Thursday, May 31, 2012

Friend of world is enemy of God

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity (being an enemy) with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.  James 4:4

Pam has been having trouble with her sister, who is openly approving fornication.  Pam spoke against the fornication and told sister she didn't want to be with her when she visits Colorado Springs this summer for to sit and eat where fornication is approved causes Pam to be approving fornication in sight of God.  God had given Pam a dream showing a young woman having sex with a man that was not her husband.  Pam, in dream, was approving this.  Then in the dream Pam was having sex with a man who was not her husband.

In one letter Pam wrote to her sister, I noticed the letter was really weak.  I called Pam and talked with her about it.  Then Pam noticed the last sentence of this letter.  In the letter Pam had told sister she did not listen to her message recorded on Pam's answer phone because when she prayed God showed her the sister's message would be harmful to Pam.  But then at end of letter Pam said, "Just thought you should know."  (friendly)  I knew Pam was sending mixed messages to this sister who is approving fornication.

I was reminded of the following:  Paul said ... For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? 9So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.  I Cor. 14

If anyone is coming around you troubling you with evil, and they keep coming around you being "friendly", check yourself.  You are somehow being friendly toward that person.

If you speak what is right in sight of God that evil speaking person will not want to come around you.

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. Jn. 3 

Jesus said ... Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men,  him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. 34Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. 37He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 39He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.  Mt. 10

Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: 52For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. 53The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. Lk. 12
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When you speak the word of God

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet  

Must realize ... it is not at all unusual to be attacked when you speak the word of God.  The attack can come through a human ... and even more likely through thoughts sent by devils. 

Jesus said ...The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.  Jn. 10:10
 

Peter said...
 

For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:  I Peter 2


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There is no such thing in Bible as "music minister" ... that has been added to the church by man.

The ministers of God are apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher.

When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.  9(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)  11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.  Eph. 4



 

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Greater works

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Jesus said ... Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.  13And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. Jn. 14

What Jesus is saying is this:  Greater works would be done ... more works would be done in future.  More works than Jesus did while HE walked in flesh on this earth would be done for Jesus "goes to the Father" ... Jesus sits on the right hand of God right now "doing the works" right now through us as we pray ... Therefore greater (more) works would be done through the cumulative time between the resurrection and the second coming of Jesus.  All the accumulated works from the time of the resurrection until right now and beyond add up to the "greater works".

Notice this:

Jesus said ... If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.  Jn. 15

When we pray, we pray according to the will of God.

Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.  Jn. 9:31

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God sends angel

Renee Bonfield ... evangelist

Our son James (autistic) lived at home with us for 30 years. He now lives in a group home. One day while James was living at home, we took him to Flushing Meadow Park. They have a zoo with animals there,and they also have a carousel. We first went to see the animals. I was holding James' hand. Then we heard the music from the carousel. All of a sudden James broke away from my grip. He was running and headed toward the carousel. My husband and I were running trying to catch up with him. I was out of breath and had pains in my stomach, but I kept crying out to God to please take care of James because I was afraid he would try to get on the moving carousel. Finally I was able to reach him. He was standing next to the carousel, but a man was holding him until we were able to get to him. I took James by the hand, but when I wanted to thank the man, he wasn't there. I walked around looking for him, but it was as though he had vanished into thin air. (? an angel ?)


Another time when James was at summer camp. I was impressed to go to Shalom Ministries which I listened to on the radio. At that time we had a car. Before we went anywhere I always prayed and asked God to bless our trip. I was fearful about asking Wheeler if we could go. At first he said I don't think so, what am I going to do there? I said you can listen to us read the Bible. At that point I thought we couldn't go, so I prayed telling God that if He wanted us to go, to please put it in Wheeler's heart to go. When I returned to the bedroom Wheeler said "If you want to go then let's do so." 


We started out early the next morning. We were looking for the Sprang Memorial Parkway, but we got lost. We wound up in a small town. I suggested that we look for a gas station so we could get directions. We drove a bit, and I began to pray asking God to please help us get to the Parkway and to Shalom Ministries. Then Wheeler stopped at a small shopping area. I said "Why are you stopping here?" He said "There is a man getting out of his car which was parked next to ours. This man looked like a combination of Burl Ives and James Beard. The man took out a book of maps and showed us exactly how to go. Then he said "I'm going there too so why don't you follow me." We drove for a while on the Parkway. I kept looking back to see if the man was still there. Then all of a sudden he wasn't there any more. I asked Wheeler if there were any exits or entrances to the Parkway. He said "no." Then it dawned on me that God had sent us an angel. 


The fee for Shalom Ministries was $200.00 for the entire week. Before making plans to go, I was wondering how we were going to get this money. Then I was reminded that for years  I had been putting quarters and fifty cent coins in a jar. When I counted them, there was just enough money to go.
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Strengthening our faith

Pam Padgett ... teacher

Psalm 48:8 As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. Selah.

As I read this, I thought of many accounts we have in the Bible of God working in the lives of His people.  Our faith in God is strengthened as we hear of the ways God has led, provided for, and delivered His people in previous generations. 

In much the same way, our faith in God is strengthened as we see God working in our lives today.  When we share with each other what God has done, and is doing, in our lives today, we see the power of God.  The problems and temptations we face are common to all, and our faith in God is increased as we see Him provide exactly what is needed in each situation, actively working in our lives, leading us in the ways of godliness, just as He has done throughout all generations. 

