If we have the Holy Spirit, the truth is in us

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Jesus was speaking to the Samaritan woman by the well of water.

John 4:13-14    Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:  But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

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The "water" given us by the Holy Spirit that is in us is truth for HE is the Spirit of Truth and he searches the heart of God to reveal to us the will of God in the matter at hand.  I Corinthians 2

We learn to trust in God and to trust in the Spirit of God who shows us the will of God.  He reminds us of those things spoken by Jesus and gives us words of truth to show us what to do and even to show us truth about other people so we would not be deceived nor led astray.  John 14:26 & John 16:13

Sometimes I'm thinking well of another person because of their seemingly kind words when God will bring exactly the opposite to my mind to show me what that person is through HIS eyes.

In such cases, I'm usually led to leave that person alone.  Discretion means "separation".

Several years ago, I went to Europe with a woman who was from our church group.  She and her husband had spent much time ministering to churches in Europe.  She told me this:  "You must learn to recognize the spirit that is in that person because the language difference clouds everything."

I have the experience in the USA where people often try to pretend things to me that are not real about themselves.  They try to show themselves in a better light to me than is true.  Often they drain me completely without benefit to themselves and causing harm to me.  So here, too, we must be sensitive to the spirit and especially to the Holy Spirit that is in us as HE warns us about them so we would not go among them and deceive ourselves by them.

The elect of God are not the elect because they say they are of God.  The spirit that is in them shows us truth about them.  We who have the Spirit of God witness to the Spirit of God when that spirit is in another person and we know that person is the elect of God when we have the witness of the Spirit of God that is in us.

We have to learn to trust the Spirit of God that is in us for HE is truth.

When Jesus sent HIS disciples out, HE told them:

Matthew 10:26    Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.

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

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If you feel questionable about some "good seeming person", don't try to reason this away.  Commit it to God in prayer and ask HIM to make the truth clear to you.

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Instruction in Righteousness: From I Thessalonians 4

1-5    Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.

For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.

For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:

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6-8    That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.

For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us HIS Holy Spirit.

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Uncleanness is listed as one of the works of the flesh.  I feel this pertains to those who defraud others.

Galatians 5:19-21    Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft (living in various superstitions), hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 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.

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I Thessalonians 4:9-12    But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;

And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;

That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

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I Thessalonians 4:13-18    But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep (dead), that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with HIM.

For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent (precede) them which are asleep (dead).

For the Lord HIMSELF shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

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God got my attentions on "in the air".

When Jesus returns, the dead in Christ will rise to meet HIM "in the air".

Those who are of Jesus and still alive at that time will be changed in "the twinkling of an eye".   I Corinthians 15

Those who are still alive at that time will be removed from these fleshly bodies and will be instantly given new bodies and then they will arise to meet Jesus and those who were dead.

It will all be in the air, not on this present earth.

There is a new Jerusalem wherein dwelleth righteousness.  II Peter 3 & Revelation 21

After the dead in Christ have risen and the people of God have been removed from this present earth, the wrath of God will be poured out on this present earth.  Revelation 8-16

After all the appointed wrath of God, the great tribulation, this present heaven and earth will be destroyed by God.

The apostle Peter tells us of the destruction of the heaven and earth as we know it today.

II Peter 3:10-14    But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

Nevertheless we, according to HIS promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of HIM in peace, without spot, and blameless.

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God gave the apostle John a vision of the new Jerusalem, the new heaven and the new earth.

Revelation 21:1-8    And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and HE will dwell with them, and they shall be HIS people, and God HIMSELF shall be with them, and be their God.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

And HE that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And HE said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

And HE said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be HIS God, and he shall be MY son.

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

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Jesus said:  My kingdom is not of this world.   John 18:36

In the above scriptures, God shows us what will happen at the end.

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BOOK: Psalms

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* Psalm 145

I will extol THEE, my God, O king; and I will bless THY name (The Word) for ever and ever.
 
Every day will I bless THEE; and I will praise THY name for ever and ever.

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and HIS greatness is unsearchable.
 

One generation shall praise THY works to another, and shall declare THY mighty acts. 

I will speak of the glorious honour of THY majesty, and of THY wondrous works.
 
