prophetic

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?

Whats Eating at You??? – Gary Florence

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Before we dive into What’s Eating at You??? Part 2 I would like to say to you that if guilt, shame and condemnation really has never been an issue in your life. I would like to encourage you to right now begin to thank the Lord for that and to give Him praise and to give those who have at times or maybe even as they read this struggle with this, please give grace and your prayers. Guilt, shame and condemnation can be very real.

When you look at yourself in the mirror and all you see is your faults, failures and shortcomings it can have an impact on how you do life. Your relationships with your spouse, your children, other family members, coworkers etc. can become very strained because a lot of the times the way we see ourselves is the way we see others. If we are the judge and jury towards ourselves we can become the judge and jury concerning others faults, failures and shortcomings. Someone might be asking the question “Why share this part of your life with us, we do not know who you are, we will never meet you?” “You are opening yourself up to criticism, finger pointing and even judgment.”  My answer to those questions would be if just one person who stumbles upon this blog and can identify with what I am sharing and would then be willing to allow the Holy Spirit to walk them through the process of freedom from guilt, shame and condemnation it would be worth allowing you into a portion of my life.

In Ephesians it declares that we would be blameless and holy before God even before the foundation of the world. I do not know about you but that is hard to wrap my mind around that. So if I am “now” in Christ, that blameless and holy before God is part of who I am and that when God looks at me I am clothed with the righteousness of Christ Jesus. WOW!! So if I could see through the lens of God at me, He sees me without guilt, shame and condemnation. Just think about that for a few moments.

Take a deep breath inhale and now exhale, you are awesome in the sight of God and you are not what the enemy or others have labeled you as being. You may be thinking to yourself “I do not feel blameless or holy.” It’s not based on feelings but on His word about you. Next time I am going to allow you to walk down memory lane with me on a day in which I was a total train wreck, have you ever been a total train wreck? Then I will share what happened the following day when the Holy Spirit arrested me and asked “Do you want to be set free from guilt, shame and condemnation?” I cannot wait to share with you these keys He shared with me.

The Father’s Heart in Prayer – Frank Work

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I don’t know about many of you, but this past several months have been a real time of seeking the Lord on decisions and paths that are in front of us. When I say, “us” I mean my wife and I. Before I was saved, my wife was the spiritual head of the household. She did all the things she possibly could do to maintain the presence of God in our home. It was a battle for her, a real struggle, especially since I was in the camp of the enemy. So here you have this spiritual struggle in a home, a home divided against itself, while all the time, our children were trying to figure out what their role was in all this. Prayer is not an easy task, and quite frankly I don’t think it’s supposed to be. The act of “praying” is easy. Assuming the position of prayer, head down, eyes closed mumbling away the prayers that you have listed out that day or come to mind at that moment, and then I’m done.

Here let me outline the prayer I do with my wife in the morning to give you a better perspective of what I mean;

Father we thank you for this day; I ask that you watch over and keep us, guide and direct us, be with us as we go about the task of the day. We ask that you watch over. Watch over our two children and their spouses, watch over our 3 grandchildren.  Watch over our parents and family members. We lift up our home, our vehicles and our finances. Help us to be good stewards of those things you have placed with in our hands. Open our eyes to see and our ears to hear what You are doing in and around us so that we may follow the path You have for us this day. We thank you Lord for your sacrifice on the cross for our sins and help us to be in remembrance of that as we go out this day. We thank You and give You the glory, in Jesus name, Amen.

Now I don’t think that is a bad prayer, I covered all the bases as far as our personal life and gave God the glory at the end. So I should be set for the day, right? Problem is, if that is my first conversation with the Lord in the morning when I first wake up, I am missing so many facets of Him, and the very essence of who He is. I am never really getting a true sense of direction for the day that lies ahead. What I am doing is hoping that He will hear what I am praying and answer those prayers according to my expectations.

I still believe that Jesus was giving a command when He spoke the following words, “This is how you should pray.”

8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 9 In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen”

When Jesus refers to “them” he is speaking of the heathens who use vain repetition hoping to be heard (Matt 6:7). Prayer to me is an intimate communication between myself and Jesus. Prayer isn’t just asking for something selfishly, but it’s aligning my heart with the heart of the Father. Yes there are moments when we can come before the “Master to Petition Him” (Luke 18) He listens to His children and would never turns His back on the elect which are covered in the blood of His Son. Selfishly praying will not yield a fruitful prayer life, but only disappointment and eventually mistrust in Jesus that He will not accomplish anything in your life. This is a direct assault of the enemy against the body of Christ. When we see our prayers not answered, the enemy, who is Satan, will begin his assault on our hearts and whisper to our spirit man, “You see, He doesn’t care about you, He won’t answer you because He has no time for your request.” The enemy is relentless when it comes to attacking the body of Christ, he will never cease, there is nothing he wants more than to draw your focus away from God, and onto yourself.