A little earlier I was reading in Hebrews 3 where we're warned about having an evil heart of unbelief and departing from the living God.  Instead, we're instructed to exhort one another daily.

Hebrews 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

What God is doing in my life becomes even more "real" as I share it, and it is helpful to hear how God is leading and helping others as well.  We are continually reminded and urged to go, and continue in, the ways of God, keep the flesh under control, deal appropriately with thoughts brought from the devil, and allow our lives to be conformed to the word of God.  We see the God working in our lives each day, and this continually strengthens our faith in Him.  And, most importantly, exhorting each other is what God has instructed us to do.
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No shame with Jesus

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

I had a very interesting dream recently.

In this dream, I was with a man and there were other people in the house.  The house was magnificent, marble floors, very large rooms ... a palace ... At one point, I was walking into another room, the people behind me sitting and talking. My back side was exposed.  (like with an open hospital gown) ... but it didn't matter.  At one point I was having sex with this man in front of all but that didn't matter either.  Then I was in this bath room.  A woman began drawing bath water for me.  The tub was inset into the floor and was spacious.  The tub was lined with a soft material so it would be very comfortable for me.  On top of the water were all types of wonderful towels and sheets.  Then beside the tub was an end table and jewelry was on that table and I was told it was my jewelry. Someone put a ring on my right hand.  It was the most magnificent jewel I've ever seen.  (like a diamond ... very large ... but very brilliant)  There was a necklace also which I put on.  Then I went into the room where this man was and a woman was standing there with him.  I reached around her, ignoring her, and put my hands on him and pulled myself to him.  It was wonderful.  He was all that mattered to me.

I didn't want to awake from this dream.

I think I have at least partial interpretation ...

Of course, the man is Jesus.

"My back side was exposed.  (like with an open hospital gown) ... but it didn't matter."  We speak these messages, holding nothing back, exposing ourselves to all ...

During the dream (or perhaps after the dream), I kept thinking of how magnificent everything was in that palace ... I kept thinking, No telling what is laid up for us who belong to HIM and follow HIM.  It will be so far above our thinking ...

Certainly HE is all that matters.
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Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Escaping felshly anger / laying aside malice

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

I understand having anger rise up from time to time when we see the word of God rejected.

Yesterday I read the following and when I read it I saw it as a way provided by God for us to escape this type of anger.

Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.  II Peter 2

And at the beginning of this chapter in II Peter 2, we see the following instruction to the church ... 

Wherefore laying aside all malice... II Peter 2:1 

One definition of "malice" is ... ill will ...

Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; 15While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. Heb. 3

We could end up being "hardened" through the deceitfulness of other people's sins.  Jesus said: And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. Mt. 24


As we see the word of God rejected we could be "hardened" by their sin.  We do not want to allow this to happen.  When we think on such things as the elect of God, the chosen of God ... and such things as 
II Peter 2  ... "whereunto also they were appointed" ... it can be helpful in softening us so we not be hardened by their sin.

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God frees us

Joseph Meriweather ... pastor

This Monday will be memorial day .where they will honor war veterans ,the living and the dead .I am also a Vietnam veteran .I didn't know a thing about The true and living GOD  back then . But I give honor to the great and mighty GOD that let me make it back from such a miserable war . Now that I am saved by his grace I will always be grateful for his Love toward me. He brought me out of a miserable state of drunkenness and bad dreams of the war. I can look forward not backward . I  don't feel like I have to spent my time talking about thing I did in that war. 

Philippians 3 ; -8 and verse 13... Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of CHRIST JESUS my LORD ,for whom I have suffered the loss of all things , count them as dung that I may gain CHRIST ... 
verse 13... Brethren ,I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.

verse 14 ...I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 

There is nothing so great to be able to have the peace of GOD inside of you .
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Repetition establishes the Word of God

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

The apostle Paul said ... This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.  II Cor. 13:1 ...  Paul was not saying 3 different people were going to say the thing but rather Paul was telling them that he would repeat the message 2 or 3 times.

Here is a message I am repeating ...


I think of how some people cannot stand repetition and always want something new.

And when we think we already know something how we tend to skip that, and get to something "important".  We forget we don't really know what is important.

When I read the stories we have written and published on internet, such as Pam's dog story (the breaking through the iced over pond) ... there is tendency to skip these when I am re-reading blog because I have read these and already know the story ... but lately I have found I don't skip these stories.  I think re-reading what we think we already know is a form of practicing "patience" ...

I often read the writings we publish  3 or 4 times daily and as a result I have seen my spiritual base expand and have seen amazing fruits of "patience" come forth as I have dealt with issues of this present life.  

Where did this patience that I didn't have before come from, I asked God.

And I believe I was shown the patience I've seen in me lately is the result of this re-reading over and over the writings in these internet printings.

Certainly we are rewarded for doing the word of God... what we are doing in publishing these writings is doing Heb. 3 & Heb. 10 in the church.

exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.  Heb. 3

exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.  Heb. 10

Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.  Psa. 19:11

There is great reward in reading these daily exhortation multiple times.
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Death vs. life

Pam Padgett ... teacher

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

While thinking about this verse today, I thought of how the devil often tries to get us involved in works of some kind, trying to get us to earn or prove something.  But God has provided the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ.  A "gift" is free, requiring nothing in return from the receiver.  Jesus has completely paid for all of our sins.  We cannot, and don't need to, pay for those sins ourselves.  The blood of Jesus has already paid for them.   There is nothing to earn or prove of ourselves.  

