Monday, August 31, 2015

Acts 15 ... Reading through the Bible

1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. 2When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. 

3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren. 

4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them. 

5But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. 
 

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. 

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. 21For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
 

22Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: 

23And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: 24Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: 25It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.  

28For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 29That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. 

30So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle: 31Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.  

32And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them. 

33And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles. 34Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still. 35Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
 

36And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas,  Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. 37And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. 38But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. 

39And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; 40And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. 41And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

Standing on the Word of God series: Example 18

From Pam Padgett

 I worked for many years as a software developer at FedEx.  At one point I was assigned to lead a project that some of the vice presidents of the company were very interested in knowing about.  A small group of us were assigned to work on the project.  However, we were also given other assignments and told the other assignments were higher priority.  As a result, almost nothing could be done on the project.  I told both my manager and his boss that we could not make much progress on this project as long as we had these other, higher-priority, assignments.  They both said they understood and that we should just do the best that we could. 

Periodically a vice president would ask about the status of this project.  My manager, his boss, and another person would put together a presentation about the project for the vice president.  Since I was leading the project, they would ask me about its progress while they prepared the presentation and I would tell them the truth ... that little or no real progress had been made and remind them why this was the case. 

But when I would later see the presentation, it sounded as though the project was progressing with no problems!  I spoke with my manager and the people who prepared the presentation to make sure they understood that very little was being done on the project and pointed out how the presentation did not reflect this.   They said they understood, but it was obvious they didn't want to hear what I said and they went ahead with their presentations. 

I was very disturbed by all of this and continually prayed asking God to help me.  A scripture that strongly stood out to me and guided me during this time was:

1 John 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

I must walk in light, in truth, even in secular matters such as this.  Those of the world walk in darkness, easily lying if they think it will bring them some advantage.  But I am no longer of the world.  Because I belong to God I am to walk in light (truth) not in darkness (lies).  I can't fellowship with God and people of God if I walk in darkness. 

Problems with this project went on for several months.  It was obvious that my manager, his boss, and the woman preparing the presentations hated it when I told the truth about the status of this project.  Multiple times thoughts came that it seemed to do no good to continue telling these people the real status of this project.  Should I just keep quiet and let them report whatever they wanted?  Did it really matter?  

But as I continued to think on what we're told in 1John 1:5-7 and a clung to this, I was strengthened that it does matter that I walk in what is true.  And I was able to continue presenting the truth about this project even though doing this was ignored and despised by some. 

Then one day we were told that a vice president was coming to meet with the project team.  Again, a misleading presentation was prepared.  I was very concerned that when the presentation was given at this meeting I might burst out screaming in anger, and prayed asking God whether I should even go to the meeting.  When I believed I was led to attend the meeting, I prayed asking God to please keep me under control to speak what HE wanted me to speak and nothing more.

When the meeting began the woman who had prepared the latest presentation handed a copy to the vice president.  He immediately set it aside and said he didn't want to see a presentation ... he wanted to hear from those on the project team.  I opened my mouth and was surprised at how calmly and clearly words came forth telling the real status of the project.  My manager and the woman who had prepared the presentation could say nothing to refute what I said and just looked down as the others assigned to do the work were nodding their heads in agreement with what I said.  The vice president immediately took action to hire more people to do the other assignments so we could work on this project.

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Please share with us the examples you have where you stood on a scripture to fight fear or persecution so we can print your example on the blog to encourage others.  

Email: joanboney@sbcglobal.net

Judges 6 ... Viewing the works of God through scripture

1 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord:and the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years. 

2 And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel:and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds. 

3 And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them; 4 And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass. 5 For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number:and they entered into the land to destroy it. 6 And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the Lord.
 


7 And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord because of the Midianites, 8 That the Lord sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage; 9 And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drave them out from before you, and gave you their land; 10 And I said unto you, I am the Lord your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell:but ye have not obeyed my voice.
 

11 And there came an angel of the Lord, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite:and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites. 

12 And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him (to Gideon), and said unto him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour. 

13 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? but now the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites. 

14 And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites:have not I sent thee? 

15 And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house. 

16 And the Lord said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man. 

17 And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me. 18 Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my present, and set it before thee. And he said, I will tarry until thou come again.
 

19 And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour:the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, and presented it. 

20 And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so.
 


21 Then the angel of the Lord put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the Lord departed out of his sight. 