And men shall speak of the might of THY terrible acts: and I will declare THY greatness.
 
They shall abundantly utter the memory of THY great goodness, and shall sing of THY righteousness.
 
The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.

The Lord is good to all: and HIS tender mercies are over all HIS works.

All THY works shall praise THEE, O Lord; and THY saints shall bless THEE.
 

They shall speak of the glory of THY kingdom, and talk of THY power;
 
To make known to the sons of men HIS mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of HIS kingdom.

THY kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and THY dominion endureth throughout all generations.
 

The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.

The eyes of all wait upon THEE; and THOU givest them their meat in due season. 

THOU openest THINE hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.

The Lord is righteous in all HIS ways, and holy in all HIS works.
 

The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon HIM, to all that call upon HIM in truth. 

He will fulfil the desire of them that fear HIM:

HE also will hear their cry, and will save them.

The Lord preserveth all them that love HIM: but all the wicked will HE destroy.
 
My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord: and let all flesh bless HIS holy name for ever and ever.

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BOOK: Exhortations

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Volume 8 ... #11

Let God Be True and Every Man a Liar

God said the following to Job ...

Job 40 ...  God said ...

2 Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct HIM?
he that reproveth God, let him answer it. 

... 8 Wilt thou also disannul MY judgment? wilt thou condemn ME, that thou mayest be righteous?
 
9 Hast thou an arm like God?
or canst thou thunder with A VOICE like HIM?

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It is so foolish when humans contend with God, thinking themselves wise and judging by their own fleshly thinking.

The apostle Paul spoke of this in the following scripture.

Romans 3 ...   3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? 4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

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Put yourself on the side of God ... If we would be justified, agree with God, not with man.

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Born of the flesh. Born of the Spirit.

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

John 3:6   Jesus says:  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

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The flesh profits nothing when we think of something to do.  

John 6:63   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.

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A person can hear a preacher preach the real word of God and he can go out and do what he heard the preacher say to do and profit nothing.

I went forward at a church and was baptized in water when I was 15-years-old.  I was not changed in any way.  I attended church for a season and then stopped.  I was not born of the Spirit but of my own fleshly thinking.  I didn't want to go to hell and I thought if I was baptized that meant I would go to hell.

When I was approximately 38-years-old, God spoke to me my HIS Spirit.  "Joan, you know those mistakes you've been making all these years?  Those weren't mistakes.  Those were sins."  I was changed immediately.  Born of the Spirit!

After this, I was baptized a second time. 

When the minister lowered me into the water, the Spirit said to me, "This is like being buried with Christ."

When I came out of the water, the Spirit said, "This is like being raised with Christ."

Now the person I once was is dead.  I am now raised to serve God rather than serve my flesh as I once did.  Now I am a new creature.

II Corinthians 5:17    Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

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Jesus was born of the Spirit of God, not by a natural man.

Born means:  to come into existence by

Unless we are born of the Spirit also, we cannot see the things of God.  It cannot be done by our flesh, or by study, or by wanting to learn.  We must be born of the Spirit of God to discern spiritual things.

It is a mystery and a miracle.

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Many church goers are born by the will of man and not by the Spirit of God.  They copy, imitate, those who seem to be of God.  (this is flesh doing a work)  They say what sounds right but it has no power.  (work of their flesh)  And to those who have the Spirit of God, they are always a little off.

In the last times, the churches will be filled with such people who are born of themselves and of the will of their families, not of the Spirit.

Jude speaks of them.

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

II Timothy 3:7    Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

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But those born of the Spirit of God are like the example of Peter.  Without any human learning, God put HIS truth into Peter's heart.

Jesus said the church would be built on this, the revelation of God directly to that person.

Matthew 16:13-18    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?

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

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

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

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.

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock (the word revealed to you by God) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

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Peter was blessed because God revealed THE WORD to him.  We, who belong to God, are blessed also because God has revealed HIMSELF to us by HIS Spirit.

John 1:13    Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

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And with us who are born of the Spirit, we can do nothing by our flesh.  It is all by the Spirit.  When the Spirit authors the work, we can do it.  When the Spirit gives us something to say, there is power in that word.  When we say something because we think we should say it, there is no power for it was born of what we think, we are trying to do something.  Power is of God and by HIS Spirit.

