Our goals as we live on this earth

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Two things we, as children of God, must work to do as we live on this present earth are:

Hear God by His Spirit and follow God being led by the Spirit ... and work daily, in all circumstances, to live in peace.

***

Romans 8:1-12   There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

The Spirit will not lead us in ways of the flesh.

For example:  Our flesh will strive and fight and do all to win out over other flesh.  Our flesh loves to exalt itself.  (emulations)  Our flesh becomes drunken.  Our flesh seeks after adultery and fornication and delights itself in such.

After we are born again and have been given the Spirit of God, we see there is another way.  And we deliberately choose the way of God, putting to death the will of the flesh, often keeping our flesh under control of God by simply asking God in prayer not to let us do that when tempted.

And we come to understand, as Paul understood, that in our flesh dwells no good thing.  Romans 7:18

***

Romans 8:5-14    For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

(As children of God, our goal is to please God.) 

***

Works of the flesh vs. works of the Spirit ...

Galatians 5:19-23  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft (living in superstitions), hatred, variance (debating/arguing), emulations (striving to win out over others), wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance:

***

We have many opportunities daily during this life to choose the way of the Spirit of God. 

One critical thing is to understand we are saved and bought by the blood of Jesus and we will never be worthy outside the price Jesus paid for our sins.

When thoughts come that I am sorry I didn't do better, I must be able to put those thoughts to death by turning to the truth and Jesus' blood that paid for my inadequacies. Jesus is worthy and I enter into His worthiness and refuse to dwell on my own past wrong doing.

We go forward in joy and refuse to wallow in ourselves.  We focus on Jesus' payment of HIS blood.

And when we do this, we will find those thoughts of ourselves that pull us down and would drown us in ourselves vanish.

Therefore we enter in by returning to such scriptures as the following.

I John 1:7   But if we walk in the light, as HE is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.

If we are cleansed by Jesus' blood, we simply make our minds think on that and refuse to think on our own sins or inadequacies.  Our worth is through Jesus' blood which HE shed to pay for our sins.

We can do this because of the Spirit of Christ who now lives in us.

***

Romans 8:9-14  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.

And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, HE that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you. 

(We are made alive over and over by the Holy Spirit bringing things of God to our minds.) 

Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.  For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.


***

Here is an example of being delivered from my own flesh by the Spirit of God.

A woman sent me a birthday card and put inside the card a note telling me all the things she planned for the upcoming secular holiday as she gathered with her husband, her adult children, and her grandchildren.

Immediately, the Holy Spirit reminded me of the following:

Colossians 3:3  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

"That's right!" I excitedly responded, agreeing with the Spirit.

When I thought on what the Spirit said to me, I was joyful, not depressed as my flesh would lead me, for I was alone, no husband-children-grandchildren ... no holiday plans at all.

And while it looks like I have no life, my life is hid in Christ and when Christ appears I will appear with HIM.

Colossians 3:1-4    If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory.

5-8   Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

9-10   Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;  And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of  HIM that created him:

***

Sometimes when our flesh would rise up and lead us, we have to deliberately work against the temptation before us.

We can feel ourselves beginning to strive against another person.  We catch ourselves and back off, praying for help against our flesh.  (I've found God always helps me when I want to be helped.)

***

If we have accident and hurt our bodies, we refuse to mope about and dwell on thoughts of, "Why did this happen to me?"

We keep our faith in God and rest in the peace that we belong to God and either way it will be OK through God.

***

Psalm 34:19    Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.

***

The apostle Paul instructs:

Philippians 4:6-7    Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

*****

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Hymn:  Power in the Blood




(Click forward arrow > to play music:)



1.  Would you be free from your burden of sin?
There’s power in the blood, 
power in the blood;
Would you o’er evil a victory win?
There’s wonderful power in the blood.

Chorus:

There is power, power, 
wonder-working power,
In the blood ... of the Lamb;

There is power, power, 
wonder-working power,
In the precious blood of the Lamb.


2.  Would you be free from your passion and pride?
There’s power in the blood, 
power in the blood;
Come for a cleansing to Calvary’s tide,
There’s wonderful power in the blood.

3.  Would you be whiter, much whiter than snow?
There’s power in the blood, 
power in the blood;
Sin-stains are lost in its life-giving flow,
There’s wonderful power in the blood.

4.  Would you do service for Jesus your King?
There’s power in the blood, 
power in the blood;
Would you live daily His praises to sing?
There’s wonderful power in the blood.


(Click pause symbol,  "  ... at beginning of hymn, to stop music)

***** 

Scripture pertaining to above hymn:

I John 1:7 ... But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

We enter in by refusing to think on our past sins which have been paid for by Jesus' blood.  And when we are deficient and disappointed in that which we did or failed to do we must understand that no human is worthy.  The blood of Jesus is worthy.  Through Jesus we are worthy and we come to God though HIS worthiness and HIS blood which purchased us.

