Psa. 111:10

The fear of the LORD (THE WORD) is the beginning of wisdom:

One God ...

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

I Cor. 8 ... there is none other God but one. 5For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) 6But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. 
7Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge

Before I was born again, I would hear people speak of various religions and it made no difference at all to me.  I assumed there were many ways to worship God.

Then in August, 1975, God revealed HIMSELF to me.   I was taken into heaven in the night and merged into the body of Jesus, made one with the Word, God and Holy Spirit as witnesses.  Then a second time that same thing happened again in night exactly as before.

After these things, everything was different.  Now there was only one God, creator of heaven and earth with Jesus Christ, The Word, son of God.

This is all I cared about ...

And I know the following is true:  Jesus says ... I (THE WORD) am the way,  the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Jn. 14:6

So when they speak of "god" and pray to Mohammed ... or when they speak of the God of Abraham, and by-pass Jesus ... I know their religion is in vain for I know the only way to God is through Jesus Christ.

And I know God leads us by HIS Spirit, by the Holy Spirit which HE has given us to live in us ... All who belong to God are led by the Spirit of God.  Without HIS Spirit they are not of God.  Romans 8 ... 14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. ... 

Romans 8:9 ... Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.


And I know if we have the Spirit of God we will hate the sins of this world.

And I know the Bible is the inspired Word of God ... I Tim. 3 ... 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. 


And I know we must not mishandle the Word of God and those who are led by the Spirit of God will not mishandle the Word of God and they will continually correct themselves by the scriptures and by the Spirit of God.

So there is a vast difference between the thinking of those who are born again and have the Spirit of God, and those who join a church group without being born again.  Though such say they are Christians and even say Jesus is Lord, by their works they show Jesus is not their Lord for they do things opposite to Bible, mostly of their own religious thinking, not led by the Spirit.

We know them by their fruits ...

Several years ago, I was given a dream.  There was a war going on and it was hard to tell which people were on our side because everyone dressed alike. 

They say, "Jesus is Lord".  They identify themselves as being Christian.  But we who have the Spirit of God recognize they do not have the Spirit of God.  They are doing works by their own minds.

In this dream, God gave us a password so we could recognize those who were in our "army."

Those without the Spirit of God, imitate those with the Spirit of God.  They look like sheep.  They talk like sheep.  But they are always a little off ... and when we speak, they really do not understand us though often they pretend to understand us.  Always they are revealed to us in time.


Jude speaks of them in the following scripture.

Jude ... 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) in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. 19These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. 

But we who have the Spirit know others who have the Spirit ... and our fellowship is with God the Father ... and because of this fellowship with God, we can speak and share with others who have the Spirit.

And this fellowship with God is not an occasional thing.  We know by HIM we live and move and have our being.  And we continually "fellowship" with God.

Psa. 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: 
He leadeth me beside the still waters. 

3 He restoreth my soul: 
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: 
Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
 and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Examine yourself: Is the Spirit of God in you?

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

One way for us to know if the Spirit of God is in us is this:   

Do we suffer as a result of the Word of God?  Do we suffer when we see people going in a way opposite to the Word?  Do we suffer when we hear humans speak things opposite to the word?

Romans 8 ... The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him.

Lot suffered as he lived in a city where there was much wickedness.  Lot saw their wicked acts.  Lot heard their wicked speaking.

And what is wicked?  It is any thing opposite to the way of God.

Recently I was speaking with a woman and she began to praise a group of people.  I had no idea who those people were she was praising.  I was grieved over her words.  I was reminded of the following:   

Psa. 49 ... 6They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; 7None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: 8(For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:) 9That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption. 10For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others. 11Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.  12Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish. 

13This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.  14Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.  
 
15But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.   

16Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased; 17For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him. 18Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.  19He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.  20Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.


I turn on the TV and I end up suffering, grieving over what I see and hear for it is opposite to what people should be doing ... opposite to the godly way of Christ.

Like Lot, I suffer when I see and hear them.

II Peter 2 ... 7And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)


When we have the Holy Spirit in us, we will be vexed with the unrighteous deeds of people of this world.  We will groan over what we see and what we hear on TV.  We will quickly mute the sound so we do not have to hear what they say.  We will turn the picture off so we do not have to see them do what they do.

If we go through this suffering, we can believe the Holy Spirit is in us.

II Cor. 2 ... for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.


We suffer with HIM when we grieve over those sins of this world.

Before I was born again I did not grieve over the sins of this world.  I enjoyed the sins of this world.

But after I was born again, I grieved over the sins of this world.  And I still do such.

This is evidence of the Spirit of God being in us when we grieve over sins.

Psa. 1:1-3 ... Scripture: Shared by body of Christ

Psalm 1:1-3 ... 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. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And 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.

Fears are opportunity to turn to God

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Psa. 2:12 ... Blessed are all they that put their trust in HIM.

Recently the husband of one of the women from the Bridge Center died.  I sent this woman a note telling her that when she is afraid, if she will call on God as she would call on her best friend, I believe she will be helped.

If she can do this, she will also probably be saved.

==========

There are many fears and when they come often the temptation is to make provision for ourselves in the area of the fear.

But when we stop and take that fear to God, we have opportunity to set our trust in God in that fear.

And Psalm 2:12 says when we do this, we are blessed.

John 8:12 ... Scripture: Shared by body of Christ

John 8:12 ... Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I (THE WORD) am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Exhortation:  Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet


Recently God gave me a dream as follows:  (This concerns a Catholic woman who is not born again but is very religious and very self righteousness.)  She came to my house and began cutting her hair.  Hair fell everywhere.  She had dyed her hair red (phony).

This is "light" to me concerning this woman.  She will be a problem to me and drop her clever, worldly sayings and her way all over the place and I will be left to clean it all up.  Her her dyed hair is "phony", untrue.

I believe God is showing me she will not change and likely I will have to take strong action where she is concerned.

