God is Rising for His People By Karen Austin

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God is Rising for His People By Karen Austin

I see a rising up of My people for there has been a rising up of their prayers and petitions before Me. I have heard their cries and have seen their tears."

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.

Isaiah 60:1

"I am putting an awareness in My people of the overcoming power that I have placed within them. Did I not say the righteous shall be bold as a lion? My roar is about to reverberate throughout the whole earth from the mouth of my people. As they speak forth My rhema word into situations...into atmospheres, change shall take place. I uphold ALL things by the word of My power."

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Politics in the Church? By Paul Black featuring “Dutch Sheets” and “Give Him 15”

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Politics in the Church? By Paul Black featuring “Dutch Sheets” and “Give Him 15”

The debate continues. Is church the place to discuss “politics”? That seems to be the big divide presently in the church. Trying to keep a congregation informed has cost me dearly over the last 18 months. I have always wrestled with what the Holy Spirit would have me share or not share. In reality, most miss is the fact that we have been in World War III over the last 2 years.

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The Coming Awakening. By Paul Black

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The Coming Awakening. By Paul Black

This quote from Jesus is the essence of one who would be a follower of His. However, it is contrary to every other religion known to man. In religion, people worship to get. We appease the gods by our gifts and sacrifices. In turn, we expect the gods to provide for us. It is the heart of idolatry. In pagan cultures, there is a multiplicity of gods to meet a plethora of needs. I worship a particular god to get a particular need met.

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Change is in The Air By Paul Black featuring Karen Austin

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Change is in The Air By Paul Black featuring Karen Austin

If you hold to a Wednesday crucifixion as I do, last night would’ve been the night of the last supper in the upper room and all the events of that evening. Just imagine all that took place from the triumphant entrance just a few days prior to the denial and betrayal of Jesus. It’s easy to point fingers at the disciples but we have an advantage that they didn’t. Afterall, hindsight, they say is 20:20.

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Moving by His Spirit. By Karen Austin

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Moving by His Spirit. By Karen Austin

I believe we are entering into the days that we have heard of…. days of awe. There will be a sense of awe as in these days there will be a complete yielding to the leading of His Spirit which will result in complete demonstrations of His Spirit. It will be a time when we are so aware of the preferences, the leading and guiding of Holy Spirit that we will be a people who truly are spirit-led. Over the years, the body of Christ has experienced church services that were mostly flesh or religion. We have had services that were a mixture….

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Endurance By Paul Black

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Endurance By Paul Black

When I think about the word “endure”, I think about “Team Hoyt”. Team Hoyt refers to father Dick Hoyt and his son Rick Hoyt (born January 10, 1962) from Holland, Massachusetts. Rick Hoyt was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth after his umbilical cord became twisted around his neck, which caused the blockage of oxygen flow. As a result, his brain could not properly control his muscles.

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Keep Your Eyes On The Prize By Susan Hawkins

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Keep Your Eyes On The Prize By Susan Hawkins

Philippians 3:13-14. ESV

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Wait to see what I have prepared for you. I know you inside and out and yet you do not see your full potential. This is for your good and protection from the enemy of pride. You will continue to see the plan unfold but know that all that is happening is directed by Me and not your own ability. I can see clearly into the future and I have mapped the way. Follow Me.

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

Only those who will humble themselves before Me can be used in this coming season. They must be completely rid of self-ambition and not only this but all desire for the accomplishments of man. It will be in this season that I will rise up in My Church as a beacon of light drawing others to Myself. If they see Me they will come and they will bow before Me and honor Me and be saved from the coming judgments. 

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16

How shall you live? With your eyes on the prize. I come slowly and silently at times and you must be aware. If you keep your eyes on Me you will know the turns that I make and will follow Me. Even though you have followed Me before this time ahead will be quite different. I shall move with stealth and undergird My Church and undermine My enemy. He will not be aware of the explosion of faith that will ensue. He is not all-knowing. You on the other hand have My Spirit and will know the signs of the times.

If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you… But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.  John 14:15-17, 26

I am coming child do not doubt it. It may look dark and bleak at present but then the sun will burst forth in the clouds and we shall see the purpose together. There shall be dancing in the streets. Amen. Lift your voices in praise now in anticipation of what I shall do in this hour and never, never doubt My Word to you. 

But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.  Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.  James 1:6-8

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Knowing the Times and The Seasons By Paul Black

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Knowing the Times and The Seasons By Paul Black

We are living in absolutely, unprecedented times. Intimacy with the Lord is imperative to know both pray and move in these times. Jesus said this about His secrets to His disciples the night before He was crucified; John 15:15 (ESV)

“No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.”

If you want to know what’s really going on, get close to Jesus, become His friend and He will share His secrets with you. He will help you decipher between the truth and lies. Knowing the truth is the only way to make sure your intercession is true and accurate. You see truth is not theology, belief systems, forms of worship or even a political persuasion. Truth is a person. Jesus said this of Himself in John 14:6 (ESV)

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A NEW KIND OF REVIVAL. By Karen Austin

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A NEW KIND OF REVIVAL. By Karen Austin

Many of us are looking toward the revival for which we have been praying and believing. We hear in the messages of others the call to prayer to birth this long-awaited revival in our nation and the world.

