Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet
David said: it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company. (Psalm 55:12-14)
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Moses frequently had "the congregation" rise up against him, complaining about that which he did. They couldn't remember that Moses was doing what God said to do, so they blamed Moses and confronted Moses.
(But really their words which they complained were against God who gave the direction to Moses.)
Exodus 16:1-3 And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt.
And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness:
And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.
(But really their words which they complained were against God who gave the direction to Moses.)
Exodus 16:1-3 And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt.
And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness:
And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.
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Here is another uprising against Moses as he led the people.
And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?
And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face:
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In 2019, a woman in our church group rose up against me. I was very shocked when this happened, although through the years I've had such things happen.
The pain in such cases is likely much more difficult than it would be if a stranger came against you.
She might have been able to stop the ministry to which I am appointed had I not turned to God very strongly asking God to judge me.
That same night, God gave me a dream. I opened the front door to my house to find someone had left bags of their garbage at my door and all the way down the front of my house. It would have to be cleaned up.
I felt God was showing me this woman's words which she stored up against me over the years were her own "garbage".
She should have taken all things she thought to have been done by me against her to God in prayer and settled each issue with God but she did not do this. Instead she stored in her own heart decades of grievances against me.
She should have taken all things she thought to have been done by me against her to God in prayer and settled each issue with God but she did not do this. Instead she stored in her own heart decades of grievances against me.
Because of God showing me HIS view of that which she did, I was able to continue to exhort the church by faith in God.
At the same time this was happening in my life, my cousin, a Church of Christ member, tried to stop me from exhorting the church.
Both attacks were for the purpose of stopping me from exhorting the church. One attack was trying to say to me that I had done a bad job when I spoke to that church person, therefore I should stop trying to speak to the church.
The other attack was trying to stop me from speaking by saying there was no way God could have appointed me to speak to the church.
But the following things were brought to my mind:
* After I was born again, I was transported into heaven two separate times. It was in the night each time and these two "events" happened to me as I was sleeping. I was taken into heaven and was with God and with Christ and with the Holy Spirit. I was "merged" into the body of Jesus, made one with the Word of God, God and the Holy Spirit witnessing.
* These two scriptures were strongly brought to my mind.
Hebrews 3:13 exhort one another daily,
Hebrews 10:25 exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Also I knew God had given me a spiritual gift of "exhortation" whereby I would exhort the church. (Romans 12:8)
By strongly keeping the above things before me, I was able to continue doing the work which I believed God assigned for me to do.
***
At the same time this was happening in my life, my cousin, a Church of Christ member, tried to stop me from exhorting the church.
Both attacks were for the purpose of stopping me from exhorting the church. One attack was trying to say to me that I had done a bad job when I spoke to that church person, therefore I should stop trying to speak to the church.
The other attack was trying to stop me from speaking by saying there was no way God could have appointed me to speak to the church.
But the following things were brought to my mind:
* After I was born again, I was transported into heaven two separate times. It was in the night each time and these two "events" happened to me as I was sleeping. I was taken into heaven and was with God and with Christ and with the Holy Spirit. I was "merged" into the body of Jesus, made one with the Word of God, God and the Holy Spirit witnessing.
* These two scriptures were strongly brought to my mind.
Hebrews 3:13 exhort one another daily,
Hebrews 10:25 exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Also I knew God had given me a spiritual gift of "exhortation" whereby I would exhort the church. (Romans 12:8)
By strongly keeping the above things before me, I was able to continue doing the work which I believed God assigned for me to do.
***
When these things happen to us, we must seek God's judgment.
That is what Moses did.
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Numbers 16:4-33 Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men: And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown:
And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?
And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face:
And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to morrow the Lord will shew who are HIS, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto HIM: even him whom HE hath chosen will HE cause to come near unto HIM.
This do; Take you censers, Korah, and all his company; And put fire therein, and put incense in them before the Lord to morrow: and it shall be that the man whom the Lord doth choose, he shall be holy: ye take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi.
And Moses said unto Korah, Hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi:
Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the Lord, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them? And HE hath brought thee near to Him, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood also?
For which cause both thou and all thy company are gathered together against the Lord: and what is Aaron, that ye murmur against him?
Then Dathan and Abiram rise up with accusations against Moses.
And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab: which said, We will not come up: Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us? Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land that floweth with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields and vineyards: wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? we will not come up.
And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the Lord, Respect not thou their offering: I have not taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them.
And Moses said unto Korah, Be thou and all thy company before the Lord, thou, and they, and Aaron, to morrow: And take every man his censer, and put incense in them, and bring ye before the Lord every man his censer, two hundred and fifty censers; thou also, and Aaron, each of you his censer.
And they took every man his censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense thereon, and stood in the door of the tabernacle of the congregation with Moses and Aaron.
And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the congregation.
And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.
And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation?
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.
And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him.
And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of their's, lest ye be consumed in all their sins.
And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?
And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face:
And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to morrow the Lord will shew who are HIS, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto HIM: even him whom HE hath chosen will HE cause to come near unto HIM.
This do; Take you censers, Korah, and all his company; And put fire therein, and put incense in them before the Lord to morrow: and it shall be that the man whom the Lord doth choose, he shall be holy: ye take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi.
And Moses said unto Korah, Hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi:
Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the Lord, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them? And HE hath brought thee near to Him, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood also?
For which cause both thou and all thy company are gathered together against the Lord: and what is Aaron, that ye murmur against him?
Then Dathan and Abiram rise up with accusations against Moses.
And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab: which said, We will not come up: Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us? Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land that floweth with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields and vineyards: wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? we will not come up.
And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the Lord, Respect not thou their offering: I have not taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them.
And Moses said unto Korah, Be thou and all thy company before the Lord, thou, and they, and Aaron, to morrow: And take every man his censer, and put incense in them, and bring ye before the Lord every man his censer, two hundred and fifty censers; thou also, and Aaron, each of you his censer.
And they took every man his censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense thereon, and stood in the door of the tabernacle of the congregation with Moses and Aaron.
And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the congregation.
And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.
And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation?
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.
And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him.
And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of their's, lest ye be consumed in all their sins.
So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children.
And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the Lord hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind.
If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the Lord hath not sent me.
But if the Lord make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the Lord.
And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them: And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.
They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.
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At one point, Aaron and Miriam (Moses' brother and sister) arose against Moses.
At one point, Aaron and Miriam (Moses' brother and sister) arose against Moses.
Numbers 12:1-15 And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. And they said, Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? hath HE not spoken also by us?
And the Lord heard it.
And the Lord heard it.
(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)
And the Lord spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out.
And the Lord came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth.
And HE said, Hear now MY words: If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.
My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.
With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?
And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them; and HE departed.
And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.
And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned. Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother's womb.
And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee.
And the Lord said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again.And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.
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When they rise up against us for speaking the Word from God to them:
Hebrews 12:1-4 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Hebrews 12:1-4 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
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