All things working together for good for us who love God and receiving help from God

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

I have sound equipment attached to my TV.  I was having difficulty getting to a re-boot switch on the back of my sound processor because my sound components is backed up to a wall and it is difficult to reach the back of the component.

Later in the day this was happening, I was speak to Pam Padgett.  She is currently making some changes in her house, adding a wall to be able to move her TV and sound equipment to her fireplace room.

I was telling her of the difficulty I had been having trying to get to my sound processor since it was backed up to the wall.

I realized while Pam is having this wall built, she would be able to get contractor to put cabinet type doors on the back of her new wall behind her sound equipment.  That would give her open access to the backs of her units through the adjacent room.  We were both happy to realize this for she was meeting with her contractor the following day!  She had been praying for God to bring to her attention all that she needed to tell her contractor.

My problem helped her!

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 Mark 16

And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint Him.

² And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
³ And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?

⁴ And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.

⁵ And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.

⁶ And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: He is risen; He is not here: behold the place where they laid Him.

⁷ But go your way, tell His disciples and Peter that He goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see Him, as He said unto you.

⁸ And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.

⁹ Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven devils.

¹⁰ And she went and told them that had been with Him, as they mourned and wept.

¹¹ And they, when they had heard that He was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.

¹² After that He appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.

¹³ And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.

¹⁴ Afterward HE appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen Him after He was risen.

¹⁵ And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

¹⁶ He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

¹⁷ And these signs shall follow them that believe; In My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
¹⁸ They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

¹⁹ So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, He was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

²⁰ And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

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Is THIS the Will of God For Me?

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. 

Hebrews 11:7 

Comments by Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Several years ago I visited a Sunday school class in a church. Pastor was teaching above scripture and he asked: "Did Noah condemn the world?"

Immediately I replied, "Yes". The people in the class seemed shocked.

The Holy Spirit said through me … Noah condemned the world because he believed God and the world didn't.

*****

Anytime we believe God we condemn those who do not believe God. Grounds are set for the judgment seat of Christ for then God can say, "Noah believed what I said and he was a person as others yet he believed ME and you did not believe." Thereby those who believe and act on any scripture by their action condemn those who do not believe.

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Concerning faith, first God speaks.

God speaks in various ways to us: thoughts, dreams, scripture.

The devil can also bring thoughts and scripture. We recall that the devil tempted Jesus by speaking scripture to Jesus. But Jesus knew the voice of God and when the devil tried to misuse scripture Jesus countered each of the devil's presentations.

Mt: 4 ... Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when HE had fasted forty days and forty nights, HE was afterward an hungred.

And when the tempter came to HIM, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

But HE (Jesus) answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

***

Then the devil taketh HIM up into the holy city, and setteth HIM on a pinnacle of the temple,  And saith unto HIM, If thou be the Son of God, cast THYSELF down: for it is written, HE shall give HIS angels charge concerning THEE: and in their hands they shall bear THEE up, lest at any time thou dash THY foot against a stone. 

Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

***

Again, the devil taketh HIM up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth HIM all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto HIM, All these things will I give thee, if THOU wilt fall down and worship me.

Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and HIM only shalt thou serve.

Then the devil leaveth HIM, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto HIM.

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At one point I studied the use of dreams in Bible. I am persuaded that God uses dreams today as a means of showing us truth about people and what they are doing or what they will do ... and dreams show us things to come ... and sometimes our ways are changed because of dreams ... sometimes dreams confirm to us the way we are going ...

Thoughts can be from God by HIS Spirit ... thoughts can be from devil. Thoughts can be from our own flesh. The devil and the flesh’s thoughts can seem like good ideas. Sometimes the thought is very obviously from God. Other times we aren't sure.

Before we act by faith, we have to determine if that thought is from God, especially when we have reason to question the direction provoked by the thought.

If we are engaged in any form of strife (or envy) we are in danger of opening doors for devils to bring ideas to us.