22 And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the Lord, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord God! for because I have seen an angel of the Lord face to face. 23 And the Lord said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not:thou shalt not die. 24 Then Gideon built an altar there unto the Lord, and called it Jehovahshalom:unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
 

25 And it came to pass the same night, that the Lord said unto him, Take thy father's young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it:26 And build an altar unto the Lord thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down. 

27 Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the Lord had said unto him:and so it was, because he feared his father's household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night.

28 And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built. 

29 And they said one to another, Who hath done this thing? And when they enquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash hath done this thing. 

30 Then the men of the city said unto Joash, Bring out thy son, that he may die:because he hath cast down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the grove that was by it. 

31 And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead for Baal? will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning:if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar. 

32 Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown down his altar.
 

33 Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east were gathered together, and went over, and pitched in the valley of Jezreel. 

34 But the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered after him. 35 And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh; who also was gathered after him:and he sent messengers unto Asher, and unto Zebulun, and unto Naphtali; and they came up to meet them.
 

36 And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said, 37 Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said. 38 And it was so:for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water. 

39 And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once:let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew. 40 And God did so that night:for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.

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Comments by Joan Boney  

In 1975, I was a new Christian.  At that time I had a friend who was 10 years younger and he was also a new Christian.  He had been Catholic before being born again.  Neither of us knew much Bible at that time.  He had been taught in Catholic church not to marry divorced woman and he was concerned because his girl friend was divorced.  He decided to ask God to have the approaching car blink if he should marry this divorced woman.  The approaching car blinked and he married this divorced woman.  Later I learned the following scripture:

Jesus said ... Mt. 5:32 ... whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

First we should read the New Testament ... Then when we don't know what to do we pray, asking God for wisdom ... for we have the following promise from God ...

James 1:5 ... If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Women speaking at church?

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

When it was clear to me that God had called me to be a minister, I said to God:  "Then You are going to have to explain the following scripture to me."

I Cor. 14 ... Paul says concerning the gathering of the church ...  34Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. 35And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.


After asking God to explain this to me, I had the following impression:  "Look at what these women were doing."

Then when I looked again at I Cor. 14, I realized these woman were "asking questions" ... thus interrupting the flow of the Spirit of God which would certainly have been inappropriate at church and would have to be stopped.

One time I visited a non-denominational church group.  As pastor spoke, one woman, in the group jumped up and began running around the room with hands in the air.  The people in the group and pastor laughed as if this was of Holy Spirit.  I was horrified.  I knew this was not Holy Spirit.  Some people seem to think Holy Spirit is crazy.  That is not true.  Holy Spirit teaches us.  And Paul warned us that in the gathering of the church all things must be done to edification.  This woman's actions were in no way edifying to the church.  I did not return to that group.

Also Paul says, concerning the gathering of the church ...  40 Let all things be done decently and in order.  I Cor. 14

It is out of order for a woman to speak at gathering of the church, asking questions.  Even in the "Sunday school class" this should be out of order.  In the home Bible study, this should be out of order.  The gathering of the church is for the Spirit of God to speak to the church through whomever God wills and share things that edify the church and testimonies of what God has done in his life.

If a woman (or anyone else has a question) ask God at home ... or as Paul says, Let that woman ask her husband at home. (if the husband is of God)  It is a shame for a woman to interrupt the flow of the Spirit of God this way at the gathering of the church.

But if the leader asks for people to share what they have been shown by God, certainly a woman can share.

At one time, I attended a Sunday school class.  As the teacher taught the class, God would give me various words of wisdom, often about an illness which I assumed to be going on with someone in the class.

At the end of his teaching, Don never failed to say, "Does anyone have a word from the Lord?"  Then I would speak the words God had given me while Don was teaching.  This happened every time we met.  The same thing happened in the prayer group I attended but I don't remember the leader of the prayer group extending the invitation to speak like Don did.   And the pastor never extended this invitation to speak from the Lord at the regular service, but he should have done this.

Acts 13 ...   14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down. 15 And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on. 16 Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.

This openness in the synagogue at that time amazes me.  I've never heard this done today at the main church group service.  It is all preplanned, leaving no room for the Holy Spirit to speak through anyone other than those few approved people on the platform.  In Acts 13 we see them inviting unknown and unapproved men to speak exhortation to the people.  How wonderful! 

More concerning women speaking in the church ... God took me to the story of Philip who had 4 daughters who did prophesy.  God used this to show me women speaking properly in the NT church.

Acts 21 ...  and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him. 9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.

Prophesy is for the church.  In order to prophesy these 4 daughters would have to speak to the church.

