Monday, February 29, 2016

Mark 6 ... Reading through the Bible

1 And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him. 

2 And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue:and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him. 

4 But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. 

5 And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. 

6 And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.
 

7 And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits; 

8 And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse:9 But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats. 

(What great faith it would take to go out this way!)

10 And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place. 11 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. 

12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent. 13 And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them. 

14 And king Herod heard of him; (for his name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him. 15 Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets. 

16 But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded:he is risen from the dead. 17 For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias 'sake, his brother Philip's wife:for he had married her. 18 For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife. 

19 Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not:20 For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. 

21 And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee; 22 And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee. 

23 And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom. 24 And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist. 25 And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist. 

26 And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her. 

27 And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought:and he went and beheaded him in the prison, 28 And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel:and the damsel gave it to her mother. 29 And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb. 

30 And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught. 

31 And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while:for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. 

32 And they departed into a desert place by ship privately. 33 And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him. 

34 And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd:and he began to teach them many things. 

35 And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed:36 Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread:for they have nothing to eat. 

37 He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. 

And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat? 

38 He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. 

And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.  

39 And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass. 40 And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties. 41 And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all. 42 And they did all eat, and were filled. 

43 And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes. 44 And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men. 

45 And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people. 

46 And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray. 

47 And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. 48 And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them:and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. 49 But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out:50 For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer:it is I; be not afraid.

 51 And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased:and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. 52 For they considered not the miracle of the loaves:for their heart was hardened. 

53 And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore. 54 And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him, 55 And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was. 56 And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment:and as many as touched him were made whole.

God helps us in everything, secular and spiritual

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet



Promise to the church:

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. James 1:5  

From Cathy Varner: Member of the Body of Christ

When I was reading a book through an email attachment, I must have touched something accidentally, and the normal white background on my I Pad became blue and a symbol that said copy would appear. I didn't know how to get rid of this. I tried tapping my finger and double tapping. I asked God for help in how to get rid of this blue background. I continued reading, for it was possible to read with blue background …but it was easier to read with white background.
In a few minutes the thought came to hold my finger down on the screen longer. I'd seen my husband do this for other things in the past. I did this, holding my finger down for just a second or two, and the blue background disappeared.

Then more recently a similar thing happened with a screenshot I was reading. Since I thought I had the answer, I did the same thing I did before, holding my finger down for a few seconds, but blue background did not go away.

I kept trying, then finally asked God how would I get rid of it (blue background) this time? I did a single tap with my finger and blue disappeared.

From Barbara Preston: Member of the Body of Christ
I went to my desktop computer to write an email. After I logged on I decided to delete several emails before writing but when I tried to do this I got this blue circle which spun around and after a while gave me a message that the server wasn't responding.

I couldn't open the "compose" screen because of this problem.

So I prayed asking God to please help me with this and the thought came to shut down the computer completely and restart it.

I did this and then the computer worked just fine.

James 1:5 … 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.
The Holy Spirit brings to our minds the solution.

Jesus says …

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

Jn. 16:13-14 … 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. 14 He shall glorify ME: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

When God shows us how to do something and we understand it was God who helped us with the problem… we glorify God, glorify Jesus … and not ourselves.

From Joan Boney:
One day, a woman revealed a sin to me and I was almost destroyed by what she said.

(Confess your sins to God not to humans … God has the power to cleanse you of all unrighteousness I Jn. 1… Humans do not have this power and you can really hurt another person by telling that person of your sin.)

I cried out to God … “Please help me. I am about to be destroyed.”

After turning to God I stayed very still.

In a few minutes, I was reminded of a scripture. (Holy Spirit reminds us of that which Jesus says.  Jn. 14:26)  I went to that scripture and there was something in that passage that really reached me strongly. And upon reading that and thinking upon that, I was fully restored and cleansed from the words of this woman.

The Holy Spirit reminds us of that which Jesus has said.

Jn. 14:26 … Jesus says … 26 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.

Many Christians do not recognize when God helped them, and when the solution comes to them, they glorify themselves thinking themselves to be wise.

When we acknowledge that God brought us the solution and it was not of ourselves but of God, we give glory to God.

People of this world do not want us to glorify God. They want us to glorify humans by telling how wonderful those humans are.

A few years ago, my 14-year-old cat died. I was so grieved. I did not plan to get another cat because at that time I was 74-years-old and the cat might outlive me and then who would care for the cat?