James 3 ... Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.  For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

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.  And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

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Probably the easiest thing to do when we are in doubt, (is the idea from God or from another spirit?) … is to ask God to confirm the thought or the idea, if it is from HIM.

One of the more common errors concerning faith comes by failing to consider the following:

Is this the will of God for my life?

All that really matters is the will of God.

Unfortunately, often that is not even considered.

Church people want something. They pray to get what they want. Some are taught to hunt a scripture to "stand on", to justify what they want. And to hold fast to that scripture “in faith” until they get what they want. This seems like faith, but it is often a lust of our own flesh.

We must first consider the following: "Is this the will of God for me"?...

I made that mistake when I was a new Christian.

I wanted to marry. All my church friends and our prayer group earnestly prayed for me to have a husband. I found a scripture to "stand on", to justify my getting an husband.

... Isa. 34:16 ... Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate ...

This scripture was not given me by the Spirit of God rather I searched and found it because that seemed to justify my request to God.

One woman in the prayer group said something about the will of God ... but then she added, "Of course it is God's will for Joan to have an husband."

(But she said this of her own flesh and the thinking of her own mind and it was not the will of God for me.)

But my best friend at that time prayed concerning this and she heard the following from the Spirit of God concerning my marrying. "My grace is sufficient for thee."

After that Donna stopped asking God to give me husband. She told me about this but my personal desire for husband was such that I didn't focus on that which Donna heard and I continued for many years searching for husband.

Finally I knew that was not the will of God for me and I would not be marrying as most people do.

Now I believe with all my heart that was ordained by God for me. I even thank God that I didn't marry, remembering that Paul said those who marry will have trouble "in the flesh" (I Cor. 7) and I have an assignment from God for the church which would not be compatible with marriage for me. 

(I Cor. 7:35 ... And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.)

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Basically, before we ask God for something, we need to check with God concerning HIS will in the matter.

So many people are interested in their own will when they pray. And often their faith is damaged because they pray for something which is not the will of God for them, and then when they fail to get what they want they suffer loss of faith in God, loss of faith in scripture, loss of faith in prayer ... all because they misused everything and failed to consider

"what is the will of God in my case."

*****

A church person was trying to get a job and he asked me to pray that he got that job for which he was applying.

I told him I would not pray this for I did not know if it was the will of God for him to get that job.

I told him I would pray for God's will in the matter to be done.

He did not get that job.

The wrong job can damage a person.

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We must base our faith on that which God has said to us by HIS Spirit. For then we know the will of God when the Holy Spirit shows us.

I Cor. 2 …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.

In each case of faith in the Bible, we will see that faith came by the will of God, by God revealing HIS will by HIS Spirit.

Heb. 11 ... By faith Noah, being warned of (by) 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.

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.

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In 1980, I was asleep in the night and was awakened by a loud trumpet sounding voice speaking three words to me:  Hartford, Seattle, KWJS

(I believe this was the voice of an angel of God speaking to me.)

I jumped out of bed and wrote, on a note pad, the three words spoken. It was obvious to me the word KWJS was call letters to either radio or TV. I found it was radio.

I asked God: "Are YOU telling me to go on radio? I wouldn't know how to do that."

The Holy Spirit spoke the following gentle thought to me immediately: "Call the radio station manager."

I called the radio station manager as soon as the business office opened that morning.

I said to the manager, "God might be telling me to go on radio. How would you do that?"

He replied: "Make an audition tape 29 1/2 minutes long and if the content of the tape fits into our broadcasts we will offer you a contract."

I had a cassette recorder in my apartment so I got a tape and sat down immediately and recorded a message and sent it that morning to the radio station manager.

Within one week, I was on radio broadcasting exhortations to the church.

But I didn’t put myself on radio. I just did what I heard from God.

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Concerning Noah:

Genesis 6 ...And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that HE had made man on the earth, and it grieved HIM at HIS heart.

And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth ME that I have made them.

But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

... Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.

... The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.

And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before ME; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.  And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits. A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it.