Therefore I saw a proper way for women to speak in the church and an improper way for women to speak in the church.

Certainly a woman should be rebuked for improper action in the gathering of the church.  Interrupting the church or Bible classes by asking questions is an improper act.  If she has questions do as Paul said and ask her husband at home.  For it is a shame to interrupt the spirit of God in the church with questions.  And it is good if she takes her many questions to God and wait on God to bring answers to her.  This is what our little church group does.  If we have a question, we ask God.    

Sunday, August 30, 2015

Acts 14 ... Reading through the Bible

1 And it came to pass in Iconium, that they (Paul and Barnabas) went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed. 

2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren. 

3 Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 

4 But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles. 

5And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them, 6They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about: 7And there they preached the gospel.
 

8 And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked: 9The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, 10Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. 

And he leaped and walked. 

11And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. 12And they called Barnabas,  Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. 13Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people. 

14Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, 15And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: 16Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. 17Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. 

18And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.

19 And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. 

20Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. 

21And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,  22Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. 

23And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed. 

24And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. 25And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia: 26And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled. 

 27And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles. 28And there they abode long time with the disciples.

Standing on the Word of God series: Example 18

From Joan Boney

When I was a new Christian, in 1975, I owned a business in Dallas, TX. (USA)

A man filed a law suit against me.  The bills from my attorneys were eating up all the profit from my business and I was about to go into debt.  I turned to God with this problem and was reminded of the following scripture:  Isaiah 54:17 ... 17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.


Based on this word, I decided to dismiss my lawyers and go to court without any human legal counsel.

I told my lawyer what I had decided to do and he said to me, "Joan, you can't do this.  You don't understand how evil these courts are."  

Gordon then said:  "We are willing to work with you.  It will only take about $10,000 more to try your case."

I was shocked!  I cried out, " $10,000 more ...  Gordon ... stop ... don't do anything else."

I dismissed the lawyers and planned to go to court without lawyers.

About a week after this Gordon called me and said they had decided to represent me without further cost to me.

What is going on here?

One week it is going to cost $10,000 more   ... now it is going to be free?"

I told Gordon I would have to get back with him on this.

I turned to God in prayer, asking HIM what HE wanted me to do about this "free" legal service and immediately I was reminded of the following which showed me what to do ...

Genesis 14 ...  22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, 23 That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:

I knew God was telling me to decline this "free" legal service.

I told Gordon I could not accept this.  I continued to plan to go to court without human legal service.

Six days before the trial was to begin in US District Court, the man dropped all charges against everyone.  (He was also suing several other dealers in American Indian Arts and he was suing the Better Business Bureaus of Dallas and Fort Worth.)

During the time this suit hung over me, a period of months, I received many scriptures from God by the Holy Spirit reminding me of the scripture.  I took each of these scriptures and wrote them down and looked at them throughout the day to give me strength.  Also I recorded them on both sides of a cassette tape and when I went to bed at night I started the tape and heard these verses of scripture.  When I awoke during the night, I would turn the tape over and hear the scriptures again.  I did this every night for months as I awaited the court trial.

We stand on that word given us by God but we must also work to keep that word before us day and night.  

Joshua 1 ... 8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein:for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. 9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed:for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

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Please share with us the examples you have where you stood on a scripture to fight fear or persecution so we can print your example on the blog to encourage others.  

Email: joanboney@sbcglobal.net

Judges 4-5 ... Viewing the works of God through scripture

Judges 4

1 And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord, when Ehud was dead. 

2 And the Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles. 

3 And the children of Israel cried unto the Lord:for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.
 

(You think 20 years oppression to be a long time?  Some of you have been oppressed all your lives by your own children which you refused to discipline in the way of God.)

4 And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time. 

5 And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim:and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.

 6 And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the Lord God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun? 7 And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand. 

8 And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go:but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go. 

9 And she said, I will surely go with thee:notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the Lord shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. 

And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.
 

10 And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet:and Deborah went up with him. 

11 Now Heber the Kenite, which was of the children of Hobab the father in law of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which is by Kedesh. 

12 And they shewed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor. 

13 And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon. 

14 And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the Lord hath delivered Sisera into thine hand:is not the Lord gone out before thee?  

So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him. 

15 And the Lord discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet. 16 But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto Harosheth of the Gentiles:and all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword; and there was not a man left. 17 Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite:for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite.
 

18 And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. 

And when he had turned in unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle. 

19 And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him. 20 Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and enquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No. 

