Jimmy Swaggart seeks fame and fortune in ministry and ends up caught in two cases with prostitutes and is defrocked by Assembly of God church.

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

In approximately 1981. an agent for Michael Ellison Advertising Agency told me this story about their former client, TV preacher, Jimmy Swaggart.

Swaggart was tired of those small number of people attending his meetings and he wanted much larger crowds.  The agency told him to cut back on the preaching and to add more country western style gospel music to his meetings.  Swaggart was a country western type singer and performer who identified himself as an "evangelist".

Swaggart did add more music and cut back on preaching, according to the Ellison agent, and the crowds attending his meetings changed from the 500's to thousands.

God gave me a message for Swaggart as follows:  "Stop entertaining the people and return to preaching."

I tried to get this message to Jimmy Swaggart but it was intercepted by his office staff and destroyed.

So I spoke this message on my own radio broadcasts which went from coast to coast in USA.  I named Swaggart by name on the radio broadcasts and told what he had done and told what I had heard from God about this matter.

I'm sure the message then reached Swaggart.

But he made no change at all.

*****

After that, Jimmy Swaggart was caught with a prostitute.

After he was caught, Swaggart came on TV with a tear filled plea stating repentance.

The Assembly of God church denomination chose to pray for Swaggart and counsel Swaggart.

They completely cast aside that which the apostle Paul said to do in such cases. 

I Corinthians 5:11; 13    But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat... put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

***

After this, Jimmy Swaggart was caught a second time with another prostitute.

The Assembly of God church then defrocked Jimmy Swaggart, according to Wikipedia.

The last I heard Jimmy Swaggart was still producing television broadcasts and receiving large amounts of offerings from TV audiences.

*****

Matthew 24:3-5   And as HE (Jesus) sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto HIM privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of THY coming, and of the end of the world?  4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 

5 For many shall come in MY name, saying, I (Jesus) am Christ; and shall deceive many.

***

Matthew 7:13-14 Jesus says:    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:

Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

*****

Hymn: HE leadeth me!

(Click forward arrow > to play music:) 


1. He leadeth me! O blessed thought, 
O words with heav’nly comfort fraught;
Whate’er I do, where’er I be,
Still ’tis Christ’s WORD that leadeth me.

Chorus:

He leadeth me! He leadeth me!

By His own WORD He leadeth me;

His faithful follower I would be,
For by His WORD He leadeth me. 

2.  Sometimes ’mid scenes of deepest gloom,
Sometimes where Eden’s bowers bloom,
By waters still, o’er troubled sea,
Still ’tis His WORD that leadeth me. 

3.  Lord, I would clasp Thy hand in mine (by reaching out and grabbing HIS Word and doing it),

Nor ever murmur or repine; *
 
Content, whatever lot I see,
Since it is Thou that leadest me. 

4.  And when my task on earth is done,
When, by Thy grace, the vict’ry’s won,
E’en death’s cold wave I will not flee,  
Since Thou in triumph leadest me.

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

*** 

Defnitions:
 
Consider these definitions for the words "murmur" and "repine" in verse 3.

Nor ever murmur or repine;

murmur:  complain about 

repine:  to look back with intense longing for what one once had ...
             to be fretfully discontented ...
             to mope, to languish, to feel upset about, to be despondent over ... to brood, lament, grieve, mourn, sorrow

***** 

Scriptures pertaining to this hymn:

Romans 8:11    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. 

God, by HIS Spirit, brings thoughts to our minds to comfort us, to show us what to do, to stabilize us in times of trial.  Sometimes God will give us a dream to help us.  And God uses angels from time to time to deliver messages to us.  

John 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.

John 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.

***

I Corinthians 2:1-5   And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.

For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.

And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 

And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:  That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

***

John 5:30   Jesus said:   I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear (from God), I judge: and MY judgment is just; because I seek not Mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent ME.

***

I Corinthians 2:10-13    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.

Which things also we speak

***

Romans 8:14   For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

*****

Instruction In Righteousness: I Thessalonians 5

But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.

² For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

³ For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

⁴ But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

⁵ Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

⁶ Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

⁷ For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.

⁸ But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

⁹ For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

¹⁰ Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

¹¹ Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

¹² And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish (warn) you;  ¹³ And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake.