And, rather than being weighed down with all sorts of seemingly "good works" (works that seem "good" but are not authored by God),  the work God has for us is to believe that which God gives us

John 6:28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.


We are to believe that Jesus has paid for our sins, as well as each word that God gives to us.  If there is something we need to do, God is able to show us to do this.  The Holy Spirit may bring a thought, or our attention may be drawn to a scripture.  We may have a dream, or receive a message delivered by another person led by the Holy Spirit.  Somehow God is able to show us His will.  And our actions follow what we truly believe. 

I'm also reminded of the following ...

Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

This morning my attention was drawn to the word "nice".  Many, if not all, of us have been taught since childhood that we should be nice.  But when I looked, this word is not in the Bible at all. 

Some of the definitions of "nice" are agreeable, pleasant, delightful, attractive, and pretty.  All of these things would draw people to us, making us appealing to other people.  And, in order to be nice, we would need to hide our true feelings or what we know to be true, when around those who are doing evil. 

This is not the way we, as Christians, are told to go.  Jesus did not set out to please man, but to please the Father ...

John 8:29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

And Paul said if he was seeking to please men, he wouldn't be a servant of Christ. 

Galatians 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

Its not possible to serve God and to serve man.  We can't serve two masters. 

Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Instead of seeking to please other people and to draw them to us, we're told to follow after things that are pleasing to God ...

1 Timothy 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.


These are the things we need to value and seek to develop in our lives.   These things allow us to live in a way pleasing to God and to deal in a godly way toward those people who cross our paths. 


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Personal achievement

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Personal achievement is a way of life for most people.  From the time we are small children, most of us are striving to achieve.

Yet this is exactly opposite to the way of God.

God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.  Gal. 6:14

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.   Phil. 2

Nine months ago, I saw the truth of Gal. 6:14 ... I meditated on this scripture daily throughout each day.  I made a deliberate effort to give up anything that might bring "achievement" to me.  It was a totally different way of life for me.

So many people are focused on their own works.

In this blog, we are trying to share God's works and God's power.  Like Paul we set aside our own achievements and count them but dung as Paul explained.

Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. 2Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. 3For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
 

4Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 5Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law,  blameless. 

7But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;  Phil. 3
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Monday, May 28, 2012

Pictures?

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

The apostle Paul said ... Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh:  II Cor. 5:9

Recently a "pastor" asked me to send him a picture of me ...

I replied that I don't have a picture of me ...

Later I thought, "I could send him 104 pictures of my cat."

Pictures of our flesh are of the flesh.  They have no role at all in the work of the Spirit of God.  As as I understand what Paul was saying in II Cor. 5, he purposed to know no man "after the flesh" ... pictures, degrees, positions in life ...

All that matters is the message we speak.  Is it the Spirit of God?  And by the messages, those who are of God know each other.
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Discipline

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;  14As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;  I Pet. 1
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What is your life?

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.  15For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will,  we shall live, and do this, or that. 16But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. 17Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. James 4

Yesterday when I read the above scripture and thought on what it was saying, I saw something I had been doing.  We have ads with Google to help people find the internet writings.  I have said, "We'll probably keep these ads for about a year until people get used to us and find us."   (Financially we seem able to do this.)

I repented after looking closely at James 4.

Restructured ... "If the Lord wills, we will continue advertising the blog ..."

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Exhort one another daily

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Instruction from God:

Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;  Heb. 3

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 26For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, Heb. 10 

Do we see the "Day of the Lord" drawing closer?  Is it "approaching"?

How do we know if it is drawing closer?

Jesus said:  Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: 33So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.  Mt. 24

Is the evil worse now than it was 10 years ago?  To answer this, all you have to do is to compare the TV shows made 10 years ago with the TV shows made today.  Are things worse in the world or better? 

If you say, "Worse", you are simply agreeing with what the apostle Paul said would happen.

evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. II Tim. 3

And Jesus said things will get so bad unless the time is shortened, even the elect would not be saved.

And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.  Mt. 24:22

So as we "see the day" (the day of the Lord) approaching, we are instructed to exhort one another more and more ...

That is what we do with these writings.

I sometimes read these writings 3 or even 4 times a day.  Even though I know the examples, I have been "patiently" reading them again and again.

As a result I have seen a remarkable change in me!  I am more "patient"  (one of the fruits of the Spirit)  I didn't try to develop patience.  God just showed me one day it was happening.  (see blog 5-27-12)  And then I realized that what I was doing in reading and re-reading these messages was causing patience to develop in me ... and with patience a new "contentment".

Certainly each time we do something instructed by God as in Heb. 3 & Heb. 10, exhorting one another this way, we are rewarded by God!

No one can steal this treasure from us.  It is greater than rubies or gold.
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Does gain show godliness?

Pam Padgett ... teacher

1 Timothy 6:3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

Many years ago I attended a rather large church which had a singles group.  Although the church was large, the singles group was very small.  It met one evening each week, with fewer than 10 people on the evenings I attended.  At the time, I worked during the evenings so was not able to attend the group regularly.  But, when I was able to attend, it was edifying to me.  This was not a social gathering.  The man who led the group shared from the Bible, and others were allowed to share as well.  There seemed a caring for things of God among those who attended this group. 

