Instruction In Righteousness: II Timothy 3

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

² For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ³ Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, ⁴ Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

(By verse 5, we see Paul is speaking of people who attend churches ... The "perilous times" happen in the church groups.  A little leaven leaventh the whole lump. )

⁵ Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

(In form they appear godlly, but they deny the power of the Holy Scriptures to rule over them ...)


⁶ For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

⁷ Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

⁸ Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

⁹ But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as their's also was.

¹⁰ But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, ¹¹ Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

¹² Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

¹³ But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

¹⁴ But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
¹⁵ And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

¹⁶ All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

¹⁷ That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

*****

Must Not Sell Our Birthright For A "Morsel" Of Bread

Book:  Exhortations For The Church
Vol. 6, Chapter 6
Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet 


In 2016, I purchased a new sofa, a nice leather.

That same day, my cat was sitting on the sofa and I moved something and it frightened her.  She flew off the sofa.  I thought nothing about it.

Later my cleaning woman said there was damage to one of the sofa cushions on the sofa.  I saw immediately it was caused by my cat's back claws and I realized what had happened.  When she flew off the sofa she launched herself by her back claws which is automatic for cats.

Later that same day, a problem arose with the automatic lifts on the sofa.  It appeared they might have to change out the sofa for another one.

Immediately, I said, "We need to pray they don't see the small mark my cat made."  (Then they might not change the sofa.)

I saw at once I would be going off into darkness if I tried to hide this damage.  It would be defrauding the company who sold the sofa.  And even if they did not notice the problem, a customer might purchase the item later and get it home and notice the problem and I would be guilty of defrauding the customer.  (To deceive another would not be acting in love toward that other person.)

*****

I Thess. 4:6-7 ... That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

*****

This would be like selling your soul for the price of the sofa!

I thought of Esau who sold his birthright for a morsel of food.

Heb. 12 ... 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.

*****

Is your soul worth that money?  How much does one trade for his soul?  A thousand dollars?  Two thousand dollars?  $100,000 dollars?  A million dollars?


Is it really worth it? 

I checked about leather repair in Lubbock and believe I will be able to find someone who repairs leather car seats who will repair the sofa.

But I must not defraud anyone as my flesh would have liked to do.

Revelation 22:14-15 ... Blessed are they that do HIS commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.  For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. 

*****

I Cor. 6 ... Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

***** 

Love does no wrong to his fellow man.

How can we who preach Jesus deceive another for gain?

We choose to live honestly before all, keeping our flesh crucified with Christ (dead with Christ), not allowing our flesh to rule in the situations of life.

I Cor. 10 ...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.

*****

BOOK: Exhortations For The Church, Volume 6
Chapter 6

Joan Boney



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*****

Instruction In Righteousness: II Timothy 2

Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

² And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

³ Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

⁴ No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please Him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

⁵ And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

⁶ The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.

(You can't just talk about faith.  You must first live faith and then you can talk of faith.)

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

⁸ Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:

⁹ Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.

¹⁰ Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

¹¹ It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with Him, we shall also live with Him:

¹² If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him: if we deny Him, HE also will deny us:

¹³ If we believe not, yet HE abideth faithful: HE cannot deny himself.

¹⁴ Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.

¹⁵ Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

¹⁶ But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
¹⁷ And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
¹⁸ Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

¹⁹ Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

²⁰ But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.

²¹ If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

²² Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

²³ But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

²⁴ And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
²⁵ In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; ²⁶ And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

*****

When Trouble Comes

Book:  Exhortations For The Church
Vol. 6, Chapter 5
Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet 


Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt.  God parted the Red Sea.  The children of Israel followed Moses into the Red Sea and walked on dry ground.  God killed Pharaoh and his men in the Red Sea but kept HIS chosen alive.

Now God is leading HIS people into the chosen land.

Exodus 15 ... So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.
 
And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.

And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? 

And he (Moses) cried unto the Lord; and the Lord shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet:

*****

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.

*****

BOOK: Exhortations For The Church, Volume 6
Chapter 5

Joan Boney



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Instruction In Righteousness: II Timothy 1

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,

² To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

³ I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; ⁴ Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;

⁵ When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

⁶ Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

⁷ For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

⁸ Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

⁹ Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

¹⁰ But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

¹¹ Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that HE is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.

¹³ Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

¹⁴ That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.

¹⁵ This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.

¹⁶ The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain: ¹⁷ But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me. ¹⁸ The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.

*****

God Delivers HIS People

Book:  Exhortations For The Church
Vol. 6, Chapter 4
Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet 


God sent the children of Israel down into Egypt to survive a famine in the land.  God had prepared the way for them by putting Joseph as a ruler in Egypt.

God goes before us making the way unto which HE is sending us.

They lived in Egypt 430 years.  God ordained a time that HE would deliver them out of Egypt.

God selects for us the exact time that we live on this present earth and the exact place that we live.

Acts 17:26 ... HE determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.

(NIV:  Original Translation)

*****

God does the same today for HIS people.  It is not accidental that we live in the country where we now live.  It is not accidental that we live in the exact house where we now live.  And we live in the exact period of time as ordained by God.  If God moves us, HE will go before us in the move and set up what we need and that which will accomplish HIS purpose for us on this present earth, exactly as God did for the children of Israel in the story we read in Exodus.