Light from God is a good thing.  We who are of God must walk in truth and not in deception.  Our action must reflect truth.  Light drives away darkness.  If we keep silent and allow the darkness to speak at will, then the darkness reigns.  When we speak up darkness flees.

The Word comes to us through dreams, through scripture, through examples called to our mind.

We rejoice in the word and make decisions based on the Word which is light to show us the way ...

The whole world lies in wickedness ... but we overcome by the Spirit of God

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

I Jn. 5 ,,, 18We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. 19And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. 20And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. 21Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.


I Jn. 4 ... 4Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 5They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. 6We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.


As this world grows greater in open wickedness, we see the sign of the end ... Jesus said we know the season when we see the leaves on the trees as they begin to appear.  Wickedness is the same.  Open wickedness is like those leaves on the trees which show us the season.  As the wickedness increases, the judgment draws nearer.

But we are of God.  And God has not appointed us to wrath.  I Thess. 5  So God will do something to help us.

I try not to look on their wickedness.  But I am very aware of how it is flaunted.  Even the commercials on TV are more brazen.  That is because wickedness today is strongly approved in society.  And it will increase.   This is to be expected.  It will not get better but worse according to the apostle Paul.  This scripture is inspired by God as are all scriptures and show us what to expect.

II Tim. 3 ... 12Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 

When we try to follow God and do things as we believe God has shown us we will be persecuted by those who follow men. They mock us, make fun of us, avoid us.  This shows us we are of God and therefore Peter tells us to rejoice because of this persecution.  (I Peter 4)   It is hard because most of the persecution will come from those who call themselves Christians but they are not born of the Spirit of God.  Therefore they cannot understand things of God.  We should not allow ourselves to be discouraged over this.  In the Bible, we are told to expect such to happen when we try to follow God.  (I Peter 4)


13But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 

In Paul's day, there would many problems in the early church.  We know this because Paul said he knew when he was gone men in the church would rise up and present perversions.  (Acts 20)  John said in his day there were already many antichrist among the church groups.  (I Jn. 2)

Paul said it would get worse and in the latter days, "perilious times" would come for they would look godly, have an appearance of godliness but they would not be godly.  II Tim. 3

And Paul tell us what to do.

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. 


We speak truth to those who are going opposite to the word of God when God gives us a mouth to speak.

Then we work out our own salvation as Paul said to do.  Phil. 2   There are some people I avoid.  There are others that I pray for God to remove from me for they are like thorns and thistles, puncturing me with their words.  In each case, these people identify themselves as being Christians.

But in all things, we know the Spirit in us is greater than the Spirit that is in them and that Spirit will keep us in the ways of God.  Though we suffer because of their words and their way, we rejoice because of the Spirit given us by God.

1 Tim. 6:6-8 ... Scripture: Shared by body of Christ

1 Timothy 6:6-8 ... But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

Abraham believed what God had promised, HE was able to perform

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Romans 4 ... 17(As it is written,  I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.  
18Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. 
19And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 
21And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
23Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

Abraham believed that which God said to him though it seemed to be an impossible thing.  But Abraham was strong in faith toward God and what God had said.  Abraham believed God was able to do that which HE said he would do.  And that belief in God's word was counted to Abraham for righteousness.

God has said HE will be our guide, even unto death ... Psa. 48:14

This is so important to me and comforting to me.  God will guide us as long as HE leaves us on this earth.  We will know what to do even to the last moment because God will guide us.

Psalm 48:14 ... Scripture: Shared by body of Christ

Psalm 48:14 ... He will be our guide even unto death.

Abraham the father of both the circumcised and the uncircumcised

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Abraham believed God before he was circumcised.  We are told in Romans 4 this was so Abraham would be "father" of both the circumcised and the uncircumcised.

Romans 4 ... Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
9Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. 
10How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? 

Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

11And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:


Abraham was circumcised by faith in God after he believed.

Baptism is a sign of faith in God after we believe for both Jews and Gentiles.  We believe, then we are baptized.  (Some are baptized before they believe but those born again first believe and then are baptized.  And baptism is a sign that they believe.

When I was baptized the second time (after I was born again), when the minister lowered me into the water, the Holy Spirit said to me, "This is like being buried with Christ."  This is like dying to this world and sin and being buried with Christ.

When I came out of the water, the Holy Spirit said to me, "This is like being raised with Christ."... raised with Christ to walk a newness of life, serving God instead of the previous life of serving sin.

Therefore, "I am crucified with Christ ..." as Paul said ... dead that I might serve God.

I don't recall ever thinking of God before I was born again.  That is, when I set about to do something, I never considered God.  I never thought of what God would want me to do.  I was a servant to my own flesh.

After I was born of the Spirit of God it became opposite.  Now I considered what God wanted me to do in the issue of this life.  I no longer had to serve sin.  Now I could serve God for I was dead and now my life was in Christ.

Romans 4 ... 12And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. 13For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 

Our faith in is HIM, in God, not in ourselves.  Our faith is in what God did.  Our faith is in what Jesus did.  And our faith is in those promises of God to HIS children as cited in the Bible.  And our faith is in God by those things HE has spoken directly to us through the Holy Spirit pertaining to the specific issues of this present life.

God speaks.  We believe.  This is the essence of faith.

Hebrews 13:5 ... Scripture: Shared by body of Christ

Hebrews 13:5 ... Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

God causes us to look at situations in truth

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

There are times our flesh would deceive us ... but God opens our eyes to truth not wanting us to deceive ourselves.

This happened to me this week.

The woman named Betsy (Catholic but not born again) was supposed to come to my house to watch football game.  She didn't show up.  Finally I noticed my answerphone blinking.  It was Betsy but I accidentally erased the message when I tried to hear it.  About 8:30 that night, I decided I'd better check to see what she said.  I called her.  The phone rang three times.  Then it was like someone connected and then hung up.