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The choice between following God by the Word and going another way

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

As a newly born-again Christian in 1975, I had a choice to make.  I could follow God by HIS Word or I could do what seemed right.

I decided the Bible showed us the will of God in the various issues of this life.

Proverbs 1 helped me to see the truth of this.

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Proverbs 1:1-4    The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;  To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;  To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;  To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.

I was certain wisdom from God was what I needed, so I set about to obtain my wisdom from God.

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I could see from Proverbs 1, how deadly it would be to go any way other than God's word.

Proverbs 1:23-32   Turn you at MY reproof: behold, I will pour out MY spirit unto you, I will make known MY words unto you.

Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out MY hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all MY counsel, and would none of MY reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;  When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon ME, but I will not answer; they shall seek ME early, but they shall not find ME:

For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:

They would none of MY counsel: they despised all MY reproof.

Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

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Proverbs 1:33    But whoso hearkeneth unto ME shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

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I really believed this.  If I went in the way of God, HE would keep me and protect me.  If I went in my own wisdom, I would destroy myself.

So I set myself to find God's wisdom.  I read the Bible and paid attention to various scriptures and made changes accordingly once that scripture got strong enough inside me to cause the change to happen.  I let the scripture take root inside me by keeping it before me day and night.  Eventually I found I was actually doing that verse of scripture.

Later I saw this is exactly what God told Joshua to do.

Joshua 1:5-9   There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.

Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

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Doesn't God command us by HIS Word?  I believed HE did.  So the Word was as if God HIMSELF was telling me what to do.

I developed a good fear of God, a fear of the LORD, knowing if I went HIS way it would be good for me and if I did not go HIS way I would bring disaster upon myself.

So I set about to see what God's way was, mostly through prayer and by reading the Bible.

I hunted scripture as a person hunts great treasure.  And when I found a scripture "to do", I rejoiced and set about to get that scripture to go deeply inside of me!

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Psalm 1:1-3    Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in HIS law doth he meditate day and night.

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

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I read the Bible as one looking for nuggets of gold.  And when I found a piece of gold, I was determined to get it inside me by keeping it before me and thinking on it... for days, or weeks, or even months.

I still do this.

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Instruction in Righteousness: From I Thessalonians 3

1-3   Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;
And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:

That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.

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For two or three years after I was born again, I attended a faith-movement type church.  In that we were taught that we should not have any "afflictions" and that troubles were from devil and we had authority over devils.

That doctrine is incorrect.

As Christians we will have troubles but God helps us deal with all afflictions of this present life.  So our hope is in God and not in ourselves as we live here.

Psalm 34:19    Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

John 16:33   Jesus said:  These things I have spoken unto you, that in ME ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

We overcome in each trouble because God helps us.  We have in us the Holy Spirit who guides us and reminds us of things of God in the midst of the trouble to help us and to show us the will of God in the problem.  We have the comfort of the Holy Spirit who is the Comforter, and the Holy Scriptures.  Jesus sits at right hand of God and intercedes for us.  Romans 8  The Holy Spirit also intercedes for us in the trouble. 

Therefore we overcome in each trouble by God and all the help HE has provided for us.

But we do have trouble as long as we live on this present earth and as long as we have flesh for bodies, for by our flesh are emotions that cause trouble and physical pain.

But the Spirit in us is greater than our flesh and other enemies.

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

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I Thessalonians 3:4-13    For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.

For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.

But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:

Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:

For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.

For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God; Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.

And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:

To the end He may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all HIS saints.

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BOOK: Psalms

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*Psalm 144

Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:

My goodness, and my fortress;
my high tower, and my deliverer;
my shield, and HE in WHOM I trust;

WHO subdueth my people under me.

(Prophecy concerning Jesus:  Heb. 2:6)

Lord, what is man, that THOU takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that THOU makest account of HIM!


Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away.

Bow THY heavens, O Lord, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.

Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them.

Send THINE hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of strange children; Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

I will sing a new song unto THEE, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto THEE.

It is HE that giveth salvation unto kings: who delivereth David HIS servant from the hurtful sword.

Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood:

That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace:

That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets:

That our oxen may be strong to labour; that there be no breaking in, nor going out; that there be no complaining in our streets.

Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord. 

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BOOK: Exhortations

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Volume 8 #10. 

To Keep Temptations Under Control ... 

Watch and Pray, says Jesus

Jesus said ... Mt. 26:41 ... Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation:the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

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This means:  be watchful, and when you feel your flesh starting to rise up start praying ...

It is sort of like when you feel a headache coming on you are aware of it and often will take preventive steps, such as two aspirin, before it gets full control of you.

Our flesh consists of various works which are tempted by things we hear and see or feel.

When we feel anger coming on in us and feel it start to rise up, we stop and pray, asking God not to allow that to happen.  We must be "watchful", realizing we are in danger.

We "watch", stay awake, don't try to ignore it when you feel something of your flesh start to rise up.

The flesh is always there, just waiting to rise up in us and take over and produce its works which are always bad.

The flesh never improves.  As long as we live on this earth in these present bodies, the flesh lies in wait.

So we have to "watch", be aware ... heading the flesh off through prayer.   This is what Jesus is saying to us in Mt. 26:41

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Gal. 5 tells us various areas where our flesh rises up.

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; 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.

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Consider the subject of "emulations"  ...

Emulation means:  to try to equal or surpass another person, typically by imitation

My housekeeper said to me:  "Don't you ever feel like you have to keep up with the Joneses?" 

That would be emulation.

If we do feel  this about someone, that is when we need to pray ... when we first recognize this temptation ... don't push it aside ... pray! immediately!

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Rival is the root meaning of emulation.

In sports we often hear of "rivals" and it is considered a good thing by fleshly humans.

It is a strong tendency of the flesh to outdo others in some area... appearance, games

But it is a work of our flesh and control is needed through prayer.

Considering again what Jesus told us:

 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation:the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

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Consider another very strong fleshly tendency ... variance  

This means:  to vary 

- disagreeing
- quarreling

November, 2016, USA ... very strong feelings over US presidential election provoked the fleshly work of "variance" ... each side thought themselves right and this pushes the flesh toward variance and debating and quarreling, thinking themselves right ... but it is a work of our flesh when we fall into this trap.

If we recognize it coming, we can start praying and avoid this temptation through prayer:

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Sometimes the Holy Spirit will rise up in us to give us a scripture to fight the flesh ... such as

"My kingdom is not of this world."  (Jesus said in Jn. 18)

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But the answer for us is prayer ... When we do have a scripture it must be by the Holy Spirit reminding us of  that scripture in order for the power of the scripture to be there ... we can quote a scripture by our flesh and it becomes just words ... real power of God is by the Spirit of God, even behind a scripture.

So prayer is what we are to do to overcome temptation.

But we must be alert, watchful, and recognize when our flesh is beginning to be stirred up ... and then pray immediately. 

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One work of the flesh is "uncleanness" ... 

Paul defines "uncleanness" as the temptation to defraud another person ...

I Thess. 4 ...   That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. 7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us HIS holy Spirit.

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Prayer

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Concerning prayer, Jesus says:

Matthew 6:5    And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

I hate praying in public ... it feels so phony to me.

I have rarely done this myself.  When I travelled and had meetings for radio audience, I did not begin the meeting with a formal prayer.  I just walked onto the platform and began speaking that which I felt God had put into my ear at the moment.

Once a neighbor asked me to Thanksgiving dinner.  She asked me if I would pray before the meal.  I remember telling her that I try not to be that hypocritical.  She got another woman at the meal to pray.  I just sat there.  I felt this woman was basically praying to the people at the dinner and not to God.  That's the way public prayers often turn out.

I once played bridge and they would have dinners from time to time and one man was always asked to pray before the dinner.  I really hated this.  At the beginning of his prayer, he would bow his head and close his eyes (as did most people in the room).  Then after he spoke a few words, he would pull a note card out of his pocket and "pray" a long time.  I assume he had a list on the note card of items to speak of.  His "prayer" was more like a sermon.

On football field in USA, players often cross themselves "for luck"  (religious superstition).  Some kneel down and bow their head and are obviously praying.  TV cameras love to show them praying.  They seem "so nice."  And football is a rough, violent sport and the organizers want to make it seem as nice as possible.  I hate this.