When we think on that we rejoice ... sorrow turns to joy when we focus on the work done by Jesus.

*****

Instruction in Righteousness: From Mark 4

 And HE began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto Him a great multitude, so that HE entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.

² And HE taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in His doctrine,

³ Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:

⁴ And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.

⁵ And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: ⁶ But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.

⁷ And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.

⁸ And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.

⁹ And HE said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

¹⁰ And when HE was alone, they that were about Him with the twelve asked of Him the parable.

¹¹ And HE said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: ¹² That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

¹³ And HE said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?

¹⁴ The sower soweth the word.

¹⁵ And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.

¹⁶ And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; ¹⁷ And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.

¹⁸ And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, ¹⁹ And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

²⁰ And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

²¹ And HE said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?

²² For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.

²³ If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

²⁴ And HE said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. ²⁵ For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.

²⁶ And HE said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; ²⁷ And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.
²⁸ For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. ²⁹ But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

³⁰ And HE said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?

³¹ It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: ³² But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.

³³ And with many such parables spake HE the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.

³⁴ But without a parable spake HE not unto them: and when they were alone, HE expounded all things to His disciples.

³⁵ And the same day, when the even was come, He saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.

³⁶ And when they had sent away the multitude, they took Him even as He was in the ship. And there were also with Him other little ships.  ³⁷ And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

³⁸ And He was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake Him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

³⁹ And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

⁴⁰ And He said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

⁴¹ And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?

*****

All Who Are of God Are Peculiar Treasures To God and To Us Also

Book:  Exhortations For The Church
Vol. 8, Chapter  7
Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet 


When a person is chosen by God and given God's spirit, that person is made a "peculiar treasure" to God.

We should consider the Church, the individuals given the Spirit of God, as peculiar treasures to us also!


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

*****

God gave me the following dream about peculiar treasures:

In this dream, a few men (7 or so) were sitting around a large conference table in a very stately library.  They were examining several precious jewels which were laid out before them on the table.  The one man said, "Then it is settled.  We'll go help her." 

I knew then these men were angels of God ... and they were going to help someone in the Church who was a precious jewel to God.

*****

BOOK: Exhortations For The Church, Volume 8
Chapter   7

Joan Boney



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*****

Troubled? Remember to pray.

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

The devil brings thoughts to try to trouble us, to try to trouble other people through us, basically to steal, to kill, to destroy us and others, if we allow it.

We need to take each troubling thought to God in prayer.

When we fail to do this,  we can trouble other people needlessly with our fear.

Recently I made this error.

***

My cat lives in my bedroom with me.  She enjoys getting on window and looking out when curtain is open. 

We have ordered shutters for this room.  

The thought came:  When shutters are installed, cat will not be able to sit in the window. 

I failed to take this problem to God in prayer.   Had I done so, I believe God would have settled me.

Instead, I asked Pam to see if we could cancel the shutter order.

When she called, she found the shutter should arrive at the store on Monday.

Later I noticed the cat standing on bed with hind feet and front feet on edge of window looking out.  I realized I troubled everyone for no reason, without praying!

***

One characteristic of wisdom that is from God is "peaceable".

Those troubling thoughts need to be investigated through prayer.  God might show us a problem to get us to reevaluate.  But that thought that troubles us is often from our own flesh or devil.  If only we remember to talk it over with God, HE will establish us.

Philippians 4:6-7    Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

***

Paul instructs:

II Corinthians 10:3-5   For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ (The Word);

***

One of the first things God taught me after I was born again in 1975 is the concept of taking thoughts captive.

Tap on the following link to see one of the books I have written on this subject:   Taking Thoughts Captive

***

We are commissioned by God to take every thought captive to determine whether or not that thought is from God.  

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

***

We travel through the wilderness of this present world.  We are equipped by God to overcome.  If we fail to overcome the problems of this life through God, through prayer, through acting upon that which God brings to our mind, we cannot expect to please God... and we cannot live in peace.

Even with the many problems (real problems or imagined problems), peace comes as we talk to God about our concern.

*****

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Hymn:  On Christ the solid Rock I stand




(Click forward arrow > to play music:)


  1.  My hope is built on nothing less 
Than Jesus Christ, my righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

Chorus:

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand. 

2.  When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

3.   His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.

4.  When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found;
In Him, my righteousness, alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.


(Click pause symbol,  "  ... at beginning of hymn, to stop music)

***** 

Scripture pertaining to this hymn:

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,

Jesus is The Word and The Word from God is Jesus. So when I consider "standing on Christ", I think of The Word brought to my mind by The Holy Spirit which never fails.

John 1:1-4   In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him (The Word); and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. 

