Acts 8 ... Reading through the Bible

1 And Saul was consenting unto his (Stephen's) death. 

And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. 

2And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. 

3As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
 
4Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. 

5Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. 6And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. 8And there was great joy in that city. 

9But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: 10To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. 11And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. 

12But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. 
 
14Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: 16(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. 

18And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 19Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. 

20But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. 21Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. 

22Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. 23For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. 

24Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me. 

25And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.
 
26And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. 27And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, 28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. 

29Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. 30And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. 

32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: 33In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. 

34And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? 

35Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 

36And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 

37And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. 

And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 

38And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. 

39And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip,  that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. 

40But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.

When I think of God

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

When I think of God, I think of the creator of heaven and earth and all that is therein.

And the creation was created by God... by God speaking THE WORD.  "Let there be light" ... and light appeared.

The things created were not created from other things that already existed.  They were "a new creation", created by "The Word" God spoke.

Genesis 1 ... 1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 3 And God said, Let there be light:and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good:and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

Heb. 11 ... Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. 

Every living thing was created by THE WORD.

God spoke, it was done.

We, as "new creations", born again, changed from the old man we once were, are created a new creation by God speaking directly to us... and when this happens, we are changed instantly, born again, a new creation ... And God puts HIS LAWS into our hearts and our minds so we can know HIM.  (New Covenant:  Heb. 8 & Heb. 10)

We are now children born of God, born of HIS Spirit.  As earthly children follow their earthly fathers and copy their parents doing what they see the parents do, we copy our heavenly Father because the Spirit in us which is now from God reveals God to us so that we can know what God wants.

Once we served ourselves, our own preferences and our own desires.

After we are born again, God is in us and we are changed.  We no longer seek after those things we did before.  We are new creations now.

The old man is dead ... we are resurrected into the image of Christ, THE WORD.

And as we live on this earth, we are changed over and over into the image of Christ as we encounter various situations of this life and choose the way that pleases God, the Father.  As that little child copies his earthly father, we now copy our heavenly Father, doing HIS will.

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Recently I saw a portion of a TV series created by Ken Burns concerning the National Parks in USA.

They showed many breathtaking pictures of mountains and valleys and rivers and animals.  

As I watched this, I rejoiced in that which God has made.  

Some people worship the created object.

But I thought of God, the creator of these mountains.

Romans 1 ... 20 For 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:

We look at the sun, at the sky, at the stars, at the moon ... We see the creator as we look.  We marvel in the works God made.

The God we worship is the God who created the heavens and the earth by HIS Word.  It was not hard for God to do.  He just spoke and it appeared. (Is anything too hard for God?)

And this God we worship is the Father of Jesus Christ, THE WORD, who at one point was made flesh and dwelt among us for a time in the flesh.

But Jesus has no beginning and no end.  Jesus was with God before the world was created.  And God created the world by HIM, by the Word.

Things I believe:   

- Our God is the Father of Jesus, The Word ... and the Father of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Paul and this is God who created the heavens and the earth and all living things.

- Our God raised Jesus from the dead.  

- Our God will raise us who belong to HIM from the dead.

- This present heaven and earth will be destroyed and the new Jerusalem wherein dwelleth righteousness will appear and there will be no evil thing in the new Jerusalem... all there will be pure as God is pure.

And I see all my beliefs confirmed when I read the Bible.  These beliefs were put into my heart by God HIMSELF and are confirmed to me by Bible.  But the beliefs are in my heart even before I read Bible.  Because God puts HIS "laws" into our minds and writes them on our hearts.

Heb. 8 ...   Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts:and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord:for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. 12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

Heb. 10 ...  16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

God simply changes us.  We don't do anything to earn this change nor to be worthy.  God simply has mercy on us and at a point in time recreates us putting his laws into our hearts and minds causing us to have HIS Spirit, making us into a new creation.

Many people are taught by preachers.  Some are changed by God as preachers speak.  But some are changed without any preaching.  God just changes them.

Each changed person is given, by God, HIS laws.  God simply puts HIS laws into their hearts without any teaching at all.  We are the children of the promise when that happens.

Romans 9 ...   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.

Jeremiah 36 ... Viewing the works of God through scripture

1 And it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that this word came unto Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, 2 Take thee a roll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spake unto thee, from the days of Josiah, even unto this day. 

3 It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpose to do unto them; that they may return every man from his evil way; that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin. 

4 Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah:and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the Lord, which he had spoken unto him, upon a roll of a book. 

5 And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, I am shut up; I cannot go into the house of the Lord:6 Therefore go thou, and read in the roll, which thou hast written from my mouth, the words of the Lord in the ears of the people in the Lord 's house upon the fasting day:and also thou shalt read them in the ears of all Judah that come out of their cities. 7 It may be they will present their supplication before the Lord, and will return every one from his evil way:for great is the anger and the fury that the Lord hath pronounced against this people. 

