Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet
Exodus 15:20-21 And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the Lord, for HE hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath HE thrown into the sea.
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Exodus 15 So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.
And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.
And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?
And he (Moses) cried unto the Lord; and the Lord shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there HE (God) made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there HE (God) proved them,
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There are many tests today for the New Testament church to see what we will do when confronted with the problem. God proves us too.
Will we turn to God with that problem? Or will we fret over the problem and complain and then try to figure out what to do. Do we pray, asking God for help? Or do we turn to the Internet without prayer first? And do we murmur constantly, complaining that this happened to us?
All these things in the Old Testament are examples for us.
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Exodus 15:26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.
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And what did God tell them?
* diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God
For us today in the New Testament church, God speaks to us by bringing to our mind thoughts, often scriptures, to show us the way to go in the issue pertaining to this present life. The Holy Spirit that is in us will often bring to our mind that which God says about the matter. It is usually a gentle thought which we might even miss at first. But I've found God repeats these thoughts to me giving me an opportunity to realize it is God speaking to me.
In November 2019, the thought came to my mind: "Read the Old Testament"
A few days latter, this same thought came to my mind: "Read the Old Testament"
Then a third time this thought came: "Read the Old Testament"
I began reading the Old Testament, which I've always greatly enjoyed reading. I rejoiced in what I was reading and was greatly refreshed and then I realized I should share this on the blog so others could benefit. (I have a spiritual gift of exhortation. Romans 12:8) So I began sharing some of the things I had been reading from the Old Testament. Then it became even more intense and I realized this was an assignment to me from God. And often I would see examples which fit the New Testament church and I would share those. The work became more intense. Then I was also sharing differences between the Old Testament and the New Testament.
Finally I realized these could be a book to publish on Amazon.
Then I realized these could be several volumes of books dealing with examples from the stories of Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph ... then another volume starting with Moses ... then the various judges ... then Samuel, Saul, David, Solomon ... then all the prophets ... and I saw many volumes of books ahead!
All this came from taking that one step which was instructed to me by the Spirit of God, saying: "Read the Old Testament"
This is often the way God leads us. One step leading to another step. When we finally realize God is giving us that one step and we take that one step, it is very exciting and often a much larger journey than we ever expected!
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* do that which is right in God's sight
This is the only thing that matters. What is right in God's sight? What does God want me to do?
Isaiah 55:8-11 For MY thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways MY ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are MY ways higher than your ways, and MY thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall MY word be that goeth forth out of MY mouth: it shall not return unto ME void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
How do I know what is right in the sight of God?
I pray over the matter at hand and have faith that when I ask, God will show me what HE wants me to do
James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
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* give ear to God's commandments, and keep all of God's statutes,
We have the Holy Spirit to show us truth and to guide us into all truth. John 14:26 & John 16:13
We read the New Testament and follow the instructions set in the New Testament when the Holy Spirit illuminates those instructions to us. We apply them to our lives one instruction at a time. Read, then apply. Then read again and apply. It is a way of life for us!
There are many wonderful things in the Old Testament also which apply to us today, such as:
Joshua 1:8-9 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
(Of course we do not do the Old Testament laws of Leviticus, but there are many "rules" given us in the New Testament which we should keep before us for a season and do, such as this: Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. This is a daily, life-time project for us to do! The only way we can do this is to think on this, keeping it before us day and night so it can grow strong enough in us that we will actually do this. Then the more we do this, the stronger it becomes in us to do this.)
(God says:) Have not I commanded thee? (Isn't it God telling us to do this thing?)
Joshua 1:9 Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
(God says:) Have not I commanded thee? (Isn't it God telling us to do this thing?)
Joshua 1:9 Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
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But his delight is in the law of the Lord (in the Word of the Lord); and in HIS law (HIS Word)
doth he meditate day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
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Exodus 15:27 And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.
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