*****  

A few of many things THE WORD says to us, the children of God:

* I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.  (Joshua 1:5 & Hebrews 13:5)

* No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of Me, saith the Lord.  (Isaiah 54:17)

* Jesus, The Word says ... lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.   (Matthew 28:20)

* my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus (THE WORD). (Philippians 4:19)

* 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)

*****

Instruction in Righteousness: From Mark 3

And He entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand.

² And they watched Him, whether He would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse Him.

³ And He saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth.

⁴ And He saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill?

But they held their peace.

⁵ And when He had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, He saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand.

And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

⁶ And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.

⁷ But Jesus withdrew Himself with His disciples to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed Him, and from Judaea,⁸ And from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and from beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things He did, came unto Him.

⁹ And He spake to His disciples, that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng Him. ¹⁰ For He had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon Him for to touch Him, as many as had plagues.

¹¹ And unclean spirits, when they saw Him, fell down before Him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.

¹² And he straitly charged them that they should not make Him known.

¹³ And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto Him whom He would: and they came unto Him.

¹⁴ And He ordained twelve, that they should be with Him, and that He might send them forth to preach,

¹⁵ And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:

¹⁶ And Simon He surnamed Peter; ¹⁷ And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and He surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder: ¹⁸ And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite,   And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed Him: and they went into an house.

²⁰ And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread.

²¹ And when His friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on Him: for they said, He is beside himself.

²² And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth He out devils.

²³ And He called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, 

How can Satan cast out Satan?
²⁴ And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
²⁵ And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
²⁶ And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.

²⁷ No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.

²⁸ Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:

²⁹ But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation.

³⁰ Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.

(It is a very serious matter to accuse someone who is speaking by the Spirit of God to be of the devil ... blasphemy against the Holy Ghost who is speaking through that accused man.)


³¹ There came then His brethren and His mother, and, standing without, sent unto Him, calling Him.

³² And the multitude sat about Him, and they said unto Him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.

³³ And He answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren?

³⁴ And He looked round about on them which sat about Him, and said, Behold My mother and My brethren!

³⁵ For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is My brother, and My sister, and mother.

*****

They Which Do Such Things Will Not Inherit The Kingdom of God

Book:  Exhortations For The Church
Vol. 8, Chapter  6
Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet 


We have power to control the works of our flesh and we must control the works of the flesh for the apostle Paul told us the following:

Gal. 5:19-26 ... Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,  Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like:of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
 
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  Meekness, temperance:against such there is no law.  And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.  Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

*****

It is the nature of man to do the works of the flesh:  to try to excel above other persons (emulations) ... to fight others, to strive against others, to debate to exalt our thinking, to hate and to desire revenge against those who wrong us ... all these things come from our flesh ... as do sexual sins. 

It is natural to do these works ... but when we are born again we are given another spirit to live in us, the Spirit of God.  To continue to allow the works of the flesh to rule over us, doing such things, would be to deny the Spirit of God that is in us and will cost us greatly for Paul says we will not inherit the kingdom of God by doing these works of the flesh.

If we walk in the Spirit we will not allow the flesh to rule for to walk in the Spirit is to walk in love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance ... 

(Love does no harm to his neighbor ... therefore love fulfills the law of God.)

We have the natural man in us with the flesh just waiting for the chance to rise up and exalt itself ... but we have a greater spirit also in us after we are born again ... we have the Spirit of God in us.

By the Spirit of God through prayer we can put the flesh down and keep it under the control of the Spirit.


When I feel my flesh beginning to rise up, and usually I can feel  this when it begins to happen, I can turn to God in prayer saying,

"Please don't let me do that ... please don't let me say that." 

And each time I turn to God this way, HE answers my prayer and my flesh is kept from rising up.

The flesh never improves!  It is always just waiting for us to allow it to rise up in us and take over.

So we need to stay "sober" (clear minded), "alert" (watchful) ... We are not asleep like the people of this world...

*****

In 1979, God gave me the following terrifying dream:

Destruction was everywhere.

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

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

The first man resumed speaking.

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

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

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

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

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

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

*****

God was showing me the anarchy that was already going on in our church groups.  It is much worse today.

*****

BOOK: Exhortations For The Church, Volume 8
Chapter   6

Joan Boney



E-book: $.99

Paperback: $6.99

(USA Prices)

Order from: Amazon.com

*****

Changed by God

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

John the Baptist was sent before Jesus appeared and John said to the people:

Matthew 3:11   I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:


***

When I was 15-years-old, I went forward at the church my aunt attended and was baptized.  I didn't want to go to hell and at that time I thought if you were baptized you wouldn't go to hell.

So I was baptized in water (immersed).

Then when I was approximately 37-years-old, God (by His Spirit) brought the following to my mind in form of a thought.

"Joan ... you know those mistakes you've been making all these years?  Those weren't mistakes.  Those were sins."

"Sins?"  I was shocked.  I thought they were mistakes.

Instantly I was completely different.