And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.

But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons’ wives with thee. And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female. Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive. And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them.

Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.

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Here we have the basic pattern of faith.

God chose to speak to Noah and instruct Noah. Then Noah believed it was God speaking to him and he did everything God told him to do.

As I read the above, I noticed how specific God was in HIS instructions of exactly how to build the ark. And notice that Noah did exactly what God instructed. Noah didn't make the ark an inch smaller nor an inch larger.

Noah knew God is perfect.

So Noah did "according to all that God commanded him."

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I thought of how much work Noah had to do in building the ark to specification ... in gathering all those animals and creeping things ... and in stocking food supplies. And no doubt people would be watching Noah as he did these things. It would become a big event for the village as Noah built this ark and as he gathered all these creatures and put them into the structure.

None of us want to be a side show. None of us want to be mocked by onlookers or family. And often we know this is going to happen to us when we speak what we hear from God and when we do what God shows us to do.

*****

Consider Joseph.

He had a dream and he told this dream. And as a result his family mocked him and tormented him.

But by faith, Joseph told the dream.

Gen. 37 ... And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.

And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.

And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.

And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?

And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.

*****

Faith in God causes us to speak that which we have heard from God.

Certainly, in some cases, we know hatred or negative things will happen when we share what we have heard from God. But we share it, enduring the shame, because we believe we have heard from God.

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My favorite aunt was a Church of Christ member all her life. This church group was one that would not speak of "supernatural" experiences with God.

At one point, I was visiting my aunt and I had the thought (which I believed to be from the Spirit of God) to tell my aunt about my being taken into heaven twice.

Certainly I didn't want to do that!

But because I believed I was directed by the Spirit of God to do it, I told her the following:

Shortly after I was born again, I was asleep in the night and I was "transported" into heaven. I was in a room with God, and with the Holy Spirit, and with Jesus.

(I didn't see any images of God or Jesus, but I knew they were there with me.)

At that time, I was "merged" into the body of Jesus, made one with The Word of God.

*****

The next morning, I was driving to work and I passed a church building and there was a funeral. A funeral. Oh how great. A funeral. To me this meant someone leaving this earth to go to God. I'd just been there the night before and nothing on this present earth could equal what I had experienced in heaven.

(Obviously I was changed forever and set on fire for the Word of God and for things of God.)

And a few days after being taken into heaven, the exact same thing happened to me a second time. I was asleep in the night and was transported into heaven. I was with God, with the Holy Spirit, and with Jesus. At that time I was merged into the body of Jesus ... made one with the Word of God.

*****

I was very shocked at the response of my aunt after I told her this.

She had sort of a dreamy look on her face and then she said to me ... “Something like that happened to me once ... and it was all golden.”

(My aunt had always been very different from everyone else. Now I knew the reason she was different.)

Each time I read about the golden streets in the book of Revelation, I think of my aunt having been there!

Revelation 21 … 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 the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.

... And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.

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Back to the example of Noah:

Genesis 7 ... And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation. Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female.  Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth.

For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.

And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him.

*****

Again, same pattern of faith ... God speaks ... Noah believes and obeys, following the instructions without adding to or taking away from the word.

... And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood. Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, and of fowls, and of every thing that creepeth upon the earth,

... and the LORD shut him in.

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God closed the door ...

When the rain fell for multiple days, if people beat on the door of the ark, Noah would not have been able to let them into the ark for it was "the LORD" who shut Noah into the ark.

When God led the children of Israel through the wilderness after they left Egypt, God didn't take them in the most direct route because God knew they might have seen the Philistines and been so fearful they would have turned around and stampeded back into Egypt.  (Ex. 13:17)

So God led them another way.

God knows exactly what will work with each of us and God leads us in that way.

I Cor. 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.

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Genesis 7 ...

... And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth.

And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters. And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered. Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered.

And all flesh died that moved upon the earth

... Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark. And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days. (approximately 5 months)

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Genesis 8 ... And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters asswaged;

The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained;

And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated.