21 Then Jael Heber's wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground:for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died. 

22 And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples. 

23 So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel. 

24 And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.

Judges 5  

1 Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying,
 

2 Praise ye the Lord for the avenging of Israel,
when the people willingly offered themselves.
 

3 Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes;
I, even I, will sing unto the Lord;
I will sing praise to the Lord God of Israel.
 

4 Lord, when thou wentest out of Seir,
when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom,
the earth trembled, and the
heavens dropped,
the clouds also dropped water.
 

5 The mountains melted from before the Lord,
even that Sinai from before the Lord God of Israel.
 

6 In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath,
in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied,
and the travellers walked through byways.
 

7 The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel,
until that I Deborah arose,
that I arose a mother in Israel.
 

8 They chose new gods;
then was war in the gates:
was there a shield or spear seen
among forty thousand in Israel?
 

9 My heart is toward the governors of Israel,
that offered themselves willingly among the people.
Bless ye the Lord.
 

10 Speak, ye that ride on white asses,
ye that sit in judgment,
and walk by the way.


11 They that are delivered from the noise of archers in the places of drawing water,
there shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the Lord,
even the righteous acts toward the inhabitants of his villages in Israel:
then shall the people of the Lord go down to the gates.
 

12 Awake, awake, Deborah:
awake, awake, utter a song:
arise, Barak,
and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam.
 

13 Then he made him that remaineth have dominion over the nobles among the people:
the Lord made me have dominion over the mighty.
 

14 Out of Ephraim was there a root of them against Amalek;
after thee, Benjamin, among thy people;
out of Machir came down governors,
and out of Zebulun they that handle the pen of the writer.
 

15 And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah;
even Issachar, and also Barak:
he was sent on foot into the valley.
For the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart.
 

16 Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds,
to hear the bleatings of the flocks?
For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.
 

17 Gilead abode beyond Jordan:
and why did Dan remain in ships?
Asher continued on the sea shore, and abode in his breaches.
18 Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death
in the high places of the field.
 

19 The kings came and fought,
then fought the kings of Canaan
in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo;
they took no gain of money.
 

20 They fought from heaven;
the stars in their courses fought against Sisera.


21 The river of Kishon swept them away,
that ancient river, the river Kishon.
O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength.
 

22 Then were the horsehoofs broken by the means of the pransings,
the pransings of their mighty ones.
 

23 Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the Lord,
curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof;
because they came not to the help of the Lord,
to the help of the Lord against the mighty.
 

24 Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be,
blessed shall she be above women in the tent.
25 He asked water, and she gave him milk;
she brought forth butter in a lordly dish.
26 She put her hand to the nail,
and her right hand to the workmen's hammer;
and with the hammer she smote Sisera, she smote off his head,
when she had pierced and stricken through his temples.
27 At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down:
at her feet he bowed, he fell:
where he bowed, there he fell down dead.
 

28 The mother of Sisera looked out at a window,
and cried through the lattice,
Why is his chariot so long in coming?
why tarry the wheels of his chariots?
 

29 Her wise ladies answered her,
yea, she returned answer to herself,
30 Have they not sped? have they not divided the prey;
to every man a damsel or two;
to Sisera a prey of divers colours,
a prey of divers colours of needlework, of divers colours of needlework on both sides,
meet for the necks of them that take the spoil?
 

31 So let all thine enemies perish, O Lord:
but let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might.

 

And the land had rest forty years.

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NT church ... The apostle Paul says ...

Romans 9 ... 14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. 15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. 

17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. 

18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
 

19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? 

20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? 21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
 

22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:

23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, 24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

Nothing too hard for God

Juliett Walton ... Member of the body of Christ

In reading in Acts chapter 12 this week, Peter had been put into prison and that prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God.

I 5Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.  6And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. 7And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. 8And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.


Whenever I read this portion of scripture I am amazed that Peter is bound with two chains between two soldiers. James the Brother of John had been killed with the sword. Here Peter is sleeping. I am reminded of resting in the Lord no matter what the situation looks like. The Angel of the Lord woke Peter up.  Just amazing.   It makes no difference to God about the problem large or small.  He is able in His own way to free us. 

Saturday, August 29, 2015

Acts 13 ... Reading through the Bible

1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.  2As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 

3And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
 

4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. 5And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister. 

6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus: 7Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. 

8But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. 

9Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, 10And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? 

11And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season.  And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. 

12Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord. 

13 Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.
 