And be at peace among yourselves.

¹⁴ Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

¹⁵ See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

¹⁶ Rejoice evermore.

¹⁷ Pray without ceasing.

¹⁸ In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

¹⁹ Quench not the Spirit.

²⁰ Despise not prophesyings.

²¹ Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

²² Abstain from all appearance of evil.

²³ And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

²⁴ Faithful is HE that calleth you, who also will do it.

²⁵ Brethren, pray for us.

²⁶ Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.

²⁷ I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.

²⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

*****

Led by the Spirit of God by the Word of God

Book:  Exhortations For The Church
Vol. 11, Chapter 26
Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet 


At the time I was born again, I owned a business in American Indian Arts, in Dallas, Texas.

At this point in time in USA, American Indian Arts was very popular.

A man came to town and rented a motel room and advertised heavily.

Frequently such itinerant salesmen were selling massed produced items which had been very heavily overpriced and then marked down 50% or more.

The Dallas Morning News came to me asking me if I would write an article to warn people and to help people select this merchandise wisely, giving them some guidelines.

A few days after the article was published, a short, heavy set man came into my shop.

He was wearing a tie clasp shaped like handcuffs!

He said to me, “Little lady … do you know such & such,” naming a man.

I replied I didn’t know that man.

He said, “Well … he knows you for he is suing you for a-million-dollars.” 

I was very shocked!

(At that time, I probably had less than $2000 in the bank.)

The situation was so ridiculous to me that I couldn’t even take it seriously. I threw the legal papers off to the side and forgot about them for a week or so.

Then I realized if I failed to respond to this law suit, judgment could be rendered against me by the courts.

I hired a lawyer.

*****

Several weeks passed. The man was also suing 3 or 4 other dealers of American Indian Arts in Dallas. He was also suing the city of Dallas and Fort Worth with the charge of conspiracy to try to keep him from doing business in the metroplex. 

My lawyer kept filing legal papers and would call me from week to week, and send me a bill for his services.

The legal fees were eating up all the profit from my small business. At the rate we were going I knew I would be back in debt shortly. I had felt God had showed me to get out of debt and stay out of debt. And I had worked very diligently to get out of debt and to keep the business debt free, purchasing merchandise only as I had the cash available to pay for the merchandise.

I was a “baby” Christian, newly born again, at the time this was happening.

*****

One day, while reading the Bible I saw the following.

Isaiah 54:17 … 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. 

I began to reason this scripture. This lawsuit was a weapon formed against me. God said in the Holy Scriptures, “it would not prosper.”

I am a servant of the Lord.

This scripture applied to me.

Therefore, I decided to dismiss my lawyer and plan to go to court without any human legal counsel.

*****

I made an appointment to consult my pastor and present my scriptural case to him. As I drove to the appointment, I was praying for God to give pastor HIS wisdom.

At the end of the conference, pastor said to me, “Joan … I perceive you have faith to do this this way.” 

*****

I called lawyer immediately and dismissed him and told him that I am now a Christian and this is what Bible says, quoting Isaiah 54:17 to him, and I told Gordon this is a promise from God to the church, therefore this lawsuit against me will not prosper and I was going to court without any human legal counsel.

Lawyer was very shocked!

He responded, “Joan … you can’t do this. You don’t know how evil these courts are… It will only take about $10,000 more to try your case and we are willing to work with you.” 

“$10,000” … I cried out … “Gordon stop … don’t do another thing” …

*****

A couple of weeks later, Gordon came into my shop. He said the law firm had decided to try my case without any further legal fee.

What is going on here?

One week they were going to charge $10,000 more … now the legal service was going to be “free”.

I told Gordon I would have to get back with him on this.

I began praying, asking God what HE wanted me to do. 

I was then reminded of the following …

Genesis 14 …

And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself. 

And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich: 

*****

I knew God was telling me to turn down the “free” legal service.

Also since that time, I have purposed to depend on God for that which I have on this earth. I do not want anything except what God gives me. I want my “riches” to come from God and not from man.

But during these weeks and months, I was very frightened. 

Many terrible thoughts of what might happen to me came into my mind.

I began holding onto scripture to fight the fearful thoughts.

Through this, God taught me the concept of taking thoughts captive to bring every thought into the obedience of Christ, The Word. 

