Jesus to HIS disciples

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

John 15:16    Jesus says:  Ye have not chosen ME, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain:

A man reported to me that he just stepped onto his porch one day and all of a sudden something happened to him and he was changed.

A woman in our church group was a drunkard before she was born again.  She kept telling her husband she was going to stop drinking, only to start up again.  One day something happened to her.  She was changed.  Then she wanted to hear of God.   At some point she did quit drinking.

I can really see how it is that Jesus chooses us by the will of God.

Romans 9:15-16   For HE (God) saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.  So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. 

Recently I was thinking of how terrible it would be for me now if God hadn't chosen me and revealed HIMSELF to me when HE did in 1975.

Romans 9:25-26    As HE saith also in Osee, I will call them MY people, which were not MY people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.  And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not MY people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.

The greatest thing that can ever happen to us is to be born again, to be the elect of God, chosen by God.

When that is the case, how can we not find our hope and rest in HIM?  Just recall what happened to you, not by yourself or by your own works but simply by the will of God toward you!  This is a great miracle of God toward us.

Therefore the apostle Paul says to us:

Romans 12:1-2    I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Jesus also said to HIS disciples:

John 15:19  Ye are not of this world, but I have chosen you out of this world.

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Instruction in Righteoousness: From Hebrews 13

1-6    Let brotherly love continue.

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for HE hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.  So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

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7    Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

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8    Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

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9-14   Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.  We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.

Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with HIS own blood, suffered without the gate.

Let us go forth therefore unto HIM without the camp, bearing HIS reproach.

For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

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15-16    By HIM therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to HIS name.

But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

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17    Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

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18-25    Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly. But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.

Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do HIS will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in HIS sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.

Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.

Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.

Grace be with you all. Amen.

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BOOK: Exhortations

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Volume 9 ... #10

Jesus Declares God

John 1:18 ...  No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, HE hath declared HIM.

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Jesus, who was raised from the dead by the power of God and is now seated at the right hand of God the Father, reveals The Father to us who belong to HIM.


That we may know God, we have been given The Holy Spirit to dwell in us.  This is the Holy Spirit of Jesus.  We have the Spirit of Jesus after we are born again.  And the Spirit shows us the things of God as we live on this present earth.

Gal. 5:16-26 ... This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh:and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
 
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, 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.
 
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

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I Cor. 2:6-13 ...  Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

... 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. But God hath revealed them unto us by HIS Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 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. 

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.
 
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.

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After we are born again, we are given the Holy Spirit of God to live in us to guide us in the ways of God.  

We also still have the flesh to contend with.  But the Spirit eventually overcomes the flesh as we grow in God through obedience to that which is shown us by God.

Which do we serve?  our flesh and the thinking of our flesh ... or the Spirit and the way of God?  

Paul explains:  

Romans 6:1-11 ... What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into HIS death? 

Therefore 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.
 
For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of HIS resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with HIM, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. 

Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with HIM: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over HIM. For in that HE died, HE died unto sin once: but in that HE liveth, HE liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

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Work of the Holy Spirit in the believer:

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 ... 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.

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Jesus declares to us the way of God by the Spirit of God who dwells in us to remind us of those things HE has said to us. 

Therefore walk in the Spirit ... in those ways shown you by the Spirit ... and you will not fulfill the desires of the flesh!

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Work out your own salvation, says Paul

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

As we grow closer to the return of Jesus, the Bible tells us to expect the sins to increase around us.

A warning from Jesus about this:

Matthew 24:12-13    And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

I believe Jesus is saying there is a danger in the increasing sins of this world, that the love of many for the Word of God will wax cold.

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The apostle Paul said:  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.  Philippians 2:12

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We have many resources to which we can refer in doing this.

Certainly we pray for God to give us HIS wisdom daily as we plan out our daily endurance.

Paul once told Timothy: 

Until I return, give yourself to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

I think this would mean:

* Spend time daily reading the scriptures

* Share the good things of God with those around you, warning them as needed, building them in the faith as you have been encouraged by God in your own life

* Renew your mind to the doctrine of Christ as stated in the Bible, for antichrist and the apostasy teaches something that is opposite to doctrine shown us in Bible, therefore it is important for us to keep reading those doctrines presented in the Bible, especially concerning divorce/remarriage, fornication, adultery, homosexual/lesbians, and works of the flesh such as drunkenness which the world today is calling a disease rather than a sin as the Bible says.

