Jesus Christ

Social Media or Jesus? – Frank Work

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I often wonder how our fore fathers ever were able to get the any information out without the use of social media. To many ministries or people for that matter, have allowed themselves to be judged and swayed, by the opinions and comments of people who either like or dislike what has been posted on their social media sites. Don’t get me wrong, I am in no way against using social media to get the gospel of Christ out there. It’s when I am more concerned about whether I get likes or comments for any particular thread, than I am about pleasing and serving Jesus. If I distinguish what is good by the amount of feedback I get on every single post instead of seeking the heart of the Father, then I truly have lost sight of my first love.

Social media can be a great tool, when used in correlation in the leading of the Holy Spirit. I for one should be asking the big questions before I post anything. Questions like;

“Father should I post this to my social media for all to see, or is this just between you and I?”

“Am I posting this because you told me to post it, or am I posting it to get a rise out of people?”

“Is my post meant to bring hope in Jesus, or to cause controversy and therefore cause my brother to stumble?”

“Am I posting this to be popular and seek fame, or am I posting this because I just want to liked and noticed?”

Social media has become so warped in the past several years from its original purpose. Originally Facebook was meant for students on universities and college campuses to connect through their intranet network, purely as a means of communication through messages and pictures. Now we have what we have now. Facebook has created a generation of people that I have what I like to call, “Keyboard courage.” Basically they will say anything and offend anyone they want through social media, but are just the opposite when met face to face.

We are no longer walking as a people of purpose in spreading the gospel of Christ; we are a people dependent upon social media to do it for us. It’s a wonder that the first generation church ever made it at all. Paul the apostle was infused and connected to the throne of glory and his social media was preaching the gospel of Jesus where ever he went. Perhaps now, more than ever, I need to be more in tune with the Holy Spirit, and follow His leading instead of assuming I have it right. 

A dangerous mindset to have, in my opinion, is to walk through life with the theory of “I would rather ask for forgiveness later, than permission now.” Basically what is being expressed is, I want to do what I want to now, and I’ll worry about the repercussions later. Being selfish is a mindset of the enemy, and being chained by a spirit of selfishness is a gateway which opens up our hearts to many other spirits who will cling on to our spirit-man, and attempt to wrestle us away from turning to the Lord. Satan was filled with selfishness, as described by the scripture below;

Isaiah 14:12-14 (NKJV)

12 “How you are fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer, son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground,
You who weakened the nations!
13 For you have said in your heart:
‘I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
On the farthest sides of the north;
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
I will be like the Most High.’

Lord guard our hearts against haughtiness and selfish ambition. Protect our minds against the voice of the enemy who would speak lies in an attempt to turn our hearts away from you. Fill us Lord with Your wisdom and Your truth.

God is Dealing With Idols – Karen Austin

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While on a prayer call tonight, Holy Spirit led me to 1 Samuel 5:1-5 “After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. Then they carried the ark into Dagon’s temple and set it beside Dagon. When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! They took Dagon and put him back in his place. But the following morning when they rose, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! His head and hands had been broken off and were lying on the threshold; only his body remained. That is why to this day neither the priests of Dagon nor any others who enter Dagon’s temple at Ashdod step on the threshold.”

What I sensed He was showing me was He has been trying to deal with our idols, but we keep putting them back in place. Now He is coming to us in our times of being shut away to deal with the things we have allowed to become idols in our lives. But this time, if we allow Him, He is cutting off the head and the hands of our idols. Biblical meaning of the head deals with the seat of reason and intellect. The head is the one who is leader. Biblical meaning of the hand represents control, ownership and power. So in this time, all the things that were as idols in our lives, He wants to disarm.

He has been showing me mindsets I had that were just a little out of line with His. He also has been showing me things that I didn’t realize before that I had put in place of His desires.

When we have idols in our lives, we cannot see Him clearly.1 John 3:2 “Beloved, now we are the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.”His ultimate goal in every one of us is to be conformed into His image as mature sons. Thus the reason of His desire for the destruction of idols we keep putting back in place in our lives.

The other thing He highlighted to me was the word “threshold” in the scripture reference I began with. We have to cross over a threshold as a way of entrance and a way of exit. We have crossed the threshold into this season one way, but His intent for you and for me is for when we cross over the threshold to come out of this season, we will be like Him!

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:

Am I that I Am – Karen Austin

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“For many did not see this coming, but I did. I knew the plans of man and you will see me bring them to nothing. In the midst of what the enemy meant for chaos, I shall bring stability. In the place of great fear shall be great peace. You say, “How will this happen?” Know that I have a plan and it is being put into place even now by those whose hearts are close to Mine, those who have chosen to rise above the seen and enter the unseen, the realm of My Presence.

