intercede

Be Still – Karen Austin

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Do not despair because of what we see being reported by man. Man has limited insight as he mostly views the present from the past. Man’s statistics are based upon past statistics. The natural man lacks the insight to see possibilities that only God can bring. The truth that we seek is in His Word and what we hear His Spirit speak to us in times of stillness. It is easy to get quite, but harder to become still.

Quietness is when we turn off the TV, Facebook and instant messaging. We may even turn down the lights. Quietness is when we turn off the outside world, but many times inside, our “apps” are still running..

Stillness, however requires a setting aside of our opinions, our desires, our needs and focus solely upon Him, His greatness, His majesty, His faithfulness, His love. It is turning off all the inside noise that causes distraction from what He desires to share with us or do in us. Stillness is simply ‘being”. Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God.”Stillness is about being in the present, not in the past, nor in the future. It is not a time to try to figure out your problems or the problems of those you love.

I have had many times of stillness when not a word was spoken between Him and I. But, oh my, there were times when He would begin to overwhelm me with His love for me. I did not go into this time with an agenda, just to be with Him. A. W. Tozer is quoted as saying: “If a man wants to be used by God, he cannot spend all of his time with people.”

Quiet worship is a good tool to help us enter into stillness. So i leave you with these two scriptures and some “stillness” music. My prayer is that you enter into times of stillness with the One who loves you.

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

“I am standing in absolute stillness, silent before the one I love, waiting as long as it takes for him to rescue me.
Only God is my Savior, and he will not fail me.” Psalm 62:

Let the Walls Fall!- Karen Austin

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One thing that I sense is that the Father’s heart is pleased as His Body is beginning to arise. I have seen multiple worship folks who got together to create live worship during the day to glorify Jesus on Facebook, even though they come from different churches. Live Facebook prayer gatherings are taking place. Messenger prayer groups are sharing prayer requests. People are watching pastors from another church’s services. Once again families are coming together in prayer. We are seeing neighbors talking to one another as they step out of their homes to get some fresh air.

My prayer is that the dividing line is coming down in His Body. It is going to take all of us laying aside our spiritual pride and our idols to see things change as we desire to see them change in our nation. Our nation’s leaders are doing a terrific job, but ultimately the responsibility lies with the Church. I truly believe church will no longer be as it was. We have known a shift was coming, but did not know that a virus would be part of what prompts this change.

The church as a whole has gotten very complacent regarding spiritual things as spoken of the Laodicean church. “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.” Revelation 3:15-17. We lost our fire, our zeal and our passion for the things of the Lord. Now, I am not speaking of all who identify as believers, but I am speaking of the church at large. As long as things were going well in personal and professional lives and we had a quick Sunday service, we were satisfied. As long as there wasn’t much of a demand placed upon us to change and die to self, all was good. But times have changed and I believe it is a good thing.

We will look back at this time and see that this interruption in “normal” church life was exactly what was needed. As we can see from the early church in scripture, “normal” was not in their vocabulary. We read of boldness in the face of opposition and persecution. Healing’s disruption and elimination of disease. Deliverance from demonic possession. What the enemy has meant for destruction, if we as His church partner with Heaven, will turn this around for resurrection of His church. Interruption meant for destruction will instead result in resurrection! Can I tell you we should never be satisfied with where we are spiritually. There is sooooo much more!!

May we not go back to being comfortable and complacent!! Times have changed and will demand a church totally filled to overflowing by Holy Spirit, full of power and on fire for His Kingdom to manifest in today’s world!

Whats Eating You??? (Part 3) – Gary Florence

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So here we are again, are you ready to walk down memory lane with me on a day that I was a total train wreck? I will ask you one thing, as you read this can you identify with what I am sharing and maybe even see yourself in it? It all started on a Saturday morning have you heard the phrases “waking up on the wrong side of the bed” and “a bear with a sore behind.” That is how my day started and ended and to make matters worse my wife works for a hospital and she has off every other weekend and it just so happens this is her weekend off.

So I am sure she was thinking “Really this had to happen on my weekend off and now I have to put up with this all day instead of only a part of the day?” Murphey’s law was in full effect, “anything that could go wrong will go wrong.” All day long one thing after another kept going wrong and instead of addressing it I kept stuffing it down inside of me until the volcano eruption took place. The smoke was billowing and the hot lava was spewing out all over the place. I could not reel myself in and needless to say my wife was getting the brunt of the storm. So I went to bed the same way I woke up. The next day (Sunday) I got up and took our dog a walk to try and release the stress that had built up from the previous day. The guilt, shame, and condemnation was coming at me from all sides as if it was a flood drowning me in it.