We might have to work to keep our love for the Word of God in the matter at hand in these last days before Jesus returns.

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Singing and making melody in your hearts ... is helpful.  

Keeping scriptural based hymns in us, such as "Blessed Assurance", is very helpful.

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I'm so often bored at television.

Why do I keep flipping channels?

Instead why don't I spend time nightly rereading such things as the following:

*  Holy Bible:  New Testament

*  Psalms

*  Proverbs

*  Books:  Exhortations for the Church  (By Joan Boney ... Vol. 1-11 ... Vol. 12 coming soon  ... Amazon)

With the 12 volumes available through Amazon, I could take one exhortation book per month and read some uplifting, godly writings daily.  There are enough exhortations in the volumes to cover 365 days of the year.  These reminders in the way of God should strengthen us.

*  Book:  Faith Building Moments  (from the Old Testament & Today)  ... Published on Amazon

I could read the story of one OT example per day and benefit and keep my focus on things of God helping me to endure.

*  Books:  11 Ministry Books ... (Joan Boney from Amazon)

- Taking Thoughts Captive

- Faith in God

- Following God by HIS Spirit

- Dealing with Destructive Thoughts

- Dreams from God

- Prayer to God

- The New Testament Church

- Promises From God to the Church

- Overcoming Through God

- Building Your House on the Word of God

- Escaping the Word God's Way

(Daily one of these books is offered for free on Amazon in e-book format.)

I could rotate these books and read a chapter a day in one of these books, renewing my mind in detail to the Holy Scriptures.

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I'm certain reading these books daily would strengthen us in the faith in God and help us to endure.

For myself, I think I am going to try to set up hours throughout the morning, afternoon, and evening,  where I spend time reading godly exhortations such as these, instead of being bored with TV.

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We have to "work" at our own salvation, says Paul.

Make an effort.  Endure this time by renewing your mind through Bible and godly exhortations morning, afternoon, evening.  

Romans 12:2   And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

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Are you a friend of the world?

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

I'm not a friend of the world.

I do not support, not approve, adultery, fornication, homosexual/lesbian, drunkards.

If you are a friend of the world, the world will love you, says Jesus.

John 15:18-19    If the world hate you, ye know that it hated ME before it hated you.

If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

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Before I was born again, I was a friend of the world.  

A young woman lived with her boyfriend.  I went to dinner at their apartment.  He wore shoulder length hair.  I was their friend, supporting them in their sins.  I had no idea at the time this was sin.  I just viewed what they were doing as personal preferences.

I was attracted to a writer at Dallas Morning News.  I learned he was homosexual.  I was sorry, for I would have enjoyed him.  I didn't realize this (homosexual acts) was sin.

But after I was born again, I was removed from the darkness of this world and translated into the kingdom of Christ, the Word.  

I was given the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit.

Then I was no longer supporter of sins of this world.

I see such sins on TV, although the minute they come on screen I quickly close my eyes and stop the program as fast as I can, not wanting to partake of their sins.

Now I am an enemy of the world. 

Certainly it would hate me if it knew I existed, for I will reveal it's works as sins.

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Several years ago, my neighbor came to me asking if I would consider renting him a room at my house for the approaching week-end.  He said they were celebrating an anniversary and several were coming from out of town and he did not have room to house them.

I told him I would not rent a room but he was welcome to use my spare room.

He said he needed a space for his wife's daughter and her friend.

I was jarred immediately ... "Her friend?"  ... What is this?

He said they are lesbians.

I told him I could not allow this in my house.  But if he had a married couple, they could use the room.

He said he didn't approve of lesbians either.

He apparently told his wife what I said.  She had been friendly.  After this she showed hostility toward me.

This is what happens when we show ourselves to belong to God.  

Like Moses we esteem Christ of greater riches than the riches of this world.  Hebrews 11

We suffer the rebuke for Christ's sake.

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James 4:4    Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

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Don't think you can approve the world while serving God.

Many churches today open their doors and welcome the world and their sins under the deception.

They do not speak of these sins.  

In such cases, no one repents, for sins are accepted and even approved by church groups.

Accept all, tolerate all, is their new doctrine.  All sin like this is greeted under the guise of love.