Finally here to me is the clearest direction on how we pray and how we can align our hearts with His and to know without a shadow of a doubt what the Fathers heart is concerning any situation in our life.

3 Trust in the Lord, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

This is the best description in my opinion of what it means to have the desires of your heart answered. Because it’s not about us at all, it’s about the Fathers heart for us. When we line our hearts up with His heart and His will, the Holy Spirit will cause our hearts to line up with His heart. At this point, His desire will become ours and we will be praying in line with His will for us. The keys to this are in the scripture I just shared, “Trust in the Lord, Feed on His faithfulness, Delight yourself ALSO in the Lord, and THEN He will grant the desire of your heart.”

If we as Christian really do give our lives to Jesus, then we are saying we trust in fact that Jesus knows a better way for us to pray and ultimately serve in a “right spirit” in His kingdom.

Look Beyond the Natural- Karen Austin

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In stillness I shall reveal mysteries to you; mysteries that will enhance healing manifesting in your midst. For oh, when you release My glory and My sound in your midst, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; the God of Moses, the God of Elijah; shall be loosed in your midst. You shall see signs as in the days of old.

But know when I move in your midst, it is not only for those whom I will touch, but for you to see. For I will unveil your eyes to see what I am doing – the scene behind the scenes. [2 Kings 6:17] I desire you to see and hear beyond what you see and hear in the natural. When you begin to look, to see and to hear, you will begin to operate more in sync with what My Spirit is doing. As you recall, in My Word you read where I asked man to look and even asked him what he saw. [Jeremiah 1:11; Exodus 3:2-3] This is My invitation to you – to look beyond what you see. You in Me and Me in you. A union such as I planned from the beginning. [John 17:20-26; Romans 8:9-11] You will be caught up where you will be more aware of the Spirit realm than of the earthly realm. [Isaiah 6:1] You are a child of the Spirit!

I long to teach you. I am so excited to show you things and relish in your excitement at each revelation that I share with you, just as I was with Adam. Stay rooted and grounded in My Word and you will not go astray. My boundaries and My confines are all around you to keep you in My area of grace. Don’t look to what others are doing and desire that for yourself. Their grace is different than yours. I have distributed gifts to man that are to work in unity with one another. This is how My fullness shall be demonstrated upon the earth.

There will always be time and there will always be a way for you to slip away with Me. You must recognize these times, especially when I specifically call you to set yourself apart with Me. Seek first My Kingdom and all these things that concern you shall be given..finances, family, routine tasks..all will be provided and cared for. [Matthew 6:33] I am the God of abundance and in Me there is no lack.

“…because we don’t focus our attention on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but the unseen realm is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18 TPT

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.

Offense is Deadly (Part 1) – Frank Work

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Offense in the Christian community is an interesting concept. I have seen us wield the words of this world to offend people like a sword in battle. I have seen the wounds, and I myself, have felt the wounds, as a result of an offense. It’s, I believe, one of the deadliest weapons in the enemies’ arsenal that the church readily seems to pick up at a moment’s notice, including myself.

I personally have been both. I have been the offended, but also the offender. Sometimes we offend people and we don’t even realize we have done something to hurt our brother and sister. Many times, when I am offended by someone, it’s because of a previous offense I had against that person, and the issues just continue to snowball on top of each other until finally I have built up so many offenses against someone, I can’t remember what the original offense was. WHAT A MAZE!

When this happens, and we have “stockpiled” our offenses, we become bitter and cold inside, because then it’s only a matter of time until we start catching and holding offense from anyone we come in contact with. Our spirit has become so weighed down with offense that the wounds we have given permission to be inflicted upon us, become infested with the maggots of condemnation and self-worth. When I am offended, I am like the man spoken of in Proverbs 18:19 “A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city, and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.”

One thing I noticed I was not doing, was something I should have been doing as soon as I took the offense. What was that Frank? I am glad you asked. I will answer it with scripture, Jesus said in Matt 11:28“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Which simple means, if you have taken on an offense, it’s like a pack on your back, that you carry around with you all the time. Until I am willing to release that “heavy laden” burden and give it to Jesus, I will feel no rest and the weight of the heavy-laden offense will increase. In fact, not only will I be carrying around the original offense, I will be carrying around all other offenses.

Also, offense built up can cause your physical body to start to feel the effects of offense and unforgiveness through sickness and depression. That’s a whole other article though.

The next part to this article will give us an idea of how we can combat the spirit of offense with the power of scripture and the leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit. Stay tuned for part 2!

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