The Cross

The Quest (Conclusion) – Karen Austin

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We then moved into the “Charismatic Circles”. We were baptized in Holy Spirit and began to speak to move in the gifts of the Spirit. We had the power and we had arrived! We cast devils out of everything that moved. We were now the “elite”…even though there was a little pride in it all. We now had it all. We got our identity from our gifting’s and we could still have somewhat of worldly life. We had now moved into the Inner Court. But still…if we were honest…something is still missing. Something or Someone was drawing us…there was more.

We began to be uncomfortable with things we always did. It somehow did not seem right. Time came where we had to make the decision…to move on or stay where we were, content, spiritual…just like most around us. We were still hanging onto our own successes as our identities. Still, there was a wooing. A hunger for something more.

The only thing…this required dying. Dying to ourselves, to the way we wanted it, to what was comfortable. It was no longer our choices, but we chose what pleased Him. It was costly. It required us to get out of the boat and walk on the water of the unknown. We were entering territory that was not familiar. We ran the risk of being called “too religious or spiritual”. Still we pressed through because what we found is worth the cost.

We can look at the life of Paul and although he was as scholar and had a pretty good position in life. He surrendered all this to life a life for Christ and to become His bondservant. “I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. 2 Corinthians 11:23-27.

“Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,” Philippians 3:8-10

Paul said all he had before he counted a “dung”. I’ll let you look that word up. But because of His total submission and passion for God, he moved in such demonstration of the spirit and of power that no one could say it was man doing these things. It was raw power of God. Paul even was even caught up into the third heaven to hear of heavenly mysteries.

It is at this juncture, that many decide to remain where they are. But to those who dared to answer the call of this drawing of Holy Spirit, it was time to go for all He had for you. You yielded and said, “Yes Lord, I surrender.” Now came the time that He revealed Himself to you in a way that you never imagined. The power of His Holiness caused you to prostrate yourself before Him. His love and acceptance enveloped you and gone were the laws of man you thought you had to adhere to. Here was pure love. That which you have been seeking…you never want to leave. This was it!

You now have entered beyond the veil, into the Holy of Holies. It is a place where you have lost yourself as you once knew yourself, but found yourself in the embrace of your Heavenly Father. It is a place of true contentment and joy. There is nothing in this world that compares to what you have found with your Father. Your creation began and is fulfilled with the love that you have been searching for and will continue on throughout eternity. You are loved more than you can imagine!

I hope while reading this, you have located yourself on your spiritual journey. My prayer is that you don’t stop. In the Father’s heart are things for you that you have yet to discover. He has more of Himself that He desires to reveal. This is the deepest place of fulfillment that you will experience this side of heaven. Even when we enter eternity, we will still be learning the vastness of His love and His power. I encourage you my friends, continue on for He has much that He wants to show you and for you to experience.

Ekklesia: The Called out Ones – Karen Austin

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As I was reading the story in Exodus 9-12 regarding the first Passover, the words the Lord spoke to Moses stood out to me, “Let My people go.” The sins of God’s people were many, still, the Father’s heart was pursuing His people. After 400 years of hearing the cries of His people. He sent a deliverer named Moses.

Moses had many experiences with God. The first being when he saw the bush burning, but not being consumed by the fire. Most of you have had an experience(s) with God. They may not have been as dramatic as Moses’, but God revealed Himself to you. It could have been when you were saved or filled with the Spirit; or maybe through answered prayer. Somewhere along your life, He has made Himself real to you.

I am sure you are like me… like the Israelites, we rebelled against God, but in His faithfulness, He drew you out just as Moses was drawn out of the water. The Father drew you out and took you to Himself to nurture you in His ways. The Israelites knew his actions, but Moses knew His ways. The Father is searching for those who like Moses, those who will turn aside and look…not just pass by when He reveals Himself. He is looking for those who desire to know His heart, to seek His face and not just His hand – just what He can do for them.

I have heard it said that this is the first Passover that Israel has been shut in since that very first Passover. I sense there is something very significant about Passover this year and Resurrection Sunday. There are things that God is rearranging and putting in order that we may not be aware of right at this moment in time, but we will soon see.

The first commandment that God gave to His chosen people dealt with worship. “I AM the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery, You shall have no other Gods before Me.” Deuteronomy 5:6-7.

Just as worship was the first commandment to God’s people when they were set free, worship should be our first response to being set free! The idols we have laid down during this time of being shut in; we must be mindful not to pick them up again. He must remain first and foremost in our lives. Once again He is saying to that which has had us bound…be it schedules, anxieties, fear or whatever has kept you from being near His heart, “Let My people go, so they may worship Me.”

Moses’ name means “Drawn Out”. We, His Bride are called the Ekklesia, the called out ones. He is calling those who have sought His face, those who have carried the burden of His heart….He is calling you out of this season of being hidden. He has delivered you to be a deliverer!

I pray that you and your family receive the fullness of what the Lord wants to do for you and in you during this holy season. May you be set free from all that binds and hinders you. May you walk into the freedom that Christ gave His life to set you free from. Be released! Be healed! Rejoice for the Lord your God has redeemed you with the precious blood of the Lamb….there is power in the Blood…the Blood of Jesus!

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!