It is the end time apostasy in the church.  Lawlessness in the church.

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II Thessalonians 2    NASB   

Man of Lawlessness

3-8    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 the scriptures were removed, even in part, the restraint holding antichrist out of the church group was removed and lawlessness against the scripture moved into the church.

The apostasy of the end times.

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Instruction in Righteousness: From Hebrews 12

1-4    Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before HIM endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

For consider HIM that endured such contradiction of sinners against HIMSELF, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

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5-11   And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of HIM:

For whom the Lord loveth HE chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom HE receiveth.

If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but HE for our profit, that we might be partakers of HIS holiness.

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

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Hebrews 12:12-13    Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

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Hebrews 12:14-17    Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

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Hebrews 12:18-29    For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,  And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:
(For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)

But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

See that ye refuse not HIM that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from HIM that speaketh from heaven:

Whose voice then shook the earth: but now HE hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.

And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

For our God is a consuming fire.

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BOOK: Exhortations

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eBook & paperback

Volume 9 ... #9

The Church

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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The church:  Those individuals to whom God reveals HIMSELF

The apostle Paul was out rounding up Christians to imprison them when God revealed HIMSELF to Paul all of a sudden and Paul was changed and never the same again.

Acts 9:1-6 ...  And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus:and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou ME?

And he said, WHO art THOU, Lord?

And the Lord said, I AM Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt THOU have me to do?

And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

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This is also what happened to us.  We were of the world, following our own thinking by the wisdom of man when God revealed HIMSELF to us and we were changed forever ... born again ... a new creature.  

Hebrews 8:10-12 ...  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: 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. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

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We didn't do anything to earn God ... God just chose us and put HIS way into our hearts, changing us, giving us a desire toward HIM ...  


We are like Peter ...

Mt. 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 I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

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The revealed word of God to each of HIS chosen is the "rock" upon which Jesus builds HIS church ... and the gates of hell shall not prevail against that word God reveals to us ...

I Peter 2:9-10 ... But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of HIM who hath called you out of darkness into HIS marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

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The miracle of God ... The Church ...

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In 1979, God gave me the following terrifying dream:

Destruction was everywhere.

A meeting was going on.  A man was speaking to a room filled with people.  I went in and began to listen.

A second man rushed in and said:  "Stop ... Wait ... Can't you see ... It's too late ... It's already begun."

The first man resumed speaking.

I looked out the window to see what had "already begun."

There was a tall pole with a yellow civil defense speaker at top of the pole.  A gas was coming out of the speaker.  I knew it was poisonous and would kill the people.  It was coming directly toward us!

The shocking thing was the speaker that was set there for the purpose of warning us was being used as the instrument which dispersed the gas that was poison and would kill us!

I looked at the man seated next to me.  He had a big grin on his face and was looking directly at the man who was speaking to the group.  But then I saw this man was a corpse, though he looked alive.  He was already dead!

I looked about the room at the other people and realized they were all dead.

As I sat back in my chair and listened to the man speaking I began to feel sleepy and I knew as I sat there among them this was killing me too.

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God was showing me the anarchy that was already going on in our church groups in 1979.  Destruction was everywhere in churches.  Today it is worse as various scriptures are removed from the churches changing the doctrine to fit more with the thinking of men of this world.

For example:  The world calls drunkenness a disease.  The Bible calls drunkenness a sin and even says they who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.  I Corinthians 6 & Galatians 5

Many other Bible doctrines have been reasoned away today in churches.  This is the apostasy which Paul said would come before the return of Jesus.

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God is with us when we choose to go in HIS Word

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

The Old Testament is an example for us.

Moses was said to be the meekest of all men.  Yet Moses was a very powerful man of action.  So what does "meek" mean in context of scripture?

Meek is that person who hears the WORD of God from the Spirit of God and obeys that word regardless.

David was a man after God's own heart, God putting HIS Spirit upon David.

But some in the OT showed they did not believe what God said and when they acted in unbelief they could not enter into the rest of God.

There are examples where God told them to go in and take the land.  But they did not do what God said.  Then later they decided to do what God said.  Moses told them don't do it now for God is not with you now.  They disregarded Moses as they had disregarded God and they set about to do what they had failed to do before and they were destroyed because God was no longer with them.