I literally was walking hunched over hanging my head in sorrow. I remembered 1 John 1:9 and was mumbling it over and over out loud to myself. “If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and purify us from all unrighteous.” When I was a young Christian I remembered being taught this very verse because I was told you are nothing but a miserable sinner and you will have to say this scripture over and over. So at this point I am feeling pretty bad about myself “nothing but a miserable sinner” trying to convince God that He had to forgive me according to His word which He does time and time again, as this guilt, shame, and condemnation was eating away at me. Then all of a sudden the Holy Spirit arrested me and said “If you think repentance is something (a Law) that you have to do then it will be something (a Law) that you feel you must do (a Law) but if you look at repentance as a gift from God and receive it as a gift and not a law when you stumble and fall instead of being like Adam and Eve where they ran and hid from Him you will run to Him and freely open up this gift of repentance and forgiveness.”

I am going to end this right here and the next time we get together I am going to share with you what happened in my life when I took the advice from the Holy Spirit and received repentance and forgiveness as a gift and not as a law and opened it up and what the result had on guilt, shame and condemnation throughout my life. I will give you a hint, it’s exciting!!!!!

Being Desperate for the Lord

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“Those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; You will raise up the age-old foundations; And you will be called the repairer of the breach, The restorer of the streets in which to dwell.” Isaiah 58:12 NASB

The path of the ancient ruins I have called you to rebuild are not the desolate places of latter moves for those moves were with a mixture of man. But what I have called you to rebuild are the desolate, forgotten places that lead to My throne. For it is there that you will find My blueprints for this awakening that you cry for. There are ancient paths soon to be rediscovered. They have been there all along, but I hid them from those who would take them and illegally attempt to make way to My throne by the arm of their own strength, as was attempted with the tower of Babel. This would bring destruction and taint My righteous cause with darkness.

But now, this day, there are a people, a remnant, that I have kept for Myself. I have placed within them a hunger, a desperation for more – things that they are not even clear what they are crying out for, but they know there is more. Their passion – their heart cry is for Me – desperate for a move of My Spirit, desperate for face to face communion as Moses, desperate to be a man, a woman after my heart as David.

Know that I am raising up forerunners that shall go ahead of the multitudes and prepare the way that others may follow. They shall be shown the way of holiness so they may represent Me with purity of heart. For this last move of My Spirit will be through vessels that have sold out to Me. They will not be tempted with the things of this world for they will have tasted of the power of the age to come [Hebrews 6:5]. They shall shine brightly for Me and lead many to righteousness.

“They will be as mighty men, Treading down the enemy in the mire of the streets in battle; And they will fight, for the LORD will be with them; And the riders on horses will be put to shame.” Zechariah 10:5 NLT

Offense is Deadly (Part 2) – Frank Work

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Now before I go any further, I have offended people. Sometimes knowingly and other times, without knowing. People have and still ignore me, walk by me without saying a word, avoid contact and so on. All the while I am wondering what I have done to cause such a reaction. Sometimes people want to be mad at you because of the offense and are wondering why you haven’t asked for forgiveness. How can I? I don’t even know that I have offended you, or what the offense is. There are a few scriptures that I don’t walk in as much as I should;

Matthew 5:23-25 (NKJV)
23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.

Matthew 18:15 (NKJV)
15 “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.

Mark 11:24-25 (NKJV)
24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.25 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses

Bottom line, I am offended because I want to be offended. I am offended because I hold on to offense. I am offended because I have taken on a heavy-laden burden, that I never should have in the first place. Jesus did not come to offend, but because of the message of the gospel, the “brood of vipers” were offended. The religious minded who held on to man’s traditions and laws, were offended. We who hold on to the things of this world, are offended. When we are saved, when we accept Jesus as our Savior, we are no longer of this world. I have to stopped allow myself to take on the offenses of this world, and take on the love of Christ.

Lastly, I would like to share a story; I was teaching a prophetic class at my church and it was the end of the class at which time I open up the class to a questions and comments period. One lady stood up and said, “Frank when I first came to this church, I didn’t like you very much.” I was a little shocked, but I knew in my spirit that she felt this way since our initial meeting. I asked her why she felt this way and she responded, “I didn’t like you because someone from my other church, who had some of the same mannerism as you did, offended me and without even knowing who you are personally, I automatically took offense to you because of the other man who offended me.” She took an offense and transferred that offense to me. This is the power that offense can have over us. Even though we don’t realize it, we can carry an offense from someone in our past, and transfer it to someone in our present who may remind us of that person. Don’t let this happen, it’s so easy to do and we do it sometimes without even realizing we are doing it.