And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat. And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month: in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops of the mountains seen.

And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made: And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth.

Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground. But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark.

And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark; And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth.

And he stayed yet other seven days; and sent forth the dove; which returned not again unto him any more.

And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry. And in the second month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, was the earth dried.

(Although Noah knew the earth was dry, he did not go out of the ark until God spoke and told him to go out of the ark.)

And God spake unto Noah, saying, Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons’ wives with thee.  Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth.

And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him: Every beast, every creeping thing, and every fowl, and whatsoever creepeth upon the earth, after their kinds, went forth out of the ark.

*****

Again we see the pattern of faith: Noah waiting until God spoke. Then Noah did what God told him to do.

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Genesis 8 ...

... and the LORD said in HIS heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. 

While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

Genesis 9 ... And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them,

Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.

And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.

*****

Everyone around Noah was blessed by God because of Noah's obedience to God.

We, who belong to God and hear HIM and obey HIM, are blessings everywhere we go. If we choose to do business with a company, and that company treats us well, God blesses that company. But if we are treated poorly, I feel certain that company curses themselves, though God repays us for their ill treatment.

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Deut. 28 ... And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all HIS commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:

And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.

Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.  Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.

The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.

The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and HE shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto HIMSELF, as HE hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in HIS ways.

And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee.

And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee.

The LORD shall open unto thee HIS good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand:

and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.

And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them: And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all HIS commandments and HIS statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:

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"Is this the same in NT?"   I asked God.

And immediately I was reminded of the following NT scripture:

Gal. 6 ... Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

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BOOK: Faith in God

Chapter 2

Joan Boney

E-book:  $.99

Paperback: $5.99

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Order from:  Amazon.com

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Scriptures

I want to get scripture more deeply inside me and I know we can do that by meditating throughout the day on key scriptures. 

You can put scriptures into an email to yourself so when you open your email throughout that day, those scriptures will be there and this will give you more opportunity to think on those scripture and do them.

Joan Boney

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Psalm 32:8   God says:  I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.

(God will cause me to see things through "HIS eyes", as HE sees the situation.)

***

Man who says he can't understand.

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

I often receive emails from men who identify themselves as "pastors."

We have an information sheet which we send to each person who contacts us.  In that we explain those things that most minister's ask about.

One man who said he is a pastor, wrote me thanking me for the scriptures I sent him, but he said, "I can't understand."

Understanding is from God.  I can give you the word God gives me, but I can't make another person understand that word.  Only God can do that.

I have had people tell me this more than once.

One time I delivered a message by email to a woman.  She called me immediately and said, "I can't understand this message."  I replied, "I can't give you understanding.  Only God can cause you to understand.  Turn to God and ask HIM."

A few second later, she called me again and said, "I can't understand."  I replied, "I can't give you understanding.  I can only give you the message."

Only God can cause any of us to understand.  If we fail to connect to God and lack wisdom, we can ask Him.  We have the following promise.

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

*****

In Matthew 25, Jesus presents the parable of the wise and the foolish virgins as they waited for the bridegroom.  Five had oil in their lamps.  They could see the path because they had gone to HIM that sells the oil and had filled their lamps.  But five were foolish, failing to get oil in their lamps.

Matthew 25:6-12    And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

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The apostle Paul said to Timothy:

Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. II Timothy 2:7

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Instruction in Righteousness: From Mark 15

And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate.

² And Pilate asked Him, Art thou the King of the Jews?

And He answering said unto them, Thou sayest it.

³ And the chief priests accused Him of many things: but He answered nothing.

⁴ And Pilate asked Him again, saying, Answerest Thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against Thee.

⁵ But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled.

⁶ Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired.

⁷ And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.

⁸ And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them.

⁹ But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?

¹⁰ For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.

¹¹ But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.

¹² And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto Him whom ye call the King of the Jews?

¹³ And they cried out again, Crucify Him.

¹⁴ Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath He done?