Numbers 14:1-10    And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.  And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!

And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?

And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.

Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel.

And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:  And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land.

If the LORD delight in us, then HE will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.

Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.

But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. 

Later they decided to do what God had told them to do but it would not work for them now because God was not with them.

Numbers 14:40-43    And they rose up early in the morning, and gat them up into the top of the mountain, saying, Lo, we be here, and will go up unto the place which the LORD hath promised: for we have sinned.

And Moses said, Wherefore now do ye transgress the commandment of the LORD? but it shall not prosper.  Go not up, for the LORD is not among you; that ye be not smitten before your enemies.

For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and ye shall fall by the sword: because ye are turned away from the LORD, therefore the LORD will not be with you.

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When we hear a word from God by the Holy Spirit of God we must do that word then and if we do that word when we hear that word, God is with us. And we continue in that word, doing the instruction because of that word, not turning from that word, not falling away from that word given by God.

That word may be a scripture or that word of instruction may be a thought given us to show us what to do. Either way it is a word from God by HIS Spirit.

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John 15:1-3    I (The Word) am the true vine, and MY Father is the husbandman.

Every branch in ME that beareth not fruit HE taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, HE purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

NT church today:  God speaks to us through HIS Spirit through thoughts, reminding us of scriptures or giving us specific instruction as to what we are to do in the issues of this present life.  Sometimes we will receive correction and when we do that correction we are cleansed from our fleshly way.  Many times we receive instruction so we will know the will of God in the matter at hand.

The apostle Paul explains:

Romans 8:14    For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

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John 15:4-6    Jesus says ... Abide in ME (the Word), and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in ME.

I (the Word) am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in ME, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without ME ye can do nothing.

If a man abide not in ME, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

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Many set out to do the scriptures without hearing from the Spirit of God.  They, by their own mind, try to follow the instruction of the Bible.  They end up doing the wrong thing at the wrong time and fail miserably in their own works for it is their own works they are doing unless the Spirit of God is there leading them.

Therefore Jesus explains:

Matthew 7:21-23    Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

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Instruction in Righteousness: From Hebrews 11

1    Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Faith has substance.  Faith is based on something solid, usually a scripture but it can be a word from the Holy Spirit on the matter at hand.  That word we believe to be from God.  When this is the case faith is an anchor for the soul and greatly affects what we do in this present life.  Because we believe what we have heard or experienced is from God, we continue in that.  This is faith.  But it is always based on something from God and is therefore solid and not a meaningless vapor of human words.

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Hebrews 11:2-3    For by it the elders obtained a good report.

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.

When man creates something, he must first get the materials necessary to make the item.

But when God creates something,  the creation is made "from scratch" by the word spoken by God without needing materials.  The materials appear with that creation when God creates.

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Hebrews 11:4    By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

Why was Abel's sacrifice more excellent?  Because it was by faith.

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Hebrews 11:5    By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

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Hebrews 11:6    But without faith it is impossible to please HIM: for he that cometh to God must believe that HE is, and that HE is a rewarder of them that diligently seek HIM.

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Hebrews 11:7-12    By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

Noah condemned the world because he believed God and they did not believe.

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

Abraham didn't even know where he was going.  God told him to leave his father's house and to go into a country which HE, God, would show him.  Abraham trusted God to show him that country but at first he just left, went out, as God said to do, showing great faith in God.  He did not have to know all the details ahead of time.  He trusted God.

By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged HIM faithful who had promised.

Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

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Hebrews 11:13-16    These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

Their mind was not filled with thoughts of their previous country.  Had they allowed their minds to focus on that which once was, they might have been allowed to try to return to the past.

But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for HE hath prepared for them a city.

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Hebrews 11:17-    By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

Because Isaac came from the dead womb of Sarah.

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Hebrews 11:20-22    By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

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Hebrews 11:23-26    By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.

By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;  Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

Moses saw the unseen.  While all the treasures in Egypt could be his, instead he turned from such and chose God above Pharaoh.

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Hebrews 11:27-29    By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing HIM who is invisible.

Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

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Hebrews 11:30-35    By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:

Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,  Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

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Hebrews 11:36-40    And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;  (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

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BOOK: Exhortations

Amazon.com

eBook & paperback

Volume 9 ... #8

Rewards From God

The apostle Paul speaks of works whereby God will give "rewards" to man.