Then the man who had been leading the group left and another man started leading the group.  The first time I attended the group after the new man started leading it, there were well over 100 people there.  At first this seemed wonderful to me.  But this was much more of a social gathering.  People were talking, all at the same time, about all manner of things.  The man leading the group would have some kind of teaching, but what he shared was focused was on finding a mate, not living a life pleasing to God.  Fruits of lust, rather than godliness, came forth strongly ... and people flocked to it.  Although the number of people attending this group continued to increase dramatically, I eventually had to stop attending.

(Comments by Joan Boney) ... Jesus said ...
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:  14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.  Mt. 7

------- 

In 1 Corinthians 14 Paul speaks of how the gathering of the church is to be conducted, including verse 40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

Recently when I shared the story about the college luau (5-10-12), it was initially difficult for me to tell about my experience at the bar ... wanting to share what had happened accurately, but decently.  Although I Cor. 14:40 was not called to my attention, the concept of sharing in a "decent" way was very strong in me.  This is probably an example of God writing His law in our hearts. 

Hebrews 8:Lord. 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

So I prayed and asked God how to share this in a decent way.  The word "lewd" was called to my attention.  This was a very accurate, yet decent, way to describe what had happened in the bar.  I was so grateful to God for showing me a way to share this in a decent way. 

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Ordained to condemnation

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Jude ... Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 4For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. 

I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. 6And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.  7Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. 
8Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh,  despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. 9Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. 


But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. 11Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. 

These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, (we see this is happening in the churches ... in the congregation and in the ministry itself)  feeding themselves without fear:  clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; 13Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. 14And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, 15To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. 

These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage. 17But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18How that they told you there should be mockers (imitators:  copying what is of God ... copying the real people of God ...) in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. 19These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. (They put themselves into the ministry but they do not have the Spirit of God.  They put themselves into the congregations but they do not have the Spirit of God.  This is something that is "ordained" to happen in the last days as Jude said here.)

But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. 

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.  Jude
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Sunday, May 27, 2012

God help me!

Renee Bonfield ... evangelist

During our son James' earlier years, he went to a special school for Autistic children. He wasn't getting enough speech therapy or occupational therapy at school, so after finding out that the hospital in our neighborhood had both available, I took him every Monday to Elmhurst General Hospital for these services. The hospital is within walking distance from our house. Whenever I was outside with James I always held his hand for safety purposes. However one Monday as we were walking home James pulled away from my grip and ran across the street. A car was also coming down this street, so I screamed out "God help me!" The man in that car slammed on his brakes, and James' life was spared.
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Life is a vapor

Joseph Meriweather ... pastor


Each day I try to remember that my present and future is in the hand of GOD .

James. 4;13-17 say Come now,you who say ,today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city ,spend a year,there , buy and sell and make a profit . 14. whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow.

for what is life ? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away . 

15. instead you ought to say If the LORD wills ,we shall live and do this or that : 

16. But now you boast in your  arrogance .All such boasting is evil .


17. Therefore ,to him who knows to do good and does not do it ,to him it is sin




Boast: to brag -vaunt arrogance proudly

Proverbs 27;1 Do not boast about tomorrow ,For you do not know what a day may bring forth .
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Patience

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

This week, I took my car in to be repaired.  Toward the end of the work day, I called to see about the car and was told it was not ready and that it "might" be ready the next day.

There was a time that would have upset me.  But this time it didn't.  I told the mechanic that was no problem at all to me.

Another happening, I have a covering (drape/curtain) over the sliding glass doors in my bedroom and the covering which keeps out the light is operated by a remote control.  My cat knocked the remote off the shelf onto a hard floor and broke the remote.  I really didn't care if the blind was raised.  So for 2 or 3 weeks I did nothing about the remote.  But my cleaning woman likes to raise the shade when she cleans so she has more light in the room so finally I decided to replace the remote.  I had to take it to a business that is a dealer for the manufacturer of the drape.  They had to send the remote to the manufacturer.  I thought no more about it.  This week the decorator who works for the business called to see if I had received the remote "yet".  I replied I had not.  She was disturbed because she said I should have received it.  I was not disturbed at all and replied, "Oh, it will come."  In a few minutes the phone rang again and it was the decorator telling me she checked on the remote and it was on the UPS truck and would be delivered to my house that day.  I thanked her but I really didn't care.  Late that afternoon the remote was delivered.  I put it on my desk unopened.  It is still there unopened.  The cleaning lady is due in Monday so that will motivate me to open it.

Then I was reminded of a scripture ... let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.  James 1

I realized a change in me ... I was experiencing the godly fruit of "patience".

I have never been patient before.  I always wanted things done immediately.  What an interesting fruit.

I don't know how all this happened.  I certainly wasn't aware of seeking patience.  It happened without my recognizing it was happening.

It is like so little really matters.  Humans think things are so important but most of the time these things are not important.

There is something very bad about trying to be so perfect and precise in things of this world.  And just living simply is good.

I have a wheelchair that sits in my kitchen.  Each morning I make coffee and fix toast and put this on a tray and put the tray in the seat of the wheelchair and roll the wheelchair with the food to the room where I have my computer.  This morning I was thanking God that I have the wheelchair that enables me to do this.  Also the handles on the wheelchair make walking so much easier for me.  (I am partially handicapped due to an accident and operation.)

There was a time I would not have allowed an "ugly" wheelchair to be in my kitchen this way.  I would have purchased a nice looking tea tray that rolls and used that.  Actually when I began thinking of transporting coffee pot to theater room as I do now, I looked on internet for a tea tray to use and remembered the wheelchair and decided to try that and it works perfectly.