At one point in time, I lived in Clovis, NM (USA).  The people across the street did home schooling.  One day I noticed a group of about 15 adults and teen-agers standing in a circle in front of their house.  (It reminded me of witchcraft which I have read about in books.)  They were holding hands and had their head bowed, obviously praying, obviously to be seen of men otherwise they would have done this inside their house or in their fenced back yard.  I hated this.

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Matthew 6:6    Jesus says:  But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.


I was very young when I was sent to college so they sent me to a church school.  They had daily chapel which had required attendance.  They had long prayers before the speaker spoke.  I hated these prayers.

After I was born again, I attended various churches.  In each church, someone would pray before the message.  I hated these prayers.  They always seemed to me to be ritual and of no real power nor feeling, just a formality.

To me, all these things make a mockery of prayer.

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Matthew 6:7-8   Jesus says:    But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.  Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask HIM.

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Prayer is communicating with God, not with man.

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Before we were born again ... After we were born again

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Before I was born again, I often delighted in wicked ways, in being intelligent or superior, in reading books where characters were on brink of what I now know to be adultery.

After I was born again, I shunned such things.

I was completely different after I was born again.

Certainly we are changed many times after we are born again as we see a scripture and conform ourselves to that scripture, being recreated over and over into the image of Christ by doing the scriptures.

Now we see sin.  We have the Holy Spirit to show us truth and convict us of sin.  We do not want to go in the way of sin.  Now we want to avoid sin.  Now I skip those pages in a book to avoid the sections where adultery is about to surface, or I completely put that book away from me.

If I feel I'm in danger of sinning, I call on God for help and God always answers my prayer and helps me, keeping me from that sin.

Certainly we are warned by the Holy Spirit and kept by the Holy Spirit when we make choices to go in God's way.

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Proverbs 1:23    Turn you at MY reproof: behold, I will pour out MY spirit unto you, I will make known MY words unto you.

Proverbs 1:33    Whoso hearkeneth unto ME shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

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Proverbs 2:1-6    My son, if thou wilt receive MY words, and hide MY commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;  Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;  If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of HIS mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

Proverbs 2:7-8    HE layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: HE is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.  HE keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of HIS saints.

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Proverbs 2:10-15    When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;  Discretion (separation) shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: To deliver thee from the way of the evil, from the man that speaketh froward things; Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness; Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked; Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:

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After we are born again, we make very different choices because now we have the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Truth, in us.

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Instruction in Righteousness: From I Thessalonians 2

1-3    For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:  But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.

For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:

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A minister must speak in truth, without deceit or guile.

It takes courage to do the work of God.

One problem that happens in the church groups, even when the minister is of God and is holding fast to scripture.  "Mockers" come into the church group.  These are people who want to be religious, want to be godly, but do not have the Spirit of God.  They watch people they consider religious and try to copy them.  They read scripture and try to do what it says.  But they are doing all this by their own minds, not by the Spirit and therefore they are always off a little.


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

They are saying to themselves, "I need to be such and such," so they take on that appearance.  But it is only an appearance and not real.

Pay attention to their fruits.  Are they always trouble?  Are they always off just a little?

Jesus says:  Matthew 7:16-20    Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?  Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

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I Thessalonians 2:4   But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

Many times we speak messages we know people in our own church group will hate.  We speak nevertheless because we are fully persuaded that is what God wants us to speak.  We, who are ministers of God, are set in the church by God to do the work of God and we must be faithful to God.

They are fortunate that we will do this work of God, setting them in proper order.  For by our correction God is appeased.  God is totally righteous and cannot stand their actions when they are play acting religion.

Once God told Moses HE would not go up with the congregation for if HE were in the midst of them, HE would slay them.  Exodus 33:3

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For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:

Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.

But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:

Don't be deceived by this.  We have scripture where Paul warned the church to get themselves right in the sight of God before he got there otherwise he would "bewail" many when he came.

II Corinthians 12:20-21 ... Paul says:  For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:
And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.

So when the church followed God with a pure heart Paul could be gentle among them.  But when they were doing wicked works while sitting in the church, Paul would go after them and speak strongly to them.  Once Paul even turned one of them over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh.  I Corinthians 5

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I Thessalonians 2:8-13     So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.