14But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down. 15And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on. 

16 Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience. 17The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it. 18And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness.  19And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot. 

20And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet. 

21And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years. 22And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. 

23Of this man’s seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:  24When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 

25And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose. 

26 Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent. 

27For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him. 28And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain. 29And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre. 

30But God raised him from the dead: 31And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people. 

32And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, 33God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. 

34And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise,  I will give you the sure mercies of David.  35Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 36For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:  37But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption. 

38Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. 

40Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; 41Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.

42And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.  

43Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. 

44And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God. 45But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. 

46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. 47For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. 

48And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: 

and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. 

49And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region. 50But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. 51But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium. 

52And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.

Standing on the Word of God series: Example 16

From Joan Boney

In 1982, I was on radio from coast to coast in USA and would go to the cities where I was on radio and have two or three days meetings for the radio audience.

God gave me the following dream sometime in 1982 ... In this dream I was shown a very dangerous situation and then a voice in the dream said ... "Don't go until you see Exodus 15."

Immediately, I cancelled all meeting for the entire year ... no more meetings scheduled ...

A woman in our group said to me:  Joan, you can't do this.  You must have those meetings.  If you cancel those meetings you will lose a lot of money.  (People did give offerings when they came to the meetings and hundreds of people were coming to each meeting in those days.)

I replied to this woman:  "God told me not to go and I'm not going."  (And I didn't go out and I never went out again.  That was more than 30 years ago and I still have not gone out.  But there is plenty of money for me.  There is no lack at all.  I even have a 100-fold-return by not going out ... I have a very nice house to live in and many wonderful things to enjoy, especially in sound system and wood burning fireplace. And I get to go out on blog which goes all over the world immediately without cost ... but I stay home and write these exhortations.)

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The word of God can come through scripture which we stand on ... or the word of God can come through dream which we stand on ... When it is from God a dream is as much a word of God as is a scripture from the Bible... Read Matthew 2 for examples of God speaking through dreams ... Also in NT church, God led the apostle Paul through a dream ... Acts 16 ... 8 And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. 10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.

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Please share with us the examples you have where you stood on a scripture to fight fear or persecution so we can print your example on the blog to encourage others.  

Email: joanboney@sbcglobal.net
 

Wife's prayer for husband answered

Cathy Varner ... Member of body of Christ

My husband just got home from work (Ford Motor) and he was telling me something that happened, and I thought about how God had worked out for him to get this different job there.   He had been working on the assembly line and the job he had was pretty taxing on him physically.  He was feeling discouraged.  I asked God if there was some change that was needed.....a different job at that plant, transfer to a different plant, or even early retirement (he had been considering).

After awhile, he told me that he'd been asked if he wanted to change to a repair job.  Someone had a list of jobs they were going around asking people to fill.  This man came to Joe and said -Tell me you want this repair job....like he was tired of asking people  and just wanted to get someone to fill this position and be done with it.  Joe likes this job much better, it's not on the assembly line, easier physically, and more satisfying in general.  And I'm grateful that God worked this out for him.

Prove all things

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Concerning the worldly saying, "What will be, will be" ... what does the Bible say about that?

Psalm 7:12 ...If he turn not, HE (God) will whet HIS sword; HE hath bent HIS bow, and made it ready.

Galatians 6 ... 7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked:for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing:for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Ezekiel 3 ...  20 Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die:because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand. 21 Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.

The saying "what will be, will be" is not true.  It is a doctrine of man, a saying of man.

God shows us in both OT and NT that if a man believes God and follows God, that man will never perish.

John 10 ... Jesus says ... 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and none is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

If we hear the voice of Jesus and follow HIM we will never perish.

If we start following HIM and then stop and go another way, we depart from the Lord and set ourselves into a way of destruction and even damnation.

But if we hear what God says and choose that way and follow that way, we will never perish.

Mt. 7 ...Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not:for it was founded upon a rock. 

26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell:and great was the fall of it. 28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.



 

Judges 3 ... Viewing the works of God through scripture

1 Now these are the nations which the Lord left, to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan; 2 Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof; 3 Namely, five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hivites that dwelt in mount Lebanon, from mount Baalhermon unto the entering in of Hamath. 4 And they were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of the Lord, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.
 

5 And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites:6 And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods. 

7 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and forgat the Lord their God, and served Baalim and the groves.
 

8 Therefore the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia:and the children of Israel served Chushanrishathaim eight years. 

9 And when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother. 

10 And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war:and the Lord delivered Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim. 