The cabinets in my kitchen have basic foods such as crackers, peanut butter jar, chips, jelly, honey on top of cabinet.  I did this after I was injured because it was so much easier for me to get my food.  But now that I am "well" I still leave it there.  It is just so much more convenient.

There is something good about not having to be so perfect in these worldly things that don't matter.  It is the difference between knowing what matters and what doesn't matter.

I suspect a lot of this has to do with the fruit of patience ... not having to have things "perfect" in this world.

When you see a fruit of the spirit working all of a sudden in you, I think you can be sure that somehow you are following the Spirit of God and that is such a great comfort and also a great reward.

let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.  James 1

godliness with contentment is great gain.  I Tim. 6

Another thing that I do daily ... I read the writings on our blog (internet) several times a day.  I read the writings even before I get out of bed most mornings.  (I have an e-reader which allows me to bring in internet) Then later in the morning, I read the writings again.  Then usually I read them again later on in day.  And sometimes I read them before going to bed.  Somehow I think this is providing a base for me that is good.  It may even be contributing to the surfacing of some of the fruits of the Spirit in me as I am describing in this writing. I just know something "good" is happening to me by re-reading the writings we publish.

It may be connected to the following:

Psalm 1 ... Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.  2But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 

For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Isaiah 55

Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;  Heb. 3

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 26For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, Heb. 10  

 These daily exhortations provide a work in us against the evil that precedes the day of the Lord, for in the end times Paul says evil men and seducers will wax worse and worse.  (II Tim. 3)


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Edify and encourage

Pam Padgett ... teacher

In Numbers 13, God told Moses to send men to spy out the land which God was giving to the children of Israel.  Moses sent the men, but when they returned, most of them brought a report that discouraged the congregation, saying that the inhabitants of the land were too strong for them.  But Caleb and Joshua gave a report to encourage the children of Israel to trust in God to bring them into the land, and to not fear the inhabitants of the land:

Numbers 14:6 And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes: 7 And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. 8 If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. 9 Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not.

I was reminded me of how God has setup the church, the body of Christ, in such a way that we edify each other.   We encourage and build each other in the faith as we share what God has done in our lives or what He has shown us, everyone bringing forth what they have been given to edify the body.   By simply sharing with one another as led by the Holy Spirit, we are strengthened to trust in God and not in ourselves as we live on this earth, trusting Him to help us in each situation we face.  The flesh wants to trust in itself, and the devil brings thoughts to cause us to doubt that God will help us.   But we overcome by God alone. 

1 Corinthians 14:26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
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Saturday, May 26, 2012

Plowing in hope

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

When I answer the people who inquire of me, I answer them "in hope" .

I explained it this way.

If I was out in field in hot sun plowing a field and putting seed into ground, I wouldn't be saying, "I know nothing will come up."  I would plow in hope.

My hope is that those who are of God reading this will be built up in the faith toward God.... that they will make adjustments to their lives based on scripture ... that they will build a good, daily base for their lives ... that they will rejoice in the Spirit of God, for God gives us HIS spirit to lead us and to guide us and to teach us while we live on this present earth ... that they understand that our sins (past, present, future) are paid for by the blood of Jesus and not by our own works...that they will set forth to be servants of God and not servants of their own desires (Not my will but Thy will be done.) ... and that they will learn to be content with such things as they have for godliness with contentment is great gain!

I always hope each person will be helped by these exhortations.  For I know these exhortations are by the Spirit of God and I know it was God who directed us to go onto internet and do these writings.

So I plow in hope when I do these writings and when I publish the writings of other apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers, and members of the body of Christ.

For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. I Cor. 9

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(Comments by Pam Padgett ... teacher)

This reminds me of Isaiah 55:10-11 

For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.


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First support your family

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

An evangelist wrote me yesterday.  He works at secular job and was concerned because he doesn't get to go out to people as much as he would like to do because he has to support himself at secular job.

My reply:

I'm sure you know apostle Paul worked at secular job.  He was tent-maker.  He continued to support himself all his life and did the ministry work as he could.
Just do what you can ... but first always support your family ...
We always want to do more ... and often this is how ministers get into trouble.  Some of this is driven by our own flesh and not of God.
God by HIS Spirit will reach HIS chosen.
It is by the mercy of God that we are allowed to do what we do ... But we also read this ...Romans 1 ... Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

In other words, God even preaches by HIS creation ... The sky is visible everywhere ... all men (who have natural vision) see the sky.  It testifies of God.  And the Spirit of God is not limited.  I was born again by God's Spirit speaking directly to me.  The apostle Paul was born again by God's spirit Speaking directly to Him.

So you see, it is not because we get to go to them that they are saved.  God has mercy on us and uses us from time to time but they can be saved without hearing from any man.

So relax ... do as well as you can in your secular job and when you can go out.

Love, in Christ,

Joan
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Appropriate dress

Pam Padgett ... teacher

In Matthew 22 Jesus told a parable about a king who made a wedding for his son, but none of the invited guests came.  So the king told his servants to go and get as many as possible from the highways to furnish the wedding.  But one that came was not dressed in a wedding garment ...

Matthew 22:11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: 12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

It was a privilege to have been given the opportunity to attend the wedding of the king's son.  Yet this man did not dress himself appropriately. 

We have been called by God, the creator of all things.  How much more should we prepare ourselves as we look for that which is the come, trying to keep ourselves (our garments) unspotted by the world.  But it takes continual attention and humbleness before God to deal with cares and evil of this world, so that we might live in peace, without spot, and blameless. 

