Jesus Christ

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Blueprints of God – Karen Austin

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Many have a sense of purpose, but have not pursued their purpose with Me. They have seen their purpose through the eyes of others; how others minister; how others speak or pray; through others who have said “This is how it has to be done and this is how you “get there””.
Man’s blueprints, even the best blueprints, can never create that which is of the Spirit, for My thoughts are much higher than mans. Books have been written on how to achieve your purpose. While these can be helpful to point you in the right direction, your individual unique purpose can only be found with Me. Your purpose was birthed by the Spirit and can only be fully revealed by the Spirit.
I have the path already carved out for you. All your life’s experiences have been preparation for the purpose that I have created you. For My path is the path of a trail blazer, which ultimately leads you to the mountain of God.This is where My Presence, My anointing encompass all that you are, as it was with Moses on Mt. Sinai. For each gift, each calling, must be saturated with My Presence. It is here that it will never become routine, become stagnant, for I am always moving, always creating. There is always life where I am. When you got off your path following the ways of man, life will not be there.
Hungry seekers shall be drawn into this place and in this place I shall reveal My dreams for them, restore lost vision, heal hearts and even heal bodies so they may fulfill My vision for them. Here I will meet with those I draw. Know there will be some who will come to try and present their vision and want you to go down the path they want you to go, but you must remain single-vision with the calling I have placed within you from the beginning. Man may confirm what I have placed in your heart, but he cannot create it. No two callings manifest in exactly the same way, so know that you are uniquely and beautifully made. Your purpose will reflect who I am and how I have created you.

I Believed and So I Spoke – Frank Work

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2 Corinthians 4:13-14(ESV)

13 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence.

These two verses really stuck out to me. It’s not a big secret that what we hold in our hearts we will also speak and do. I know Jesus said the same thing about the treasures of our hearts (Matt 6:21). What we believe, we will hold true to our hearts in all that we say and all that we do. If I hold malice and discontent, that will be evident in my actions and thoughts. If I hold joy and love, that also will be evident. Belief though, that’s a game changer. Belief can cause us to do some fantastic things, but it can also cause us to do some really questionable things. Belief can drive us to help the poor in spirit and minister to the widows, orphans, and the homeless. Belief can also drive us to darker times, like hate, jealousy, envy, and war.

Even though everything I am is given over to Jesus, I still must ask myself…”Frank, what do you believe?” What do I believe about Jesus? What do I believe about my heavenly Father? Are my beliefs in line with scripture or am I straying away from the foundation of the word?

Romans 10:8-10 (ESV) speaks to the exact concept of belief;

8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word [the message, the basis] of faith which we preach— 9 because if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart a person believes [in Christ as Savior] resulting in his justification [that is, being made righteous—being freed of the guilt of sin and made acceptable to God]; and with the mouth he acknowledges and confesses [his faith openly], resulting in and confirming [his] salvation.

We can talk all day about what we believe and who we believe in and how we believe it. But truly everything comes from our heart, the innermost core of who we are. Our thoughts are constantly changing, but our belief system is constant. I really have to ask myself; What do I really believe about my faith and my walk with Jesus? How is my belief system affecting my walk and more importantly, who is affected by my belief system? Because what I believe will spill over to my family, friends, and people I meet.

My beliefs will also cause me to do things I shouldn’t do, but because I have such a strong sense of belief in what I am doing, I will justify it as being right and true. I believe..(haha), but really, I believe that accountability will help me stay true to the very nature of Jesus. Not just accountability from family and brothers/sisters in Christ, but accountability from the Holy Spirit. Honestly, the only way I am truly going to know if I am hearing God correctly is to bring it before my trusted brothers/sisters and give it over to prayer. The Holy Spirit will then begin to give me the Father’s truth.

When I am going through trials and tribulations I must ask the question, “What do I believe about this?” My beliefs will dictate my prayers and how I respond. I need to respond with the heart of God and according to the foundation of His word. Any other way is soulish and selfish and will cater to my flesh and not strengthen my spirit.

Walking in a Place of Authority – Karen Austin

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I had a dream awhile back where I sensed such an overshadowing of Holy Spirit. I can’t explain it… but as I began to dream, I felt His Presence and His power going through my physical body.

In the dream I was driving to my former place of employment, Magistrate Court. I stopped at the bank on the way and it was taking so long for them to process my transaction, I began to get anxious, but every time I would look at the clock, it continued to say 3:30 p.m., reassuring me I still had time since I was to be at work at 4 p.m.

I finally got to work. My job on this shift was to work the front desk and oversee the judge’s court docket. The scene changed as I was walking up to the podium where the court docket was lying. The scene had now become a football field full of spectators in the banisters. As I walked up the isle to the podium, something came over me and I began walking in such confidence and authority! It was no longer just “me”, but a Presence was upon me. People began stepping aside to let me through because of the authority of His Presence that was upon me. I looked up and saw my husband sitting in the bleachers and I could tell from the look on his face that he recognized there was something different about me. It was no longer me, but I was completely overshadowing by Him!