Saturday Betsy called me.  I told her about this.  She said she did pick up phone and she answered phone but there was just a bunch of static so she hung up.

I was thinking it was not Betsy's fault.

Then the Holy Spirit said to me:  "She could have called you back."

This is truth.

God does not want us to deceive ourselves about worldly people.  The Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit, wants us to live in truth and HE will show us truth that we can live in truth and not be deceived by our own thinking or by their words.

Live in truth.  It is the way of God.  Keep truth in your mind as you go forward.

... "wise as serpents, harmless as doves."  Mt 10

Believing Jews and Believing Gentiles one in Christ

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Concerning the Jews who believe in Jesus Christ and the Gentiles who believe in Jesus Christ, Paul says:

Romans 15 ... 5Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:  6That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

7Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God. 8Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: 9And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. 10And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. 11And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. 12And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and HE that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in HIM shall the Gentiles trust. 



When you think about it, the Jews have to trust in Jesus as the promised Messiah ... and the Gentiles have to trust in Jesus as the savior.  It's not really different, is it.  Jews and Gentiles are coming from different directions but end up trusting in the same thing, in Jesus Christ, and when that happens they are of one mind through the Holy Spirit given them by God.

 Romans 15 ... 13Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. 

 Hope is defined in dictionary as follows:  grounds for believing that something good will happen

At different periods of time and different circumstances we have various "hope" ... I thought about my "hope" at this point.  What do I need while I continue on this present earth at the age of 77?

The following scripture defines what I need and is also a promise upon which my hope can be grounded.

Psa. 48:14 ... For this God is our God for ever and ever: HE will be our guide even unto death. 


When I think on this, certainly I am filled with joy and peace and have a basis for hope until the end of my time on this earth.

If I know God is guiding me, what else could I need?

Romans 15 ... Paul says ...14And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. 



Paul says ...15Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God, 16That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost. 

1 John 4:4 ... Scripture: Shared by body of Christ

1 John 4:4 ... Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

God provides

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

When I had a house built in Clovis (USA), I asked the builder to put two rectangular windows in a storage room upstairs. He said he couldn't do that.  I thought no more about it.

One day my mother and I were riding in car on the street overlooking the place where I wanted the windows.  Two rectangular windows had been cut out exactly where I wanted them and exactly the size and shape that I wanted.

I went back to the house and talked with the contractor.  I said, "I see you decided you could put those windows upstairs where I wanted them."  Contractor replied:  "No ... last night there was a strong wind and it blew those openings in the framework in that area."  I said, "Then I guess you can put windows there."  He said, "I guess."  He did put them there. They were exactly what I wanted.

Prov. 3:5-6 ... Scripture: Shared by body of Christ

Proverbs 3:5-6 ... Trust in the Lord (the Word) with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Must not allow their weak faith to pull us away from our faith in God

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Even in our own little church group, people rise up from time to time showing their weak faith.

We must not allow their weak faith to pull us away from our faith in God.

Psa. 23:1 ... The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.


God revealed Jesus, THE WORD, to me many years ago.  I believed the Word.  I followed the Word.  When we believe the Word and follow the Word, then the Lord (the Word) is our shepherd ...

HE watches over me and provides for me and moves me to another pasture when I need to move. 

HE also keeps me in the pasture and keeps me from trying to stray to another pasture.  HE pulls me back and keeps me in the place where he put me.

HE watches over me day and night and cares for me day and night.

2 Corin. 3:18 ... Scripture: Shared by body of Christ

2 Corinthians 3:18 ... But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Exhortation:  Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

We are continually changed into the image of Christ as we live on this earth.

As we face various problems and turn to God and do what God says, we are changed into the image of Christ.

Each time we turn to God and do things HIS way, we are recreated again into the image of Christ.

Make no friendship with angry person

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Prov. 22 ... 24Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: 25Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul. 


angry:  person having strong feeling of or showing annoyance, displeasure, or hostility

furious:  full of anger or violent/intense fury

I have an acquaintance who is always angry over something.  Her way of life is anger.  Proverb 22 warns me not to make friendship with her.  I certainly know she is not a real friend to me though I am a friend to her and would help her if possible.  However it is rarely possible to help her.  No one but God can help her.  I prefer avoiding her.  Certainly I pray for God to help me to handle the situation with her properly for to confront her with her sin would do nothing but add more fuel to the fire that already rages in her.  So any confrontation must be done properly and not be of myself.  Nevertheless I am very aware of the danger that comes from hearing her anger.

Recently she was complaining about some lawn work she was having done at her house.  We have the same worker in this area.  After her words, I was aware I was examining the work this man did for me.  Before that I was not aware of the problem.  I certainly do not want her anger to affect my dealing with this worker so I began praying.

I can see how Prov. 22:25 shows us a danger of the angry person's words causing us to "learn their ways and be a snare".

I know God will make a way for me to escape.

I also realize that I would like to escape permanently so I would not have problems in future.

But each time we have a problem we see the following exercised:

I Jn. 4:4 ... 4Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

If God has us speak, the Holy Spirit overcomes.  If God has us keep silent, the Holy Spirit overcome.

We have opportunity to trust God to overcome in the midst of the problem.  Therefore we can rejoice even in the problem.  (I Peter 4)

Isaiah 41:10 ... Scripture: Shared by body of Christ

Isaiah 41:10 ... Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

God can reach us

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Sometimes it is difficult for us to see how God can make us understand what we should do.  I know when I am confronted with a problem and pray there is often a moment of anxiousness ... will I understand what God is saying to me about this matter?  We can't see how God can reach us.  But when God wants to reach us, HE is able to do so in a way that we can understand.

Peter had a visions and he did not know what that vision meant.  But God is going to bring about some circumstances where HE will fully reveal to Peter what HE is saying.

Acts 10 ...  Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: 10And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, 11And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: 12Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 13And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. 14But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. 
15And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. 16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven. 

17Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate, 18And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.
19While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. 20Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.

21Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come? 

22And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee. 23Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him. 24And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends. 25And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. 26But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man. 27And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together. 28And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. 29Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me? 

30And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, 31And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God. 32Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee. 33Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.

34Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. 36The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) 37That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; 38How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. 39And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: 40Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; 41Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. 42And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. 43To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
 
44While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 46For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. 

Then answered Peter, 47Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? 48And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

Peter did not understand the vision when it first came to him.  But as events unfolded it was very clear to him that God was showing him salvation had come to the unclean Gentiles as well as to the chosen Jews and the Jews could no longer forbid things of God to the Gentiles.  God had made the Gentiles equal with the Jews.  By Jesus Christ forgiveness of sins had now come to the Gentiles.

Philippians 3:13-14 ... Scripture: Shared by body of Christ

Philippians 3:13-14 ... Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Exhortation:  Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

We set aside those memories of the past ... deliberately we stop "wallowing" in the hurts of the past.  We make ourselves focus on things now and we go forward in things of God.

Often when I recall the past and what I "missed" ... I realize it just doesn't matter.  All that matters is I am born again now.  And I go forward in my mind in that concept.

Prayer of faith

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Mk:11 ...  Have faith in God.  23For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 24Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. 


The prayer of faith is based on that which God has put into our heart.

By our mind we can pray many things but faith comes when God shows us something.  We pray by faith when we know we are praying according to the will of God.

Jesus always pleased the Father.  Jesus always did what the Father showed Him to do.  Jesus was connected to God at all times and knew the will of God. We are exactly the same. We are connected to God by HIS Spirit which dwells in us.  The Holy Spirit searches the heart of God and reveals to us the will of God.  And we pray according to the will of God when we are shown the will of God.  And that works always.

So first we hear from God by HIS Spirit ... This shows us the will of God in the matter at hand.  And then we have faith based on that which God has shown us.

This is the prayer of faith.

Luke 10:17-20 ... Scripture: Shared by body of Christ

Luke 10:17-20 ... And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. 18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. 19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Those who confess Jesus Christ is come in the flesh do not deny HIM

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Those who confess Jesus Christ is come in the flesh show this confession by respect for the Word of God.  Such people respect the scripture.  They do the Word of God when in private.  They live the Word of God by both speaking it truthfully and by doing it truthfully.  Thereby they confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh.

Those who say, "Jesus is Lord", while they live opposite to the Word of God show by their works a denial that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh and they are "antichrist" opposite to Christ.

Today there are many antichrists in the churches.

Even in John's time, he said there were "many" antichrists ... I Jn. 2:18 ... Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

Antichrist ... opposite to Christ ... opposite to the Word of God and the Spirit of God which is Jesus.

Open your eyes and ears.  Watch what they do.  Listen to what they say.  Don't just accept them because they come saying Jesus is Lord.  Many will come saying that in the end times.  (Mt. 24:3-5)

Rather than live in truth, some want to give them the benefit of the doubt.

What they say and what they do are the truth.

Psalm 18:30 ... Scripture: Shared by body of Christ

Psalm 18:30 ... As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

What would Jesus do?

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

A few years ago, there was a church movement which tried to get their followers to think  "What would Jesus do?" in making decisions.

This is a very fleshly approach to what we do when we follow the Spirit of God for the Spirit of God searches the heart of God to reveal the will of God to us as we go through life.

What Jesus would do is this:  Jesus always heard the will of God, the Father, and did that.

We do exactly the same thing as we follow the Spirit of God.

But we do this by the Spirit and not by the flesh.  We are not trying to figure out what Jesus would do by our fleshly reasonings.  Rather we know what Jesus would have done because we know Jesus heard from God and followed God.  We do exactly the same thing today by the Spirit.

4 things the Spirit of God in us does:

- guides us into all truth (Jn. 14:26)
- brings to our mind that which Jesus says to us (Jn. 14:26)
- teaches us all things (Jn. 16:13)
- shows us things to come  (Jn. 16:13)

How does the Spirit of God show us these things ... mostly by bringing thoughts to our mind, thereby showing us the will of God in the matter.

Not every thought we have is from God.  The devil also sends thoughts.  However, most of the time we can tell the difference between the voice of the Holy Spirit and the thoughts sent by the devil.  But if in doubt, we can try the spirit to see if it is from God.

Please read:  How to try the spirits to see if they are from God

Work of an apostle in the NT church today

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

After Jesus arose, HE gave to the church apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers for the work of the ministry.  
Eph. 4  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:


When Jesus walked on the earth HE called to himself 12 apostles, one was Judas.  After the resurrection, Peter said they must replace Judas.  Acts 1 ... 21Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection. 23And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. 24And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, 25That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. 26And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.


Notice the requirement for apostle was one who had "companied" with Peter and the other apostles from the time Jesus walked on the earth in the flesh.  And the lot fell on Matthias and he took the place of Judas and became one of the 12 apostles.

Today so many churches say there are no longer apostles in the NT Church.  They say Paul was the last apostle.  But this is not even reasonable.  Matthias was the last apostle numbered with the original apostles.  Paul was persecuting the Christians at the time Matthias was appointed apostle.

So where does Paul really fit?

Paul was not the last apostle.  Paul is an example of an apostle appointed after Jesus arose.

Eph. 4 ... When HE ascended up on high, HE led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.  ...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:


What do apostles do in the NT church today?

Apostles are anointed by God by the Holy Spirit to deal with doctrine and to cause the church, which is those of us who are born again, to eliminate false doctrines set up by men and to establish the true doctrine of the Bible.  (We have to eliminate these false doctrines from our own hearts for they have been planted there by men in the church groups and by devils who bring wrong thoughts to our minds.)