2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
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Contentment

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

The apostle Paul said:  I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.  Phil. 4:11

content:  not wanting more ... not wanting something different

Godliness with contentment is great gain.  I Tim. 6:6

Is there any material thing you desire?  If so, you are not content.

Everything we can see with our natural eye will be destroyed.  The things that are not seen are eternal.

So instead of seeking material things, we should follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. I Tim. 6

 5Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.  6But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.  11But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. I Tim. 6

And Jesus said:  19Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Mt. 6
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Friday, May 25, 2012

How faith grows

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Yesterday I received email from an evangelist/pastor asking me to pray that "their" faith would grow.

I replied:  "You don't need prayer ... What you need for faith to grow is this:  Pay attention to the word given by the Spirit of God.  Think on that Word.  Apply that Word to your life, doing that which is appropriate in accordance to that Word.  Then after you have done that Word, tell others about that Word and how you applied it to your life."

This is the way faith grows.

It is very simple.  Here is an example of faith.

Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. 4So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him;   Gen. 12

First, God spoke to Abraham.  First you must have a Word from God before you can act on it.  You can't have faith by deciding you want to do something and heading out to do it.  First God must tell you to do it.(faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17)

Second, you must believe that which is spoken to you by God.  (But try the spirits, whether they are of God.  I Jn. 4  Some words are not of the Spirit of God but are from "another" spirit.)

Third, after you come to believe that Word, you act on that word.  (Faith without works is dead. I Jn. 2)

Fourth, after hearing and doing share that word with others and what you did with that word.  That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. Philemon v. 6
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Help from God

Cathy Varner ... Member of Body of Christ

A couple months ago I had the following dream.

I had been driving along on a road in a truck.  Then somehow I found myself in some shallow water with grass, a marshy type area.  I was out of the truck and I think it was lying on its side.  I wasn't sure how to, or if I could get out.  Then I said or thought...... I can do all things through Christ which (or who) strengtheneth me. 
I somehow got myself and the truck out, for in the next scene I was in the truck and on the road again.
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Frightening and dangerous situation

Pam Padgett ... teacher

This week,  I was reminded of how God helped me in a frightening and dangerous situation several years ago.

It had been extremely cold for several days, and the lake at the park near my home was frozen over.  I took my dog for a walk around the lake.When this dog saw birds flying overhead, it would often run after them.  On this particular day, the dog was running after some birds, but then the birds started flying over the lake, with the dog following and ignoring my calls for it to come back to shore.  When about 60 feet from shore, the ice broke under the dog and it fell into the freezing water.  The dog tried to pull itself up on the ice again and again, but the ice kept breaking under it.  Finally the dog was too cold and tired to try any more.  I had been calling for help, but no one was around to hear me.

Then I started calling out to God.  Suddenly, I found myself throwing my coat aside and running across the ice as quickly as possible.  This was not a conscious decision I made ... I just found myself doing it as soon as I called out to God.  When I got within about 10 feet of the dog, the ice broke under me, and I fell into the water.  But the water was shallow enough in that area that I could touch the bottom of the lake, and get enough stability to break through the ice with my arms, making my way to the dog.  After pulling the dog onto some solid ice, she ran back to shore, and I was also able to get back to shore.  We were both cold, but fine.

Later I was telling Linda Moore about this.  When I told her how, when the ice broke under me, it was such a relief to be able to touch the bottom of the lake with my feet since I had no idea how deep the water was, she replied "But God knew".

Deception

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Joshua 9


And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai, 4They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up; 5And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy. 6And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us. 

7And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you? 

8And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye? 9And they said unto him, From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the LORD thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt, 10And all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which was at Ashtaroth. 11Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, Take victuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We are your servants: therefore now make ye a league with us.  12This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and it is mouldy: 13And these bottles of wine, which we filled, were new; and, behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey. 14And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD.  

The men that came to Joshua were deceivers.

Often the Spirit that is in us is troubled when someone says or does something.  It might look or sound all right but we are just a little troubled.  This is a very good "stop" sign for us.  No matter how we try to reason the trouble feeling away, we should STOP and pray and wait for God to show us truth.

These Old Testament writings are examples for us.

One of the main signs of the end times will be deception ... and it will especially be deception coming from men and women who say, Jesus is Lord.

Jesus warned us about this.

3And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
4And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5For many shall come in my name, saying, I
(Jesus) am Christ; and shall deceive many. Mt. 24


And Paul warned us ...

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,  4Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.  II Tim. 3

They might say the right things ... they may look right ... But the Holy Spirit in us knows the truth.  And if we are troubled, we must learn to STOP and pray and wait on God to show us truth about them and about the issue at hand.

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Thursday, May 24, 2012

Anger of the Lord

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served not him. 

7And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the children of Ammon. 8And that year they vexed and oppressed the children of Israel: eighteen years, all the children of Israel that were on the other side Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead.  9Moreover the children of Ammon passed over Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that Israel was sore distressed.
 

10And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, saying, We have sinned against thee, both because we have forsaken our God, and also served Baalim. 

And the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Did not I deliver you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines? 12The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand. 13Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more. 14Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation. Judges 10

As I read this OT passage, I cried out to God ... "Is there any place in the New Testament where God was so angry against "His" people that He would not deliver them ...?"  And immediately I was reminded of Ananias and Sapphira ...