And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify Him.

¹⁵ And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged Him, to be crucified.

¹⁶ And the soldiers led Him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band.

¹⁷ And they clothed Him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about His head,
¹⁸ And began to salute Him, Hail, King of the Jews!

¹⁹ And they smote Him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon Him, and bowing their knees worshipped Him.

²⁰ And when they had mocked Him, they took off the purple from Him, and put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him.

²¹ And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear His cross.

²² And they bring Him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull.

²³ And they gave Him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but He received it not.

²⁴ And when they had crucified Him, they parted His garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.

²⁵ And it was the third hour, and they crucified Him.

²⁶ And the superscription of His accusation was written over, The King Of The Jews.

²⁷ And with Him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on His left.
²⁸ And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And He was numbered with the transgressors.

²⁹ And they that passed by railed on Him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, ³⁰ Save Thyself, and come down from the cross.

³¹ Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; Himself He cannot save.

³² Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe.

And they that were crucified with Him reviled Him.

³³ And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

³⁴ And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?

³⁵ And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, He calleth Elias.

³⁶ And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave Him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take Him down.

³⁷ And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.

³⁸ And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.

³⁹ And when the centurion, which stood over against Him, saw that He so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.

⁴⁰ There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;  ⁴¹ (Who also, when He was in Galilee, followed Him, and ministered unto Him;) and many other women which came up with Him unto Jerusalem.

⁴² And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, ⁴³ Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.

⁴⁴ And Pilate marvelled if He were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether He had been any while dead.
⁴⁵ And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.

⁴⁶ And he bought fine linen, and took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen, and laid Him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre.

⁴⁷ And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where He was laid.

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God Reveals Himself To Us

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, 

the evidence of things not seen. 

Hebrews 11:1 

Faith is both substance and evidence ... Faith is a result of that which we have heard from God by HIS Spirit ... and that which we believe.

Faith is shown by that which we believe. We don't even have to speak what we believe. Our actions show what we believe.

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Faith is always two parts:

First, we must hear from God by HIS Spirit.

Then we believe what we have heard.

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We begin with two examples: Noah and Abraham… and we see exactly the same thing as we consider these examples of faith.

Heb. 11:7 ... 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.

The first thing that happened is God spoke to Noah.

Gen. 6 ... And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before ME; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of:

God spoke directly to Noah.

God spoke directly to Abraham ...

Heb. 11:8 ...  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.

First God spoke directly to Abraham ... After God spoke to him, he obeyed.

Gen. 12 ... Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him;

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First God speaks to us ... Then we believe and are changed and obey what God has said to us.

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It is a very personal thing and it is directly from God to each of us.

You may think God didn't speak to you directly. But if you belong to God HE did. HE put HIS truth directly into your heart so you can believe. When God does this you are HIS chosen, HIS elect.

This is the New Covenant.

Heb. 10 ... 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.

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When we belong to God, God speaks directly to us by HIS Spirit in form of thoughts or God might speak to us through dreams ... or God could just put truth directly into our hearts so we KNOW ... we just KNOW ...

Mt. 16 ... 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 (JESUS) 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.

*****

God spoke directly to Peter. We know God spoke this to Peter because Jesus stated "flesh and blood" has not revealed this to you but "MY Father" which is in heaven.

And why was Peter “blessed”?

Not because he said, “Jesus is Lord”, as many think.

Jesus said Peter was blessed by God because God put this revelation of Jesus being the Son of God directly into Peter’s heart.

God revealed Jesus to Peter.

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This is what it means to be born again … God reveals HIMSELF to us … God opens our eyes to see something we have never before seen … No man can do this for us … No teacher can do this for us … No book can do this for us … We can’t do it by our own will … God does this as HE wills … Salvation is of God … and this is the NEW Covenant as God states …

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God says ... Heb. 8 ... 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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It is not that someone else teaches us. God puts HIS truth directly into our hearts and minds.

This is the New Covenant.