What you have just seen me speak is an example of the work of an apostle.  The false doctrine is there are no apostles in the church today.  Eph. 4 shows that Jesus gave apostles to the church after HE was resurrected so there are apostles today.  False doctrine is that Paul was the last apostle and there are no more apostles today.  This is not what the Bible teaches.  The Bible teaches that after Jesus arose, HE gave to the church "apostles" for the work of the ministry.  (Eph. 4)

What I have just written shows the work of apostle in the NT church.  Apostles work to uproot perverse doctrine and to establish truth in the church.  (We must not think of "the church" as being a group in one city where we live.  Often these people are not the church, not being born of the Spirit and living in false doctrine without change.  The church are those individuals throughout the entire world who are born again, having the Spirit of God.  We are scattered everywhere.)

Another example of apostle's work ...  A question arose after God showed the Gentiles were appointed for salvation.

"What are we going to do about the Gentiles?  Do we require that the Gentiles be circumcised as the Jews are circumcised?"

Acts 15 shows the working of apostles in this decision.  They met at Jerusalem to settle this matter.

6And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. 

7And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. 8And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; 9And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. 

12Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. 

13And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: 14Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. 15And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, 16After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: 17That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. 18Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. 

James gives the ruling on the matter ... Acts 15  ... 19Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: 20But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. 

The ruling was the Gentiles did not need to be circumcised.

In the book of Galations, Paul went into detail concerning not requiring the Gentiles to be circumcised.

Today, if the question arose, as an apostle, I would refer everyone to these passages and say the Gentiles today do not need to be circumcised and should anyone try this they make faith in Jesus of no effect.  This is what Paul told us in Gal. 5 ... 2Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. 3For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. 


==========

Apostles cling to scripture by the Holy Spirit and make rulings concerning doctrine.

Another example:  In today's churches divorce and remarriage after divorce is widely approved.

But Jesus said ... Mt. 5:32 ... But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

So these church approve remarriage for a divorced woman if her husband commits adultery against her.

But this is not what Jesus said.  And Paul made it clear to the NT Church in I Cor. 7 and again in Romans 7.

I Cor. 7 ... (concerning women)  10And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: 11But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband:


Paul says this is a "commandment of the Lord" for the women in the church.

Also Paul explains:

I Cor. 7 ... 39The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

Back to what Jesus said in Mt. 5:32 ... But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. 

The man who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.

The churches today have long removed the doctrine of Christ concerning the subject of divorce/remarriage.

As an apostle, appointed by God, I state what Jesus and Paul said in the Bible.  If the divorced woman remarries she commits adultery.  She can depart from her husband but then is to remain unmarried.  And the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.  And the husband who divorces a faithful wife will be the cause of her adultery should she remarry.

What you have seen me do here is an example of an apostle, appointed by God.  I have dealt with the question and presented the scripture and ruled on the issue by scripture by the Holy Spirit.

===============

Who says I am an apostle?

Paul said he was an apostle not of man but by God.  Gal. 1 ...  1Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)

Some thought Paul could not be an apostle because Paul did not walk with the other apostles when Jesus was on the earth in the flesh.  We know that some questioned Paul's being an apostle because of passages in the Bible such as this:  I Cor. 9 ... Paul says ... 2If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.

I was born again in 1975.  Shortly after this, in the night as I slept, I was transported into heaven where I knew I was with God, with Jesus, with the Holy Spirit though I saw no images.  At that time, I was merged into the body of Jesus, made one with Jesus.  A few nights after this the exact same thing happened again.  I was transported into heaven in the night as I slept.  I was merged into the body of Jesus, made one with the word of God.  God and the Holy Spirit witnessed.  I saw no images.

After this, by prophecy, Jesus said to me:  I have called you and set you in the body of Christ as an apostle ...

I cried out, "Apostle ... what's an apostle?"  (Several times it had been confirmed to me that I was a prophet and I didn't doubt this, but this was the first time I'd heard of "apostle".)

I told no one about this at the time.  But I did ask Don Gelino, a Bible teacher at the church I was attending, "What does an apostle do?  Who are the apostles in our church group."  Don could not give an answer to either question although our church group did profess that there were apostles & prophets in the church.  We just didn't seem to know any apostles nor did we know what they did in the church.

So I turned to God for HIM to teach me what an apostle does in the church and the first scripture God took me to is Acts 15 where James said:  19Wherefore my sentence is, 

And as God continued teaching me about the work of apostles in the church, I saw that much of this work had to do with making judgments concerning church doctrine and holding to scripture by the Holy Spirit in the church, uprooting incorrect doctrine that creeps into the church doctrine.  

This is what I do continually.  It is not a matter of establishing new rulings, new doctrine, rather it is upholding the original doctrines presented in the Bible by Jesus, Peter, Paul and others.  Many of these have been replaced by another doctrine in today's church groups.

A current creeping perversion in today's church groups has to do with homosexuals.  Some church groups are even taught that being homosexual is like being born black.  There is no sin in being born black.  And they teach there is no sin in being homosexual.

Certainly there in no sin in being black (although black & white and all men and women are born with sin nature).

But homosexuals are people given over by God to a reprobate mind, a mind without God's judgment.  Romans 1.  They do unnatural acts and these acts are described in Romans 1 as God given them over to "vile affections".

Romans 1 ... 26For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28And 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; 

Can a homosexual be saved?  YES.  Just as a fornicator and adulterer and a thief and a drunkard and an idolater can be saved, so can a homosexual be saved by the will of God.

I Cor. 6 ... 9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate (homosexuals), nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

But if the homosexual is born again, he will not continue in homosexual acts.  If the adulterer and fornicator is born again, he (or she) will not continue in those sins.  And all these sins will be viewed as "shame" and the person should not even speak of such shameful sins of his (her) past for it is a great shame.

After we are born again, we are changed by God through the Holy Spirit into new creatures and we are constantly recreated into the image of Christ as we deal with various problems of this present life in a godly way by the information given us by the Spirit of God who now dwells in us.