11 And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.
 

12 And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord:and the Lord strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the Lord. 

13 And he (Eglon) gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees. 

14 So the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years

15 But when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, the Lord raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man lefthanded:and by him the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab. 

16 But Ehud made him a dagger (for himself) which had two edges, of a cubit length; and he did gird it under his raiment upon his right thigh. 

17 And he brought the present unto Eglon king of Moab:and Eglon was a very fat man. 18 And when he had made an end to offer the present, he sent away the people that bare the present. 19 But he (Ehud) himself turned again from the quarries that were by Gilgal, and said, I have a secret errand unto thee, O king:who said, Keep silence. And all that stood by him went out from him. 

20 And Ehud came unto him; and he was sitting in a summer parlour, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee. And he arose out of his seat. 21 And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly:22 And the haft also went in after the blade; and the fat closed upon the blade, so that he could not draw the dagger out of his belly; and the dirt came out. 

23 Then Ehud went forth through the porch, and shut the doors of the parlour upon him, and locked them. 

24 When he was gone out, his servants came; and when they saw that, behold, the doors of the parlour were locked, they said, Surely he covereth his feet in his summer chamber. 25 And they tarried till they were ashamed:and, behold, he opened not the doors of the parlour; therefore they took a key, and opened them:and, behold, their lord was fallen down dead on the earth. 26 And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the quarries, and escaped unto Seirath. 

27 And it came to pass, when he was come, that he blew a trumpet in the mountain of Ephraim, and the children of Israel went down with him from the mount, and he before them. 

(a trumpet signals something that is about to come or a going forth)

28 And he (Ehud) said unto them, Follow after me:for the Lord hath delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand. And they went down after him, and took the fords of Jordan toward Moab, and suffered not a man to pass over. 

29 And they slew of Moab at that time about ten thousand men, all lusty, and all men of valour; and there escaped not a man

30 So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest fourscore years. (80 years)

31 And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad:and he also delivered Israel.


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Comments by Joan Boney

How does the church today allow the world to overcome them?

Mostly the church is overcome by taking in false doctrine and setting this up in place of true doctrine.  The church is also overcome by taken in strangers into the congregation and accepting them as the church when they do not have the Spirit of God.  Thus the leven of those without the Spirit of God works it's way through the congregation where words to correct sin are modified or eliminated in order to approve the congregation in sin.

Substitute doctrines twist scriptures such as follows:

Jn. 8 ...  1 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. 2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. 3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, 4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned:but what sayest thou? 6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. 7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. 8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last:and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee:go, and sin no more.

So they teach to forgive the adulteress and leave out the command of Jesus where HE told this woman, "go, and sin no more ..."

The apostle Paul brought correct doctrine for the NT church as follows:

I Cor. 5 ... 1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. 2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.


When Jimmy Swaggart was caught with the prostitute (can see report in Wikipedia / Internet encyclopedia under Jimmy Swaggart), after Swaggart was caught, he got on TV and did a tear-filled plea telling the church he had sinned.

What did the church do?  Did they put Swaggart out of the church?  No they said we had to pray for "Brother" Swaggart and they counselled him.  This is the wisdom of man and pleases man but it is not even close to that which Paul told the church to do in I Cor. 5.

When this happened, I had visited an Assembly of God group one Wednesday night.  The pastor began speaking of "Brother" Swaggart's sin.  And pastor said, "We need to pray for brother Swaggart."  I was shocked to hear this!  In a quiet but slightly audible voice, I said the following where I was seated in the congregation:  "We need to put him out of the church."

The woman seated in front of me turned and glared at me with hatred.

I never went back to that church group.

Swaggart was caught a second time with prostitute and he told police officer, "It's flat out none of your business."  (Wickipedia report)

How much more shameful can it get?  Sin in the ministry itself surfacing in front of the world and causing things of God to be blasphemed by the haters of God in the world.

Recently the pope of Catholic Church made a statement saying he knew nothing as to homosexual acts being against the church.  I saw the report on TV and shouted out:  What about Romans 1?

24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections:for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:27 And 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.


How long before the cup of the wicked gets completely filled which will bring judgment on the earth?

All this shows us drawing nearer to judgment.

And we are told to exhort one another, and even more as we see the day approaching (Heb. 10)... thus these writings daily ... as part of the exhortations... truth of scriptures in midst of increasing darkness in both the world and the church groups.

II Tim. 3 ... 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 

14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15 And 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.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.