No man teaches us these things. God teaches us.

God chooses us as HIS people and reveals HIMSELF directly to us ... We are not chosen because of any goodness in us but we are chosen because of goodness in God.

We might hear another person speak things of God, but we recognize what he is saying is of God because God has already put these truths into our hearts and into our minds.

*****

Several years ago, God gave me the following dream.

There was a war going on. And the problem was everyone on both sides looked the same and we couldn't tell our "army" from the other "army." So God gave us a password. When we spoke that password we knew which people were in our army.

*****

That "password" is the Word of God and understanding of the Word of God.

Church people usually do look the same and even say the same things. But I have found many church people do not understand me when I speak. They just stare at me in a blank way. They are not really of God though they think they are of God. But those who are of God understand me when I speak to them. By this we know one another, by the understanding of the Word of God which God has given to us.

*****

We are blessed above all people because we have been chosen by God and HE has revealed HIMSELF to us.

We can speak of HIM to others but we cannot reveal HIM, only God can reveal HIMSELF.

Thus Jesus said: No man can come to ME, except the Father which hath sent ME draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. Jn. 6:44

*****

God draws the elect to HIMSELF.

We might speak words of God but God opens the ears of those HE chooses. They come because of HIM. Salvation is of God and not of ourselves nor by the will of man.

Man wants to believe in himself. But each of us who really belong to God know that at some point God opened our ears and revealed HIMSELF to us and we knew HIM then. Others around us might not have heard but we have.

*****

And at this point we are given HIS Spirit that we might know things of God. We cannot know things of God by our own reasoning. It is the Spirit of God who reveals things of God to us.

I Cor. 2 ... 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. 

*****

We can relate this way: We meet an acquaintance in the grocery store. That person says something. That person does not know what we are thinking but we know. The spirit inside us knows what we are thinking. And it is the same with God. Only the Spirit of God knows the thoughts of God on any issue. And the Spirit of God reveals the thoughts of God to us by the will of God through bringing those thoughts to our minds or by putting them directly into our hearts when we belong to God.

Therefore Jesus explained that the Spirit of God does the following ...

- teaches us all things (spiritual and secular)
- reminds us of all that Jesus has said to us (scripture/dreams/ideas)
- guides us into all truth
- shows us things to come

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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And we are sealed with the Holy Spirit when God reveals HIMSELF to us.

Eph. 1 ... In WHOM also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of HIM who worketh all things after the counsel of HIS own will: That we should be to the praise of HIS glory, who first trusted in Christ.  In WHOM ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in WHOM also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of HIS glory.

***** 

When you purchase a house, you often have to pay some money down when you sign a contract to purchase the house.  This money you pay is called "earnest" money, showing your good intention toward the purchase.

We have been purchased by the blood of Jesus.

God gave us the Holy Spirit as a sign of HIS intent toward us and the Spirit is then "an earnest of our inheritance."

In addition, the Holy Spirit does many things for us:  comforts us by bringing concepts of God to our minds in times of need, helps us with making correct decisions pertaining to this present life, and even shows us things to come as God wills.  (Jn. 14:26 & Jn. 16:13)

*****

We do have to recognize when it is the Holy Spirit bringing us a thought.  There are also other spirits that bring thoughts. 

Some thoughts are from devil.  These thoughts can even seem like a good idea but they are sent by devil to lead us into destruction.  Often devil's thoughts even have a twang of religion mixed in to try to persuade us of their goodness.  But they lead to destruction.

Then there are thoughts manufactured by our own flesh in it's desire to get things of this present world and to earn reputation among men of this world.

We have to be able to recognize the thoughts that are from the Holy Spirit so we can be led by the Holy Spirit.

*****

Concerning the wisdom that is from above, we have the following guidelines from Bible.

Mt. 11:28-30 ... Jesus says ... Come unto ME, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take MY yoke upon you, and learn of ME; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For MY yoke is easy, and MY burden is light.