It is the work of apostle in the church to deal with these doctrines and set them according to Bible by the Holy Spirit.

Paul said the following before departing:  Acts 20 ...  26Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. 27For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. 28Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31Therefore watch,


So how can we straighten all this out in the church today?

If we are thinking of such things as Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, Assembly of God and other church groups who have perverted doctrine, we will not be able to straighten this out.

Most in these groups are not born again.  This is truly the end time church where they fall away from scripture and set up another gospel though they still say "Jesus is Lord."  They cast aside many scriptures to please themselves and to approve church goers.  This is the falling away which allows the spirit of antichrist to reign as god in the various churches.  Paul said that would happen.  II Thess. 2

We deal with those who are born again, individuals all over the world who read such writings as I write here.  In the church, which is us, we can straighten out perverse doctrine.  This is what I do all the time for this is what I am appointed by God to do as an apostle/prophet.

But you will not be able to straighten out perverse doctrine in the groups you attend.  But you do not have to be perverse.  And when you see the truth you will not be able to sit among the perverse for it will be an abomination to you.  You will have to come out and separate to God with people who demonstrate a willingness to give up perverse doctrine.  And we may not be in the same town as we follow God.  In our church group, none are in the same town.  We are scattered around the USA.  But we are connected by the Holy Spirit and we can even communicate with each other due to modern ways of communication though we are hundreds of miles apart.  We are connected by the Spirit when we belong to God and follow truth of the Spirit.



 

Born again ... raised from the dead

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Romans 1 ... Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:


When I read this, I thought of how we who are born again were once with the dead of this world and we were raised from the dead by the power of God and because we have been raised from the dead of this present world, we are declared to be the children of God, born again by God.

And when we were born again, God gave us all the equipment we would need to function in an alien world, The Holy Spirit.

By the Holy Spirit we see things differently than those of this world.  We see the people of the world do things and we hear them say things and we just shake our heads, bewildered at what we see them do and hear them say.  That is because we have the Holy Spirit which shows us the way of God and they act by the desires of their own flesh and their own fleshly wisdom which is of this world.  Truly there is a great gulf between us and like the previous men of God in the Bible we feel we do not belong here with them ... we are strangers and pilgrims on this earth.  If I were in Iraq, God forbid, ... I would not understand what they say nor would I understand what they do.  Neither do I understand humans in my path in Lubbock, TX, today.  I hear them say things and I see them do things that make no sense to me and I just walk on past them.  That is all because of having the Spirit of God.

Romans 8 ... 6For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.   7Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 

When God causes us to be born again, HE gives us HIS Spirit and because of that we are equipped for success in God and in HIS ways as we live on this earth.

It is almost like, how could we fail ...

The Spirit of God:
  - teaches us all things
  - reminds us of all Jesus has said to us
  - guides us into all truth
  - shows us things to come
(Jn. 14:26 & Jn. 16:13)

What else do we need to succeed in God?

We have all truth by the Holy Spirit ... we see things through the eyes of God ... we do not see as the world sees in a vain, futile way... the world goes in circles, repeating failures, operating by their own mind... we hear from God by HIS Spirit and thereby know what to do.

The Holy Spirit equips us to succeed in God during the time we live on this earth.

Jn. 3 ... Jesus said ... Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God... Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.  8The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.


After we are born again, we can see ... We can see things of God ... We can see the way to go while we live on this earth ... We are totally different from this world ... As we sit with people of this world, mostly we see them going a completely different way than us.  And when we speak they cannot understand us.

Recently I was speaking with a Catholic woman who is not born again.  She became all stary eyed and began telling how another woman got to go to the Underwood reception.  I had no idea what she was talking about except I could tell this was something she viewed as a big deal.  She continued to speak in awe of the "Underwoods".  I said to this woman, "I have no idea who that is."  Dead silence from her for a few minutes.  I followed this by another story.  "Once when I was in Detroit I heard of an auditorium called "Cobo" hall.  I wondered what a cobo is.  I thought it might be some animal native to that area of USA.  I asked taxi driver what a cobo was.  He replied it was a person."

Psa. 49 ... 11Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.  12Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish. 
13This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.  14Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.  
 
15But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.   

16Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased; 17For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him. 18Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.  19He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.  20Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish. 


Being born again raises us from the dead of the world and from their dead way on this earth.

Psalm 145:18-19 ... Scripture: Shared by body of Christ

Psalm 145:18-19 ... The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. 19 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.

Jesus was angry

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

There were times Jesus was angry with the religious people.

Mk. 3 ... 1And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand. 2And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him. 
3And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth.  4And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? 
But they held their peace. 
5And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.  
6And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him. 
7But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples

======== 

Jn. 2 ...  13And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, 14And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: 15And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; 16And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise. 17And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.

===========


When we are led by the Holy Spirit, different things than we expect may happen as we cross paths with the rebellious.

Psa. 18 ... 25With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright; 26With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.

To the froward, we who are of God will appear to be froward.  God and things of God will appear froward to them.  The criminal sees that other person as being wrong.  It is like he looks at us and is it as if he is looking into a mirror seeing himself but he accuses us.

The froward are those who are stubbornly willful, unruly.

The Holy Spirit teaches us all things and guides us into all truth

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

I had been having a problem at night when I would go to bed.  It was as if I just couldn't stay in bed.  I would do much better when I got up and got into chair in bedroom and fell asleep in chair then later when I awoke and was in the chair move into bed.  I had no idea what was causing that problem.

Then one day, I realized the medicines I was taking at night were likely fighting each other.  I changed and began taking one medicine a few hours before bedtime and the other when I went to bed.  Since that time I've been able to sleep in bed.

I believed at the time it was God by HIS Spirit who showed me the reason for the problem.

The Holy Spirit teaches us all things.  The Holy Spirit guides us into all truth.

