Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet
In reading the Old Testament, we should have a very strong respect for God and a respect for HIS Word by the examples we read.
Psalm 111:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do HIS commandments: HIS praise endureth for ever.
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The Philistines had the ark of the covenant in their possession for 7 months. They were greatly tormented while it was there among them. They finally put the ark on a cart which was pulled by cows, and they drove the driverless cart away from themselves.
I Samuel 6:19-21 And HE (God) smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the Lord, even HE smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the Lord had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter.
And the men of Bethshemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God? and to whom shall he go up from us?
And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjathjearim, saying, The Philistines have brought again the ark of the Lord; come ye down, and fetch it up to you.
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Today church people often live very carelessly, not heading the examples in the Bible and having no fear of God.
How can this be?
He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
For we know HIM that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto ME, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge HIS people.
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
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We, today, have all the examples in the Old Testament which should show us God's view of sin ... and we also are warned in the New Testament, yet churches live recklessly doing as pleases them and casting aside scriptures and godly warnings.
This is a very foolish and deadly way to live.
In 1980-82, I attended a church group in the Dallas, Texas, area named "Word of Faith." By that time, I myself was a minister and was broadcasting exhortations to the church on radio.
I dated a man from this church who said he was a prophet.
Ephesians 4:11-12 (Jesus gave ministry offices to the NT church after HE arose from the crucifixion.) And he 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:
I had gone to a church meeting with this man and afterward we returned to my apartment where I made coffee. I came out of my kitchen to find this man standing there totally naked. He tried to rape me. I broke away and fled from my apartment and stayed away until his car was gone.
This is not what we expect from "a godly man" who attends our church. But I have found sins in many church groups during the years.
Once a Baptist deacon, who was doing construction work for me, tried to get me to have sex with him. He was married and had children. I took the Bible and read the following scripture to him.
I Corinthians 6:18-20 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 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? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
After that, this man wanted no more to do with me, although I did hear he was pursuing other women about town.
When I was only 15-years-old, a man in a Church of Christ group tried to persuade me to have sex with him. I didn't have any scripture to hold to but even as a young child God had put in my heart that this was wrong.
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I don't believe any of those who hide in church groups while holding evil in their hearts will go unpunished.
The Bible should be enough to show us this truth.
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That which we do in private is known by God.
A few years ago, I met a woman who had her hair cut exactly like a man's. I was very shocked to learn this woman was the wife of a retired Church of Christ pastor.
Don't we do any scripture any more?
13-15 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
I don't understand all scriptures, but when I know they are scripture, I know to respect them and set my life as much by them as I can see to do.
We have Bibles.
Why aren't we upholding Bible in the church groups?
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I've heard church people excuse sin by saying, "Don't worry. It's under the blood."
But is it really "under the blood" when the sinner was taught from youth that this is a sin?
A woman who was raised in the church from early childhood, married. Then committed fornication against her own husband. Then became pregnant and had an abortion. Divorced husband #1. Married another man, committing adultery against her husband by that marriage. Then they divorced.
It really never worked out for her. She did these sins as a "Christian."
Hebrews 6:4-6 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put HIM to an open shame.
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We who are reading these scriptures should fear God and uphold the scriptures, rather than try to explain away scripture, explaining away God as we do so.
God will judge them and us. But we should beware of explaining away sins. Instead we should fear God as is proper.
And if we do have the Spirit of God in us, let us rejoice in HIM, in the Word.
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It makes no sense the way the churches are going today and certainly we should not be going with them.
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