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; 

In this battle, the starting point for me was:

Isaiah 54:17 (a promise of God to the church) … 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. 

*****

I kept this scripture before me day and night to give me strength and courage and to fight the fearful thoughts.

God brought other scriptures to my mind by HIS Spirit and when HE did, I wrote those scriptures down and added them to Isaiah 54:17.

In the months before the trial was scheduled, God had given me about 14 additional scriptures which I kept before me constantly.

I took these scriptures and recorded them over and over on a cassette tape, on both sides of the tape. I started the tape playing when I went to bed each night. I fell asleep to these scriptures. When I awoke in the night I turned the tape over and started playing it again on the other side. 

The case continued on in the courts for several months.

All the time, I was keeping scripture before me and hearing scripture in the night.

*****

Six days before the trial was scheduled in US District Court, I received a phone call from the lawyer of the man who was suing me.

His lawyer was calling me because I had no lawyer.

He said this man dropped all charges.

I asked the lawyer if this man dropped all charges against the other defendants also and the lawyer replied, “He cut everyone lose.”

The lawyer went on to say, “We tried to get him not to sue you but he was like a mad-man and he wouldn’t listen to us.”

It was over … almost …

*****

A few days later, Gordon, my former lawyer came into my shop. He said they had done little but discuss what had happened since the case was dropped.

And Gordon said, “We have concluded at the law firm that what you said happened, happened… no weapon that was formed against you would prosper …” 

Now this was over! Except for the fact that God used this fearful trial to begin teaching me to believe HIM and to hold fast to the promises of God in the Bible … and to take thoughts captive to bring those thoughts into obedience of the Word of God.

The Bible is not a history book. The Bible is real … with real power of God for HIS people who can believe what the scriptures tell us … The Bible is not about God. The Bible is God!

Through the Holy Spirit we see the way of God continually through scripture, through dreams given by God, and through thoughts given by the Holy Spirit.

*****

Later a man came into my store looking for power in Indian Arts. He thought these objects had mystical power and he wanted that power.

I told this man there is real power but it is not in art objects … that power he was looking for was in the Word of God for those who could believe what God said to them by HIS Word.

*****

BOOK: Exhortations For The Church, Volume 11
Chapter 26

Joan Boney



E-book: $.99

Paperback: $7.99

(USA Prices)

Order from: Amazon.com

*****

Scriptures presented in today's blog

(Recommend:  Copy these scriptures on paper, and read them during day and evening, paying special attention to verses that stand out to you, for there is a specific need for these scriptures in your life at this point in time.)

I Corinthians 5:11; 13    But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat... put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

***

Matthew 24:3-5   And as HE (Jesus) sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto HIM privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of THY coming, and of the end of the world?4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

5 For many shall come in MY name, saying, I (Jesus) am Christ; and shall deceive many.

***

Matthew 7:13-14 Jesus says:    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:

Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

***

Romans 8:11    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. 

*** 

John 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.

John 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.

***

I Corinthians 2:1-5   And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.

For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.

And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 

And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:  That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

***

John 5:30   Jesus said:   I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear (from God), I judge: and MY judgment is just; because I seek not Mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent ME.

***

I Corinthians 2:10-13    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.

Which things also we speak

***

Romans 8:14   For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

***

Isaiah 54:17 …  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. 

*** 

Genesis 14 … And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself. 

 

And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich: 

 

 *** 
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; 

*** 

I Thessalonians 5:  Presented today

*****

Robert Tilton: pastor who "kills" a prophet and destroys his own house.

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

I Timothy 5:24    Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.

Some sins committed by men are apparent even as those men live on this earth while other sins are hidden until the day of judgment when they are disclosed and judged.

***

From 1978-1982, I attended a church, Word of Faith, Robert Tilton, pastor, that met in an old warehouse in Farmer's Branch, Texas, north of Dallas.

* When I began going there, we had approximately 200 people on the best day.  

* By the time I left in 1982, the size of the congregation had grown to approximately 8,000.

* By the end of the 1990's, the entire church building was destroyed and the congregation had gone elsewhere.  

Today, there is no evidence of a church ever having been on that property.


***

What happened?

(The secular documentation of this story can be read on Wikipedia, see Robert Tilton.)