But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?  4Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. 5And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. 6And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. 7And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 8And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. 9Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. 10Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. 11And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. Acts 5

New Testament ... then I was reminded of the various scriptures where God turned them over to a reprobate mind ... a mind without the judgment of God ... a mind without the Holy Spirit ...

Romans 1:28 ...And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

And Paul spoke of a reprobate mind in II Cor. 13:5...Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.  Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?



Then I was reminded of this:

He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. Rev. 3

So in New Testament church can it be that God would get so angry that a person could be removed, cut off, by God?

Yes.
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God reaches whom HE will

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

(Response to email from an evangelist ...)

I am continually comforted by the following understanding from the Spirit of God.

God reaches whom HE will ... No matter where that person lives, if God wishes to reach that person HE will.  That person can be totally surrounded by the worship of idols and God can still reach that person ... We have an example of this in our church group.  Pam Padgett was raised Catholic, totally surrounded by idols.  She is the elect of God, the chosen of God and God reached her by HIS Spirit which is not limited by flesh.  (She left the Catholic Church.)

So I believe each person who is the elect will be reached by God's spirit one way or another.
We as humans get on fire to do more and more and more ... and this certainly is the mercy of God to give us something to do on this earth!  And it is our greatest delight to do it.

When God authors a work, I have found there is a way is there to do that work.  But sometimes we, as human, start a work that may even be authored by God and then our flesh sees more and more and more and if we fail to control our flesh and submit everything to God and establish what is really of Him, we can end up in big financial trouble in the ministry and then some ministers begin begging humans to pay for "their" works which seem like good works.

But Jesus warned:
 
21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Mt. 7

If that "wonderful work" is authored by your own flesh, it is not really a wonderful work even if it seems a wonderful work.

If you have to beg for money from others to pay for that work, that work is not of God.

Joan Boney
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Information about ministry

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

A minister wrote me this week, requesting following:

"We would like more information about this ministry.We are  so excited with your programs you do there. As we went through your website, we feel at home.We recognize that it is the blessings of the holy spirit that we can carry on the journey towards you.We are Christian fellowship group not affiliated with any ministry or church.Therefore we would like to be acquainted and well informed of your ministry."

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Reply:

When Jesus walked on the earth, He did not seem to have any plans for "His" ministry.  He just followed God and did the will of God.  That is what we try to do.  Each of us daily just try to follow God. 
Individually we read the Bible, pay attention to any word spoken by the Holy Spirit, forgive those who trespass against us, put aside our flesh and try all through the day to keep our egos and fleshly ideas under control... committing everything second by second to God. 

And we try to set up what we do according to the Bible by the Spirit of God. 

For example:  in the Bible, we see the apostle Paul refer to himself as an "apostle/teacher". It is proper for a New Testament minister to call himself/herself apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher.  But no human in Bible refers to himself as "Reverend".   And Jesus said not to call yourselves "Father", "Rabbi" (Mt. 23) so we wouldn't do that. 

First, we must be truly called by God and set into the ministry offices and taught by God to operate in those offices(No man taught me what an apostle/prophet does.  I turned to God and asked HIM and HE taught me, often by taking me to scripture for specific examples.  See blog: 5-21-12)

We have no plans.  We just take care of daily business on this present earth.  And when we feel God shows us something we do it.  And when we have a "good idea" about a work, we try to calm down and commit that "idea" to God ... and sometimes God gives us wisdom to show us that "good idea" was not of HIM so we refrain from doing it. 

An example:  A person in charge of a Christian school wrote me a few days ago asking me to send any books that we have so their students could read these books.  I replied that we don't have any books.  All we have are the things which we print on internet and they are welcome to make copies of these and distribute them to people.

The next day, I awoke thinking of how easy it would be for me to write a book.  I even pictured the title of a book.  I knew how to contact various publishers.  I could even picture such a book being on tables in Christian book stores.


But is it the will of God to do that?  

Let me tell you how God settled this for me. 

A few hours after praying, I was reminded of one word, "copyright" ... 

Published books have "copyrights", prohibiting people from copying the book.

But I would want people to be free to copy and distribute materials.

God showed me HIS will by this one word on the issue ... "copyright" ...  (Do not write book)

I laughed.

Something can seem right ... it can seem a "good thing" ... and still not be the will of God
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Early on, God taught me the following concepts:

Jesus said:  I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. Jn. 5:30

Paul said:
And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 2For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 4And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. I Cor. 2
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When I speak or write, it is not all planned out in advance.  I might have one scripture to begin with or one concept and I just begin speaking that one thing or writing that one thing and follow the Spirit of God and HE takes me where HE will.  (I'm no more than the microphone on a recorder.  The microphone just transmits what it hears from the speaker ... in my case I just try to transmit what I hear the Spirit of God say to my mind.)

I just follow the daily routine of meditating the the scriptures, cleaning myself up by the word of God, living the instructions from the Spirit of God by the scriptures.