8 And Baruch the son of Neriah did according to all that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading in the book the words of the Lord in the Lord' s house. 

9 And it came to pass in the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, in the ninth month, that they proclaimed a fast before the Lord to all the people in Jerusalem, and to all the people that came from the cities of Judah unto Jerusalem. 10 Then read Baruch in the book the words of Jeremiah in the house of the Lord, in the chamber of Gemariah the son of Shaphan the scribe, in the higher court, at the entry of the new gate of the Lord 's house, in the ears of all the people.
 
11 When Michaiah the son of Gemariah, the son of Shaphan, had heard out of the book all the words of the Lord, 12 Then he went down into the king's house, into the scribe's chamber:and, lo, all the princes sat there, even Elishama the scribe, and Delaiah the son of Shemaiah, and Elnathan the son of Achbor, and Gemariah the son of Shaphan, and Zedekiah the son of Hananiah, and all the princes. 

13 Then Michaiah declared unto them all the words that he had heard, when Baruch read the book in the ears of the people. 

14 Therefore all the princes sent Jehudi the son of Nethaniah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Cushi, unto Baruch, saying, Take in thine hand the roll wherein thou hast read in the ears of the people, and come. So Baruch the son of Neriah took the roll in his hand, and came unto them. 

15 And they said unto him, Sit down now, and read it in our ears. So Baruch read it in their ears. 

16 Now it came to pass, when they had heard all the words, they were afraid both one and other, and said unto Baruch, We will surely tell the king of all these words. 

17 And they asked Baruch, saying, Tell us now, How didst thou write all these words at his mouth? 

18 Then Baruch answered them, He pronounced all these words unto me with his mouth, and I wrote them with ink in the book. 

19 Then said the princes unto Baruch, Go, hide thee, thou and Jeremiah; and let no man know where ye be.
 
20 And they went in to the king into the court, but they laid up the roll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe, and told all the words in the ears of the king. 21 So the king sent Jehudi to fetch the roll:and he took it out of Elishama the scribe's chamber. And Jehudi read it in the ears of the king, and in the ears of all the princes which stood beside the king. 

22 Now the king sat in the winterhouse in the ninth month:and there was a fire on the hearth burning before him. 23 And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth. 24 Yet they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words. 

25 Nevertheless Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah had made intercession to the king that he would not burn the roll:but he would not hear them. 

26 But the king commanded Jerahmeel the son of Hammelech, and Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to take Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet:but the Lord hid them.
 
27 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, after that the king had burned the roll, and the words which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah, saying, 28 Take thee again another roll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah hath burned. 

29 And thou shalt say to Jehoiakim king of Judah, Thus saith the Lord; Thou hast burned this roll, saying, Why hast thou written therein, saying, The king of Babylon shall certainly come and destroy this land, and shall cause to cease from thence man and beast? 30 Therefore thus saith the Lord of Jehoiakim king of Judah; He shall have none to sit upon the throne of David:and his dead body shall be cast out in the day to the heat, and in the night to the frost. 31 And I will punish him and his seed and his servants for their iniquity; and I will bring upon them, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and upon the men of Judah, all the evil that I have pronounced against them; but they hearkened not.
 
32 Then took Jeremiah another roll, and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah; who wrote therein from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire:and there were added besides unto them many like words.

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Comments by Joan Boney  

It was no problem at all for Jeremiah to write another roll with all the words of the Lord contained in the first roll that the king burned.  

The word of God is written on the heart of the prophet and can easily be reproduced by the prophet in complete context.

If this were the word of man it would not be so.  But when it is the Word of God it endures forever and God brings it back to the mind of the prophet just as our computers today would reproduce what we wrote and saved many days ago.

I remember the exact words spoken to me by the Holy Spirit more than 30 years ago.  The Word from God is so penetrating when God gives something to us by his Spirit.

Following God By His Spirit: Chapter 3 / Book available at Amazon.com

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

The Holy Spirit Makes Things Easy

Man’s plan for learning is often hard. The Holy Spirit makes things easy for us.

When I was first born again, my best friend insisted that I needed to learn to quote scripture. She convinced me to enroll in a program called Bible Memory Association. I had to memorize one scripture a week. Then at the end of that week, I had to quote that scripture to Donna (my tester) and if I did that successfully she turned it into some office and I think I recall they issued me some form of certificate saying I passed.

This was one of the most difficult things I ever tried to do.

I don’t remember withdrawing from the program. It just sort of vanished from my life.

(We, Donna and I, knew nothing about the Holy Spirit in those days.)

God began teaching me scripture by the Holy Spirit.

The main difference, as I see this, is we were trying to memorize scripture by our mind, by our own fleshly ways.