Have I not always had a plan to deliver My people? I am the One who knows all things and sees all things. My thoughts are above your thoughts and My ways above your ways. I will take the foolish things and confound the wise. You will see. I am the One who sits on the throne and through the prayers, through the worship of My saints, I shall release a deluge from Heaven that shall suffocate this that has come against you. Watch and see…and great shall be the rejoicing!

My name shall be proclaimed among the nations. Even now those in places of authority are calling upon My name and seeking counsel from those whom I have chosen. The harvest is now, even at the door, seeking the One whom you proclaim. These are the days that you have longed to see, but know this, they also come in the midst of great darkness. But I shall do as I have said in My Word, the knowledge, the awareness of My glory shall cover the earth as the waters cover the sea.”

Am I Being Prudent in What I Watch? – Frank Work

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During this time when many folks have been home bound due to the recent restrictions caused by the corona-virus, I have heard and read from many, “I am just going to binge watch Netflixs, Hulu”, or whatever streaming service you have. Here is the problem. We become complacent and let our guard down in an atmosphere of boredom. This is when the enemy will strike and strike hard. The deception though will be subtle, but devastating at the same time.

You know I have read article after article over the years on movies that have come out and whether I should watch them or not. I know, like many of you, I have watched my share of questionable movies. When I see a movie come out with a Christian undertone, overtone, middle tone, side tone, I instantly want to know, “Is it biblical? Are the messages that are being sent out through the waves of space from the screen to my waiting and eager eyeballs, ready to receive whatever message I am about to ingest?”

I love some of the most bizarre movies I can think of, and I have had more than one eye roll from my lovely wife when I am watching them. I am a “B movie” lover, I also love me a good ol’ fashion kung fu movie, complete with subtitles or bad lip syncing. For some reason for the past year, I have been watching exclusively Korean Television dramas. Why am I sharing what I watch? Because I want you to know, that I am struggling right there with you.

One thing I rarely do when I am watching non-Christian/non-biblical movies or programming, is the one thing I should be doing first, and that’s asking my heavenly Father if this is something he wants me to watch. It’s not hard, takes one or two minutes to ask a simple question. Wait for a response and move accordingly. Oh also, in my opinion, not hearing anything is not a green light to do what I want. Not hearing anything should mean, I need to wait, or I need to go to the word and seek out what the Father may be saying to me through scripture. Don’t fall into the trap of “Well I didn’t hear no so that must mean yes” because I know, dollars to donuts, (I don’t know why I used that analogy) the enemy will also be trying to speak to you and encouraging you to do the opposite of God’s purposes.

Being jaded by the world makes for increasingly poor communication between the Father’s heart and mine. The more I make decisions based off my experiences or others experiences, the more jaded I become. I am no longer trusting in the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, but I am trusting in this world.

It’s easy to fall into a trap of seeking knowledge elsewhere, rather than from the One who has endless knowledge and wisdom. One thing I am not saying is that research into something I don’t have knowledge off or experience in is bad, but if I make that my checks and balances to come to a conclusion, then I am missing the mark, and ultimately allowing my heart to become that much more jaded and distant from God.

Do I have any scriptures about seeking God’s will first and foremost in my life and everything I do? Glad you asked.

Matthew 6:33 (NKJV)

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

1 Chronicles 22:19 (NKJV)

19 Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God. Therefore arise and build the sanctuary of the Lord God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the holy articles of God into the house that is to be built for the name of the Lord.”

Colossians 3:1-2 New King James Version (NKJV)

3 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

1 Chronicles 28:9
9 “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.

Those are promises I can cling to, now I just have to make it a part of my everyday life. I have failed, but I will keep trying as I encourage anyone who has gotten this far in reading this, to do the same.

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!!!!!

Don’t Social Distance from God – Karen Austin

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I am sure we have all heard the new buzz words “Social Distancing”. Even though that is what the experts are advising and I concur with this advice, I sense these are the same words Holy Spirit is saying. Not that we do not have a social life or social contact in one form or another, but that we distance ourselves from bingeing on social media and instead spend the time praying and seeking His face. Of course, we should catch the latest updates from our nation’s leaders, but guard against the temptation for 24/7 media gorging. It is so easy to get caught up in that.

We have been given a parenthesis in time from other activities which we say prevent us from spending time as much time as we would like in the Word and with Him. We have entered a new era and can no longer move along our spiritual journey by being on rote. It would behoove us to distance ourselves from hours of intake of Facebook, fear and doom statements from some news media, and enter into His chambers to obtain His wisdom on how to maneuver spiritually in these days and hours that lie ahead. Holy Spirit will share with you what to do to be healthy He will lead you as to where to go or not to go. We must be a people led by the Spirit and a people of peace. After all, He is the One who knows all things! He knows how this will end. I do sense, however, things have changed from now going forward.