Jn. 14:26 ...  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things

Jn. 16:13 ... Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth:



We are "kept by the Spirit of God" as we walk on this earth.  We don't know what is causing our problem.  Then the Spirit of God will remind us of something and the problem is illuminated and we know the cause of the problem so we can adjust our way on this earth.

Romans 8:28-29 ... Scripture: Shared by body of Christ

Romans 8:28-29  ... And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Can a homosexual or lesbian be saved?

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Can a homosexual (or lesbian) be saved?

Can an adulterer or fornicator be saved?

God groups homosexual, adulterer, fornicator together in the following scripture along with idolaters, abusers of themselves with mankind (those who deceive others for personal gain as worldly people often do), thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, extortioners.

I Cor. 6 ...  Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 
11And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

(To define "effeminate" ... NIV translates the KJV word "effeminate" as follows:  "men who have sex with men... I Cor. 6:10-11  NIV ... Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God?  Do not be deceived:  Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were.  But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of God.)


The homosexual, adulterer, fornicator, drunkard will no longer continue in his sin if he is born again.  When we are born again, we are changed immediately.  And we are given the Spirit of God at that time.  We are not the same person as we were before.  Now things of God are real to us and we care about that which God says.  We are born again, a new creature.  And the past sins are viewed in shame and sorrow by us.  We do not want to speak of those sins, nor should we.  The shame prohibits us from speaking. 

When we have the Spirit of God in us we will no longer participate in those past sins which are against God.

Some homosexuals do not realize it is sin.  By the Bible we know it is sin.

Romans 1 ... 18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19Because 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:  21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.  26For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28And 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;

(Notice in the next verse God begins to speak of fornicators ...)

 29Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:  32Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. 


A man might be born a "eunuch" , unable to perform sexually, and that is not a sin.  Jesus speaks of eunuch's in Mt. 19:12 ...12For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men (castrated by men) : and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake.   (Paul did not marry although Paul had a right to marry.) Jesus said:  All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.   Paul speaks of this in I Cor. 7 advising against marriage but Paul also says you would have to be called of God not to marry and this is what Jesus said in Mt. 19. 

But a homosexual is different from a eunuch.  The homosexual is attracted to other men in a sexual attraction  as the lesbian is attracted to other women.  They both perform perversions of the sexual act.  That is not natural.  It is against nature.  (Romans 1)  Paul explained they were turned over by God to this "vile affection".  They live in that way of life just as the fornicators and adulterers lives in the sins of their sexual acts driven by their own fleshly desires without restraint of God.  Then for some, God reveals HIMSELF and when this happens they no longer continue in that way.  (God has mercy on whom HE will have mercy ... Romans 9)


So if God chooses to reveal Himself to a homosexual or lesbian, they will be born again, a new creature.  They will be different, no longer pursuing unnatural acts.  God will give that person a new mind made in the image of Christ.

I was acquainted with a woman who was a lesbian.  She told the following remarkable story.  She went into hospital for operation.  The night before the operation a nurse came to her room.  The nurse said:  "After this operation you are going to be different."  The lesbian replied, "Yes, I know that."  (The lesbian had a medical background and was a pharmacist.)  The nurse said, "No ... I mean you are going to be changed.  You will find you will no longer be able to stand those women you once loved."  After the operation, Peggy said she was totally changed.  She put away her lesbian lovers.  She sought out church people for friends.  She had been almost totally crazy before and now she had a sound mind.  Sounds like a born again situation.  (When Peggy realized she had been changed, she tried to find the nurse who had carried her the message that she would be changed after the operation.  There was no such nurse at that hospital.) 

I once thought you could not recover from a reprobate mind.  And of our own selves we might not be able to do so.  But God can recover us as HE wills just as HE turned the person over as HE willed.  For a season a person might be turned over to a mind without the judgment of God but God can certainly give that person judgment when HE chooses to do so.

Nevertheless, those who continue in acts of homosexuality, or fornication, or adultery, or extortion, or drunkeness will not inherit the kingdom of God.  (I Cor. 6) Paul says do not be deceived into thinking otherwise.  (I Cor. 6)  ... and those who are changed by God will no longer continue in these sins.

When you just know it's the wrong thing to do .... getting control

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

I usually live a pretty simple life, not doing very many things.  But recently a couple of problems cropped up dealing with trees at my house.  Before I knew it I was trying to perfect everything around me.  I really knew I was out of control when I awoke one morning with idea that I would go outside and cut the branches that I was able to cut!  (definitely not a good idea since I'm 77 years old and partially crippled from result of an accident and an operation)

We can't make things perfect!  We just need to settle down and recognize we are going wrong way and stop and resettle everything, usually through prayer.  When I did this, it all became very simple.  I have one tree that is hitting house and causing noise.  The yard man is working on that tree.  I called him and told him let's just deal with that one tree and leave the other trees (which are not causing problem) alone.  And I had already made an appointment with a company that sprays trees to have them come look at some problem trees and to get back on their spray program for evergreens.  So basically everything that is really needed to be done is set up.  I don't need to do any more.  I can't make everything perfect.

Hebrews 11:24-26 ... Scripture: Shared by body of Christ

Hebrews 11:24-26 ... 24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; 25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

It won't be like that in heaven

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Recently I was reading a secular novel.  A man was dying and another man was trying to say "blessings" over the dying man to help him to move into heaven.  The man saying the "blessings" said:  "Help him to pass over and be with his relatives."  They picture the next life as being like this life.  But when we know the Bible, we have clues about the next life.

First, we will not be marrying and giving in marriage as in this life.  The Sadducees came to Jesus to try to trick him on this subject.  The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection therefore they tried to prove their point of no resurrection by the following reasoning.   

Mt. 22 ... 23The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, 24Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. 25Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother: 26Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.  27And last of all the woman died also. 28Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her. 29Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 30For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. 

31But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, 32I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

So to think you will meet up with a dead husband or a dead wife in heaven and live together as you live on this earth is incorrect reasoning.  That will not happen according to the Bible.