When God took over the scripture came from within, by the Holy Spirit dwelling in me. Scripture just rose up in me as I spoke with people. This was the Holy Spirit reminding me of that which Jesus had said. (Jn. 14:26 … Jesus says … But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, HE shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.)


When that scripture rises up from within you, it is not you trying to do something. Rather it is the Holy Spirit in you reminding you of something God wants you to put your focus on. When you focus on that scripture you are being shown a way to go in an issue pertaining to this life. You are being recreated in the image of Christ, THE WORD, by the Holy Spirit. All you have to do is meditate in that scripture until you get strong enough to do it, applying it to your life in an appropriate way.

It is not your mind trying to do something. It is the Holy Spirit working in you. This is the power of the Holy Spirit that Jesus spoke of when HE told them to remain at Jerusalem until the “gift” came to them.

Acts 1:8 … 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

When God is doing the work in you, there is a power that your own mind and flesh does not have.


God knows exactly what you need and what others need to hear from you. Therefore we speak what the Holy Spirit brings up to our minds and focus on that. HE is the Spirit of TRUTH.

(We often think we need one thing when we need something completely different.)

I have a strong understanding that I do not know what I need nor do I know what another person needs … but God does know the need … and when God wants something spoken, it rises up inside me through HIS Spirit that dwells in me and I just speak that which I hear from God by HIS Spirit and the “judgment is just” for I seek not my own will but God’s will, as Jesus said …

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


When God speaks, HIS wisdom is astounding to us.

An example: I was playing golf with two woman, one woman a Methodist and the other woman Church of Christ.

The Methodist woman began talking about people who judge … (I felt she was trying to accuse me.) …

The Holy Spirit inside me rose up in me and the following words came forth through me: “If you judge someone is judging, aren’t you judging.”

She gasped! It was like air being let out of a balloon.


Another example: A man in our little church group had accumulated lots of “stuff”. He had more than his storage area could comfortably hold. As he thought about the problem and considered building another shed to hold his extra stuff, the following thought came (from the Holy Spirit): “Why don’t you just get rid of the stuff?”


The Holy Spirit is described by Jesus in the Bible as The Comforter, the helper, The Spirit of Truth. (Jn. 14-16)

The Holy Spirit is given to every believer to whom God reveals Jesus in the Spirit.


Mt. 16 … 13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, HE asked HIS disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 

14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 

15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 

16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 

17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 

18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

The NT Church is built upon that word revealed by God, by the revealed word of God. 

That word revealed by God on the matter at hand will never fail and nothing and no one will prevail against that word that comes to us from the Spirit of God.

This is the witness of God through HIS Spirit, through the Holy Spirit. Herein is the power of God.

Jesus says … It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing:the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. Jn. 6:63

The WORDS spoken to us by the Spirit of God bringing such up to our minds is “spirit” and “life” … We do not speak by our plan … We speak what is brought to our mind by the Holy Spirit who dwells in the believer.

These books are available in Kindle version and paperback from Amazon.com 

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(Also available in paperback)

Acts 6-7 ... Reading through the Bible

1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. 

2Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. 3Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. 

5And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: 6Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. 

7And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
 
8And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. 

9Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. 10And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. 

11Then they suborned men, which said,  We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. 12And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council, 13And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: 14For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.  

15And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel. 

Acts 7 

1 Then said the high priest, Are these things so? 

2And he (Stephen) said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, 3And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee. 

4Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell. 5And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child. 

6And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years. 7And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place. 

8And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs. 

9And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him, 10And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. 

11Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance. 12But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first. 13And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph’s kindred was made known unto Pharaoh. 14Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred,  threescore and fifteen souls. 

15So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers, 16And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem.
 
17But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, 18Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph. 19The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live. 20In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father’s house three months:  21And when he was cast out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son. 

 22And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds. 23And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. 24And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian: 25For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not.  

26And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another? 27But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us? 28Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday? 

29Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons.
 
30And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush. 31When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him, 32Saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold. 

33Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground. 

34 I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt. 

35This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush. 

36He (God) brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years. 

37This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.  38This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us: 

39To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt, 40Saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. 41And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.
 
42Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness? 43Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon. 

44Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.  45Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David;  46Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. 47But Solomon built him an house. 

48Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, 49Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? 50Hath not my hand made all these things?
 
51Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. 

52Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: 53Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
 
54When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. 

55But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. 

57Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 58And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. 

59And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. 

God showed what to do

Pam Padgett ... member of body of Christ

Earlier this week Joan and I decided to have some business cards made with a picture of the Graphically Illustrated Kindle book cover.   I checked into several options for getting the business cards made.  We chose to use a small printing business not far from where I live. 

When I first went to the printing business and spoke with the man at the counter I showed him the book and told him we need the color on the business cards to be like the book cover.  He called a young woman named Jamie to come help.  It turns out that Jamie is a Graphics Designer.  I sent her files for the book cover and for what we want on the back of the cards and also left a copy of the book for her to use. 

