*****
Sunday, February 28, 2021
* God chooses the exact places we will live and the times we will live there.
Acts 17:26 (NIV Original Translation)
HE (God) determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.
***
Acts 17:26 (KJV)
(God) hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
*****
(Comments by Joan Boney)
It is no accident concerning the time that we live on this earth and the exact place where we live. God chooses that for us. God puts us in the exact place we are to live and the exact time we live there. And God moves us from place to place according to HIS purpose for us.
In 1971, I took a job as orchestra conductor in the Albuquerque, New Mexico (USA) public schools. I became friends with the secretary to the district music supervisor. Her husband had recently retired and was beginning a business in American Indian Arts.
I started going out to the Indian reservations with them after school and on weekends where they purchased Indian jewelry.
It turned out that I had a natural eye for judging turquoise stones.
They began sending me to Santa Fe on weekends to wholesale Indian jewelry to dealers.
During the week, after school I would visit the Indian art stores in Old Town in Albuquerque and study the jewelry items and the prices so I became skilled in appraisal of Indian arts.
When I returned to Dallas in 1972 to teach at SMU, I continued selling Indian jewelry out of my apartment. Then I rented a portion of a retail space and sold jewelry on weekends. I later opened my own retail shop in small retail shopping mall.
At the same time this was happening, American Indian Arts became very popular in the USA. So I was at the right place, at the right time, with the right knowledge and skills.
All this was arranged by God.
I was born again in 1975. At that time I had 3 very competent women working for me and I didn't have to go into the shop except to do appraisals. So I could stay home all day and read the Bible. And I attended all meetings at church and also went to a weekly prayer group.
God was teaching me.
28 And now, little children, abide in HIM; that, when HE shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before HIM at HIS coming.
During these years, God showed me I was to be a minister.
I closed my business on July 31, 1979, to go into the ministry. I had no place to go. I just stayed at my apartment and studied the Bible and did what the scripture showed me to do by HIS Spirit. And I waited. (I lived on the money I had gained from selling the merchandise from my shop.)
Six-months passed.
Then on January 10, 1980, in the night I was awakened by a very loud voice which spoke 3 words into my ear: "Hartford, Seattle, KWJS"
By this, God put me on radio, starting with KWJS.
Within a year I was on radio from Hartford (NYC) to Seattle with stations in between these cities.
That move to Albuquerque, NM, was central in providing funds for me to go into the ministry and to operate in the early years in ministry.
Where we live and the times we live there are not accidental. Often they provide stepping stones for that which we are going to do later.
*****
* Reincarnation? What the Bible says.
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
*****
Hymn: Up from the grave HE arose
(Click forward arrow > to play music:)
1. Low in the grave He lay —
Jesus my Savior!
Waiting the coming day —
Jesus my Lord!
Chorus:
Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes.
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever in His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!
2. Vainly they watch His tomb
Jesus, my Savior!
Vainly they seal the dead—
Jesus my Lord!
3. Death cannot keep his prey—
Jesus, my Savior!
He tore the bars away—
Jesus my Lord!
(Click pause symbol, " ... at beginning of hymn, to stop music)
*****
Scriptures pertaining to this hymn:
Matthew 27:59 And when Joseph had taken the body (of Jesus), he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
Matthew 27:62-66 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while He was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night, and steal Him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.
Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.
So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.
***
Matthew 28:1-4 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
(These women also prepared and brought to the tomb fine smelling spices, for when the body decays there is a stink and they wanted to cover up that odor. They didn't know there would be no decaying body where Jesus was concerned for God would not "suffer" Jesus' body to see corruption as other flesh saw corruption. Jesus' body and soul were removed by God from the tomb.)
And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
His (the angel's) countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
***
Luke 24:1-7 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them,
Why seek ye the living among the dead?
He is not here, but is risen:
remember how HE spake unto you when HE was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
***
Acts 13:35-37 Wherefore he (David) saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption.
For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:
But HE, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.
When they entered the tomb of Jesus, His body was gone as well as His Spirit. God did not allow Jesus' body to decay the way of normal flesh.
*****
Saturday, February 27, 2021
* When KJV translators added a word to the translation they put that word in italics.
Comments by Joan Boney:
Galatians 1
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
If you look closely at verse 9, you will see the translators added the word "man" to this verse.
