Our God is a Deep Well – Karen Austin

“..And may you, having been [deeply] rooted and [securely] grounded in love, be fully capable of comprehending with all the saints (God’s people) the width and length and height and depth of His love [fully experiencing that amazing, endless love];” Ephesians 3:17, 18 AMP

There is a depth of His love that He is inviting us to enter. It will be in this place that He will share the secrets of His heart. This deep place in His heart is not found by casual observer. It is a place that must be purposely sought. It is a place where we lose ourselves and are total immersed in His love…wave after wave. Oh, how I hunger to go deeper into this place of divine love!

Know this invitation is not for a select few. No, it’s for whosoever will come..whosoever will die to self….whosoever will lay aside the pull of the world and choose to say yes to His desire to be with you.

I have attached a song of hunger and longing for His love by Alberto and Kimberly Rivera. (I apologize in advance if an ad comes on first). Be blessed.

“Move your heart closer and closer to God, and he will come even closer to you….” James 4:8 TPT

The Blind Shepherd Leading the Blind Sheep – Frank Work

So this was said by a renown and highly public speaker, of a really big church. She made this statement to the congregation in the church, as well as those listening and watching at home. Not to mention what she released into the atmosphere. We really have to be careful what we are releasing from our lips. Below is what she said on a Sunday morning.

“When we obey God, we aren’t doing it for God, I mean that’s one way to look at it. We’re doing it for ourselves. Because God takes pleasure when were happy, that’s the thing that gives Him the greatest joy this morning. So I want you to know this morning, just do good for your own self. Do good because God wants you to be happy. When you come to church, when you worship Him, your not doing it for God, really, your doing it for yourself. Because that’s what makes God happy, amen

One of the biggest problems in my opinion is that we as a people still have the mentality that we need an earthly king to lead us. So we will flock like blind sheep to whatever shepherd is saying the things that make me feel right about what I am doing at the time, whether right or wrong. More times than naught in my limited experience as a Christian I am seeing this played out more and more.

It almost seems as though that the children of God don’t want to be children of God, but subjects or slaves of God. We want to be told what to do, when to do it and how to do it. This is a learned behavior that is ingrained into our spirits over time. It’s a long process to unlearn this type of behavior, even longer when we don’t allow the Holy Spirit to teach and guide us as we learn what it means to be children of God and not slaves. Until we are willing to step up and take our rightful places in the kingdom of God, this sort of “Anti christ-like” message will continue to take place.

What’s funny is that I don’t blame the people speaking from the pulpits for the deceit and lies coming out of their mouths as much as I am sadden that people who know the Lord are giving ear to this prosperity message, which is warping , in my opinion , the true message of what Jesus preached, died and rose again; which is to embrace the message of the cross and dying to one’s self, and accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior.

I am in total agreement with the statement made by a friend of mine,   “God wants to kill us.” Which translate, God wants to destroy our flesh so it can not have sway over our spirit-man and interfere with our relationship with Jesus and hampers communication between the Father and us through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not in agreement with these pastors who are speaking in a direction opposite to Jesus and His word, but I know according to the scripture what will happen, Jer 23:1 ” Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!” says the Lord.”

What can I do for them? I can and should be praying for them. Seeking the direction of the Holy Spirit concerning them. So I don’t have to worry about what’s going to happen to them, I just need to ensure that I am doing what I can to make sure I am hearing God. Which also means seeking His truths where they maybe found, and being open and teachable to the love and Spirit of God.

Stepping into Greater Authority – Karen Austin

You are stepping into the realm of greater authority. I am giving you understanding that it is OK to use that authority. You will know when it is time to be silent and when it is time to speak.

I did not say “Sit still” or “Lay still” (as many are doing) and you would see My salvation. I said “Do not fear and stand*still: and see my salvation” [Exodus 14:13]. Keeping the peace at all costs is not what I spoke of in My Word. I said to remain in peace as much as it is up to you [Romans 12:18].

I am giving My Bride, those I have called, authority to lead with a spiritual backbone, which is actually the rod of iron that I spoke of in My Word [Revelation 2:26,27]. This is not a time to let down your guard. It is time take the land and rescue those who are trapped in darkness. It is time for those who know My Name to stand in the face of that which opposes My Word and My will. It is time to stand in your place of spiritual authority and take a stand for righteousness. For the enemy knows his time is short and he is no longer hiding in the shadows. His tactics are being made bare for all to see. The enemy is a legalist and will step through even the smallest defect in righteousness and truth. But know that your voice – even when quietly spoken – carries greater authority than the enemy’s roar, when you walk with Me and speak My Word.

*stand – Strong’s #3320 – To take one’s stand, to station oneself, taking a stand to fight

Coronavirus Fears – Gary Florence

In the natural world we have in place a 911 system where when you have an emergency you can dial this number up and someone will come to your aid. I thank God for this system and all the first responders who give of themselves to help others, but did you know that there is also in place a 911 system in the spiritual world and we can dial it up anytime we need help also.

It is Psalms 91:1 verses 1-3 says;

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty”. I will say of the Lord. He is my refuge and my fortress. My God, in Him I will trust. Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence.”

There is a lot of fear going on right now, and rightfully so and people are scrambling for answers as to how to combat this virus. What would happen if a company of believers who believe that signs, wonders and miracles were for today? What if we would believe that we can be part of the answer the world is looking for? If we began to believe what Jesus said when He said “And these shall you do but even greater.” That Christ inside of us is the hope of glory that the world needs and right now the world needs hope for a solution to this matter.

I believe that there is a company rising who will declare a thing (revelation) and see it come to pass. I remember the story of the blind man and Jesus’ disciples ask Him “Who sinned his parents or him to cause him to be blind.” Jesus said “neither but it was to see the glory of God take place.” I truly believe that are best days are not behind us but that the best is yet to come and God has and is marking an army for Himself to advance the Kingdom of God on earth and to declare and degree “Your Kingdom come now and your will be done now on earth as it already is established in heaven.”

The question I have to ask myself and you is will we cower in fear, or like verses 14-16 of our 911, “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him. I will set him on high because he has known my Name. He shall call upon Me and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation.”

Remember Jesus told his disciples “All authority has been given to me now I transfer this authority to you.” The whole earth is groaning in labor pains for the sons and daughters to manifest. Why not now? Why not us? I ask that each one of us all over the world will join together as one body in faith and begin to declare and decree that this Coronavirus must bow to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Thank you!!!!

Listen for the Voice – Karen Austin

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

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

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

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

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

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