Yesterday afternoon I received an email from Jamie saying they were not able to get the color "quite right" from the files I sent.  She asked for other kinds of files, but I didn't know what she was talking about.  So I called her. 

I explained to Jamie how I got the file for the book cover ... setting up the blocks, taking a picture, uploading the picture to my computer, and using an application called "Paint" to put the text on the cover and save it in the format needed for the book cover.   When I mentioned the Paint application, she asked if that's how I put the color behind the blocks.  This isn't what I did and I explained to her how I setup the blocks on a piece of poster board that was the bright yellow color that we wanted, put another piece of the poster board behind the blocks, and took the picture. 

When I finished explaining this process, there was a few seconds of total silence. 

Then Jamie said that she had never heard of anyone doing anything like this and that it was ingenious. 

Later as I was thinking of what Jamie said, I recalled how I had prayed asking God to help me with the book cover, and just "saw" how to do each step to get the cover created.  I didn't know how to even start to do this before praying.   But after praying it was not hard to do what I "saw" to do and the book cover turned out very nice.  

It never occurred to me how different this way was from conventional ways of creating a book cover until hearing Jamie's comments. 

One thing that was interesting to me ... as I told her how I setup the blocks with the poster board, Jamie said "So that's how you got those shadows!".  This was obviously something that caught her attention.  On the book cover you can see shadows from the blocks and I like that very much.  Gives a 3-dimensional look to the blocks.  This is not something I had even thought of doing.  The shadows were just there, on the picture, as I setup the blocks with the poster board and lights as I saw to do.  

Jamie used the word "ingenious" to describe the way our book cover was created, and I believe that is accurate and that it is because God showed the way and gave the ability to do this.


Comments from Joan Boney

This entire book project was very unusual from beginning to end.

I was often shown by God how to do the things that I did.

I've never really seen this book as a book... it's really an artwork and some kind of very unusual project of extremely high quality.

The one thing I know for sure, God showed me at the beginning of this project... never compromise anything ...no matter how small it is.. if it needs to be changed change it...do whatever you need to do  to make it quality... don't let anything get past... keep this  standard and that's what we have done even to now.

We worked on a handout and we sent a copy of the handout to our little church group ... the text is alright but the problem was the printing.

We tried do printing at Staples...my mistake.  It did not come close to meeting the standard of the book.

What I heard is it would be like Neiman Marcus gift wrapping one of their items in toilet paper.

When I saw it, I said... this cannot be used... and that's when Pam and I came up with another idea which is being printed right now and we will send to our little church group as soon she has it back from printer.

We had to go to a real printer to do this work to get the quality that we want.  I knew it had to be the same quality as the book.

I'm not exactly sure where it will be used or when it will be used.

I just know it is the same quality as the book itself.

Jeremiah 35 ... Viewing the works of God through scripture

1 The word which came unto Jeremiah from the Lord in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying, 2 Go unto the house of the Rechabites, and speak unto them, and bring them into the house of the Lord, into one of the chambers, and give them wine to drink. 

3 Then I took Jaazaniah the son of Jeremiah, the son of Habaziniah, and his brethren, and all his sons, and the whole house of the Rechabites; 4 And I brought them into the house of the Lord, into the chamber of the sons of Hanan, the son of Igdaliah, a man of God, which was by the chamber of the princes, which was above the chamber of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, the keeper of the door:5 And I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites pots full of wine, and cups, and I said unto them, Drink ye wine. 

6 But they said, We will drink no wine:for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye, nor your sons for ever:7 Neither shall ye build house, nor sow seed, nor plant vineyard, nor have any:but all your days ye shall dwell in tents; that ye may live many days in the land where ye be strangers. 8 Thus have we obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab our father in all that he hath charged us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, nor our daughters; 9 Nor to build houses for us to dwell in:neither have we vineyard, nor field, nor seed:10 But we have dwelt in tents, and have obeyed, and done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us. 

11 But it came to pass, when Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon came up into the land, that we said, Come, and let us go to Jerusalem for fear of the army of the Chaldeans, and for fear of the army of the Syrians:so we dwell at Jerusalem.
 
12 Then came the word of the Lord unto Jeremiah, saying, 13 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will ye not receive instruction to hearken to my words? saith the Lord. 14 The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, that he commanded his sons not to drink wine, are performed; for unto this day they drink none, but obey their father's commandment:notwithstanding I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye hearkened not unto me. 15 I have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers:but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me. 

16 Because the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have performed the commandment of their father, which he commanded them; but this people hath not hearkened unto me:17 Therefore thus saith the Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon Judah and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the evil that I have pronounced against them:because I have spoken unto them, but they have not heard; and I have called unto them, but they have not answered.
 