I would like to thank Pastor Paul Black for preaching a sermon on this topic to give me a better understanding and clarity on what offense will and can do.

Prayer can Affect the Unseen Realm – Karen Austin

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“God will give swift justice to those who don’t give up. So be ever praying, ever expecting, just like the widow was with the judge. Yet when the Son of Man comes back, will he find this kind of persistent faithfulness in his people?” Luke 18:8 TPT

As I was pondering all that we are seeing happen in the world, the fear, the storing up of more than is necessary, the extreme measures that are being called, and this verse came to my mind. Here He is saying we need to be ever praying…not just when a storm of life comes our way.

I just read of a college professor who stopped class early and said he needed to pray. Any student who wanted to leave could do so, but those who wanted to stay could. The professor then began to pray for the students, their families and the world. Then another student began to pray. So we see, even in the midst of a pandemic, God is moving upon the earth. Actually, God releases some of the greatest demonstrations of His acts when it is the darkest.

This is the focus that we are to have..what is happening in the unseen realm. “While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18.There is much activity happening in the unseen realm. He is doing so much that we are not aware of. This is why we pray. Prayer is what releases that which He desires to do in the midst of trials upon the earth.

The second part of the scripture I started with deals with whether when Jesus returns, will he find faith on the earth. What is happening with the virus is only a portion of what will take place before His return. It is His people, you and I, which must partner with Heaven. We must remain in faith, trusting Him and His delivering power, instead of agreeing with the fear and unbelief that will flood this earth. Just as the virus is contagious, so is fear. But so is faith!! I have been in conversations where doubt and unbelief were being spoken. I just began sharing God’s point of view and His faithfulness and the conversation turned around as they then agreed with truth. It is our position of being seated with Him in heavenly places (our place of authority) and then releasing upon the earth the wisdom that is from above. “But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.” James 3:17

Remember, it is in the midst of gross darkness that we are called to rise and shine, for the glory of the Lord has risen upon us! So my friends, let’s use wisdom. Let’s say what He says. Let’s do what He did. Let’s become a beacon of hope, life and love wherever we are in this dark world.

Whats Eating at You??? (Part 1) – Gary Florence

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Romans 8:1 says “That there is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ” yet so many of us find ourselves living under that very thing and more times than not you will find shame and guilt lurking around condemnation. In Heb 12:24 it says “and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood (Jesus’), which speaks better than the blood of Abel.” Why is it than we can easily find ourselves stuck under the old when we have before us something new?

For most of my Christian walk I was under this very thing. Every time I would sin this guilt, shame and condemnation would just eat at me and eat at me. Please do not get me wrong when we sin we should have a healthy conviction stir up within side of us but the key word is “healthy.” I would find myself days even weeks later confessing the same sin over and over knowing deep down in my heart that God had already forgiven me the first time I confessed it. The shame, guilt and condemnation was overwhelming. It would consume me at times. Then what would really confuse me is that even though I would feel unworthy to be used by God, He would still use me, sometimes it even felt like He would use me even more in people’s lives when guilt, shame and condemnation was screaming louder in my head.

I would be like “God how and why would you continue to use me to speak in other’s lives when it feels like my life is spinning out of control?” Many times I would just take myself out of the “game” and say to God “I am going to sideline myself until I get this “sin” under control” because the guilt, shame and condemnation would ramp up the intensity when I would step out in spite of it. Does this sound familiar to anyone reading this, do you find yourself shaking your head in agreement with what I am saying?

If this is you I want to let you know that there is hope for you to get out from under shame, guilt and condemnation. We will continue our discussion the next time we get together.

Peace as a Weapon (Part 3) Karen Austin

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Wherever we walk in peace, i.e. our job, home, it will crush satan’s plans. True peace is the condition of a heart that trusts God, regardless of our circumstances. The peace of God is the power that will lead us to victory over ourselves and the strongholds of the enemy. Peace is a barometer of our trust faith and trust in God.

“Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them]. Practice what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and model your way of living on it, and the God of peace (of untroubled, undisturbed well-being) will be with you.” Philippians 4:6-9 AMP

“And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall GUARD your hearts and minds (THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS) through Christ Jesus.” Guard – Mount, guard as a watcher, to protect, to hem in, keep with a garrison, Picture a fort build around your mind that is what peace will do!

