Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet
Matthew 25:1-14 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
(Oil comes from God. If you fail to keep oil in your lamp daily, you will not be able to get to the bridegroom (Jesus). for you will be walking in darkness. Therefore you will not see the way of God daily as you walk on this earth and you will stumble about in making all kinds of decision in the darkness of your own thinking and will walk as the people of this world walk.)
But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
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.
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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Each of us must get our own oil daily for our "lamps". And we must not allow our oil to be drained away by others who do not go to God for understanding.
Oil allows the lamp to give light so we can see where to walk, that we stumble not.
We get oil by reading the Bible and by applying God's word to our life in an appropriate way ... "eating and drinking" the Word of God in a worthy, correct way.
Some who fail to get oil for themselves want us to give them our oil and they hang on us, pulling us down with them.
The wise said, "Go to him who sells, and get your own oil." Go to God. Read Bible. Depend on God to open your eyes. Pay attention to specific scriptures that stand out to you. Meditate on those scriptures. Do this continually, throughout each day. Fill your lamp and keep it filled while you live on this earth.
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There are people who would drain you. Don't let that happen.
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In the 1980's, I spoke to a group in San Antonio, Texas. A woman from our church group went with me from Dallas. She was a wonderful operatic soprano and sang at churches. She was to sing and I was to deliver the exhortation to the church.
They had us spend the night in the home of a woman who was a member of their group.
She asked us many things concerning the Word of God.
Later, Emogene said to me: "This is the type of woman who really drains you."
There is a bit of "drunkenness" as we share with such a person who seems to want to learn. We get "high" on our words and our ego often comes into the picture as we share.
The truth is, this woman does not depend on God but on humans.
God says: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. James 1:5
Ask God for HIS wisdom, especially as you read the Bible.
Let God teach you continually.
The apostle John said: But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him. I John 2:27
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In July, 2018, a man who says he is a pastor wrote to me thanking me for an exhortation I had given.
Then he said, "There is just one problem. I can't understand it."
I replied: "I can't give you understanding. Ask God for understanding."
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The apostle Paul told many things to Timothy. After stating these things, Paul said to Timothy,
II Timothy 2:7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
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In the story of the rich man and Lazarus ... the rich man died and went to hell. He was tormented day and night. He begged that Lazarus would be sent to his brothers to speak the Word to them so they would not end up as he had done in constant torment in hell.
Here is the response given to his request:
Luke 16:29,31 ... They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them... If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
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We have Bible ... we have Holy Spirit ... If we can't hear God nothing will work anyway for our oil for our lamps must come from the understanding given us by God.
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