18 And Jeremiah said unto the house of the Rechabites, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Because ye have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts, and done according unto all that he hath commanded you:19 Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before me for ever.

==========

Proverbs 1

24 Because I have called, and ye refused;
I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel,
and would none of my reproof:
26 I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when your fear cometh;
 
27 When your fear cometh as desolation,
and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind;
when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer;
they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:
 
29 For that they hated knowledge,
and did not choose the fear of the Lord:
 
30 They would none of my counsel:
they despised all my reproof.
 
31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way,
and be filled with their own devices.
32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them,
and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.
 
33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely,
and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

Following God By His Spirit: Chapter 2 / Book available at Amazon.com

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

The Witness of the Holy Spirit

The first example of the giving of the Holy Spirit to all in the church was at Pentecost.

Acts 1 ...And, being assembled together with them, (HE, Jesus) commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith HE , ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence... ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto ME both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Some people in churches try to witness without having the Spirit of God. They even teach each other how to "witness".  But when we have the Spirit of God in us, we are a witness.

When you throw a rock into a pond of water, ripples go in all directions. You do not have to try to make ripples happen. It is a by-product of the rock hitting the water.

When you have the Holy Spirit in you, you do not have to try to witness. You are a witness. You are different from other people, even from other church people for many in churches do not have the Holy Spirit of God in them.

Many people will hate you because you are different. Remember how they hated Jesus. If they hated the master they will hate you, HIS servant. If they hate the instruction in the Bible, as many church people do today, they will hate you if you try to follow the Bible in the church.


Here is an amazing example:  This happened to Pam Padgett when she was attending a church group near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (USA)

Pam says … During the last months of college, I rented a room in a house owned by a woman I met in the singles group of the church group I attended at the time. This woman had been divorced twice and had a young daughter. At first she seemed content to remain unmarried and raise her daughter. But then she started looking for another husband. I shared with her scripture that tell us that a divorced woman commits adultery if she remarries, such as:

Matthew 5:31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: 32 But I (Jesus) 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.

Mark 10:11 And HE (Jesus) saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. 12 And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.

Romans 7:2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. 3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.

After sharing these scriptures, I was shocked when she told me that she didn't care what the Bible says, she said she knew what she believed.

I moved from her house shortly after this.

The place I moved was quite a distance from where this church group met. Although I continued to attend the Sunday services and would sit in the area of the auditorium where the singles group sat, I no longer attended the singles meetings.

I heard this divorced woman was engaged to a man I also knew from the singles group. I went and spoke with him, and I shared scriptures with him such as Matthew 5:31-32 showing that they would commit adultery if he married her since she was divorced. He said he would consider these things, but he did not stop the engagement.

Then I heard that the maid of honor at the wedding was to be a woman I also knew. I went and spoke with her, sharing scripture about the adultery that would be committed by this marriage. She said she knew it was wrong for them to marry but they would get married whether or not she was the maid of honor, so she was going to do it.

(I Tim. 5 … neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.)

About this time, I went to one of the Sunday morning services. I arrived before any of the other singles, and sat in the area where we usually sat. But no other singles came to sit there. Right before the service began, I looked around and saw that the singles were sitting a few pews behind me. I thought this strange, but didn't think a lot about it.

The next Sunday I sat in the "new" singles area, but they sat in the "old" singles area.

The following week, I got there shortly before the service began, and went to where the singles were sitting.

Without saying a word, those I sat next to got up and moved away from me.

It was obvious they wanted nothing to do with me, but I had no idea why. I cried out to God asking what was going on? “Had I done something wrong?”

For a few weeks I didn't hear anything from God, and didn't know why I had become an outcast from the singles.

Then after the service one Sunday morning, a woman I didn't know very well stopped me and said she had a message from God for me. The message she delivered was that God knew how I was being treated by those in the singles group, and that I needed to know it was because of what I had spoken about this divorced woman remarrying and that this was what HE had wanted me to do.

I was so helped by this message, now knowing why I was being shunned and that it was for doing good in the sight of God. It was also very helpful to realize so strongly that God was watching over me, and the mercy and kindness God had shown to me in having this woman deliver this message to me.


Comments by Joan Boney

As Christians we are excited over the Bible. We love the Word of God. We know the Bible shows us the way of God and the way we are to go on the present earth.

It is very shocking to encounter people from a church group who do not care what the Bible says.

But it happens.

And we grieve over this and feel that persecution for the Word’s sake.

Peter says to us:

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 (The Word) 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.


While those persons who do not have the Spirit of God may despise you when you share things of God with them, those who are of God will recognize you because of HIS Spirit and because you are “different”. They, too, are “different” because of God.


Often people who are Christians “try to witness”. When we belong to God we can’t help being a witness as we follow that which God shows us.

