Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet
We, who are of God, hear by the Holy Spirit a word from God. That Word from God may provide comfort for us in time of trouble ... it may provide instruction for us in difficulty ... It always shows us the way of God.
The Word of God does not join us to the world.
The Word of God separates us from the world and divides us from the people and activities of the world.
Mt. 10 ... Jesus says ... 34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.
37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Lk. 12:50 ... Jesus says ... 51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: 52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. 53 The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
We have a time that we are joined with people of the world in their thinking and in their activities. Then we hear a word from God by HIS Spirit. We are no longer as we had been. (We are a new creature.) II Cor. 5 ... 17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. The Word changes us into the image of God and Christ. We no longer think as we once did. We no longer find we can participate as we once did with the world in their activity. They can't understand what we are doing for they have not heard that word we have heard. God has not spoken to them. So they continue in their own way. But we no longer go in that way with them for we are a "new creature". They think it strange that we no longer do what they do as we once did. They try to understand but it confounds them. It makes no sense to them. They may even ask us the reason for the change. We try to explain and they can't understand. We have been separated to God by God.
There is much help for us in the epistle written by the apostle Peter. (Read I Peter)
I Peter 1 ... 1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
We, who are separated by the WORD, are the elect of God according to the will of God ... and God gives us grace in the separation from this world ... and peace.
you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation
...6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
It is not unusual for people around us to become angry with us when we hear a word from God and when we set about to do that word ...
I was once in the midst of a legal trial. A young woman sued me. I was a new Christian at the time and I heard, "Don't testify." My lawyer said we would win the trial if I testified. I prayed a second time and heard, "Don't testify." The man I was dating at the time became angry with me and said, "You're not doing this girl any good by not testifying." I replied, "I'm not trying to do her any good. I heard what I believe to be instruction from God and I'm just trying to following that instruction." Of course Bob didn't believe me and thought me religiously crazy. (Bob was not born again though he worked for a publisher of Christian books and probably thought himself a Christian.) Then the woman who worked for me became angry with me for she was testifying and felt I was leaving all the burden on her since I wouldn't testify. (During the weeks before the court trial, I repeatedly prayed and each time I prayed I heard "Don't testify." I did not testify and I won the case in court. Everyone who was angry with me for not testifying forgot their anger after the verdict and it was over.)
Peter explains that it is not unusual to go through these things when we hear a word from God and try to do that word. I Peter 4 ... 12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
Each of us who belong to God go through these trials when we hear a word from God and try to do that word. This is what is meant by taking up "our cross" and following HIM.
I Peter 1 ... 13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ (THE WORD); 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
I Peter 2 ... 5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
We, who accept the Word of God and rejoice in the Word God gives us, offer up ourselves in sacrifice each time we obey that Word given us by God by HIS Spirit. We end up suffering in the flesh because of that Word. We refuse to allow the flesh to reign over that Word we have received and therefore our obedience to that Word crucifies the flesh and the flesh suffers because of the Word.
I Peter 2:7 ... 7 Unto you therefore which believe HE (THE WORD) is precious:
Because we see The Word as meaning more than anything or anyone else on this earth, we do The Word and therefore we hold The Word as precious to us.
(This also separates us from the others. But because of this we also know the others will never be able to rejoice in the world as much as they once did since we aren't there to rejoice with them so it also separates them a little from their worldly joys.)
I Peter 2 ... 9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
I Peter 2 ... 19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
I Peter 3 ... 13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? 14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 15But sanctify the Lord God (the Word) in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. 17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. 18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
I Peter 4 ... 1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 3For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: 4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:
I Peter 4 ... 12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. 16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. 17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
I Peter 5 ... 8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
10But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.