God is in control.  God is in charge both of the believer and of the unbeliever.  God hardens the heart of one (Pharaoh) and gives salvation to eternal life to another (Paul).

Everything is "by the will of God". 

*****

Thus we read, in Romans 8 ... 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.

*****

The children of Israel were terribly afflicted by the Egyptians and it got worse for them toward the end of their stay in Egypt.

- Their work load as slaves to Pharaoh increased dramatically.
- Their family life was made terrible by Pharaoh ordering the destruction of the male babies born to the Hebrews

In their affliction, they cried out to God.  

God made a way to deliver HIS people at the exact time ordained by God.

Exodus 12 ... And the children of Israel went away, and did as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.
 
And it came to pass, that at midnight the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.  And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.
 
And he (Pharaoh) called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as ye have said. 

Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also. 

And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men.

And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneadingtroughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders. 

And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: And the Lord gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians. 

*****

What an incredible sight this must have been.  600,000 men (plus women and children) walking out of Egypt.  (Ex. 12:37)

Ex. 12:39 ...  And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual.  

*****

They are walking into a wilderness where there is no provision for them. 

God was to be their provision. 

Exodus 13:9 ... with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt. 

...  And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt: But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.

*****

God knows exactly how to lead us to keep us in the way.

Exodus 13 ... And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: HE took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.

(Today God leads HIS people by HIS Spirit, the Holy Spirit, which HE puts in HIS people.)

*****

Now God is going to lead HIS people into an "impossible" situation.

Exodus 14 ... And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baalzephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea. For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in. And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, that he shall follow after them; and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am the Lord. And they did so.

*****

After the Hebrews leave Egypt, Pharaoh has "a change of heart" and decides to go get them to return them to Egypt as slaves. (Notice the change of heart against the children of Israel is of God for God told Moses "HE", God, would harden Pharaoh's heart.)

Pharaoh takes 600 "chosen" chariots ... and captains over every one of them... a formidable group of men to go after the Hebrews to bring them back into slavery.

Exodus 14 ...  And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord. And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.

*****

They apparently forgot the terrible hardships of Egypt even unto the rule of Pharaoh that they must destroy their male babies!

There was a rejoicing when God brought them out of Egypt, but as soon as things got difficult they were as leaves blowing in the wind, changing directions in their thinking, murmuring against God and against Moses the servant of God. 

Exodus 14 ... And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which HE will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

 And the Lord said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward: But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get ME honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.  And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gotten ME honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.

And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.  

And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.

And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.

*****

(The only way they could go was forward.)

And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.

And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the Lord looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians,  And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily:so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the Lord fighteth for them against the Egyptians.
 
And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.

And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.

And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.

*****

God destroyed all the Egyptians by HIS plan.

Exodus 14:29 ...  But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. 

Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore. And Israel saw that great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and HIS servant Moses.

*****

For us today:

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.  Heb. 13:5-6

*****

The wickedness will increase.  The wrath of God will come.  The heavens and the earth as we currently know them will be destroyed by God.  II Peter 3

God will deliver HIS people.

I Thess. 4 ...  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep (dead), that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with HIM.

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

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

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

Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

*****

BOOK: Exhortations For The Church, Volume 6
Chapter 4

Joan Boney



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Instruction In Righteousness: I Timothy 6

Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.

² And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit.

These things teach and exhort.

³ If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; ⁴ He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,⁵ Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

⁶ But godliness with contentment is great gain.

⁷ For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

⁸ And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

⁹ 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.

¹⁰ 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.

(Did you ever take a job you hated in order to get money from that job?  This is a love of that money.)

¹¹ But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

(Flee means:  run away from things or humans that cause you to love money or violate scripture)

¹² 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.

¹³ I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;

¹⁴ That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:

¹⁵ Which in His times He shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

¹⁶ Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

¹⁷ Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

¹⁸ That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

¹⁹ Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

²⁰ O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane (secular) and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: ²¹ Which some professing have erred concerning the faith.

Grace be with thee. Amen.

*****

We Must Run The Race Until The End... If We Drop Out We Lose Everything

Book:  Exhortations For The Church
Vol. 6, Chapter 3
Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet 


When a person enters a race, if he fails to cross the finish line he receives nothing.

When we are born again, we enter a race, so to speak.  We are full of excitement over God and things of God.  We anticipate others being this way also.

But along the years, we see people, even church people, bored when we speak of things of God.  We often find they do not want to hear.

We see churches pervert scripture and eliminate scripture.

We expect the world to be wicked but when the churches change scripture and cast aside the pure meaning of the instruction from God in Bible, we are often devastated.

Jesus said, concerning the 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.  Mt. 24

We must not allow our heart to grow cold for the scriptures.  And we must endure to the end of our own lives on this earth or until Jesus returns for the church and removes us from this earth.

Jesus speaks about this in the following scripture:

Rev. 3 ... And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 

*****

The sins around us cause the danger for us.  The danger is allowing the word of God to grow weak and dim in our hearts.   