The "yoke" of our own flesh is hard!  Flesh strives for a reputation among men, usually going opposite to the way of God in seeking greatness among men of this life.  Flesh strives for various types of "greatness" on this earth ... for money, fame, reputation.  Flesh delights in outdoing people, competing against others to make oneself great. 

Jesus' way is opposite.  Jesus said HE is meek and lowly in heart.

Jesus kingdom was not of this world.  Jn. 18

If this world is our kingdom and the only thing we can see, then we will fight to get what is ours as we live here.  It will be very important to us.

Consider Moses:

Heb. 11:24-27 ... 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. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing HIM who is invisible. 

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Jesus made HIMSELF of no reputation. 

Phil. 2: 5-10 ... Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: WHO, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  But made HIMSELF of no reputation, and took upon HIM the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, HE humbled HIMSELF, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted HIM, and given HIM a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

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Here is important information concerning the wisdom that is from our own flesh compared with the wisdom that is from God:

James 3:13-17 ... Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

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.

If we speak, distorting things to make ourselves look better, we are not going in the wisdom of God but in the wisdom of our own flesh.  Our goal is to gain approval of man for ourselves when we do this.  We will put ourselves into bondage to other humans if this is our way of life and we will serve under an hard yoke.

When something is very complex and very hard to do and very costly, I always know I do not have God's plan.  I back off when I see this and pray, asking God for HIS wisdom in the matter at hand, knowing the following promise from God:

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

*****

God leads us by HIS Spirit but we have to be able to evaluate the thoughts that come to us to see if that thought is from God by HIS Spirit. 

(Thoughts also come from spirit of devil concerning what we should do.  And some thoughts are from our own flesh attempting to fulfill desires of the flesh.)

Examples and evaluation of thoughts that would lead us:

Several years ago, a young married couple in the church I was attending at that time, thought God had called them to go to Israel and "minister."  They quit their secular jobs and went to Israel.  In approximately one week, they were back.  They said it was impossible for them to work in Israel.  They didn't know the language and were at a complete loss in Israel.

Evaluation:  God's yoke is easy and HIS burden is light. (Mt. 11) The wisdom from above is easy to be intreated ... easy to be administered. (James 3)

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A young man, a new Christian, was considering marrying a divorced woman.  Bill prayed, asking God to have the car he was meeting to blink his lights if he was supposed to marry this woman.  The car blinked his lights.  Bill married this divorced woman.

Evaluation:  Jesus said:  The man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.  Mt.5:32  (also Bill's prayer was like more like a prayer of superstition, setting up a situation for God rather than praying in simplicity and simply depending on God to reach him with the answer to the prayer.)

*****

March, 2012, I had a dream.  A young woman was singing.  I said, "It's a little voice ... but it's a nice little voice."  Then in the dream, people were talking as the church and I realized this was a blog. 

I felt God was showing me to start a blog to share exhortations for the church.

I called Pam Padgett at once asking her if she could set up a blog.  She did and within 3 days we were presenting exhortations and godly testimonies.

The blog doesn't cost us any money to publish.  It allows us to deliver exhortations daily.  It goes all over the world instantly.

It is a "little voice" ... but a "nice little voice."

Evaluation: "pure" ... no thought whatsoever about doing such a thing until God gave me this dream... "peaceable" ... "gentle" ... "easy to be intreated" ... "mercy and good fruits" ... "without partiality" ... "without hypocrisy" ... James 3:17

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1982, God said to me over and over, the following:

The time is come for judgment to begin at the house of God ... The time is come for judgment to begin at the house of God ... The time is come for judgment to begin at the house of God ...

Shortly after this, various sins in big-time ministries were called to my attention.  I tried to get messages in private to the ministers committing those sins but ministers in big spotlights often have body guard type people to keep the church people from getting to them ... and their mail is usually filtered so messages do not reach them.

I was relatively well known in ministry by that time, but I could not reach these ministers to urge them to repent and to stop doing these sins.