That really changes the scripture.
What that scripture should say is the following:
Now the verse is saying: "If any (man or angel or spirit) preach any other gospel ... let him be accursed."
This fits with verse 8 where Paul is warning us concerning a man or angel preaching any other gospel.
Evil angels can bring words to us which are not according to the scriptures.
For example: A divorced woman kept her divorce a secret from her church group, and she wanted to remarry.
At church she saw a man and heard the following word spoken by "an angel" or "a spirit": "He's going to be your husband."
This word conflicted with scriptures which says if the divorced woman remarries, she commits adultery.
I believe God shows me this word spoken to this woman was spoken by "an evil angel" who was trying to lead her to commit adultery.
Concerning evil angels:
If we are practicing hypocrisy among people, pretending something that is not so, as this woman was doing by keeping her previous divorce a secret from the church group, we can open doors for God to deal with our deception by such things as sending evil angels to deliver messages telling us what we want to hear and leading us to destruction.
We, as the church, need to be aware of evil angels but I do not think we have to live in fear unless we are living in hypocrisy and such.
Later we will judge angels in heaven.
I had a dream several years ago where we were judging angels: An angel appeared before us and showed us the work he had done and we judged his work was good. He was a good angel.
There are good angels and there are evil angels. Both deliver messages.
If the message was contrary to scripture, we know that was a "evil angel" who delivered that message, and we will judge that angel as evil.
*****
Here is another example of the KJV translators adding a word to a scripture and changing the meaning of that scripture.
I Corinthians 7:38 So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.
We see the translators added the word "her" twice to this sentence. We know this because the translators were faithful to the scriptures to show us they had added some word which was not in the translation.
This scripture should read: So then he that giveth in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth not in marriage doeth better.
It is better not to marry in order to attend upon the Lord without distraction, Paul is saying.
Here is that entire section of scripture:
I Corinthians 7
33 But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.
34 There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
35 And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.
36 But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.
37 Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.
38 So then he that giveth in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth not in marriage doeth better.
We see when we removed that word "her" from verse 38, that Paul was exhorting the men that they did even better if they chose not to marry so they could attend upon the Lord without distraction as he, Paul, had chosen to do.
However they were free to marry if they chose to do so. It was simply better if they chose not to marry.
The Catholic church set up a rule in the Catholic church that their priests could not marry and many priests flourished in child abuse. It was a natural haven for homosexuals to become priests in the Catholic church, because the Catholic leadership set up a rule which is not in the Bible by saying their priests could not marry.
So it is very dangerous to all when a man adds something to translation of scripture but at least the KJV translators made it clear that they had added these words by putting them into italics.
In these two examples of adding to the KJV scriptures, we can see how it can greatly pervert the message of the scripture.
In these two examples of adding to the KJV scriptures, we can see how it can greatly pervert the message of the scripture.
***
As a new Christian in 1975, I started with KJV. Then I began using the NASB. And later I used the NIV translation.
But even when I was using NASB and NIV, the Holy Spirit would usually use the KJV when HE called a scripture to my mind.
Because of this, I decided God was showing me to use the KJV, so I went back to using the KJV and I only use NASB and NIV occasionally on certain scriptures which really seem to explain the meaning better.
For example: I use the NIV (original translation) on the following scripture.
Acts 17:26 HE (God) determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.
KJV says: and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
In this one case, I feel the NIV original translation makes the scripture clearer, for it is telling us that God chooses the time we live on this earth and the exact places where we will live on this earth.
But overall, I feel KJV is the purest translation available to us.
I especially feel it allows the Holy Spirit to bring understanding by being so pure to the original text.
The other translations often bring in ideas which fit our language but it is almost too much and can also lead us in directions never intended by the original and even block that which the Holy Spirit would speak to us.
At least the KJV translators let us know by italics when they had added something which was not in the original scriptures.
By their own understanding, which was not of God, they added these "helpful" words, but they pervert the meaning of the writer such as the apostle Paul.
We as the reader of KJV should note words in italics when we read the scriptures and even remove those words as we quote scripture to get a purer translation which is closer to the actual meaning of the content to allow us to go in the way of God.
*****
Hymn: Trust & Obey
(Click forward arrow > to play music:)
1. When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way;
While we do His good will,
He abides in us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Chorus:
Trust and obey,
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.