I cried out to God that night, “I need help …”

Instantly I heard (in a thought) … “Get on Internet and buy a Siamese cat.”
(Holy Spirit shows us the will of God. I Cor. 2)
I found a breeder I felt I could trust on Internet … (Siamese cats can be tricky and you need a good breeder.)

That was a Saturday morning. She told me she could have a kitten to me by Wednesday. We worked out the arrangements.

My grief over my cat who had died left immediately never to return.

God knows exactly what we need. We may have one plan but God gives us the plan that really works!


Isaiah 40 ... Viewing the works of God through scripture

1 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
 

2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her,
that her warfare is accomplished,
that her iniquity is pardoned:
for she hath received of the Lord 's hand double for all her sins.
 

3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord,
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.



(The above verse is prophecy concerning John the Baptist)
 

4 Every valley shall be exalted,
and every mountain and hill shall be made low:
and the crooked shall be made straight,
and the rough places plain:
5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all flesh shall see it together:
for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
 

6 The voice said, Cry.
And he said, What shall I cry?
All flesh is grass,
and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:
7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth:
because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it:
surely the people is grass.

8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth:
but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

 

9 O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain;
O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength;
lift it up, be not afraid;
say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!
10 Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand,
and his arm shall rule for him:
behold, his reward is with him,
and his work before him.

11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd:
he shall gather the lambs with his arm,
and carry them in his bosom,
and shall gently lead those that are with young.
 

12 Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand,
and meted out heaven with the span,
and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure,
and weighed the mountains in scales,
and the hills in a balance?
 

13 Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord,
or being his counsellor hath taught him?
14 With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him,
and taught him in the path of judgment,
and taught him knowledge,
and shewed to him the way of understanding?
 

15 Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket,
and are counted as the small dust of the balance:
behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.
16 And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn,
nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering.
 

17 All nations before him are as nothing;
and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.

18 To whom then will ye liken God?
or what likeness will ye compare unto him?
19 The workman melteth a graven image,
and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold,
and casteth silver chains.
20 He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot;
he seeketh unto him a cunning workman
to prepare a graven image, that shall not be moved.


21 Have ye not known? have ye not heard?
hath it not been told you from the beginning?
have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?
22 It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth,
and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers;
that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain,
and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:
23 That bringeth the princes to nothing;
he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.
24 Yea, they shall not be planted;
yea, they shall not be sown:yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth:
and HE shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither,
and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble.
 

25 To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.
 

26 Lift up your eyes on high,
and behold who hath created these things,
that bringeth out their host by number:
he calleth them all by names
by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power;
not one faileth.
 

27 Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel,
My way is hid from the Lord,
and my judgment is passed over from my God?
 

28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard,
that the everlasting God, the Lord,
the Creator of the ends of the earth,
fainteth not, neither is weary?
there is no searching of his understanding.
 

29 He giveth power to the faint;
and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
and the young men shall utterly fall:

31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings as eagles;
they shall run, and not be weary;
and they shall walk, and not faint.

Exhortation from book: Building Your House On The Word Of God (available from Amazon/Kindle)





If you would like to download the book to read on your tablet or computer,
you can go to Amazon.com and type Joan Boney in the search box 
to find and purchase it.

Dreams: Chapter 8 / Book available now on Amazon/Kindle

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet



God Warns Us Through Dreams


I know of a woman who had a dream concerning her grandson. She dreamed he was in motorcycle accident. She told her daughter and they promised the boy (who was college age) would no longer ride motorcycle.

A few months later, the boy was killed on motorcycle.

He continued to ride the motorcycle after his grandmother reported the dream.



These eBooks are now available from Amazon/Kindle:

Go to Amazon.com and type Joan Boney in the search box to purchase these eBooks on Amazon/Kindle.

(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 on your e-reader book shelf, you can purchase the book from Amazon.)


Kindle Guide eBook Information

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

by  Pam Padgett  and Joan Boney

 


Kindle Edition ...  (Coming soon 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. 



Case Studies:


One 77-year-old man in our church group has had a very serious heart operation.  One hand ended up partially paralyzed and he reported he was having difficulty now lifting his paper Bible.  He wanted to learn to use a Kindle.  He began using the guide we wrote which is "Graphically Illustrated" step by step with both pictures and words showing how to do everything.   


His wife reported the following:  "John is very impressed.  He can understand everything as we go along and the pictures of each step are a life saver.  What a wonderful concept!" 


