Joan Boney ... apostle and prophet of Jesus Christ according to Ephesians 4:11-12.
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Get out of debt and then stay out of debt:
If we go the way of this world and buy now, with the intention of paying later, we will find debt to be a master over us and we will not be free to serve and follow God, for we will have to serve that debt, even to taking of jobs that we hate for money. We will then be thinking often of money because of the debt.
(How often do you think of money? I rarely think of money because I have no debt.)
Jesus says:
Matthew 6
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
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When we set our course to get out of debt, we start by asking God for HIS help.
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.
Freedom begins with our determination to be free.
God leads us by giving us ideas which take us to this freedom.
Start with: What do I spend money on?
Take each item to God in prayer, asking God for wisdom: "Is there another way to go in this?"
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I have two considerations: My own personal expenses and the needs of this ministry in distributing the messages from God.
* In January 1980, God directed me to go on radio. The first station cost $800 per month. People gave money to support the broadcasts. There was no money problem.
I lived in a modest apartment costing $180 per month. I drove an older car which was given to me by my dad. I had no debt. I took salary of $400 per month from offerings to cover my personal needs. I was so involved with the radio broadcasts that I took no thought for my personal life. I wasn't trying to get anything for myself. The ministry of the word of God absorbed me. And the word of God was (and still is) the only consideration and the only thing needed for both me and my listeners.
A church friend handled the business affairs for the ministry. It was conducted out of her home. We had no rental expenses for office space. She hired a few part time workers as needed.
Each of us must consider both income and expenses. Some people have more expenses than income and that just will not work. Some buy things to impress other people to gain advantage and to look prosperous. This is a deadly way of life. (pride of life, ego, hypocrisy)
Changes often come which greatly affect income. If you live within your means from month to month, you live safely. But if you are counting on a certain amount of money to come in during future months to pay for your debts, you live the way of this world.
On newscasts right now I see people lined up to get free food from government. Coronavirus came and affected most things. In the free food lines, people drive up in new cars and take the hand outs. I've been carefully watching these pictures for several months and have yet to see an old car in the lines. And yet these people appear to have no money to buy their own food. What does this tell me?
Most people do not live within their means to pay. This is the way of this world. So when this world is affected, if we are living the way of this world, we are going to be affected.
I'm not affected by money because God led me to live another way for the past years.
Romans 12
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Renew your mind to scripture on this subject of money and begin to set your goal according to scripture and make changes going forward.
Deuteronomy 28
12 The LORD shall open unto thee His good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.
Debt puts the servant of God into bondage to serve another god, debt. God has another way for HIS people for God is going to make us the head and not the tail.
Debt puts the servant of God into bondage to serve another god, debt. God has another way for HIS people for God is going to make us the head and not the tail.
13 And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:
14 And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.
14 And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.
So we do the Word and continue doing the Word and will not compromise to go another way.
I Timothy 6
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
We can give ourselves things by going into debt ... or we can let God give us things HIS way by trusting in HIS word and following HIM.
For example: I believed I was to get out of debt and stay out of debt. God enabled me to get out of debt by showing me the way to do this.
I stayed out of debt by refusing to go into debt to have things. So I would not buy a car by monthly payments, going into debt. Instead I had my old car repaired and waited.
I stayed out of debt by refusing to go into debt to have things. So I would not buy a car by monthly payments, going into debt. Instead I had my old car repaired and waited.
Later, as money accumulated I bought a new car and paid cash. A young man said to me, "Now you are in debt." I replied, "No. I paid cash for that car." (I suspect he had never considered that as a possibility.)
God knows future and God has a plan for us.
For me, I am called by God to do ministry.
I just rented an apartment. I did not take out mortgage. This does not seem wise to people because you build no equity when you rent apartment. But neither do you accumulate debt.
God had another way. I was determined to stay out of debt. I never expected to have a house. Incredibly God worked it out for me to build 3 houses between the years 1984-2004, and then to sell the last house giving me money to finance my years after I became 82.
Then God put me in a house to live with a member of body of Christ. She did not want any money for the room but I insisted on paying $600 per month for office/room.
We have a very small church group but some offerings, enough to pay the office/room.
Then God put me in a house to live with a member of body of Christ. She did not want any money for the room but I insisted on paying $600 per month for office/room.
We have a very small church group but some offerings, enough to pay the office/room.
The 3rd house that I built, which was in Lubbock, Texas, sold in 2020 and there was $290,000 after closing costs, which I put into ministry bank account in Colorado to pay for future expenses as needed.
This freed me from a need for offerings.
Through the years, God put me in the following:
* 2012 Blog: ( Zero expense to publish daily exhortations which go all over the world.)
* 2015 Books: (Self published on Amazon: no expenses to ministry & small royalty paid by Amazon as books sell) Published e-book and paperback. Free book program allows daily "free" e-books through Amazon. Books offered all over the world.)
* 2020 Podcasts: (Cost $100 per year to podcast host.)
Incredibly: This means following
Ministry expenses:
$100.00 per year for podcasts
600.00 per month for office/lodging
Ministry income:
$1200.00 per month from offerings (currently, could decrease, as people die)
But even if we have no offerings at all we still have the money from the sale of the house in Texas. This house money is currently sitting in Money Market at the Bank.
This means I do not have to speak popular messages to get offerings. I am free to speak whatever message I believe to be from God.
The point is: Each of us are cared for God's way when we seek that way and consent to go in that way. Then the Lord is our shepherd and there will be no want in our lives.
But if we continue in the way of this world, getting things by worldly plans, then when this world goes down we will go down with it.
Through the way of the world we can accumulate things, but we also accumulate debt.
I have no debt so am free to move any direction since I don't have to service debt.
(And I also have many things, but made possible by God... Mt. 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
(And I also have many things, but made possible by God... Mt. 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
For those of you who are able to hear, there is a way to go in the days ahead to free you from debt and from that desire for government hand outs.
There is a way whereby we have "no want".
God has HIS plan for us if we seek that plan and accept that plan.
Ephesians 3:20 Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
And that power in us is the Holy Spirit who: teaches us all things, reminds us of all that Jesus has said, guides us into all truth, and shows us things to come. (John 14:26 & John 16:13)
... so follow HIM, what HE says to do ...
... so follow HIM, what HE says to do ...
"One step at a time ... one step at a time ... it is enough," says God!
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