Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet
Ephesians 4:11 And HE (Jesus) gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
There is a very big difference between the work of an apostle and a prophet in the NT church.
The apostles have an anointing from God to handle scripture and to deal with church doctrine.
The prophets bring correction to the church to prepare the church for the second coming of Jesus, to make a people ready for the Lord.
The person might be born again and still might be going the wrong way in certain areas.
So many of the problems have to do with "strong holds" built in that person before he was born again. Often God will send a prophet and open the eyes of that prophet to see the problem in the individual. When this happens the prophet must bring the correction to the individual in that group. That individual church person often hates the correction brought by the prophet. He has often fought the same correction when it is brought by the Holy Spirit.
If he continues to fight against the right way, God might turn the individual over to a reprobate mind to allow him to go in his own way.
I have see this happen even in our own church group.
Romans 12:28-32 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
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To the church:
Ephesians 4:1-3 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
We do have to work at this. For our own flesh and the devil will try to rise up in us to get us to exalt ourselves above that other person. For this is what the flesh and devil does.
Here is the way it works.
I live in the home of Pam Padgett. She has the Spirit of God in her and she follows the Spirit of God. I, too, have the Spirit of God and try to follow the Spirit of God.
Occasionally we will differ in opinions concerning an issue.
When that happens, without discussion, each of us are praying, settling ourselves with God.
God will teach us and show us HIS way in the matter at hand and unity is back and one of us has made a change in our thinking. (Or perhaps both of us have made a change. I usually notice I have changed.)
We must not puff up thinking we are right.
Pam is a very humble person and she would likely conclude she was wrong. But that must not happen either. Each of us must trust in God to show us and settle us in the right way. This is what Pam and I do. And it works!
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I encourage all to honor one another, especially if both have the Spirit of God.
Mainly we must keep our own flesh from puffing up ... for that is what flesh does. We control ourselves by prayer and submission first to God,
"THY will be done."
For the devil will really go to work in cases of strife if we allow it.
I Peter 5:5-9 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that HE may exalt you in due time:
Casting all your care upon HIM; for HE careth for you.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith,
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Be very careful about stubbornness.
If a person is religious, he will often take on a determination that he is right.
The more experience we have with God the more we should know that we cannot trust in ourselves and that we have to go to God in prayer and get reestablished by God, letting God establish our way.
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We have to be very careful when we are dealing with prophets in the church for often God will show a prophet something the church is doing that is wrong.
The church person will often be offended and rebel and fight against that which is said by the prophet. Such a church person will hope to catch the prophet saying something that is wrong thinking that would cause the message against himself to be wrong. That church person treads a very dangerous path in his rebellion for God uses prophets for this purpose, to turn the church back to the way of God.
The church person will often be offended and rebel and fight against that which is said by the prophet. Such a church person will hope to catch the prophet saying something that is wrong thinking that would cause the message against himself to be wrong. That church person treads a very dangerous path in his rebellion for God uses prophets for this purpose, to turn the church back to the way of God.
So if a prophet is speaking to you, you must be careful in the way you handle that prophet's message.
Romans 13:1-7 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
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I have great respect for ministers of God, though I have often had to correct men who identify themselves as pastors. Nevertheless, I do not bring correction lightly and I still have great respect for the ministry offices of God.
I have seen men who probably started off as true called ministers but turned along the way, following ambitions of their own flesh. Often I have been sent to try to cause such to return to God. I will say mostly they strike out at me and continue in their own rebellion. But at some point some might be given an heart by God to repent. I deliver the message regardless, for that is my job and my calling and my assignment and my training from God.
I've seen both ministers and individuals in the churches fight prophets.
It is a very sad thing and I recommend that we all honor the ministries set by God: apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher.
At the beginning of most of the writings I do on blog, God has me identify the offices to which I am called to the church and set in the body of Christ by Jesus: apostle and prophet
This is saying to the learned: "Beware." For this message is not given lightly.
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