Here are two examples, one of the flesh trying to witness and the other of the Spirit of God witnessing.

After I was born again, I went to a copy store to make copies of some papers. I was waiting to copy the papers. An elderly man approached me and said, "Little lady ... you didn't park behind that green and gold car did you?" I replied, "No sir." He said, "That's a Baylor (Baptist University) car." I replied, "Okay ..."

Then he said, "You don't happen to be a Christian do you?" With that, I excitedly replied ... "Well yes ... as matter of fact I am!"

He then stopped smiling and began showing displeasure in his face and said to me, "OH HECK ... I just joined the witnessing class at First Baptist Church and you are the first person I chose to witness to."

He was disappointed that I am a Christian!


The second example, happened to me after I was born again in 1975 ... I owned a business and was flying to Albuquerque, New Mexico (USA) on a buying trip. Many of my relatives lived in Albuquerque at that time. My cousin met me at the plane.

Just as the plane landed, I heard these words from the Holy Spirit, "Be baptized."

When my cousin picked me up and we got into her car, I said, "Jeanne ... if you can arrange it at church I will be baptized this afternoon before I return to Dallas." She replied: "But you've already been baptized." 

"Yes," I said, "But I wasn't born again until now."

Jeanne was a member of Church of Christ. They love to baptize in water. So she arranged for me to be baptized that afternoon. Many of my relatives (who were also Church of Christ) gathered at the church building. Before being taken to the baptistery, the young minister said to me: "Would you like to say something?" 

I was greatly shocked for Church of Christ never allow woman to speak at the church. But I replied, "I guess so." 

And I began speaking by the Holy Spirit. I noticed my uncle who was seated in the congregation. He was crying. I also noticed a cousin. She was shaking her head up and down and very excited as I spoke.

When I was baptized and the minister lowered me into the water, the Holy Spirit began teaching me. The Holy Spirit said to me, "This is like being buried with Christ."

As the minister raised me out of the water, the Holy Spirit said to me, "This is like being raised with Christ."

I didn't know Romans 6 at that time but that is exactly what Romans 6 teaches us.

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into HIS death? 4Therefore we are buried with HIM by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

After we are born again, we die to our flesh, thus are “buried with HIM”. We no longer have to serve our flesh as we once did. We “keep the flesh under” by praying and by allowing God to work with us in the temptation. We yield to the Spirit of God rather than obeying our flesh.

The works of the flesh are: Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Gal. 5

Dead people do not sin. Therefore we “reckon” ourselves dead to our flesh, being now buried with Jesus, and being raised with Jesus we now serve God instead of serving our flesh as we once did.

When we are tempted to yield to the flesh, we can pray to God for help to overcome the temptations of the flesh… notice hatred, wrath, strife, envy, drunkenness are some of those fleshly temptation as well as things such as adultery and fornication.

In James 1, we are shown what to do when tempted. The apostle James says: 5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

After the baptism, I dressed and returned to the congregation area of the church building and my uncle came to me. He was very excited. He said, "I've never heard anything like that which you said today. Could you write that out for me and send it to me?" I told him I thought I could. So when I returned to Dallas I wrote it and sent it to him. I think my uncle was born again at the time he heard what the Holy Spirit spoke through me before I was baptized that day. 

When the Holy Spirit is doing the work through us there is power.

These books are available in Kindle version and paperback from Amazon.com 

 Type Joan Boney in the Amazon search box to purchase these books

(We are allowed by Amazon under our publication agreement to post a portion of each book as a sample. If you would like to have the book, you can purchase it from Amazon.)

(Also available in paperback)

Kindle Guide Information

A Graphically Illustrated Kindle Fire HD 8 Guide:  For Non-Computer Generations    

by  Pam Padgett  and Joan Boney

Kindle Edition ...  (Also available in paperback)

Go to Amazon. com and type Joan Boney into search box on Amazon.

 This guide is written for people who have little or no experience operating a computer.   It provides a step by step plan for the reader to have success in operating a Kindle Fire HD 8 (5th generation) and to experience the many joys and helps that come from this magnificent device. 

 

 All you have to do is learn to use the Kindle.  And with this book, we believe you can do it!

Acts 5 ... Reading through the Bible

1But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 

3But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?  4Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart?  thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. 

5And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: 

 and great fear came on all them that heard these things. 

6And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. 

7And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 8And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. 

 9Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. 

10Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. 

11And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
 
12And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch. 13And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them. 14And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) 15Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.  

16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.
 
17Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,  18And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. 

19But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, 20Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. 

21And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. 

But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told, 23Saying,  The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within. 

24Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow. 

25Then came one and told them, saying,  Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.
 
26Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned. 

27And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, 28Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us. 

29Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. 

30The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. 31Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 

32And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. 

33When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them. 

34Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; 35And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. 

36For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.  