2. Not a shadow can rise,
Not a cloud in the skies,
But His WORD quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear,
Not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
3. Not a burden we bear,
Not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss,
Not a frown or a cross,
But is blest if we trust and obey.
4. But we never can prove
The delights of His love,
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows,
And the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
5. Then in fellowship sweet
We will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do;
Where He sends, we will go,
Never fear, only trust and obey.
(Click pause symbol, " ... at beginning of hymn, to stop music)
*****
Scriptures pertaining to this hymn:
Psalm 111:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do HIS commandments: HIS praise endureth for ever.
The fear of the Lord is a deep respect for God and The Word.
When we "fear" God, we are basically afraid to go in a way opposite to God's Word for we have an inner understanding that God knows what is best and to violate what HE says is to go in a way of self destruction.
Therefore our trust is based on the awe we have for God.
And we obey God, doing what HE says to us by HIS Spirit.
***
In December, 2018, at the age of 81, I fell at my house.
As the ambulance people were removing me and we reached the front door, I heard the following word in the form of a thought that came to my mind: "You'll never see this house again."
I believed that thought was from God.
Therefore I believed there would be another way for me to go if I survived the accident.
I put my house up for sale even as I was awaiting surgery.
A church person said to me, "I don't see how you can do that." (I don't think she understood faith in God.)
I explained to her that when you believe you have heard from God and there is a way to go, you simply obey ... no hesitation.
I never looked back and I never saw that house again.
I did not know where I would go when I put the house up for sale but I knew God would work it out for me and reveal it to me and God did within a few weeks. A woman in our little church group took me (and my cat) into her house to live in Colorado. She is a very godly woman and prays over everything! It is a great joy for me to live in a house with such a person.
My life was made better after my accident, not worse.
God had a plan for me and I knew HIS plan was all that mattered.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
***
In December, 2018, at the age of 81, I fell at my house.
As the ambulance people were removing me and we reached the front door, I heard the following word in the form of a thought that came to my mind: "You'll never see this house again."
I believed that thought was from God.
Therefore I believed there would be another way for me to go if I survived the accident.
I put my house up for sale even as I was awaiting surgery.
A church person said to me, "I don't see how you can do that." (I don't think she understood faith in God.)
I explained to her that when you believe you have heard from God and there is a way to go, you simply obey ... no hesitation.
I never looked back and I never saw that house again.
I did not know where I would go when I put the house up for sale but I knew God would work it out for me and reveal it to me and God did within a few weeks. A woman in our little church group took me (and my cat) into her house to live in Colorado. She is a very godly woman and prays over everything! It is a great joy for me to live in a house with such a person.
My life was made better after my accident, not worse.
God had a plan for me and I knew HIS plan was all that mattered.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
*****
Acts 17 ... NIV Original Translation ... God chooses the exact places we will live and the times we will live there.
KJV Acts 17:26 … And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
KJV Acts 17:26 … And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
(God determines the times we live and the places we live.)
27-28 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him, though HE be not far from every one of us: 28 For in Him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also His offspring.
27-28 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him, though HE be not far from every one of us: 28 For in Him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also His offspring.
*****
Friday, February 26, 2021
* God protected me without striving and without false hopes.
Comments by Joan Boney:
Here are 2 examples of God protecting me:
A few years ago, my neighbor became very angry with me because of my position on homosexuals when I would not allow her lesbian daughter to use a room at my house during an anniversary weekend.
This woman was very angry with me without my realizing she was angry. She said to me, "I want to talk with you" and I still didn't realize she was angry. She said she would come over to my house "that night". I prepared and turned on the porch light for her but she never showed up. The next day, I realized God had spared me and protected me. And I never again saw this woman.
***
Recently a woman, who is likely lesbian, said to me, "So does this mean you support homosexuals and lesbians." I replied, "Oh I don't think so." We sent her a podcast which I made a year earlier entitled, "Homosexuals/lesbians: What the Bible says."
Without arguing, striving, or debating with her it was over peacefully.
And yet my position was clearly with God on the subject.
Romans 1:25-28 (They) Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
The same night this woman asked me if I would support homosexuals and lesbians, God gave me a dream which I felt showed me the futility of trying to speak truth to her.