I can testify to the rise and destruction of this ministry and this church group.

*****

Robert Tilton was an energetic, appealing man and speaker.  He was "boyish" in charm and seemed very sincere.  I liked him.  (1978)

His wife, Marte, was co-pastor.  My recollection is she was considered to be a prophet.  Ephesian 4:11, though they called her "pastor".

They had started out as "evangelists."

I do not find these ministry offices to change.  You are apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, or teacher according to Ephesians 4:11-12.  But many preachers do not seem to know what they are and they often call themselves one thing and change later to another.

Jesus gave to the church: some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:


***

In approximately 1980, Bob, from the pulpit, excitedly announced that he was going on radio.  He said he planned to be "bigger" than Kenneth Copeland.

I didn't think much about it and I never heard any of his radio broadcasts.

(At that time, I was not yet on radio but very soon would be.)

For any minister to compete with another minister is "emulations"  ...a sin of the flesh,

Galatians 5:19-21 ... 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.

emulation:  effort to match or surpass a person or achievement, typically by imitation

***

A year or two after going on radio, Bob announced he was going on television.  (even greater)

He raised money for a new auditorium of approximately 8,000 seats and had TV recording facilities in the auditorium.

***

In approximately 1982, I received a phone call from a woman at this church who was said to be a prophet.  Her name was Ava Pickard.  She was crying as she spoke with me.  

Bob had invited Ava to be a guest on his TV show.  Just before going on camera Bob said to her, "Just one thing.  Don't say anything about being a prophet because it's not popular."

Ava was devastated!

I was furious!

I knew by doing this Bob had "killed" a prophet.

I saw the following scripture:

Matthew 23:37-38   O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!  Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.

I knew Bob's house would be left "desolate" to him because of what he had done and I reported this to him.

***

Within a short time ...

- Bob and Marte divorced.

- ACB Primetime Live presented an expose concerning Robert Tilton: exposing money received from offerings being forwarded unopened to a bank in Tulsa, Oklahoma where bank employees opened these offering letters and threw the letters in garbage dumpsters while depositing the money in a bank account in Tulsa.  Offerings dropped from 8-million dollars a month to 2-million per month, still an incredible amount of money.

- A member of Bob's congregation filed law suit against him for "extortion", claiming 100-fold returns on offerings which did not happen.

- The church building somehow was obtained by the city and was torn down and a youth hockey center erected on the location.

- Bob moved out of state.

- Bob married another woman.  (adultery against Marte)  They also divorced.

- Bob married a third wife.

- Bob tried to establish another TV ministry in Florida.  

- At last report, Bob had moved to Culver City, California, where he purchased an hotel.

*****

I'm sure there are many reasons given for all these changes.

But I know the real reason.

Bob's house was left desolate to him because he "killed" a prophet as he sought popularity and personal greatness in ministry.

*****

Matthew 24:1-5    And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and His disciples came to Him for to shew Him the buildings of the temple.

And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

And as HE sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in MY name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

Many will come saying, "I (Jesus) am Christ" ... "Jesus is Lord" ... and because they say this, they will deceive many.

*****

Hymn: Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing pow'r

(Click forward arrow > to play music:)


1.  Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing pow’r?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Chorus:

Are you washed …
  in the blood,

In the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb?

Are your garments spotless? 
Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?


2.  Are you walking daily by the Savior’s side?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Do you rest each moment in the Crucified?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

3.  When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white!
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Will your soul be ready for His presence bright,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb?

4.  Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb;
There’s a fountain flowing for the soul unclean,
O be washed in the blood of the Lamb.


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

*****

Scriptures pertaining to this hymn:

Romans 5:5-9     the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.  For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

But God commendeth HIS love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

(We didn't shed our blood to pay for our sins but Jesus shed His blood for our sins ... without shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins.  Hebrews 9:22 ... we cannot hope to pay for our sins and our wrong actions by our good works ... only by the shed blood of Jesus are we cleansed)


*** 

The new covenant replaces the old covenant:

Hebrews 10:9-14   Then said HE, Lo, I come to do THY will, O God. HE taketh away the first (covenant), that HE may establish the second. 

By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 

And every priest (old testament) standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man (Jesus), after HE had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 

From henceforth expecting till HIS enemies be made HIS footstool. 