37After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.  

38And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: 39But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. 

40And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 

41And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. 

42And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

Information about the new covenant

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Yesterday I received email from a pastor in Philippines asking for more information about The New Covenant. 

I have written a book available on Amazon.com ... 99 cents for e-book format ... also available in paperback

THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH

1. God's gifts to the New Testament Church
2. Apostle & prophets in the NT Church
3. The New Covenant
4. Jesus gives ministers to help the NT Church
5. What we are to do when we come together as the church
6. Antichrist in the churches
7. Are women permitted to speak in the church?
8. Love for the truth of the scripture
9. What is the church

Jeremiah 34 ... Viewing the works of God through scripture

1 The word which came unto Jeremiah from the Lord, when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and all his army, and all the kingdoms of the earth of his dominion, and all the people, fought against Jerusalem, and against all the cities thereof, saying, 

2 Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel; Go and speak to Zedekiah king of Judah, and tell him, Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire:3 And thou shalt not escape out of his hand, but shalt surely be taken, and delivered into his hand; and thine eyes shall behold the eyes of the king of Babylon, and he shall speak with thee mouth to mouth, and thou shalt go to Babylon. 

4 Yet hear the word of the Lord, O Zedekiah king of Judah; Thus saith the Lord of thee, Thou shalt not die by the sword:5 But thou shalt die in peace:and with the burnings of thy fathers, the former kings which were before thee, so shall they burn odours for thee; and they will lament thee, saying, Ah lord! for I have pronounced the word, saith the Lord. 

6 Then Jeremiah the prophet spake all these words unto Zedekiah king of Judah in Jerusalem, 7 When the king of Babylon's army fought against Jerusalem, and against all the cities of Judah that were left, against Lachish, and against Azekah:for these defenced cities remained of the cities of Judah.
 
8 This is the word that came unto Jeremiah from the Lord, after that the king Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people which were at Jerusalem, to proclaim liberty unto them; 9 That every man should let his manservant, and every man his maidservant, being an Hebrew or an Hebrewess, go free; that none should serve himself of them, to wit, of a Jew his brother. 

10 Now when all the princes, and all the people, which had entered into the covenant, heard that every one should let his manservant, and every one his maidservant, go free, that none should serve themselves of them any more, then they obeyed, and let them go. 11 But afterward they turned, and caused the servants and the handmaids, whom they had let go free, to return, and brought them into subjection for servants and for handmaids.
 
12 Therefore the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, 13 Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel; I made a covenant with your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondmen, saying, 14 At the end of seven years let ye go every man his brother an Hebrew, which hath been sold unto thee; and when he hath served thee six years, thou shalt let him go free from thee:but your fathers hearkened not unto me, neither inclined their ear. 15 And ye were now turned, and had done right in my sight, in proclaiming liberty every man to his neighbour; and ye had made a covenant before me in the house which is called by my name:16 But ye turned and polluted my name, and caused every man his servant, and every man his handmaid, whom ye had set at liberty at their pleasure, to return, and brought them into subjection, to be unto you for servants and for handmaids. 

17 Therefore thus saith the Lord; Ye have not hearkened unto me, in proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother, and every man to his neighbour:behold, I proclaim a liberty for you, saith the Lord, to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine; and I will make you to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth. 18 And I will give the men that have transgressed my covenant, which have not performed the words of the covenant which they had made before me, when they cut the calf in twain, and passed between the parts thereof, 

19 The princes of Judah, and the princes of Jerusalem, the eunuchs, and the priests, and all the people of the land, which passed between the parts of the calf; 20 I will even give them into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life:and their dead bodies shall be for meat unto the fowls of the heaven, and to the beasts of the earth. 

21 And Zedekiah king of Judah and his princes will I give into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life, and into the hand of the king of Babylon's army, which are gone up from you. 

22 Behold, I will command, saith the Lord, and cause them to return to this city; and they shall fight against it, and take it, and burn it with fire:and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation without an inhabitant.

Following God By His Spirit: Preface and Chapter 1 / Book available at Amazon.com

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Preface

Life in Christ Series

Living through the Word of God by the guidance of the Holy Spirit of God

This series contains information given by the Spirit of God in dealing with issues pertaining to this present life.

Many direct examples of the words spoken by God though the Holy Spirit are cited throughout the series.

Jesus said:

I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear (From God The Father), I judge and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. 

Jn. 5:30 ...

Jesus heard from God the Father and did and spoke what God gave HIM.

That is our goal also ... to share with you that which we have heard from God by HIS Spirit on the various issues pertaining to this life, and the NT church, and the Bible, and overcoming in this life through the Word of God.

Joan Boney

1
Working of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is described by Jesus as the 

Spirit of Truth, and The Comforter.

Jesus told His disciples what the role of the Holy Spirit would be.

