my spirit-man. Much like the old Cherokee proverb of the two wolves, my soul is looking for which one will feed it. Now before I go any further, I am going to lay down some scriptural references concerning the spirit, soul and body.

1 Thessalonians 5:23(ESV) “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”


Hebrews 4:12(ESV) “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”


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


Galatians 5:16-17(ESV) ” But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.”

I believe that our soul was created when God breathed the breath of life into the nostrils of Adam (Gen 2:7). This action I believe is what created the soul of man. In Hebrew the word, “ruach” means “breath or Spirit of God”. It was the combination of man’s flesh, and God’s Spirit, which in turn created the soul. So there is a struggle between the flesh, our carnal nature, and our spirit-man for dominance over our soul. These are our two wolves, which battle each other and they are both wanting and needing to be fed. It’s the decisions we make on a day-to-day basis that decide which “wolf” is fed and which wolf takes control of our soul. Is our life filled with hate, jealousy, and strife? Then our flesh is the dominant wolf. Is our life filled with love, joy, and a wanting to draw closer to the Lord? Then our spirit-man is the dominant wolf.

I have been really thinking about something that I heard during a sermon, that the Native Americans are some of the lost tribes of Israel and they already had a concept of the teaching of Jehovah. Maybe, maybe not. I am not sure at this point, but what I do know is that we must not lean on our own understanding when it comes to the things of the Spirit, but lean on the shoulders of Christ and allow Him to show us all truth and knowledge concerning our lives in Him and His life in us.

What is the prophetic? (Part 1) – Gary Florence

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I am sure that there are as many answers as there are questions to this topic. We may think of prophecy as one foretelling the judgments of God, like in the Old Testament or Jesus telling Nathaniel that He saw him sitting under a tree before they even met. So in this day and age who’s voice do we listen too? There are those voices who say that the judgments of God are coming to American. Like California is going to detach from the U.S. and drift out to sea and perish because of Hollywood. Then you have other voices claiming that a kind of like utopia is on the horizon. I am not writing to side with one or the other, what I would like to do is take you down the road to Damascus where a man named Saul was about to encounter THE Prophetic Word.

Saul was on his way to kill the Way (Christians) when he was knock off his high horse by the prophetic light of Christ. Many times we call out sin and judgment in one another lives but what would happen if we decided to call out one another’s treasure of destiny that God has placed within each of us. Next time we will found out what choice Ananias made when he came to Saul at the house on Straight Street.

The Sound of Thunder – Karen Austin

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Sound of Thunder – Part 1

“The sound of thunder that is the sound that the world is hearing. They know that there’s a change and there’s a shift that’s coming up in the realm of the heavenlies. They know, but all they can hear is the thunder – the thunder – the thunder, and they know that a storm is brewing, but they know not what kind of a storm it is that is coming.

Even those that belong to the Lord, whose focus is upon the things of the earth, all they’re hearing is the distant rumble of the thunder. And just as there are many in the natural that fear when they hear the sound of the thunder, that they run and they hide in the safest place that they know to try and shelter themselves from the storm. And so it is in this hour and in this day. That even My people, says God, are hearing the rumblings, the sounds of thunder in the distance and some of My people are running, and they’re hiding, and they’re trying to shelter themselves from the storm that is coming and going to come upon the earth.

But I want you to know that this sound of thunder was also sounded when I ascended from hell. When I died & I arose there was a sound of thunder. It was a splitting open of the sky when I ascended. And know that this sound, when you hear the sound of thunder, you who know My voice, you are to say, “Ha Ha, something’s coming. My Lord, He’s coming.” Not coming as far as the second coming as of yet, but I am coming within you and I shall show Myself strong on behalf of those who are Mine.

You shall not run to shelter in the natural for I am your shelter. He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. That is the shelter that you are to not only run to, but you are to abide in, in this day and in this hour in which we are in. For just as thunder comes because it is a clash of cold and hot air, it clashes and causes the sound – the sound – the sound – the sound. And so is there a thunder in the realm of the Spirit because it is My Spirit and the spirit of the antichrist that are clashing in this hour.”

The God who heals and restores – Karen Austin

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I bless you in the name of Jehovah-Rapha, the God who heals [Exodus 15:6]. “The chief meaning of Jehovah is derived from the Hebrew word Havah meaning “to be” or “to exist.” It also suggests “to become” or specifically “to become known” – this denotes a God who reveals Himself unceasingly. Rapha means “to restore”, “to heal” or “to make healthful” in Hebrew. Jehovah is the Great Physician who heals the physical and emotional needs of His people.” [Ref.: Blue Letter Bible]
So from these definitions we can say “Jehovah, the God who reveals Himself unceasingly, heals and restores.”
Today, I bless you with a revelation of the love of the Father who heals you. I bless you with healing from any sickness or disease that would keep you from fulfilling your destiny. I bless you with strength to stand against any attack that may be coming against your physical body. I bless you today with wisdom to know how to care properly for your temple in order that your immune system be strong. May His overshadowing Presence manifest over you as a shield from any harmful elements, contagious disease or virus.
May our Father reveal Himself as Jehovah-Rapha over each of you this day!

 

Heaven Recognizes Love – Karen Austin

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“Be not afraid to love those who seem to need it the least for I AM your reward. Some of the ways you love will not be rewarded on earth, but oh, I have a crown of righteousness stored up for you! Not one good thing you do on earth will be forgotten in Heaven for all these things I make note of in the Books of Heaven. You will be surprised at some of the things you thought were so small and you may even forgot about. But when you come to receive your eternal rewards, that which you thought was small was actually large in the Kingdom of Heaven. No, not one thing done in the name of love goes unnoticed by Heaven. When you love, you partner with Heaven. You open a way for a little of Heaven to be expressed on earth. So be not afraid to partner with Me in the days of darkness, hate and oppression, for love always wins. Yes, love always win for I AM love and My seed is within you!

