Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet
There is a woman in our church group who was having trouble because her way was so negative. I couldn't stand being around her because you never knew when she would drop a bomb with her mouth and then I would have to live with her discouraging words about the issue. I saw this as similar to the evil report brought back when God sent them to search out the land. Numbers 13 & 14 This report discouraged the people and made them feel weak and defeated. And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land. 27And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. 28Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there. 29The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan. 30And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.
31But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. 32And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel.
...And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. 2And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron:
I began working with this woman, showing her various things she had said which were discouraging to others. For example: She said when she went to pick up food at this certain restaurant, then never had fish so she quit going. I had gone to this restaurant many times and after she said that negative word I found before I got there I always wondered if they would have fish. Her words troubled me needlessly on this matter. And I found about 15 times straight when I went there they did have fish but I was always troubled before I got there because of her report. God opened her understanding so she could know what I was saying so she could change.
This needless troubling by saying negative things or by needlessly telling others what you don't like can hurt others. There is no reason to do this. And it can bring harm.
This woman learned remarkably fast after I gave her these negative examples. (but I know God opened her understanding on this) She really began not speaking negative things and then she was a delight to me when I was with her. It made all the difference.
Later I was reading Joshua 1 and the following stood out to me ... Three tribes were given an inheritance on "this side" of Jordan but they had to go with the other tribes and defeat the enemy before they could return and enjoy their inheritance.
Joshua 1:14-15 but ye shall pass before your brethren armed, all the mighty men of valour, and help them; 15Until the LORD have given your brethren rest, as he hath given you, and they also have possessed the land which the LORD your God giveth them: then ye shall return unto the land of your possession, and enjoy it, which Moses the LORD’S servant gave you on this side Jordan toward the sunrising.
Negative reports can really harm other people needlessly. Saying what we "don't like" is often just a type of pride in us. We don't have to do this and shouldn't do this unless we are warning the other person in a godly way.
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And when we see a brother or sister in Christ who is negative and has not entered into the possession which is rightfully theirs through Christ, we who have entered in help them to enter in. Then we can "return" and enjoy our "possession" which God gave us.
We help others to enter in.
Heb. 4 ... Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. 3For we which have believed do enter into rest,
... There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
... Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief
We overcome through God, through that idea or word given us by God. Being negative is failure on our part. The church is to overcome not fail. And we overcome by taking the idea or matter to God in prayer and by focusing on that given to us by the Holy Spirit.