As I got to the side of the podium, I noticed a lot of commotion from the people in the stands. I somehow knew someone important was coming onto the field by the excitement of the people. I looked and it was Jesus in His majesty! People we completely awe struck! Then I woke up.

I sensed that this dream was not about me, but about His people. We are going about our daily activities and its demands, but in the back of our minds we wonder if we are going to be late and we are getting anxious…like it is taking so long for the things of God that we so desire to see. But as I looked at the clock, time was standing still, assuring me that I would not be late. And so it is with you. This move of God and your involvement is all in the timing of the Lord. You will not be late if you are moving towards Him. My job was to oversee the judge’s docket, which is a place of authority He has given us. He desires to give us insight as to the timing of His appointments.

Just as I sensed an overshadowing of such authority and power of His Presence that people took notice, His Bride is stepping into a dispensation of time when He is going to overshadow us and we will be turned into another man, as we know happened to Saul. People will not be able to deny that the Lord is with us.

As Jesus walked upon the football field in my dream, this is like unto the soon revealing of Jesus in such a way that all people will see Him and be in awe of His glory and His majesty. The fear of the Lord is coming upon people, especially those in His church. We will see Him as He is and great awe and hunger for His holiness will once again be prominent among His people. We will become a people of holiness walking in the fear of the Lord. We will walk in humility, love and compassion. This is the church the world is waiting to see.

Let my Words be True – Frank Work

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When the Lord spoke this word to me, my own heart was quickly and decisively convicted.

“My word is the power that upholds all things. To the degree that you believe that My word is true you can do all things. Those who really believe that my words are true, will also be true in their own words. It is My nature to be true, and the creation trusts My word because I am faithful to it. Those who are like Me are also true to their own words. Their word is sure, and their commitments are trustworthy. Their ‘yes’ means ‘yes’ and their ‘no means ‘no’. If your own words are not true you will also begin to doubt My words, because deception is in your heart. If you are not faithful to your own words it is because you do not really know Me. To have faith, you must be faithful. I have called you to walk by faith because I am faithful. It is my nature.”

It has always been amazing to me how the Lord never fails. In my spirit I know that, but it is still an amazement to me. It’s like I see a new side of God on a daily basis. Just when I think I know the character of Jesus, my preception is drastically changed, because aside from the His grace and the power of the Holy Spirit, I know nothing.

It’s like the four creatures around the throne of God who shout Holy!

Revelation 4:8(NKJV)

8 The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying:

“Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God Almighty,
Who was and is and is to come!”

One of the reason I believe that they shout day and night is because they are seeing a new side of God they have never seen before. God turns on His throne..”Holy!”….he turns again, “Holy!” and again…”Holy!”

They can’t stop saying Holy because a new revelation of God is being revealed to them. Just my opinion.

That’s not all though, look what happens then,

9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:

11 “You are worthy, O Lord,[g]
To receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things,
And by Your will they exist[h] and were created.”

How can we not glorify Him who is eternal and always? We are His living word because of Jesus and the blood that covers us. Without that shed blood, God could not even look upon us. That is why the living Son of God gave His life. So that the bridge of our sin could be crossed and upheld by the power of that blood. Praise Jesus.

Prepare and Be Ready! – Karen Austin

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Believe to be used in the move that is coming. Prepare to be used for it will not only be those who stand in the office of the five-fold, but all will be needed to manifest what Heaven desires to release upon the earth. Think not, one is greater than another, for it is the same Holy Spirit manifesting through all.

Preparation and training will be different than in times past. For many desired to be trained in spiritual things to heap recognition and blessings upon themselves. But I say in this day and in this era, the heart motives for training must be to learn so as to give out and not to get. For I am moving upon the hearts of many and their focus is being turned from inside to outside, where the dying and the hurting are without hope.

There must be a focus shift from entering the Promise Land only to partake of the blessings of the Promise Land to entering the Promise Land to possess the Promise Land. This will be a Kingdom move. A manifestation of My Kingdom upon the earth to bring many souls into My Kingdom.

Now is the time of Divine Consecration, a setting yourself apart to be used of Me. Now is the time to let go of things that pull you away from My Presence and My will; those things that contaminate your thinking, your speech and pollute your heart. For I must have a people who are pure in heart.

“Who, then, ascends into the presence of the Lord?
And who has the privilege of entering into God’s Holy Place? Those who are clean—whose works and ways are pure, whose hearts are true and sealed by the truth,
those who never deceive, whose words are sure. They will receive the Lord’s blessing and righteousness given by the Savior-God. They will stand before God, for they seek the pleasure of God’s face, the God of Jacob.