For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.

Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:

As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,

That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto HIS kingdom and glory.

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I Thessalonians 2:13    For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

There are some in our church group who are this way.  But there are also those who are as in Jude, putting themselves into the church group without having the Spirit of God.

We rejoice greatly over the elect of God, witnessing the Spirit of God in them and seeing their faith in God and their continual keeping themselves by the Spirit that is in them.

The ones in the church group who are not of God are not that way.  They are like a radio station that is not tuned-in and is always a little off.

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

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I Thessalonians 2:14-20    For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:  Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:  Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.

But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.

Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.

For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

For ye are our glory and joy.

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BOOK: Psalms

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e-Book & paperback

* Psalm 143

Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications: in THY faithfulness answer me, and in THY righteousness. And enter not into judgment with THY servant: for in THY sight shall no man living be justified.

For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.
 

Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.
 
I remember the days of old;

I meditate on all THY works; I muse on the work of THY hands.

I stretch forth my hands unto THEE: my soul thirsteth after THEE, as a thirsty land. 

Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit faileth: hide not THY face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.
 

Cause me to hear THY lovingkindness in the morning; for in THEE do I trust:

Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto THEE. 

Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies: I flee unto THEE to hide me. 

Teach me to do THY will; for THOU art my God: THY spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness. 

Quicken me (make me alive) , O Lord, for THY name's sake: for THY righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble.


And of THY mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am THY servant.

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BOOK: Exhortations

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 Volume 8 ... #9

God Places HIS Laws Into Our Minds and Hearts

When I was in elementary school, I overheard my mother speaking with my aunt concerning my dad's first wife... I was shocked. 

I didn't know my dad had a "first" wife.  And I was also devastated.  My childish reaction was I didn't want to see my dad again because I knew divorce and remarriage was against God.

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How did I know this?  I had never heard any human say this.  I didn't read the Bible at that time.  I didn't attend any church at that time.  So how did I know this?

I believe it is what we see in God's description of the New Covenant.

Heb. 8 ... 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.

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Later, when I was about 15, I went forward and was baptized at the church my aunt attended. 

But I was not born again at that time.  I was baptized because I didn't want to go to hell and my understanding at that time was if I did this I wouldn't go to hell.  (Later when I was 37, God spoke to me by HIS Spirit and I was then born again, born of HIS Spirit.)


At that church group, there was a young man who pursued me.  At one point, he tried to get me to have sex with him.  I refused because it would be wrong ... God had put this into my heart.

Humans have a mind and they think they learn everything of themselves and they glory in what they can do.


They forget God. 

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Timing of this message from God

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Since 1980, I have attended various church groups only to find twisting of scripture and omitting of scripture and changing of doctrine from what the scriptures tell us about the subject.

For example:  Matthew 5:32 ... Jesus says ... whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

The man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

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This is just one of the doctrines changed in so many churches today.

I grieved over what I witnessed in the various church groups.  I found I could not return to these churches because of what they were doing to scripture.  Each time I saw this, I would go to pastor and talk to him and show him scripture on the subject but never was there any repentance, sorrow over what he had done to scripture, nor change back to the scripture.

I had no idea what was going on.

From 1980 to 2017, I witnessed this problem in church groups without knowing why this kept happening.

Then in early 2017, God gave me one word which showed me the reason this was happening in church groups.

"restraint"

I recalled that in a scripture as follows:

II Thessalonians 2    NASB    Let no one in any way deceive you, for it (the day of the Lord) will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.

Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things?

And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. Then that lawless one will be revealed

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When I read this scripture, I saw immediately the restraint against antichrist was the scripture.

As soon as churches removed portion of scripture and went another way, antichrist could move into the church and the "apostasy" would take place in the churches.

Paul said Jesus would not return "unless the apostasy comes first."

This had to happen in the churches to set up the return of Jesus.  That is the reason churches were going this way, to allow the apostasy to happen.

Now I understood why they did this and would not repent.  

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Concerning the timing of the message ... It is interesting to me that God showed me this truth in 2017 rather than earlier.  I'd been seeing the problem in churches for more than 40 years before God opened my eyes as to what was happening in the churches.  

I think this is because we are now on the threshold of the return of Jesus.

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