* I Peter 4:1-2 Suffering in the flesh to cease from sin and to follow God.

Joan Boney ... apostle and prophet according to the will of God, set in the body of Christ by Jesus to minister to the saints according to Ephesians 4:11-12.

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I Peter 4

1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind:  for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

There is a time when we frolic in church settings with church relatives and live "happy" lives and race about from meeting to meeting, assured of ourselves.

Then God speaks to our hearts and minds to show us the season of life where we actually live and to sober us up from religious giddiness. 

And God brings us out by His Word.

Along the way we become like Abraham.

Genesis 12

1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

And we are shocked when we begin to see our religious relatives do not follow the scripture but are following their churches and by such denying scripture.

We speak to them but they will not listen to us.  We try to remain with them but eventually we see we cannot remain with them and follow scripture.  So we leave our relatives in order to follow God and our flesh suffers for the Word of God, but we show ourselves to be of God by our love for God's word, we love God's word even above our own flesh.

The devil brings thoughts to try to get us to return to our religious relatives and religious friends who will not follow scripture.

God spares us when HE shows us this won't work and how we are to follow "another way".

Peter says:

I Peter 4

12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

13But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part HE is evil spoken of, but on your part HE is glorified.

(Even as they call Jesus Lord, they "speak evil" of various portions of the Word of God and set up other doctrines in their hearts, another "Jesus".)

15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.

16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

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As we depart, in order to follow scripture, we show ourselves to be the chosen of God because of our love of the Word of God more than the love of the flesh of man.

John 8  Jesus says:

31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in MY word, then are ye MY  disciples indeed;

32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

We are no longer following our grandmothers or our fathers or other religious relatives to church but we are following the Word given us by God and the Holy Spirit.

And as we follow scriptures, HE becomes all to us.  And we sober up from the religious people.

Other important scriptures on this subject are:

II John

8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

(The doctrine of Christ are the scriptures in the New Testament Bible.)

10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:

11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

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James 4:4   Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

friend:  one who gives support and aid to

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II Corinthians 6

14  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean; and I will receive you,

18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

(A person can say Jesus is Lord and attend a church and still be an unbeliever.  For those who "believe" in Jesus do the Word of God.  If they cast aside scripture and fall away from scripture they show themselves to be antichrist.  II Thessalonians 2)

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II Timothy 3

1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

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Matthew 24

And as HE (Jesus) sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

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