So I decided to name them by name on my radio broadcast and tell of the sin ... also I did this in some of my public meetings in cities where they lived, believing the message would then reach them.

God had shown me the apostle Paul naming a wrong doer by name and this gave me the courage needed to do this on my radio broadcasts.

II Tim. 4:14-15 ... Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:  Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words. 

So I presented the sin of the minister on radio and named that minister by name on radio.

Evaluation:  A woman who worked for me, coordinating our office staff, asked me:  " Is this easy to be intreated?"  ... I replied:  "It is easier to do what God tells you to do than not to do it."

And by doing this, it ended up separating me from the anarchy of the church world which was all around me at that time, but I didn't see that until much later.

I had a very narrow escape from the evils of the antichrist in the church world.  God saved me from them by the instruction HE gave me to speak concerning the sins in the ministry at that time! 

*****

Almost every minister who contacts me by email is begging for money or wants me to do something. 

I receive many "invitations" from men who say they are pastors, wanting me to fly half way around the world, at my own expense, to speak to their church group or to their ministry conferences. 

They show no consideration at all for me.

My reply:  "I do not travel ... I'm almost 80-years-old." 

(A few years ago, I asked God to give me a solid anchor to keep me from traveling so I could be still at my home and do my work assigned by HIM, which is to exhort the church daily by blog and books.  I expected to hear a scripture anchoring me.  Instead, I heard:  "Remember the cat."  ... I have a cat.  I have to take care of her daily.)

Evaluation:  travel? ...  pure, peaceable, gentle, easy to be intreated?  (James 3:17) ... none of the above... 

I go all over the world daily by blog.  Amazingly these ministers who try to get me to come to other side of world and speak to their church don't seem to realize this.  If I did what they wanted, I have no doubt I would end up killing myself and thereby not speaking at all, which would fit the goal of the devil.  In essence, their request is authored by devil.  What they want me to do is exactly opposite to what God has led me to do and that is to stay at home and write exhortations for the church on blog and in books.

People will often try to get us to do works they consider "good" in their eyes without actually hearing from God.  We must resist them and continue to do that which we believe God has assigned to us.

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Often women will go back to work as quickly as possible after baby is born, leaving baby with hired keepers, in order to make more money, have a "better" life, and fulfill themselves.

My mother wanted to work but my dad would not allow her to do this.  Before he died, my dad said to me, "I've been thinking about my life and have decided I did well.  I was able to earn enough money so your mother could stay home and take care of you."  My dad was an auto mechanic.

Evaluation:  ... Titus 2 ... But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

I Tim. 6 ... supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

*****

In 2008, in USA there was a major crisis in banking over the lending of money for house mortgages.  Many people borrowed the maximum and bought as big a house as the bank allowed on the mortgage.  Then when the crash came, those same people blamed the bank for their debt as they lost their homes and often lost their jobs and had to take lower paying jobs.

Evaluation:  ... Romans 13:8 ... Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

Hebrews 13:5-6 ... Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

*****

We should be able to see, from these few examples, how many who are church people set themselves up to fail and to live in grief, bitterness, and sorrow by choosing to go in the way of this present world to achieve success and possessions.

Here is the way of God:

Mt. 6  No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:  And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and HIS righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

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Psa. 1 ... 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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Joshua 1 ... 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 withersoever 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? (Didn't God tell you to do this?)

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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We do not live by "the law" of the old covenant, but we do live by the Word of God delivered by God to us through HIS Spirit and the Holy Scriptures.

And the principle God presented to Joshua is the same guideline we have for success as we hear the Word of God and meditate on that Word and do it in an appropriate way in our lives on this present earth.

Our house will not fall in the storms of this life when we are anchored to the Word of God and stay ourselves on HIS Word and do that Word by leading of HIS Spirit.

I have found all that I do prospers when I do this.  I've never seen it fail.

The way to prosperity and success is to hear what God would say, to think upon that, and to do what God says to do.

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BOOK: Faith in God

Chapter 1

Joan Boney

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