I Cor. 3 ... 9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. 10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

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The only thing any of us can build on is "Jesus Christ" ... "THE WORD".

That "word" we hear from the Spirit of God is that which we must do on this present earth.

If we build on that word, the word from the Holy Spirit, then the work is authored by God that we do on this earth.

For doing "that word", the word given us by the Spirit of God, we receive reward from God.

We are as that faithful servant who watches and waits for the word and when the word is given him, he acts upon that word.

Jesus explains: 

Mt. 7 ... 21 Not every one that saith unto ME, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of MY Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to ME in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in THY name? and in THY name have cast out devils? and in THY name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from ME, ye that work iniquity.

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

26 And every one that heareth these sayings of MINE, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

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The Holy Spirit of God who dwells in us gives us the word God would have us do.

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.

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We, who are of God, are like servants in a great house.  We have our assignments as to where we are to serve.  We work in that area, carefully attending to our "duty", to our assignment from God.

And we watch for God's instruction to us ... and we wait for God's instruction ... then we faithfully do that which God instructs.

When this is the case, all things (our works) are of God and not of ourselves.  


Concerning rewards from God: 

Several years ago, I was given the following dream.  I entered an auditorium type room.  My mother and my aunt were sitting in the center of an aisle in the center of the auditorium seating.  I went onto the stage where a concert band was sitting.  Someone showed me where I was to sit in the band.  It was first chair, first clarinet.  I told the man to put me somewhere at the back of the band.  I was concerned I wouldn't be good enough and that first-chair seating in a concert band is the highest position in the band and the person sitting there is in a seat of responsibility and honor.  The man said, "No this is reserved for you."   (I felt it was some type of reward.)

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But as I live on this earth, I'm often concerned that my work might not be "good enough".  (Then I often have that dream brought to my attention.) 

The main thing for each of us: 

We seek God, wait until we believe we have heard from God, and do that which we believe God shows us to do.  If it is of God and we build on that word, we receive reward.

Paul says, our works will be tried in the fire and if those works "remain" we will receive reward.

If the works are destroyed in the fire, we will be saved, yet as by fire.  I Cor. 3

But I know the works must be authored by the Spirit of God, not by the letter of the law.

You could build on a scripture and still be wrong.  How?  The Spirit must be the one who led you and not your own fleshly mind!

All works done by our fleshly thinking will be burned in the fire.

Paul explains:  I Cor. 13 ...  3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

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It is a great mystery but the Spirit of God must be the author of our works.  

We could read a scripture and do that scripture and not have the Spirit of God showing us that scripture and it would profit nothing.

God authors the works that are HIS by HIS Spirit.

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How can I get through today?

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Every morning, I awaken and have no plans at all for the day.  I live alone and there are no people to visit with (or to be troubled over).

This can be frightening to our flesh!

I begin calling out to God:  "Help me!"  ...  "Please fill my day."

I don't know how it is or can be, but God does it!

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Often at night, around 7 pm, when I have about 2 1/2 hours before I go to my bedroom, I don't know how I can fill my time.

I usually do not like television.

It just seems impossible to get from 7 to 9:30.

I call on God.

Amazingly, HE makes a way, one way or another and before I know it time has passed!

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How can I get through today?  is a thought common to all at some points in our lives.

I Corinthians 10:13    There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

When we call on God in faith, it is amazing how things develop.

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One night, it seemed there was no way to pass the time.

But my attention was drawn to a TV series which doesn't sound like it would be interesting but when I viewed a little of the presentation, I found it so interesting that I even called another person and told her she might enjoy this series.  (She said that is never anything she would have thought to look at.)

Not only did I pass the time that night but I got so interested in the program I ended up going about an hour past my normal bedtime.

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I find life to be a bit of a struggle.

But I've also found God makes a way for us to be able to bear it.

And I believe this:  God does not allow more than we can endure to happen to us.

Often I see people going through things which I feel I could not endure but these things are not happening to me.  There are things in my life that others might think they could not endure but God makes it possible for me to endure that which is happening to me.

I know I belong to God.  I know I am called according to HIS purpose.  I know the following applies to me.

Romans 8:28    And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to HIS purpose.