Jesus said: But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Jn. 14:26

... Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. Jn. 16:13

Four things the Holy Spirit does for us:

- HE will teach us all things
- HE will remind us of all Jesus has said to us 
- HE will guide us into all truth
- HE will show us things to come


This was the new way God had chosen to speak to His people. God was going to speak directly to His people by His Spirit, by the Holy Spirit.

In the Old Testament God spoke to the prophets by HIS Spirit. But the Holy Spirit was not given to all people. They went to a prophet to find out what God wanted them to do.

The New Testament was going to be a different way. God was going to speak directly to each of His people by His Spirit, by the Holy Spirit which is the Spirit of Jesus.

(This did not eliminate prophets from the NT church. Prophets still exist in the NT church ... Eph.4 ... and prophets appointed by God still do the work of a prophet which is often delivering messages of correction and warning to the church.) 

But the Holy Spirit was now given to all in the NT church, all who belong to God have HIS Spirit. There are many sitting in church groups who do not have the Holy Spirit but these are individuals who put themselves into the church without God revealing HIMSELF to them.

Jude speaks of this ...

17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18 How that they told you there should be mockers (imitators) in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. 19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

But for those who are really of God in the NT church, we see the following:

Heb. 1:1 ... God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by HIS Son, whom HE hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also HE made the worlds; 

After Jesus arose, God gave His Spirit to the individuals who were the church, HIS chosen.

Eph. 1 ... in WHOM also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of HIS glory.

Thus we have the wisdom of God in form of the HOLY Spirit given to dwell in us as HE brings thoughts to our minds to show us the will of God and the way of God as we walk on this earth.

The Spirit of God searches the heart of God and reveals to us the will of God.

I Cor. 2 ... 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

Here is an example of the way the Holy Spirit showed me the will of God as I was dealing with a problem with a neighbor. She had misunderstood what was happening and blamed me for something and I was considering whether to write her a note and explain what had happened. She has been angry with me for about 8 years and when I tried before to speak with her she said she was not interested and slammed the receiver of the phone down. I have been unable to do anything about her anger. But again she misunderstood something and I was willing to try again to communicate with her and try to make reconciliation. I prayed, asking God how HE wanted me to deal with her.

Immediately the Holy Spirit reminded me of the following scripture which showed me exactly what God wanted me to do in this current matter.

Mt. 15 ... Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. 14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

When I read this scripture, I knew exactly what God wanted me to do concerning this neighbor who was unwilling to forgive: Let her alone. So I did not try to explain to her again.

This is one way the Holy Spirit shows us the will of God in current matters. HE reminds us of everything Jesus has said to us. He may remind us of a scripture as in this case. Or HE might remind us of a dream given by God from the Spirit of Jesus, the Holy Spirit speaks to us in dreams, often to warn us or to show us what to do on this earth.

(There are many examples in the Bible of God giving dreams to HIS people to lead them. Mt. 2 has several times God appeared to Joseph in a dream. God also show Paul things in dreams.) 

Example of God giving me a dream to show me what to do in an issue pertaining to this life:

After my mother died, my cousin wanted me to move to the city where she lives. God gave me a dream showing me this cousin's house and how I could not go out through her house. I would have to go out another way. I knew not to move to the city where my cousin lives. I ended up moving to another city 350 miles away from her.


When I was born again in 1975, I had no idea of how the Holy Spirit is used by God to lead us. Through the coming months and years, God taught me about the working of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the believer. It is very helpful to understand how God uses the Holy Spirit in our lives so we can make decisions in assurance that we are going in the way God wants

These books are available in Kindle version and paperback from Amazon.com 

Type Joan Boney in the Amazon search box to purchase these books

(We are allowed by Amazon under our publication agreement to post a portion of each book as a sample. If you would like to have the book, you can purchase it from Amazon.)

(Also available in paperback)

Acts 3-4 ... Reading through the Bible

Acts 3

1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. 2And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; 3Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. 

4And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. 5And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. 

6Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. 

7And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. 

9And all the people saw him walking and praising God: 10And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him. 

11And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.
 
12And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? 

13The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. 14But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; 15And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.  

16And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. 

17And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. 18But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. 

19Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; 

20And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: 21Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. 

22For Moses truly said unto the fathers,  A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. 

23And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. 24Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. 

 25Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. 26Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities. 

Acts 4

1 And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,  2Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide. 

4Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.
 
5And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, 6And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. 7And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? 

8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, 9If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; 

10Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 

11This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 

12Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. 

13Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. 14And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
 
15But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, 16Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. 17But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. 

18And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 

19But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. 20For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. 

21So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done. 22For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.
 
23And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. 

24And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: 

25Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? 26The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. 

27For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, 28For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. 

29And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, 30By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. 

31And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
 
32And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. 

33And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. 

34Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, 35And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. 

36And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, 37Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.