Born again by the Spirit of God and fire.

Now I belonged to God.

***

A year or so later, I was enroute to Albuquerque, New Mexico (USA), on a buying trip for my business in American Indian Arts.

As my plane touched down, I heard the following from the Spirit of God in the form of a thought:

"Be baptized."

My cousin, who was Church of Christ, was meeting me at the plane.  I said to her, "Jeanne, if you can arrange it, I will be baptized this afternoon before I return to Dallas."

She was shocked and replied, "But you've already been baptized."

I said, "I know ... but I was not born again then... now I am."

I don't believe Jeanne had any idea at all what I was talking about.

At one point she said, "Well ... I believe you are a Christian ... I just don't know how you can be."

***

That afternoon ... at the Church of Christ building ... about 20 of my relatives gathered to see me baptized again.

The preacher asked me if I would like to say anything.

I replied that I guess so ... and I just began talking as the Spirit gave me utterance.  I don't recall what I said but it was probably about being born again when God spoke to me.

My uncle began crying as I spoke.  Afterwards he came to me and said, "I've never before heard anything like you spoke.  Could you write that out for me?"

(I think this uncle was born again as I was speaking ... thus the Lord sent them forth with signs following.)

I did write it out and mailed it to this uncle.

***

As the minister lowered me into the water, the Holy Spirit brought to my mind the following:

"This is like being buried with Christ."

(Symbolic of keeping our flesh crucified with Christ that we can serve God by the Spirit that is now in us.)

As I came out of the water, the Holy Spirit said:

"This is like being raised with Christ."

***

The apostle Paul said:

Romans 6:3-5   Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death?

Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection:

After we are born again, through the remainder of our life, one scripture after another becomes "alive" to us and God opens our understanding and we begin doing that scripture and are recreated again and again into the image of Jesus (the Word) as we live the Word.

We are changed from the person we had been and are now a new creature.  Those things we once did are repugnant to us now and we now seek things of God and want things of God!

***

After I was born again, a woman said to me:  "I believe in you we have seen a real conversion... You have been changed."

***

II Corinthians 5:17 ... Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

***

It is change caused by the will of God.  No human can make this happen.

That is one of the mysteries about being born again.

***

Romans 9:5-18 ... they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.  

That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. 

For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son.  

And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;

 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.

For HE (God) saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.

Therefore hath HE mercy on whom HE will have mercy, and whom HE will he hardeneth.

***

A Catholic man was diagnosed with cancer and suffered much pain.

One night, he reported, "The Lord" visited him and told him he would be alright and told him HE would help him.

At the same moment, his wife awoke praising God.

After this, she said her husband had changed, he was very different.

In reporting this story, three times she used the word that her husband was "very different".

(Born again!)

***

John 3:3-7 Jesus said to Nicodemus: Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

 
***

Many people are born of their own flesh when they go forth and are baptized.  Babies are born of the flesh, the will of their parents, when taken to some church to be baptized as a baby.

It is when the Spirit of God comes upon us that we are born of the Spirit and that is by the will of God.  We cannot cause this to happen.

Then after God speaks to us we believe by faith.

And we are changed into a new creation by God.

*****

HYMN:  BLESSED ASSURANCE




(Click forward arrow > to play music:)


1.   Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine;
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God, 

Born of His Spirit, 
washed in His blood.


Chorus:

This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.

This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.


2.   Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending, bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love. 

3.   Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest;
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.


(Click pause symbol,  "  ... at beginning of hymn, to stop music)

***** 

The following scripture pertains to this hymn:

v. 2  Angels descending, bring from above

Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Angels come down from heaven as commanded by God to do various works of God according to the will of God.

When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness by Satan 40-days, angels ministered to Him.  (Mark 1:12)

An angel of God moved the great stone which sealed the tomb of Jesus. (Matthew 28:2)

An angel of God came down from heaven to free Peter from prison. (Acts 12:6-7 )

An angel delivered a message to the apostle Paul, telling Paul no harm would come to him and those on the ship. (Acts 27:23)

Genesis 28:10-12    And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.

Angels descend, carrying messages from God.

Psalm 130:20   Bless the Lord, ye His angels, that excel in strength, that do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His word.

***

(Comments by Joan Boney ...) The night of January 10, 1980, I was asleep and awakened by a very loud trumpet-like voice which blew 3 words into my ear as follows: Hartford, Seattle, KWJS ... I believe this to have been an angel of God speaking to me. By this and prayer, I came to believe God was leading me to go on radio. Within about 5 days of this, I was broadcasting exhortations week-days on KWJS radio. Within a year I was on radio stations from NYC (Hartford) to Seattle.

***

Psalm 104:4   Who maketh His angels spirits; His ministers a flaming fire:

***

Exodus 23:20-23    God says:    Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.

Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him.

But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.

For mine Angel shall go before thee

*****