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Instruction in Righteousness: From Hebrews 10

1-6    For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.  For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.  But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.  For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

Wherefore when HE cometh into the world, HE saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared ME:

In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.

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Hebrews 10:7-25    Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.

Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;

Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:

But this man, after HE had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;  From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.

For by one offering HE hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that HE had said before,

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;  And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,  By a new and living way, which HE hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, HIS flesh;

And having an high priest over the house of God;

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for HE is faithful that promised;)

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together (this does not mean we assemble with the apostate church groups but rather we assemble with ourselves, with believers of scripture), as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

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26-31    For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:  Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

For we know HIM that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto ME, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge HIS people.

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

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32-34    But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;  Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.

For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.

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35-39    Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.  For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

For yet a little while, and HE that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

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BOOK: Exhortations

Amazon.com

eBook & paperback

Volume 9 ... #7

Learning to Wait on God ... Learning to Trust in God

When a problem comes, our flesh often panics!

We must learn to trust in God, to turn to God, to wait on God for the way to go.

This not only provides the answer for us on this earth, but it develops our faith in God, a spirit.

We want to turn to the seen, not the unseen.  But the answer is from the unseen.

We must learn to trust God more than we trust ourselves and other humans.

As we try to figure out what to do, often we "spin our wheels" digging ourselves deeper into a hole, doing various things that are unwise and doing things that just do not work.

When we take the problem to God in prayer, and be still until HE opens our eyes to see what to do, then we have a sure thing.

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The apostle Paul said he came to the church with the testimony of God ... sharing things with the church that had power of God, rather than sharing the wisdom of men.  I Cor.2

In what I have shared here, there is the power of God for those who catch on and learn to control the flesh and really turn to God and put trust in God.

God's way is often very different from our way.

Pam Padgett told a remarkable story of a time she was in college.  She fell into a trap of agreeing to go to a fraternity party, 20 miles out of town.

When she wanted to get out of going to this, recognizing it would be evil, she turned to God and asked HIM to give her appendicitis so she would be in hospital and not be able to go.  (Pam's way of escape for herself.)

But God had a better way of escape for her. 

The day of the event, it began to rain.  The rain increased as the day progressed.  By afternoon, there was so much rain that the event had to be cancelled!


Pam was free and she didn't have to do anything except trust God to work it out.

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A man in our little church group was considering putting a second storage building up to store his stuff.


As he thought on this, the following came to his mind:  "Why don't you just get rid of the stuff?"

We, who hear this story, marvel at the great wisdom given by God and the simplicity of God's wisdom.

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At one point, I played duplicate bridge.  I wanted to get out of this.  Through some events I did break away.  But then there was nothing for me to do with my time.  I knew it was not going to work for me to try to find secular activities in my town. I didn't even try to do so.

I just stayed very still, talking to God about the situation.

I waited approximately 7 months ... Then God gave me a dream showing me what to do.  In the dream, a woman was singing.  I said, "It's a little voice ... but it's a nice little voice."  Then people were talking and I saw this was a way for the church to communicate with one another and then I realized it was an Internet blog.

Immediately I called Pam Padgett (former computer programmer at Fed Ex).  I asked Pam if she could set up a blog for us where we could share with the church.  Pam explored this and within 3 days had set up our blog and we were writing exhortations daily for the church.  Blog:  Jesus Ministries Exhortations

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It was amazing, far beyond anything we could have ever imagined!

The blog allowed us to share daily.  We could even correct typo mistakes after the exhortation had already been published.  The writing went out instantly.  It cost us nothing to do this.  The blog was free to us and to all who wanted to read what we said.  There was no limitation.  We could write as much as we wanted.

And none of us thought about the fact that the blog went all over the world! 

The first day the writing was published, two people from Germany had viewed the blog.  We were so shocked, never thinking of this writing going all over this world ... "World Wide Web" ...  WWW

All we were doing was acting upon that which God had shown me in that dream.

We continually marvel at this instrument of a blog given to us to communicate things of God with the church all over the world.

God has ways for us to go that we could never imagine and HIS ways are so much better than anything our minds are able to construct!

Also the wisdom from God, the way from God, is simple and easy and merciful!

James 3:17 ... But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 

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So we learn to take our situation, problem, to God ... To talk with God in prayer ... To wait for the answer.   

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