Much as you feed information into a computer so it can respond when you are ready, I keep myself ready by doing the above things so when God is ready for me to speak or write, it is all there and I simply speak or write as led by the Spirit of God ... just exactly the way Jesus spoke what HE heard from God and the way Paul spoke what he heard from God.  They are my examples.
This I have done for past 34 years.
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We write exhortations by the Spirit of God daily.  We are so happy this is available to us and it is available to you and to others everywhere to help us as the Day of the Lord approaches.  (Heb. 10)

Joan
Heb. 10 ...And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is (we "assemble together" each time we share exhortation such as these writings ... ); but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 26For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
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Go toward the light

Renee Bonfield ... evangelist

Dream - Oct. 28, 1985:   I was walking on a path all alone and very sad. Then I looked up and saw the most beautiful light behind the sun. I began to follow the light. I was calling out "Jesus I love you. Please save me." 
Then I seemed to be taken up in the Spirit toward the light. As I was ascending I met Joan Boney. We both remarked about the beautiful light, and we were both following it.
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(Comments by Joan Boney)

If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. I Jn. 1:7 

Other scriptures about following "light" ...

let us walk in the light of the LORD. (the WORD)  Isaiah 2:5  

And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. 23And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. 24And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. 25And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. 26And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. 

27And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.  Rev. 21 

THE WORD spoken by the Spirit of God is the light ...  We who are of God, walk in the light of the Word we are given by the Spirit of God, making changes to our lives as needed by that word ... being continually recreated in the image of God by the Word as we appropriately apply the Word...continuing in that Word.  We do this as long as we walk on this earth ... 

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How do you eat the flesh of Jesus and drink HIS blood?

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Jesus said ... I am that bread of life. 49Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 51I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. 52The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?

Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 55For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. Jn. 6

Jesus, THE WORD, is the bread that came down from heaven.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2The same was in the beginning with God.  Jn. 1

... And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,  Jn. 1:14

How do we eat His flesh and drink His blood that we may have life?

When we eat and drink the Word given by God, that Word dwells in us and we have life and light of God.  We go in the way of the Word given us rather than going in the way of the world or in the way of other people.

We eat His flesh and drink His blood when we take in His Word and do His Word in the various issues pertaining to this life.

We judge ourselves by His Word, making changes to our lives as needed.

We are conformed to the image of Christ each time to do that word given to us by the Spirit of God.  It is not a one time being born again but rather we are "born again" each time we do the Word of God, making changes according to the Word of God.

And all things are measured and examined by the Word of God.  

Thus eating His flesh and drinking His blood has to do with taking the Word of God into ourselves.  This is the Lord's supper... eating and drinking the Word of God.

But be warned also ...he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.  30For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.  I Cor. 11

3But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 14But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.  II Tim. 3

The Lord's supper is not the eating of crackers nor drinking of grape juice.

The Lord's supper is the eating and drinking of the Word of God.
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Blindness

Pam Padgett ... teacher

While praying about the blindness I have had regarding my plans to spend time with my sister’s family when they come here on vacation ( including her daughter who is openly committing fornication), one of the things I felt led to do was to review how I’ve been troubled by my sister over the years.  She and I were very close as children, sharing a room and doing most things together.  I’ve continued to see us as “close”, which has greatly affected my ability to see her in truth, and its important to see truth. 
 
My sister is two years older than me, and a year after I was born again, she went to college.  She became involved in heavy drinking, drugs, and fornication and told me about these things.  I knew these things were wrong, and talked with her about this trying to get her to stop, but she continued in them.   When I went to college, she wanted me to be involved in the same circles and activities she was involved in but, of course, I couldn’t go along with them.  After she married a few years later, she wasn’t involved in as overtly evil things (that I know of), but still said and did things that troubled me.  Now she is approving her daughter’s fornication, telling me about it, and wanting me to approve this daughter by being around her. 
 
Over the years she has tried to get me to go in the ways she is going, or at least approve these ways.  There have been many struggles as I have tried to not go in those ways.    
 
Yet, in all of this, I continued to think of us as being “close”.  Now I see we aren’t close at all.   She is going in the ways of the devil, and I’m trying to go in the ways of God.  Totally opposite ways.  This imaginary closeness has tied me to her in subtle ways, drawing me toward her and making me want to overlook the evil, if at all possible. But God doesn’t overlook the evil.   And I believe He is shining a light on the evil, allowing me to see truth and not be deceived. 
 
I died to being a servant of sin and was born again by the Spirit of God more than 40 years ago.   At that time, I died to the ways my sister goes.   In truth, we have not been close since then.  The ties to her should have been cut then. I think they are being cut now.    
 
2 Corinthians 6: 14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
 
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
 
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As I was writing this and about having died to being a servant of sin when born again, I reviewed how I was first born again …
 
I was 14 years old and had made plans for how I would live my life.  My plan was to finish high school and leave my parents’ home … then live as wildly as possible and do anything and everything I wanted to do, regardless of how awful these things were.  Then, when I was 30 years old (at which time I thought I would be too old to care about having fun), I would start doing what was “good”.  I thought this would allow me to go to heaven when I died. 
 
Then a boy in my class was suddenly killed in a motorcycle accident.  One day he was sitting in class with us; the next day he was dead.  This was the first time I realized that there was no guarantee that I would live another day (even another minute).  And my eyes were opened to see clearly that I deserved to go to hell, that there was nothing I could do about it, and that God was my only hope.  There was a large Bible sitting on a table which we dusted weekly, but never read.  When I opened it a card was there which had the following on it (along with some other scriptures):
 
Matt. 11: 28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
 
I told God that I didn’t know how to come to Him, and didn’t know if He would even save someone as awful as I was, but that He was my only hope.  Nothing else mattered, not even my plans to live as wildly as possible.  Whatever He wanted me to do, I would try to do it.  My life was entirely in His hands.  I just begged Him to somehow save me.  And He did. 
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