Isaac is instructed by God as the child of the promise.

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

 The thing that makes a child of God different from those of this world is this:  the continual guidance and instruction given by God.

God promised Abraham that HE would make of him a great nation.  That nation would be so large that it would be like sand of the seas which cannot be numbered.  It would also be like the stars of the sky, vast in number.

This nation would come through Abraham by his child Isaac ... the child of the promise from God.

Though Abraham had two children, Ishmael & Isaac, God viewed Isaac as Abraham's "only" son.

Genesis 22:2  God said to Abraham:  Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, 

(God sees HIS people.)

Later Isaac has 2 sons:  Jacob and Esau ... Esau was the first born to Isaac but Jacob was the son through whom God would appear.

Jacob was renamed "Israel" and the 12 tribes of Israel would come through Jacob ... but of his 12 sons, it is Joseph to whom God appears.

Thereby through the decades God formed the remnant of God which continues even today as the Spirit of God is given to individuals who are "born again" in New Testament church by the Spirit of God.

Isaiah 1:9  Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.

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Those who are of God.

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

The Spirit of God instructs the children of God.

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.

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Often God does instructs us by bringing a thought to our mind to show us what to do.

Sometimes God will give us a dream.

Through the Bible in both Old and New Testaments, we have examples of God sending HIS angel to bring a message or instruction to a person of God.

And there can be an open vision, such as the vision God gave to Peter and to Cornelius.

Acts 10:1-48    There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,  A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. 

And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? 

And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.  And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:  He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.

And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;  And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa. 

(Immediately obeying the instruction given by the angel.)

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There is a timeliness in obedience.

If you believe God has told you to do something, why wait?

Example:  A woman in our church group reported hearing the following instruction:  "Now is the time for you to get a dog."

She heard that word in November.  She told us about hearing this word in approximately March of the following year.  She still had not gotten a dog.  It was another two months or so before she actually got the dog.

If God says, "Now", that means "Now."

In my opinion, this woman failed this test.  And I believe she failed other tests along the way.  There are many opportunities given to us to properly handle the word of God, to see what we will do with that word.

A good servant obeys fully the instruction and fulfills the task with wisdom in a timely way.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

We see in Bible examples of people who had a word from God but they failed to do that word in wisdom and in full obedience and by faith in God.  Such were appointed by God, as was Saul, but were later removed because of the way they dealt with that Word from God.

These Old Testament writings are given as examples for us today.

I Corinthians 10:1-12   Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;    And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;  And did all eat the same spiritual meat;  And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer

 (murmur:  complain)

Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

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In this scriptural example of God giving instruction to Cornelius, we see at the same time God was preparing Peter to deal properly with Cornelius' servants who were at the door.

Acts 10   On the morrow, as they (Cornelius' servants) went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,  And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:  Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.  And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.

But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.

And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,  And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.

While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.  Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.

Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?

And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.

Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and he had called together his kinsmen and near friends. 

(They were gathered together waiting for Peter's arrival.)

And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.

But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.

And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.

And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me? 

gainsaying: 
- without denying the vision and the instructions
- without opposing that which you have been shown

(Again we see obedience and timing.  Peter didn't hesitate to go with Cornelius' men.)

And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,  And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.  Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one  Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.  Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.

Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

But in every nation he that feareth HIM, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with HIM.  

The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (HE is Lord of all:)  That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;  How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with HIM.

And we are witnesses of all things which HE did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:  Him God raised up the third day, and shewed HIM openly;

Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before God, even to us, who did eat and drink with HIM after HE rose from the dead.

And HE commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is HE which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.  To HIM give all the prophets witness, that through HIS name whosoever believeth in HIM shall receive remission of sins.

While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. 

Then answered Peter,  Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

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Examples of God speaking through open visions:

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*  I had a young friend named David.  He was diagnosed as having the terrible disease, ALS, where he would become paralyzed inch  by inch until he died.  The church where he lived was praying for him.  But God gave me an open vision of David.  I saw David on a golf course.  He was completely whole.  He was very joyous and was jumping up and down and was signaling us with his hand saying, "Come on.  Join me."  

I told this vision to one of the men in David's church group who had been praying for God to heal David.  That man said to me:  "Don't you think that means God is going to heal David?" 

I replied,  "David is dying.  But he is OK spiritually."

David died a few weeks later.