Where will this battle find you?

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stand upThe world is turning faster than we can keep up with it. At times, we aren’t even sure if we can keep our balance with all the turmoil that surrounds our lives. The world’s view of relationships, especially marriage, is becoming skewed at best. Divorce rates in the body of Christ are at an all-time high, and we as the church have no one to blame but ourselves. We are allowing the enemy of our souls to rip the very fabric of our vows of matrimony apart at the seams. Marriage is no longer viewed as something sacred or something to be cherished. It’s a checklist of possibilities that no longer hold any value in the culture of today. We laugh away divorce as though it’s no more valuable than a stick of gum or a penny we find on the street. We aren’t concerned anymore about the likelihood that we will find a lifelong mate, in whom we can place our trust, our devotion, and, more importantly, our heart. Why is this? Why aren’t we fighting for our marriages?

Putting things into perspective, though, I can say that my wife and I have been close to being casualties of this war against marriages. This battle has been a long and sometimes very brutal conflict, which has led to the death of many marriages and relationships in Christ. The enemy is constantly trying to rip marriages apart, for one of the foundations of our faith is really based on marriage to Jesus, and an understanding of what it means to be a bride as it pertains to the body of Christ, awaiting her bridegroom, who is Jesus.  We watch with jaded eyes as our young people are being manipulated by the concepts and precepts of this world, who themselves are embracing a Hellenistic society where everything is permissible, and the idea of “living for the day” is being recited in volume that can’t be hushed by standing by and doing nothing.  We are losing, plain and simple. We are losing a battle that should be easily won. We are losing because we want to lose. We don’t want to fight anymore. We have become so exhausted from the trials of our own lives that we aren’t willing to fight for the next generation because the scars on our backs are too deep and too painful.

There is hope, though; there is always hope.  J.R.R. Tolkien wrote, “Even Darkness must pass. A new day will come, and when the sun shines, it will shine out all the clearer.”

Our light into the darkness is the fire of Christ that burns within each one of us, the light of hope and the light of glory. We aren’t alone by any stretch of the imagination, unless we want to be. Why do we choose to be alone? Because we have allowed ourselves to fall sway under the influence of many possible reasons. Shame, guilt, condemnation, fear, and the list is endless as to what may influence our choices to stand and fight as a congregational team, or stand and fall as an army of one. In the past, I have often thought, “I don’t need anyone else, I can do this on my own.” That, my friend, is a lie, plain and simple, a lie we tell ourselves daily. Either we are choosing to make wrong decisions, or we are being influenced by the power of the air, or really both.

We will struggle in this lifetime; we will struggle as Christians. For us to believe anything different is to believe in a doctrine of demons. This new wave of prosperity Christianity is robbing God of His glory and robbing the believer of the true power of Jesus. Why would James write the following scripture?

James 1:2-4 “2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

Our faith must and will be tested. Our marriages will be tested, our relationships will be tested. Our belief system will be tested. Everything in our lives will be tested, so that through this testing, our faith will be established in Jesus, and not in our own strength. We cannot and will not allow this world to catch us off balance! We will stand and fight the accuser of our souls and the enemy of our Lord. We must war for the salvation of our children and our grandchildren. This isn’t a choice, this is a mandate. Do not let the blood be on your hands because you sat and did nothing, when God in His word warns us. Stay with me, folks, don’t let me lose you, for scripture will always speak in ways that man cannot.

Ezekiel 33:1-6

33 Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, speak to the children of your people, and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from their territory and make him their watchman, 3 when he sees the sword coming upon the land, if he blows the trumpet and warns the people, 4 then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head. 5 He heard the sound of the trumpet, but did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But he who takes warning will save his life. 6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.

Simply put, if we who know the truth, and the truth is Jesus, and his scriptures are His words, if we sit and do nothing, then the blood of the lost and the broken will be on our hands. If we do not warn those who have fallen sway under the power of darkness, we will answer for not heeding the trumpet call of the Lord.

Is there someone that you know needs your prayers? Pray for them. Is there a co-worker who you know is distraught and struggling? Ask the Lord to give you the words of comfort to speak. Is there a marriage, or better yet, is your marriage breaking apart before your eyes? Stop fighting one another, swallow your hurt, your pride, and your shame, and seek the Lord together. Has your life become cold and lonely? Do not fret and do not fear, because my friend, you are not alone in this fight. The body of Christ will stand with you. The Lord of Hosts will stand with you. I will stand with you. Believe in prayer, believe in scripture, most of all, believe in Jesus, the lover of our souls and the Redeemer of our spirits.

Mary did you know?

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To me, it would be amazing to be a fly on the wall when Jesus was born. Seeing Mary holding the Savior of the world in her arms, caressing his head, kissing his face. Not only did she have the joy of having the child Jesus in her arms, but she had the privilege of knowing that He was not only coming to save her, but He was born to save all of mankind.

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

What a promise we have in Jesus. What a joy to know that those who accept Him as their Lord and Savior, have the honor of knowing that not only does His blood cover us, but He is inside of us. That the power of the Holy Spirit is active and alive in each one of us. In this day of Thanksgiving, give to Jesus what you are truly thankful for. The redeeming sacrifice of His blood, and the love of the Father for sending His only begotten Son to die for all mankind, so that we may live in Him and for Him. Blessings