We need to social distance ourselves from those who speak nothing but negativity and fear into our lives and have no desire to change. We certainly pray for them, but do not continue to expose our self to their draining negative opinions. Guarding our ear gates and our eye gates will be very important.

Feed yourself on His Word. I can tell you after our son passed, I had very little physical strength or emotional strength from the long season of continual high stressors. When I began spending time in His Word, I would come away from those times actually feeling physical strength coming into my body. It was what made a marked difference in my journey back to health.

My prayer is that a fire has begun in His church and will continue to grow…that His church will not go back to being lukewarm after this virus issue is solved, as in former days. May you and I be a catalyst of His Holy fire spreading faster and more powerful than any virus ever can and this HOLY FIRE brings LIFE!!

Speaking the Word of the Lord in Power – Karen Austin

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How many of us believe that our words have power? But do we really? We know that scripture says out of the abundance of our hearts, our mouth speaks. [Luke 6:45] It is in times like these, when the pressure is on, that what we speak is what we are really believing. I have to ask myself, what is it that I have been saying? What is the greater truth that I’m believing in my heart? This is why scripture says for us to hide His Word in our hearts so that is what we will not sin against Him and so what comes out of our mouth is releasing His Kingdom power.

As I have said before, this is our time. We were born for this. It is time that we speak and act different than the world. How else are they going to know who to come to for help in their times of distress if we act and speak like those who have no hope? In the past they may have heard us proclaim Jesus and His promises, but they are looking at us now to see if we really believe what we have been saying.

So we, as His ambassadors on the earth, have to come up higher in our believing and in our speaking. It is time to agree with Heaven. We have to have Heaven’s words in our mouth which release peace, power, healing and hope. He is looking for those who will partner with Him.

Prayer:

“Father, I repent for agreeing with the spin the world has taken on this virus pandemic. I understand that is all they know, but it is not all that I know. I know Your Word is true and I choose to agree with You. May we be instruments of Your peace and healing in this time of distress in our nation, in our cities and in our families. May we lead people out of chaos and into knowing Your divine peace, healing and Your abundant love. Thank You Father, for You have chosen us to be alive in this time. May we rise up to accomplish all that you have assigned us to do to expand Your Kingdom in the sphere of authority You have given us. We look to You and praise You for Your redemptive purposes in times such as these, We rest in You.”

“May the words that come out of my mouth and the musings of my heart meet with Your gracious approval,” Psalm 19:14

Shalom Over Chaos – Karen Austin

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As I was reading Psalm 34 the other day, something in the commentary of The Passion Translation stood out to me. The scripture reference was Psalm 34:12-14 “Do you want to live a long, good life, enjoying the beauty that fills each day? Then never speak a lie or allow wicked words
to come from your mouth. Keep turning your back on every sin, and make “peace” your life motto. Practice being at peace with everyone.” As you remember, I shared about peace last week. I keep being lead back to this topic and feel it is a vital concerning what this nation and others are facing with the coronavirus.

Here is what was stated in the notes: “Twice the Hebrew uses the word shalom. This word means much more than peace. It means wholeness, wellness, well-being, safe, happy, friendly, favor, completeness, to make peace, peace offering, secure, to prosper, to be victorious, to be content, tranquil, quiet, and restful. The pictographic symbols for the word shalom (shin, lamed, vav, mem) read “Destroy the authority that binds to chaos.” The noun shalom is derived from the verbal root shalam, which means “to restore,” in the sense of replacing or providing what is needed in order to make someone or something whole and complete. So shalom is used to describe those of us who have been provided all that is needed to be whole and complete and break off all authority that would attempt to bind us to chaos.”

Did you get that? “The pictographic symbols for the word shalom reads “Destroy the authority that binds to chaos”! Is chaos not what we are seeing take place? Chaos means complete disorder or confusion. A few synonyms for chaos are disorder, pandemonium, hell, confusion. Can you see what the plans of the enemy are in the situation we are currently experiencing? Some words that describe the opposite of chaos are order, tranquility, calm, clarity.

We have been given spiritual authority to break off the power of the enemy that is attempting to bind this nation to fear and afflict sickness and death upon the people. We must not come into agreement with fear and chaos! Remember it is stated in Genesis that Holy Spirit was hovering over the chaos [Genesis 1]. He is still hovering waiting for the Sons of God to arise and take their place and use their authority. There are angels ready to be dispatched on our behalf. But we must do our part.

First, we must be submitted to God. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7. We must humble ourselves and repent of anything that doesn’t look like Him or act like Him. Get real with Him and allow Him to reveal any darkness in us. Then deal with any issues He may show you. Then we are to partner with Heaven, using the authority He has given us to bind and loose.

It’s time my friends to arise and shine. These are the days that we have been created for. I have heard other prophets say this is the beginning of “birth pains” that Jesus talked about [Matthew 24]. This is our call Bride of Christ. What will be our response? What will be your response?