Also Isaiah said we won't even remember this present heaven and this present earth.  It won't even come to mind.  Isa. 65 ... 17For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.

If we get to heaven, which would mean belonging to God and holding our faith in God to the end, I'm certain we won't be looking for people we knew on this earth for some of those people might not be in heaven and that would grieve us.  There will be no sorrow in heaven, no tears.  So it makes sense to me that they would not even come to mind in that new heaven and new earth spoken of by Isaiah.

Some people, even Christians, have such strange, fleshly ideas about heaven.  Dead people do not watch over us who are living.  Dead people are asleep when they die. (Jn. 11 & I Thess. 4)  Death in Bible is likened unto "sleep".  Time passes very quickly when we are asleep.  We fall asleep and when we awaken we are often shocked to see that several hours have passed.

Concerning death, Paul says ... I Thess. 4 ... 13But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep (dead), that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 

14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent (precede) them which are asleep (them which are dead).  16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18Wherefore comfort one another with these words.   

Everything we think we know must be measured by what the Bible says about the issue.  

My cousin, RB, died.  His wife said she could picture RB and her brother-in-law in heaven having a beer and watching the Cowboys.  (I was shocked that a Baptist could say such.)   I thought it sounded more like being in hell than heaven if you had to be watching the Cowboy's football team because they are so bad.

Of course at this point, my dead cousin is not in heaven nor in hell ... He, like all dead people, is asleep and awaits the judgment like all dead people.

II Cor. 5:10 ... For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Heb. 9:27 ... it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment

We will be judged by God and by how God views what we do on this present earth.  When we die, it is all over.  We cannot accumulate any further credit, whether good or evil.

Therefore while we live, it is important to do that which God views as good for that is what we will be judged by for all eternity.  And only by having the Holy Spirit can we know the will of God in the issues of this present life.  (I Cor. 2)

Here is a picture from the Bible of the judgment seat of Christ ...

Mt. 7 ... Jesus says ... 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.


We have to be sure the "work" we do is authored by God by HIS Spirit.  Man thinks all manner of things to be "good".  But what does God think?  For in the end this is all that matters.



  

Jeremiah 9:23-24 ... Scripture: Shared by body of Christ

Jeremiah 9:23-24 ... Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: 24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.

Transform yourself by the renewing of your mind

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Recently I was reading a secular book and the author lashed out against the Holy Spirit in a mocking way.

Of course I hated that and was very sorry that author did what he did.  He writes mystery/suspense books and I very much enjoy his books.

Later I returned to the scriptures and "renewed my mind" by looking directly at the black and white words written in Bible on subject of the Holy Spirit.

Certainly I know these scriptures.  But even as well as I know these concepts, I felt it would be beneficial to renew my mind.

This is what Paul told us to do.

Romans 12:2 ... And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Also this author writes heavily concerning revenge ...

I went back and read Romans 12 ... 19Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 20Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. 

We want to "avenge" ourselves when they misjudge us ... We want to set them straight, to put them down ... But this is not the way of God but is the way of our own flesh.  (To get this concept of God rooted in me, I need to spend more time thinking of Romans 12:19 and thinking of examples of this in my life.)

Also their wrong judgment shows them to not have the Holy Spirit for if they had the Holy Spirit they would not judge us wrongly.

Peter says to "rejoice" when this happens. (I Peter 4)  Seems strange to think of rejoicing.  Usually I grieve.  But Peter explains that we rejoice because it shows clearly that we have the Spirit of God in us, we are born again.  That certainly is something to rejoice about.

When you want to get the word of God deeper into you

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Recently Pam Padgett wrote something and I wanted to get this concept deeper into me.

Pam wrote the following

2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

One kind of persecution we sometimes face is to be wrongly judged by those of the world when we have spoken or done as led by the Holy Spirit.

(published 8:9-14 under "meditation examples")

====================

When you read something and want to get that Word into you in a deep way, return to that word and focus on that word and think of examples in your own life of that concept happening.  This causes the word to take root.

When we do something we believe to be of God and other people rise against us judging us to have done something "silly" or "improper", this is persecution for the Word's sake.  They rise up again the Word itself.  They rise up against the wisdom of God for the wisdom of God conflicts from their own wisdom which they greatly cherish.

I sat and thought of examples of this happening in my own life ... (Published 8-10-14 / When we suffer for the Word's sake)

=================

If you read something and consider it to be very helpful and you keep on reading without stopping to make the concept take root you might have it stolen away from you by the devil.

Mk. 4 ... Jesus said ... 3Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: 4And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. 5And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: 6But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. 7And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. 8And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.

Jesus explained ...  14The sower soweth the word. 15And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. 16And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.  18And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, 19And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.  20And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred. 

So we need to stop and do that which gives that concept "root" ...  see  writing 8-10-14 / When we suffer for the Word's sake)  In this example, I show how to give the word "root" so it will not be taken away by Satan.

By the Word of God they perished and by the Word of God everything was held in place

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Some mockers think nothing will be done by God concerning the destruction of the world.  They will even say, nothing has been done all these years.  Peter says such people are willingly ignorant and Peter explains.

II Peter 3 ...3Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 
5For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:  6Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.


By the word of God they perished when God sent the rain for 40 days and 40 nights.

By the same Word of God the heaven and earth are kept in place ... until the end when they will be destroyed by fire.

II Peter 3 ... 8But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 
10But 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.
11Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12Looking 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?  
13Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 14Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.


The Word of God destroys ... and the Word of God holds things in place temporarily.

The Word of God destroyed Pharaoh in the Red Sea as he foolishly went into the opening made in the sea after the children of Israel, thinking if the children of Israel could go through the Red Sea so could he and his men.  The Word destroyed Pharaoh.  The Word saved the children of Israel.  The Red Sea was used by God as the instrument for destruction and for salvation but it was all done by the same Word of God.