I am convinced one key to endurance is to make a practice of daily Bible reading and the reading of godly exhortations.

The reason for my confidence is the following instruction from the Book of Hebrews.

Heb. 10:25-27 ...   exhorting one another:and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
 
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.


Paul told Timothy:  Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.   I Tim. 4:13

Reading Bible and godly exhortations are like throwing logs on a fire that is about to go out.

We also stir up the gift of God that is in us by reading Bible and godly exhortations.

*****

We must not just start the race.  We must cross the finish line. 

To become discouraged and drop out will be our destruction. 

So we must "endure" to the end says Jesus. 


Mt. 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.

*****

BOOK: Exhortations For The Church, Volume 6
Chapter 3

Joan Boney



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*****

Instruction In Righteousness: I Timothy 5

Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;
² The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.

³ Honour widows that are widows indeed.
⁴ But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.

⁵ Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.
⁶ But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.

⁷ And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.

⁸ But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

⁹ Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old (60-years-old), having been the wife of one man. ¹⁰ Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.

¹¹ But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry; ¹² Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.

¹³ And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.

¹⁴ I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. ¹⁵ For some are already turned aside after Satan.

¹⁶ If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.

¹⁷ Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

¹⁸ For the scripture saith, thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.

¹⁹ Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.

²⁰ Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

²¹ I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.

²² Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.

²³ Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.

²⁴ Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.
²⁵ Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.

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God Has A Plan For HIS People ... God Never Fails

Book:  Exhortations For The Church
Vol. 6, Chapter 2
Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet 


The examples given us in the Bible show us God's deliverance for HIS people.

God will never fail in HIS plan.

God does not forsake HIS people.

We build up our faith in God when we read examples in the Bible such as the following:

Exodus 1 ... And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them. Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land. Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens.

... And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour: And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.

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Things were very bad for the children of Israel, and they were going to get worse.

 
 Exodus 1 ... And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah: And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live. But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive. 

... And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.

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Moses was born at this time.  His mother hid Moses for 3 months and when she could no longer hide the baby Moses, she made a raft and put the baby on the raft and set it into the river.

Exodus 2 ... And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river's side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it. And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews' children. 

Then said his sister (Moses' sister) to Pharaoh's daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee? And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child's mother. And Pharaoh's daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the woman took the child, and nursed it. And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water.

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None of these things happened by "accident".  All was planned by God.

As we read Exodus we see God has a plan for deliverance of HIS people and that plan will not fail.

We also see that God is in control over all ... even the wicked men of this earth are under the control of God... God can and will bring about HIS plan and they will never be able to stand against God.

God makes a way of escape for HIS people:

Here is a miraculous deliverance story presented by Pam Padgett, a member of our little church group: 

Pam says:  

My older sister had been at college two years when I started attending the same school.  She dated a man who was a member of a fraternity, and she had become a member of the fraternity's "women's auxiliary", assisting with fraternity social functions.  She was very excited for me to join the social circles she was in, and especially wanted me to meet members of the fraternity.

The first week of school my sister invited me to go to a student bar where many of the fraternity guys gathered on Thursday nights.  I went, but found what was going on there to be so bad (lewdness, drunkenness ) that I was unable to stay and I walked back to the dormitory.

A week or so later my sister asked if I'd go to an outdoor luau with one of the freshmen pledges at the fraternity.  The luau site was about 20 miles away near a river, and there would be a campfire.  The setting was very appealing to me, plus I was excited about having a date, and I agreed to go.

Then, a few days before the luau, my sister told me that arrangements had been made for one of the other fraternity guys to take me to the luau because my date would be spending the day at the luau site building a hut for us ... a young man I had never even met was building a hut "for us"!

Suddenly the reality of this luau became very clear to me.  This was not going to be people sitting around a campfire roasting marshmallows.  The lewdness and drunkenness I had seen at the student bar was probably mild compared to what would be going on at this luau ... and I wouldn't be able to walk home.

I told my sister that I couldn't go along with this and did not want to go, but she kept insisting that it was too late for me to back out, that it was too late for this guy to find another date. 

I turned very strongly to God, asking Him to somehow get me out of this situation.  There seemed no way out. 

At one point I asked God to let me have appendicitis, preferring to be in a hospital having surgery than to go to this luau.

The morning of the luau I woke up and checked to see if I might have any pain that would indicate appendicitis, and was disappointed that I felt fine. 

I kept praying for God to somehow work this out.  Time was really running out! 

When I looked outside, it was raining a little, but not much. However, the rain became heavier and heavier as the day went on.

Around 2 pm I received a call from the fraternity guy who planned to take me to the luau site.  He told me how sorry he was to have to tell me this, but the luau had to be cancelled. 

The luau site had been totally flooded, washing away all the huts that had been built, which would include the hut my date had built for us.    He told me how long the luau had been held at this same site (many years) and, although there had been rain at times in the past, nothing like this had ever happened before, flooding and causing the luau to be cancelled.

I rejoiced, knowing that God had delivered me.

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BOOK: Exhortations For The Church, Volume 6
Chapter 2

Joan Boney



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