Rev. Josephine Marie (Jo) Ayers, wife of 27 years, mother, grandmother of 5. She is also a worshiper, author, conference speaker, prophet, teacher, evangelist, church planter.
Ordained and licensed since since late 90’s she is now president and founder of Flames of Fire Ministries, Inc.an Apostolic and Prophetic Ministry. Jo also Vice President of the Mendon Fire District Auxiliary.
Her home church is Elim Gospel Church, Lima, NY., where she is an “Influencer “. Former Area Team Member for San Diego, Ca. Women’s Aglow. Former Facility Chairperson for Camp Rainbow Women’s Correctional Facility, Fallbrook, Ca. under Women’s Aglow, and also her own ministry. She is also former Associate Director of a Greater Rochester Healing Rooms. She is also a NYS Registered Professional Nurse, and former California realtor and notary. Website: flamesoffire.us
Where The Rubber Hits The Road!
A Word by Rev. Josephine Marie (Jo) Ayers
Email: [email protected]
I am going through the New Testament again, and the following chapter, 1 Corinthians 10, Paul’s words really gripped me.
It seems a good portion of the Body of Christ has gotten ‘fat’ on meat that others have purchased and prepared. “It’s TIME” to now lean on our Holy Spirit, and employ and activate what we have been taught and have residing within us.
Please also remember that GOD NEVER TOLERATED disobedience, idolatry and sin. That train had to be interrupted. Remember all those spots and wrinkles that need to come off? How do you think that happens? Good choices, good consequences, bad choices, not pleasant consequences. Right now, is a wakeup call, for us all. Life as we know it has been up ended, in every way possible. People are looking at us, and we are probably the only Bible some people will see.
1 Corinthians 10 The Passion Translation (TPT)
Learning from Israel’s Failures
10 My dear fellow believers, you need to understand that all of our Jewish ancestors who walked through a wilderness long ago were under the glory cloud[a] and passed through the waters of the sea on both sides. 2 “They were all baptized[b] into the cloud of glory, into the fellowship of Moses, and into the sea. 3 They all ate the same heavenly manna[c] 4 and drank water from the same spiritual rock[d] that traveled with them—and that Rock[e] was Christ himself. 5 Yet God was not pleased with most of them, and their dead bodies were scattered around the wilderness.[f]
6 Now, all these things serve as types and pictures for us—lessons that teach us not to fail in the same way by callously craving worthless things 7 and practicing idolatry, as some of them did. For it is written:
The people settled in to their unrestrained revelry, with feasting and drinking, then they rose up and became wildly out of control![g]
8 Neither should we commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, which caused the death of twenty-three thousand[h] on a single day. 9 Nor should we ever provoke the Lord,[i] as some of them did by putting him to outrageous tests that resulted in their death from snakebites day after day.[j] 10 And we must not embrace their ways by complaining—grumbling with discontent, as many of them did,[k] and were killed by the destroyer![l]
11 All the tests they endured on their way through the wilderness are a symbolic picture, an example that provides us with a warning so that we can learn through what they experienced. For we live in a time when the purpose of all the ages past is now completing its goal within us. [m] 12 So beware if you think it could never happen to you, lest your pride becomes your downfall.
The Way of Escape
13 We all experience[n] times of testing,[o] which is normal for every human being. But God will be faithful to you. He will screen and filter the severity, nature, and timing of every test or trial you face[p] so that you can bear it. And each test is an opportunity to trust him more, for along with every trial God has provided for you a way of escape[q] that will bring you out of it victoriously.[r]”..
“1 Corinthians 10:10 NKJV Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.
6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. 7 And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” 8 Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; 9 nor let us [a]tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; 10 nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 Now [b]all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our [c]admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to [d]bear it.”
So real for us today!
Have we learned from Israel’s mistakes? My God loves to change up things!
I could not help but see a resemblance between these ancient times and our society today. Some people think with the New Testament, those rules don’t apply any more. Not true!
God is the same. As I said, He does not tolerate sin, and idolatry. Doesn’t it seem like things have been going in a particular direction or a long time now. What’s the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting a different result. Are we so routinized that we cannot change? Or refuse? Change is in the wind folks; it is time to get used to that idea. It is inevitable and statistically impossible that it (change) won’t happen. Sometimes God uses drastic things to ‘move us in the right direction.” He not only leads with ‘open doors’ but with ‘closed doors’ as well.