*  Another example of an open vision:  In December 2018, after an accident and surgery, God showed me I would no longer be living at my house in Texas.  I moved to Colorado from the rehabilitation hospital where a church friend took me into her home and helped me.  The Texas house was put up for sale.  Several months passed without the house selling.

One day I was reading Bible and I was "transported" in spirit to that house.  I was in the master bedroom where I was showing a woman a light switch which would turn on the light in the ceiling fan.

Instantly, then I was back in my room in the house in Colorado where I had been reading the Bible.  

I believe that vision was God showing me that house in Texas will sell.

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Genesis 25:11   And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac;

And God began to guide and instruct Isaac.

Genesis 26:1-5    And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar.

And the Lord appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of:   Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;

And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;

Because that Abraham obeyed MY voice, and kept MY charge, MY commandments, MY statutes, and MY laws.

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Noah obeyed God and built the ark.

Abraham obeyed God and departed from his father's house into a country which he knew not.

Isaac obeyed God and stayed in the land where God put him.

Today we obey God as HE speaks to us by HIS Holy Spirit.

When we hear that word, and when believe it is God who spoke to us... then we respond to that which we believe to have been from God, doing that which is appropriate to that Word.

This, the word spoken to us from God,  is the "bread of God" which comes down to us from heaven.

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The Word is all that matters.

We obey that Word because we believe it was God who spoke that Word to us.

I am quick to do that word that I believe to be from God when I hear that Word.  For I believe God gave me that Word when HE wanted me to act on that Word, so I do not delay.

All I need is to be fully assured that Word I heard is from God.  Many times I know immediately.  If there is any question I pray and let God confirm that Word to me.  But the longer I wait, the more opportunity I have to reason the word away.

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Genesis 26:6    And Isaac dwelt in Gerar: 

So Isaac remained in the land where God had placed him and he did not go down into Egypt during the famine.

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Genesis 26:12-14    Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the Lord blessed him.  And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great: For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him.

When Abraham had lived in this land of the Philistines, he digged wells.  After Abraham moved, the Philistines filled in those wells with dirt.

Genesis 26:16-25   And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we.

And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there.

And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them.

And Isaac's servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water.

And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac's herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him.

And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah.

And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the Lord hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.

And he went up from thence to Beersheba.

And the Lord appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake.

And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the Lord, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac's servants digged a well.

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26-31  Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath one of his friends, and Phichol the chief captain of his army.

And Isaac said unto them, Wherefore come ye to me, seeing ye hate me, and have sent me away from you?

And they said, We saw certainly that the Lord was with thee: and we said, Let there be now an oath betwixt us, even betwixt us and thee, and let us make a covenant with thee;  That thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and as we have done unto thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in peace: thou art now the blessed of the Lord.  And he made them a feast, and they did eat and drink.  And they rose up betimes in the morning, and sware one to another: and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace.

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We dwell and work in that land which is assigned to us by God.

I wanted to marry.  But God had another assignment for me.  After several years, I gave up my own will and consented to do what God had assigned to me, the ministry offices of apostle/prophet.

God has provided for me for the past 40-years and has given me all things to "bless" me in this land and has continually provided in miraculous ways for all my needs and wants to be filled.

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As a father, providing for your family and working to guide your children is your land. 

If you have children, caring for your own children is your land as a mother.

As we work where God has placed us, God leads us in that assignment and provides for us as long as HE chooses to leave us on this present earth.

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Genesis 25:20-26   And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.  

And Isaac intreated the Lord for his wife, because she was barren: and the Lord was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the Lord.

And the Lord said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.

And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.

And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.

And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.  (60-years-old)

It was ordained by God that Jacob, the younger twin, would be the stronger, and he would be the child of God which carried on the determined linage of God.  Through Jacob came the 12 tribes of the nation of Israel.

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The apostle Paul explains:

Romans 9:6-16    For 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 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. 

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Genesis 25:29-34  And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.

And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.

And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?

And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. 

Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.

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Mark 4:19   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.

The things of the present can seem more important than the "invisible" things of God.

We cannot afford to sell out!

Hebrews 11:24-27    By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing HIM who is invisible.

We endure as we keep that instruction given us by God before our minds, doing that Word.

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Hebrews 12:14-17   Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

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Hebrews 10:25-31   Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,   But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

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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