Book: Exhortations for the Church
Vol. 3, Chapter 10
Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet
Sometimes I will pray and immediately the answer or direction I need to take will come into my mind.
John 14:26 ... Jesus says ... 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.
*****
Other times, I will pray and nothing at all comes into my mind ... no answer nor direction.
And later, hours or days or weeks or even years, the answer to my prayer comes to me.
An example: A young man said something about the Bible and it really troubled me. He said the Bible was so "legalistic". I turned to God and said, "This really troubles me.
I went about my business around the house and within the hour I was reminded of the following scripture.
Mt. 7 ... Jesus said ... 13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
I knew immediately that scripture was the answer to my prayer concerning the young man saying the Bible is "legalistic".
I rejoiced greatly in this scripture, rejoicing in the Word.
The world wants freedom to sin.
The Bible restricts us to God's way which keeps us from the sins of this world, delivering us and saving us.
We, who belong to God want freedom from sin, thus the Word of God which delivers us from sin when we follow that direction of The Word.
*****
Another example of prayer: My
mother and I lived in a house which had a very small kitchen. I asked
God if there was anything I could do to correct the problem. When both
my mother and I would be in the kitchen at the same time, I would pray
again.
When you pray and do not receive the answer, is it weak faith to pray again?
Paul said: Pray without ceasing. I Thess. 5:17
Jesus gave this example.
Lk. 18 ... 1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; 2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: 3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. 4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; 5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. 6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. 7 And shall not God avenge HIS own elect, which cry day and night unto HIM, though HE bear long with them? 8 I tell you that HE will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall HE find faith on the earth?
*****
I pray each time I am troubled.
When God brings the answer to me, then I am no longer troubled.
But until I have heard from God on the matter that troubles me, I pray when I am troubled.
Concerning that small kitchen, for about 4 years, I was troubled and prayed each time I was troubled ...
"Is there any way this can be corrected?"
One day, I went into the kitchen and it was as if a light came on in my head ... I knew what to do about this problem ... There was a built-in pantry in this small kitchen. I moved the pantry to the attached garage adjacent to the kitchen. I moved the refrigerator to the former pantry space which was at the end of the cabinet. This opened up the walk area and made the kitchen seem larger. It also gave me room for approximate 5 feet of additional counter top and cabinet area.
God answers prayer ... and gives us wisdom!
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.
*****
When Jesus spoke in Lk. 18 about praying and continuing to pray over the troubled area, Jesus said God would help us when we are persistent in continued prayer ... Then Jesus said, "Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall HE find faith on the earth?"
It takes faith to pray.
The evil increases on this present earth before the end ... as the evil increases, some will depart from the faith because of the evil around them. They will give up and go with the evil doers. It will seem hopeless to them. And they will depart from the faith and from the love of the Word of God.
*****
We must keep the love of the Word of God inside us at all times. We throw logs on the fire by reading godly exhortations and Bible!
Toward the end, we will need "even more" godly exhortations because of the increased evil of this world.
Hebrews 10:23-25 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 (motivate others) unto love and to good works:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
***
Jesus said ... Matthew 24:12-13 ... (concerning end times) 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.
***
... 21-22 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
The apostle Peter said ...
I Peter 4:18 ... And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
*****
I do believe we, the Children of God, will be removed before the great tribulation of the wrath of God, for the apostle Paul says we are not appointed to the wrath. (I Thess. 5)
Nevertheless, we do see the increase of evil in the world around us today. It is so important for those who belong to God to increase our time with God through prayer and Bible reading and the reading of godly exhortations, and thinking on things of God ... as the evil increases on this present earth.
*****
BOOK: Exhortations For The Church, Volume 3
Chapter 10
Joan Boney
E-book: $.99
Chapter 10
Joan Boney
E-book: $.99
Paperback: $7.99
(USA Prices)
Order from: Amazon.com
Order from: Amazon.com
*****