A question we really need to ask ourselves now; Do we really trust GOD in all of this seeming chaos? This is not a rhetorical question, but something we really need to get down and ‘dirty’ with God about. Who do we go to in a crisis? We now being tested in our faith of provision and protection. Not only that with regard to activation of every gift we have, and then some. Is it time to make our, lights shine, as the church? Is God taking us to a new level of our faith? I believe so. In Romans Paul talks about how to activate our gifts. He goes on to say, how we do that, is TO USE THEM.
I’ll throw in my Turkey Soup story here. Years ago, as a single mom, I was diagnosed with Pneumonia. At that time, I lived alone, long story. I was so weak and tired. One day I prayed Lord, there is no one, I am too tired to cook. Lord, I would like some TURKEY SOUP! I laid down a bit, and the doorbell rang. On the other side of the door was my across the street neighbors husband. Now no one knew I was ill. In the pot he carried was, you guessed it, homemade TURKEY SOUP. He also had a bag of Florida Citrus, just what I had prayed for, and did not maneuver in any way to get!
God wants to raise our level of faith, and allow HIM opportunities to prove Himself in these areas. Can you see the Turkey soup was being made, before I even prayed that prayer! WOW! I believe GOD will be building a track record of hope with us, with His keeping power. We will share that hope with others, and they will come to Him. the Good Father that has been wanting to care for us, all along. We will let Him?
Right now, our society smacks of self-sufficiency and narcissism. What about me, and take care of myself. It is time to BE THE CHURCH!
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I sense HE is saying, ‘ You take care of my people, I will take care of you’. I believe it, He has done it for me, over and over again. I don’t stress anymore. We will be those witnesses and as the bible says, the testimony of our mouth and the Blood of the Lamb, will make us over comers! We can change this world, one person, at a time. THIS IS THE TIME, to practice what we preach!
I have many stories like this and His faithfulness. More than I can count!
The Bible says, we will never see the “righteous”, beg for bread.
Psalm 37:25
“I have been young, and now am old;
Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken,
Nor his descendants begging bread.” NKJV
Also, it was imputed to Abraham Righteousness, because he BELIEVED GOD! Hebrews 11. Believe GOD! Look for the good! Let’s not follow the Israelite’s mistakes.
While I believe that carelessness, of man were instrumental in this present virus crisis, I believe that God has used it and will use it, and has up ended, the status quo.
When this is all over, things will be different! Are we able to embrace the changes?
The direction that society was going, was not in anyone’s best interest, and definitely in many ways, not lining up with Godly principles in the bible. I had been sensing for a long while that something was going to happen, and BOOM, it did. I also do believe that in many ways, this will work for good. Not because I say it, it is because GOD says it, in His Word. Romans 8 to be specific! All things work together for good for they who love God and are called to His purpose. Authors paraphrase. That is the hope of course I believe HE is charting, as we journey these un chartered waters.
I sense a new gathering of unity, and a move of repentance, revival and renewal coming out of this, if we let it work for us. I also sense that there will be a release power and miracles, like we have never seen before. I reiterate, Paul says in ROMANS the key to activating your gift, is to use it! We will be released as multiple mobile churches. Right now, the buildings are not there! WE ARE THE CHURCH, the Ecclesia!
God is lining things up for the end times. His timeline is Eternity. I believe I sense He is going to re arrange everything (even the traditional church) according to HIS agenda. Not what we think it is!
He is going to get rid of idols! What you say there are idols in the church?! You bet. Even ministry can become an idol. I see some ministers holding on too tightly to what has been entrusted to them. The Dividing line is here to stay. A great realignment is about to happen!
Right now, it feels like life is like a puzzle arranged on the ceiling in disarray. We ARE going to at some point, see the pieces, hit the floor, and see the ‘picture’ of what GOD wants it to look like. All of it! The picture is about to form.
Now we all can agree there is ONE GOD. Isn’t it amazing that many people can hear GOD on a matter, and all come up with a different version? Well there is a time when I sense GOD is going to straighten that out as well.
So, get ready we are in a huge transition, realignment and deployment. Be excited! I also believe when we come through, we will see some amazing things. Already God has used this mess to do a huge miracle in my life, and that is what I am looking for, more miracles. Do not focus on the crisis, but the GOD solutions coming. SO better to embrace this and know, HE will not give us more than we can bare.
Stay tucked in the secret place. I hear HIM saying, “13 And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation[a] of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever.” Exodus 14:13 NKJV
March forward in the Power of His Might, that He entrusted to us. It’s TIME to see those greater things than these, that He said we will do, in this day, and this hour! I’m pumped!!! Bring it on GOD
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