For by one offering HE (Jesus) hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

***

 

Testimony of Pam Padgett

When I was 14 years old a boy in my class at school was killed in a motorcycle accident.

For the first time, I realized that I could die.

I was terrified.

Somehow, I strongly knew that the various things I had learned to do in the Catholic church would not keep me from going to hell.

My only hope was God.

I began praying ... "I know there is the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, but I don't know which one to pray to.  So please get this to the right one."

I went on to ask that God would somehow save me.

I was changed from within, born again, and wanted to do what God wanted me to do and to please Him.  And I had such a strong desire to read the Bible. 

Not long after this, I realized there was something of God in me.

A few years later I read the following scripture and, for the first time, realized that it was the Holy Spirit in me:    

I Corinthians 6:19  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  

***

Matthew 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.

Yoking yourself to Jesus for basic salvation is critical.  But it is also critical to yoke yourself to Jesus when you make plans after you are born again.  

For the plans we make could be plans of our own flesh or of other human beings or plans of the devil.  If such, dread will likely be the resulting fruit.  

For the yokes of man, and the yokes of the devil, and the yokes of our own flesh are hard, whereas the yoke of God is easy.  

Victorious Christians succeed in plans of God because they yoke themselves to plans of God through prayer and through being established by God in the plan. 

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Instruction In Righteousness: I Thessalonians 4

Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you  (warn you) by the Lord Jesus (the Word), that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.

² For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.

³ For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

⁴ That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;

⁵ Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:

⁶ 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. ⁷ For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

⁸ He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us HIS holy Spirit.

⁹ But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

¹⁰ And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;

¹¹ And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;

¹² That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

¹³ 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.

¹⁴ For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.

¹⁵ 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).

¹⁶ 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:

¹⁷ 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.

¹⁸ Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

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Persecution for the Word's Sake

Book:  Exhortations For The Church
Vol. 11, Chapter 25
Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet 


Matthew 10

Jesus says … Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. 

He that loveth father or mother more than ME is not worthy of ME: and he that loveth son or daughter more than ME is not worthy of ME. 

And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after ME, is not worthy of ME. 

He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

*****

The following is a story of persecution for the Word’s sake. 

This astounding report was given to us by Pam Padgett, a woman in our little church group. This happened to her at a church she was attending near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.

Pam says …

During the last months of college, I rented a room in a house owned by a woman I met in the singles group of the church group I attended at the time. This woman had been divorced twice and had a young daughter. At first she seemed content to remain unmarried and raise her daughter. But then she started looking for another husband. I shared with her scripture that tell us that a divorced woman commits adultery if she remarries, such as:

Matthew 5:32 ... I (Jesus) say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. 

Mark 10:11-12 And HE (Jesus) saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery. 

Romans 7:2-3 ... For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. 

*****

I was shocked when she told me that she didn't care what the Bible says, she said she knew what she believed.

I moved from her house shortly after this. The place I moved was quite a distance from where this church group met. Although I continued to attend the Sunday services and would sit in the area of the auditorium where the singles group sat, I no longer attended the singles meetings.

I heard this divorced woman was engaged to a man I also knew from the singles group. I went and spoke with him, sharing scriptures such as Matthew 5:31-32 showing that they would commit adultery if he married her since she was divorced. He said he would consider these things, but he did not stop the engagement.

Then I heard that the maid of honor at the wedding was to be a woman I also knew. I went and spoke with her, sharing scripture about the adultery that would be committed by this marriage. She said she knew it was wrong for them to marry but they would get married whether or not she was the maid of honor, so she was going to do it.

(I Timothy 5 … neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.) 

About this time, I went to one of the Sunday morning services. I arrived before any of the other singles, and sat in the area where we usually sat. But no other singles came to sit there. Right before the service began, I looked around and saw that the singles were sitting a few pews behind me. I thought this strange, but didn't think a lot about it.

The next Sunday I sat in the "new" singles area, but they sat in the "old" singles area.

The following week, I got there shortly before the service began, and went to where the singles were sitting.  Without saying a word, those I sat next to got up and moved away from me. 

It was obvious they wanted nothing to do with me, but I had no idea why. I cried out to God asking what was going on?