Psalm 24:3-6 TPT

God is Really in the Details – Frank Work

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This morning I am reminded about details and how important it is to remember that I can move and work and have my being in this life, without remembering that the details of my life are easily over looked. I constantly have to ask the Lord to show me what I am missing, but my finite mind cannot comprehend the majesty of His love for me, so I have to constantly ask Him to open my eyes to see and my ears to hear what the Spirit is doing and saying within my heart and life. It’s the little things that trip us up and cause us to stumble. There is an old saying “The devil is in the details”

Song of Solomon 2:15 (NKJV)

15 Catch us the foxes,
The little foxes that spoil the vines,
For our vines have tender grapes

Not only is Jesus concerned about the details of our lives, but there is another who is in direct opposition to Jesus, who is trying to cause us to stumble through the details of our lives. Satan is the master accuser. He is legalistic. He is more cunning than any lawyer, and completely committed to seeing the children of God stumble. There is an old saying, “The devil is in the details.” The master of lies wants to see us fall, he wants nothing more than for us to lose our focus on who we are in Christ. More importantly, who Christ is in us.

Revelation 12:10 (NKJV)

10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.

“When the solution is simple, God is answering.”

You know who said that? Albert Einstein. I am constantly over thinking many things in my life and leaving out the smallest detail and playing this recording in my mind like a broken record, “God will figure out the rest.” When in reality I am not listening intently enough, and missing the most important parts of what He is trying to tell me. The details.

Pretty amazing isn’t it? God is very interested in the details of our lives when we are not. He reminds us in scripture that we are to be concerned about the details, because in the details is where Satan works. Satan is legalistic and will corrupt our hearts in the details that we over look.

Psalm 37:23 (NLT)
23 The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
He delights in every detail of their lives

The Secret Place of Overcoming- Karen Austin

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As you press into My goodness, I shall reveal the secret place of My goodness, your refuge, “in the Spirit”. As you spend time with Me, you will no longer wonder where you belong. This is where you belong.

It is here that I shall hold you close and wipe away every tear. I will speak truth to the places where you have believed a lie. You see this is the place of overcoming. You cannot overcome spiritual battles by your flesh or by your wisdom. I have given you My Word and My Spirit. The battles that are coming upon the earth, at times will be fierce. This is why you must know the way to My heart now, your place of refuge. For it is he who dwells in the secret place of the Most High who shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. [Psalm 91]

It is only in this secret place that you will arise above every situation and circumstance. For you see, even My Son would separate Himself. He would go alone to this place to commune with Me. It is here that He saw what I was doing and would then have instructions to carry out upon the earth. All things that My Son did were birthed in My heart.

It is the same with you, my dear child. Come away with Me and learn of My. Learn of My ways and not just My acts. For you see, no one knows you as I know you. I know every pain, every disappointment, every fear and I know that which brings you joy. I long to spend time with you without distractions. I long to speak to those places in your heart that need reassurance of My love and My desire to do good unto you. Come away with Me…I am waiting…

Generations Come Together for Battle – Gary Florence

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There was a guy in our church who shared a vision with us that God had given to him. He saw the younger generation dressed in battle armor standing on this hill that was made out of skulls. They were standing there in victory after defeating the enemy. I thought to myself “where is the older generation?”

I believe the Lord showed me that many of the older generation are in “a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hand” mode. That many are feeling like their time of advancement is over and that it is time to hand the baton to the younger generation. That they have become weary and tired waiting for the Lord and the fulfillment of the promises given to them. That by default they took themselves out of the vision. I am here to tell you this is not about one generation laying down their weapons and armor and allowing another one to pick them up and go on without them, but this about each generation coming together in this hour and flowing into one stream and advancing as one.

I am reminded of Caleb he was 40 years old when he was given a promise about the land that the spies entered into. It took another 40 years for that promise to come to pass. He made the comment “I am as strong and vibrant at 80 years old, as I was at 40.”  Those of us in the older generation do not give up or give in to your circumstances and situations. Though the vision may tarry God is faithful to His promises to you.

There are those who are saying that not only have we entered into a new decade but that we also have entered into a new era. I believe we are entering into a time of acceleration and of suddenlies, we could go to bed one night tired and frustrated and have an encounter with the Lord and everything from that moment on would change and all those prophetic promises begin to come to pass. We have been through the battle of life and we carry the wisdom and scars that the younger generation needs. They need our wisdom and counsel and we need their excitement, enthusiasm and zeal of the Lord. There is a cry in the Spirit for us to arise with them and to advance as one together with the younger generation. Do you have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying? I prophecy to you that your best years are not behind you but that the best is yet to come.

Get ready, get ready, get ready your promises are coming!!!!!