I totally agree that we are on the verge of a revival that will sweep the nations for Christ. I believe we will see multitudes come into the Kingdom. What I don’t see is this revival being as we have seen in the past. Oh, it will have many components that we have seen in the past moves of God, but this revival I sense is marked to be different. It will not be for entertainment or the pleasures of the church. This is about the harvest and His Kingdom rule being unleashed upon the earth. This could very well be the last revival this earth will witness before the coming of our Lord. Many souls will be harvested, and the Lord is about to reap the rewards of His suffering.

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Enter In By Karen Austin

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Enter In By Karen Austin

This is a very familiar scripture to the body of Christ. It is often quoted in sermons and declared in prayer….” God will open a door that no man can shut. He will shut a door that no man can open.” Most often this is in the context of ministry or opportunities that the Father is putting before us.

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Into the Unknown. By Karen Austin

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Into the Unknown. By Karen Austin

Recently during a time with the Lord, He began showing me places where I had been given a choice of the spiritual path to take in my life. The places I left were places which were known and familiar…places where my future was certain. Instead, I chose to press in the direction of something new, something more, an unknown and unfamiliar path. I did not know where the path would lead but I knew I would never be fulfilled unless I went. There was a calling and a wooing toward what was hidden in future. A path I knew I must continue.

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Happy Valentine’s Day By Pastor Paul

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Happy Valentine’s Day By Pastor Paul

I hope you all had a wonderful “Valentine’s Day” and were able to spend the day with that some one special in your life. I was curious as to the day’s origin, so I did some research online. I found a plethora of possible origins of the day. Found this little tidbit on History.com.

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The Place of Worship in the Season to Come By Pastor Paul

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The Place of Worship in the Season to Come By Pastor Paul

Growing up in a musical family, the place and importance of music has never been lost on me. My father schooled me and taught me most of what I know concerning bands and choirs, etc. When Holy Spirit rocked our world back in 1992, He began to school me in worship in both leading and participating. Being involved with “Toronto Airport Vineyard” during the years of the “Toronto Blessing” launched me into a whole new understanding of worship…

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Being Faithful By Paul Black

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Being Faithful By Paul Black

One of the greatest attributes of the Lord is that he is faithful. Jeremiah wrote these words in a book, the book of Lamentations, that hi-lighted the “unfaithfulness of Israel”; Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV)

“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness”

The word “faithfulness” comes from the Hebrew word, אֱמוּנָה, “emunah” which is used 3 different ways in the scripture; firmness, steadfastness, fidelity. Fidelity has to do with moral purity and integrity. That is very interesting usage as Israel is often compared in scripture as an unfaithful wife. Read this portion from Hosea 2:1-3 (ESV).

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Believing for the Invisible By Paul Black

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Believing for the Invisible By Paul Black

Faith is such a difficult thing to define. The writer of Hebrews does as good a job as any when He defnes it this way; Hebrews 11:1-2 (ESV)

Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old gained approval.

He then follows with a list of “patriarchs” who pleased the Lord for their obedience to His voice by stepping out from the familiar into the mystery on the “unknown”. The “Orthodox Jewish Bible” puts the same 2 verses this way;

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Transition Into a New Season. By Paul Black featuring a word from Lana Vawser

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Transition Into a New Season. By Paul Black featuring a word from Lana Vawser

I remember hearing a story from a friend of mine who spent a lot of time ministering to pastors who served the “underground” church in China. She asked one of the pastors who had just returned from a trip to America what impressed him about the church in America. His answer; he was amazed what the American church could accomplish without God!. Ouch, what an indictment! Help us Lord!

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"God Is Faithful" Paul Black

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"God Is Faithful" Paul Black

The last few weeks having been extremely trying for the Black family for the second consecutive January. One December 24th, Cheryl and I were in a bad car accident that totaled our car. Then on Christmas day, my health began to worsen.

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Blessing Your Spirit by Sylvia Gunter and Arthur Burk

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Blessing Your Spirit by Sylvia Gunter and Arthur Burk

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully make; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

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The Restoration By Karen Austin

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The Restoration By Karen Austin

This is the time that will mark the beginning of making straight the way for the soon restoration of all things. Seismic activities. Creation groaning. Even mankind groaning...all awaiting the manifestation of the sons of God. This revealing of Jesus upon these mature sons will prepare the way for the soon coming of the Lord.

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The Importance of Signs; Part III By Pastor Paul Black

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The Importance of Signs; Part III By Pastor Paul Black

Over the last few weeks, we have been looking at the importance of signs that God often puts in front of His people to give direction or to show a change in seasons. In this final part, I want to look at one of the most incredible signs that directed a group of noble seekers to the Christ-child, the “Star of Bethlehem”.

The Star of Bethlehem, or Christmas Star, appears in the nativity story of the Gospel of Matthew where "wise men from the East" (Magi) are inspired by the star to travel to Jerusalem. There, they meet King Herod of Judea, and ask him:

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