 


An 80-year-old woman in our church group lost her 94-year-old husband a few weeks before she decided to learn to use the Kindle using our "Graphically Illustrated" guide.  She has many physical problems and walks with walker.  She, too, had very strong success in learning to use the Kindle.  Now she uses her Kindle all the time for emails, music, books, games ...  


Can you imagine how much this means to her at this point in life? 


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

Sunday, February 28, 2016

Mark 5 ... Reading through the Bible

And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. 2 And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3 Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:4 Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces:neither could any man tame him.  

5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. 6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, 7 And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. 8 For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. 9 And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion:for we are many. 10 And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country. 

11 Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding. 12 And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. 13 And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine:and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea. 

14 And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done. 15 And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind:and they were afraid. 16 And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine. 17 And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts. 

18 And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. 19 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. 20 And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him:and all men did marvel. 

21 And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him:and he was nigh unto the sea. 22 And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, 23 And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death:I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live. 

24 And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him. 25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, 26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, 27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. 28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. 29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. 30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? 31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? 32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. 33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. 34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague. 

35 While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead:why troublest thou the Master any further? 36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe. 

37 And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. 38 And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. 39 And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. 40 And they laughed him to scorn. 

But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying. 41 And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. 42 And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment. 43 And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.

What does the Holy Spirit do for the believer?

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet


Most in church groups have heard of the Holy Spirit but few Christians really understand what the Holy Spirit does.

First, what the Holy Spirit does not do … The Holy Spirit never takes over the human body and makes the human do crazy things as some church groups have thought.

I once visited a non-denomination church group. The pastor was teaching the Sunday school class when all of a sudden a woman jumped up and screamed “Praise the Lord” and threw her hands into the air above her head and began running in circles around the church group.

People began laughing and became excited. They apparently thought this was the Holy Spirit in this woman causing her to do this.

I was horrified!

The Holy Spirit would never do such a thing. For this would be out of order. And the apostle Paul instructed the following for the gathering of the church.

I Cor. 14 … When we come together in the church … Let all things be done unto edifying.

… 40 Let all things be done decently and in order.


“Edify” means: to instruct that one would grow spiritually

At one time, there was a church group called “Holy Rollers” in USA … They rolled about on the floor when the “spirit” took over. This “spirit” was not the Spirit of God but another spirit.

Some church groups practice an act which they call "slain in the spirit". The person goes forward in a line similar to a prayer line.  Minister comes up and puts hands on head of person.  The person learns to completely release body and fall backward.  (person knows there will be someone behind him to catch him)  Person thinks this to show himself to be somehow "godly" and seems to him and other to be a work of God by the spirit.  

But no example of this act in Bible.  Also no real fruit from God as a result of this act.  This is incorrect doctrine.


What does the Holy Spirit do in the believer according to the Bible?

I Cor. 2 … 9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 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.

13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.


Jesus tells us 4 things the Holy Spirit does:

- HE teaches us all things (Jn. 14:26)

- HE reminds us of all Jesus has said (Jn. 14:26)

- He guides us into all truth (Jn. 16:13)

- He shows us things to come (Jn. 16:13)


Jesus calls the Holy Spirit … “The Comforter”“The Spirit of Truth”

The Holy Spirit lives inside each believer and brings to our minds thoughts, ideas, to show us the way of God as we live on this present earth.

When idea comes giving us a way to do something, why is it so strange to some people to think that to be from God?  Are they so prideful in themselves that they was to lift themselves up more and cause other people to praise them for their wisdom?  Why not given glory to God for HIS wisdom which HE gave to us? 

The Holy Spirit reminds us of scriptures to show us the way of God in specific trials of this life and also comforts us in truth from God as we deal with various difficulties.

The Holy Spirit presents to us God’s way of escape for us in temptations and trials.

The Holy Spirit carries truth from God to our minds to fight the ways of our own flesh and the ideas brought by devils.

We overcome through God by faith by HIS Spirit.

And without the Spirit of God we are none of HIS. (Romans 8)

Many Christians fail to even recognize the Holy Spirit when HE brings thoughts to their minds. They just assume they thought of this themselves and often they are puffed up in themselves thinking “they” did this by their own cleverness.

But when we really understand that wisdom was from God carried to our minds by the Holy Spirit, we have a strong weapon for fighting pride, for if God did this, how can we be proud in ourselves?

Therefore we give glory to God when we understand the Holy Spirit did these things for us and gave us wisdom from God in the matter at hand and when we share what HE did with others.