“Had I done something wrong?” 

For a few weeks I didn't hear anything from God, and didn't know why I had become an outcast from the singles.

Then after the service one Sunday morning, a woman I didn't know very well stopped me and said she had a message from God for me.  The message she delivered was that God knew how I was being treated by those in the singles group, and that I needed to know it was because of what I had spoken about this divorced woman remarrying and that this was what HE had wanted me to do. 

I was so helped by this message, now knowing why I was being shunned and that it was for doing good in the sight of God. It was also very helpful to realize so strongly that God was watching over me, and the mercy and kindness God had shown to me in having this woman deliver this message to me.

*****

Comments by Joan Boney

As Christians we are excited over the Bible. We love the Word of God. We know the Bible shows us the way of God and the way we are to go on the present earth.

It is very shocking to encounter people from a church group who do not care what the Bible says.

But it is not unusual in today's churches. For many specific scriptures have been explained away to set up another doctrine which approves various sins inside the church. 

The restraint of the specific scripture is removed with that scripture thus allowing antichrist to move into the church group, approving lawlessness against God inside the church group. If someone speaks against that lawlessness, that person is often shunned in the church group.

This is the end time antichrist in the churches and the apostasy spoken of by the apostle Paul in II Thessalonians 2.

(NASB) 

Let no one in any way deceive you, for it (the day of the LORD) will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. 

Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? 

And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. 

For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. Then that lawless one will be revealed 

*****

The Holy Scripture restrained antichrist, holding him back from the churches, until the scripture was removed and then the restraint against antichrist was removed so sin could move into the church group itself.

Antichrist is not one man but is a spirit in many men, just as the devil is not one man but a spirit within many men.

The poison gas dream:

In 1979, God gave me the following terrifying dream:

Destruction was everywhere.

I went into a meeting room where 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 in the church groups, at the time of the dream, 1979. The destruction in the churches was everywhere, even at that time. And it is much worse today. 

*****

Concerning enduring suffering for the Word's sake, Peter says to us:

I Peter 4 … Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when HIS glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part HE (The Word) is evil spoken of, but on your part HE is glorified. 

But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. 

Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 

Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to HIM in well doing, as unto a faithful creator.

*****

BOOK: Exhortations For The Church, Volume 11
Chapter 25

Joan Boney



E-book: $.99

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Order from: Amazon.com

*****

Scriptures presented in today's blog

(Recommend:  Copy these scriptures on paper, and read them during day and evening, paying special attention to verses that stand out to you, for there is a specific need for these scriptures in your life at this point in time.)

I Timothy 5:24    Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.

***  

Ephesians 4:11-12 And HE (Jesus) gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 

*** 

Galatians 5:19-21 ... 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. 

*** 

Matthew 23:37-38   O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!  Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. 

***

Matthew 24:1-5    And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and His disciples came to Him for to shew Him the buildings of the temple.

And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

And as HE sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in MY name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

***

Romans 5:5-9     the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.  For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

But God commendeth HIS love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

***

Hebrews 10:9-14   Then said HE, Lo, I come to do THY will, O God. HE taketh away the first (covenant), that HE may establish the second. 

By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 

And every priest (old testament) standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man (Jesus), after HE had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 

From henceforth expecting till HIS enemies be made HIS footstool. 

For by one offering HE (Jesus) hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

***

I Corinthians 6:19  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  

***

Matthew 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.

***

Matthew 10  ... Jesus says … Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. 

He that loveth father or mother more than ME is not worthy of ME: and he that loveth son or daughter more than ME is not worthy of ME. 

And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after ME, is not worthy of ME. 

He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

***

Matthew 5:32 ... I (Jesus) say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. 

Mark 10:11-12 And HE (Jesus) saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery. 

Romans 7:2-3 ... For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. 

*** 

I Timothy 5:22 … neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.

***

II Thessalonians 2  (NASB) ... Let no one in any way deceive you, for it (the day of the LORD) will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. 

Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? 

And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. 

For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. Then that lawless one will be revealed 

*** 

I Peter 4 … Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when HIS glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part HE (The Word) is evil spoken of, but on your part HE is glorified. 

But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. 

Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 

Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to HIM in well doing, as unto a faithful creator. 

***

I Thessalonians 4:  Presented today

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