“The Lord will give strength to His people, the Lord will bless His people with peace.” Psalm 29:11

We must seek peace because, as we all know, it does not just fall on us in times of trouble. Remember that our words and our actions must sow peace and unity. When we don’t know which way to go, this scripture is key: “For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace...” Isaiah 55:12. Our knees may be shaking, but we will have a supernatural peace within.

It seems like every day, more and more fear is being unleashed upon the earth. Television and social media are now big proponents of spreading fear. There are no natural solutions to things we are facing and will face in the future. But as we, His Bride, walk in peace, we will not only receive our answers but we will shine as a light in dark places. In this hour, I believe His Bride will know unprecedented peace. ‘He will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed upon You, because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3. This peace will be a fortress to many. A true sanctuary on earth.

Now is the time to be armed with the peace of God. This peace will be a profound contrast to the fears that are coming upon the world and causing men’s hearts to fail because of fear. It is through abiding in His supernatural peace, we will crush every manifestation of the enemy in our lives.

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27

Peace as a Weapon (Part 2) – Karen Austin

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When we continue to abide in the peace of God, regardless of our circumstances, it crushes the enemy’s plot to use those circumstances against us. Abiding in His peace also allows us to see God’s plan and, at times, His purpose in them. Our Father is not in heaven wringing His hands. He knows the end from the beginning. His plans and provision are already in place to turn the situation around. Just as the enemy has a plan for our situation, our Father has a greater plan! All our days are written in His book [Psalm 139:16] and we will succeed if we come into and remain in agreement with His plans and follow His instructions, no matter how much they may offend our mind. If we are abiding in Him and seated with Him in heavenly places as we been given access, we have ability to remain in perfect peace.

The attacks of the enemy are first intended to rob us of our peace. The secret is abiding. So how do we abide? The word “abide” is a word that means to “remain” or “stay”. 1 John 4:16 says that we abide in Him and He in us. To abide in Him is to remain in constant fellowship, our hearts fixed by trusting Him and resting in His ability to keep us in all our ways.

“Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will make the answers known to you through Jesus Christ.” Philippians 4:6-7 TPT

Isaiah 26.3 “You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You and hopes confidently in You.” AMP

Peace (Shalom) means being safe, well, happy, friendly, also our welfare, good health, prosperity, favor, perfect peace, rest and wholeness.

I believe we can all use more peace!

~~to be continued

Jesus Really Does Have a Plan – Frank Work

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Today, today I have this overwhelming feeling of sadness. I feel a sadness as though my heart is broken. I don’t feel this often, but when I do and there is a sadness and heartache to the core of my being, I know that I am feeling God’s heart on a matter. When Paul the apostle said that our war is not against flesh and blood, that is precisely what he meant. My battles in the natural are carnal and therefore contrary to how God intended me to accomplish warfare in the spirit. If I truly believe in the power of Christ, then I need to believe that no matter what I see with my natural eyes, that God’s hand is somehow in it, and I need to ask for the eyes to see and ears to hear. Today I am being reminded that no matter how heart breaking the things of this world are, my Savior has a plan.

I don’t know how many times I have heard the age old saying, “If there really is a God, how come He allows….” And the list is endless. Our Father in heaven is not an angry tyrant who paces back and forth, throwing curses down upon man because they continually mess up. He doesn’t look upon this earth and scream, “You deserve what you get!” No, I believe that our heavenly Father cries out to His son Jesus and says..”Save my children, bring them back to Me.” Then Jesus tells the Holy Spirit, “Go, teach them the love of the Father and the Son. Give them wisdom and understanding. Give them what they seek most, though they do not even know it. Give them the heart of the Father and of the Son. Give them Love.”

Problem is man likes to find his own way and then blame God when it suits him. It’s easy to blame God, because it takes responsibility off my shoulders. Instead of blaming God for the problems I see around me, I should be asking God how I can be a part of the solution. The song I am sharing is perfect. One of the lines in the song is…”I shake my fist at heaven and yell , God why don’t you do something… and He says I did, I created you.”

We live in a Hellenistic society where the motto is, “If it feels good, do it.” Or “Don’t deny yourself your indulgence, you only live for so long.” Then with the same breathe I will curse God because He isn’t answering any of my prayers. You can’t serve yourself and then expect God to work like a fast food burger joint, “I want it my way.”

Our Father in heaven did create a solution to the lost and dying world around us. It’s you and I. Not because He had to, but because He wanted to. He wants to include us in the plans of heaven. He wants us to be the weapons of His warfare. He wants us to cry out to Him in prayer and intercession to be a light to the dark places of this world.

The following song really ministered to me.