Just go forward without trying, I was shown in the dream. No false hopes. Leave her alone, but in a peaceful way.
I was so grateful to God that HE spared me in both of these situations.
*****
* People often want to give to the "needy", failing to realize that so often those needy people are needy because they are not following God who puts us into "green pastures".
Comments by Joan Boney:
When we follow God, doing scriptures and the other words given to us by God's Spirit, God causes us to take actions usually before action is needed. So when problems hit we are in a position to weather the storm.
When the heat comes, he is already positioned to stand that heat for he positions himself by the rivers of water, by that word from God, doing that which that word says to do.
As a new Christian, God showed me to get out of debt and to stay out of debt. Within a few months I was out of debt and for the next 40+ years I refused to follow ideas that would put me back into debt. So when problems came, I did not wither with the people of the world.
Also when God showed me to buy something, I bought that thing, knowing by faith God would not put me into a poor position for future.
When I was 82-years-old, I was considering having my seats on my 25-year-old car re-upholstered.
As I thought on doing this, the Holy Spirit brought the following idea to my mind: "Or you could just buy a new car."
I'd never thought of doing that. I had sold my house in Texas and the money was in my bank account. I could buy a new car and pay cash. That same night God gave me a dream where I bought a new car. The morning after the dream I went to look at new cars and bought one.
"But what if you need that money in the future?"
This is one of the many benefits of being led by God in that which we do. We won't need that money for if we did God would not lead us to spend that money.
***
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
When I am following God, I find HE puts me into green pastures where there is good water.
Many people who say they are Christians do not follow God. Therefore they are living in need, in old dead pastures where there is no real hope of provision.
Or they are trusting in human beings for their provision.
A man from the Philippines contacted me. He said he was a pastor. Since the age of 18 he had lived on property owned by their church group and he had worked as a "minister" to that church group.
He heard a message I spoke and he spoke that message to his church group and they became very angry at him and told him to move from the church housing within a week. By this time, he was married and had a young son. He had no money and no place to live.
I told him to do as the apostle Paul did. To get a secular job and provide for himself and his family. I didn't hear from him again after that so I assumed it didn't suit him to do this. To remain in the church owned housing, he would have to speak the messages which that church group wanted him to speak.
About 3 years later, I heard from him again. An earthquake struck the housing and destroyed it. He asked me to send him money, which I did not do.
My feeling on the issue: If he had left that church group and had gotten a secular job, he might have been in a location where the earthquake did not destroy his house.
He showed me that he trusted in humans rather than trusting in God.
***
Why do you feel it is good to give to the needy who show they are not following God?
If the Lord is their shepherd, why are they needy?
***
It has been my experience that when I need something, I pray, and God either sees that I get that which I need or shows me I do not really need to do that thing which I think I need to do.
Ministers often just copy each other and try to do works that are not of God and then beg for you to send money and your flesh delights in helping them do a work that God did not author.
Matthew 7 Jesus said:
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Matthew 23 Jesus says to the scribes and Pharisees:
14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
There is a good deal of evil in religious people.
*****
* God will not allow more to happen to us than we can bear.
(Comments by Joan Boney)
A young man who was 44 years old, worked with me to help me with my sound equipment.
The day I met him, he said to me, "I don't know why I am telling you this, but they think I likely have ALS."
I was shocked. That is a terrible disease. You become totally paralyzed, inch by
inch.
David had a wife and two children and he told me they were going to Houston on the following Monday for tests.
He did have ALS. He lived about 2 1/2 years more. Although he lived in east Texas and I lived across the state from him, I "witnessed" his life and his physical deterioration and death, for we often communicated by phone.
(Also at the same period of time I had witnessed the death of my bridge partner who had ALS.)
I often thought how I didn't think I could have gone through the things David went through ... but I didn't have to ...
I Corinthians 10:13
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
We do not have more happen than we can "bear" with God.
And when we think we can't stand it, we ask God for help and HE helps us always.
*****
Hymn: Standing on the promises
(Click forward arrow > to play music:)
1. Standing on the promises of Christ my King,
Through eternal ages let His praises ring,
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God.
Chorus:
Standing, standing,
Standing on the promises of Christ my Savior;
Standing, standing,
I’m standing on the promises of God.
2. Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.
3. Standing on the promises I now can see
Perfect, present cleansing in the blood for me;
Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free,
Standing on the promises of God.
4. Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord,
Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord,
Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword,
Standing on the promises of God.
5. Standing on the promises I shall not fall,
List’ning every moment to the Spirit’s call.
Resting in my Savior as my All in all,
Standing on the promises of God.
(Click pause symbol, " ... at beginning of hymn, to stop music)
*****
The following scripture pertains to this hymn:
Joshua 1:5 I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Matthew 28:20 lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.
***
Joshua 1:5 I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Matthew 28:20 lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.
***
v. 2 By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
The living word is that word that comes down to us from heaven. It is put into our mind by God by HIS Spirit, by the Spirit of Jesus. By this "living word" we know what to do.
John 6 Jesus says:
32-33 My Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is HE which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
48-51 I (The Word) am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven:
Jesus, The Word, is the Word that comes down from heaven. The living word of God is the word spoken to us by the Spirit of God. By His Spirit, God will bring to our mind ideas that show us what to do, or scriptures which show us what to do. And when it is that Word of God, it will never fail. We can put our trust in what we have heard from God by His Spirit.
The living word of God is just exactly that, living, because it pertains to the exact subject we are dealing with at that moment in time.
We can hunt for a scripture and fail. Or we can try to figure out what to do and fail.
But we will not fail when it is the Holy Spirit bringing the concept or a scripture to our mind to guide us in the matter at hand.
***
Here are promises from Jesus concerning the work the Holy Spirit will do for us.
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 (of His own thinking); but whatsoever He shall hear (from God), that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come.
4 things the Holy Spirit does for the believer:
- HE teaches us all things. (secular and spiritual)
- HE reminds us of all Jesus has said to us through scripture, dreams, concepts
- HE guides us into all truth. (often one thing at a time ... you do the first thing ... then a second idea comes and you do that ... on until the matter is resolved)
- HE shows us things to come. (often by dreams ... sometimes by just knowing)
***
v. 3 Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free,
We are freed every time we have a word from God brought to our mind by His Spirit, and when we believe and act on that word in the midst of the trial or temptation.
***
v. 4 Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword,
God speaks to each of His children by His Spirit which lives inside each child. The Holy Spirit brings thoughts from God to our minds to show us the way of God and the will of God as we live on this earth.
We overcome the trials and temptations of this present earth as we hear from the Holy Spirit daily, and take appropriate action to the instruction given by the Spirit.
You do have to be careful. For the devil will try to imitate God and bring thoughts to your mind which are opposite to the way God wants you to go. And often our own fleshly preferences will bring thoughts to us which seem good to us, but are opposite to the way God wants us to go.
James 3:14-16 ... But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
So if that is the case, you must repent and pray for God to correct your own heart. For you will not likely to be able to hear correctly until you are corrected.
Otherwise: Prove all things by prayer and Bible. If you will ask God to confirm the way to go and to make it clear to you which thought is HIS, and if you will take time before you act, it will be made clear to you which thought is from God. Also in the Bible we have a scripture which tells us how to recognize the wisdom that is from God.
James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
***
v. 5 List’ning every moment to the Spirit’s call.
Resting in my Savior as my All in all,
Once we have established that a thought is from God, we must focus on that thought and rest in that word that we have heard from God concerning the matter at hand after doing that instruction in an appropriate way. Often, we have to keep that word before us day and night to be strong enough to continue in that direction.
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.
Have not I commanded thee?
(When God brings a word to our mind by HIS Spirit or when a scripture is made to stand out to us, that is God "commanding" us and we think on that word, taking action when needed, according to that word.)
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.
*****
Thursday, February 25, 2021
* People who "curse" us with their negative statements.
Comments by Joan Boney:
A woman noticed my chair which has electric controls to raise and lower foot rests and she said, "The problem is those break and have to be repaired."
Immediately I turned to God and prayed that the chair not break.
I realized that which this woman said was a type of curse which could keep me from enjoying the chair and cause me to fret, often needlessly.
If a warning is from God it is good. When warnings are like this woman brought, they are evil.
News reports often bring warnings that are wisdom of men of this world and cause us to be troubled. I usually do not like to watch TV news if the sound is on because I know they do this.
I do not want to be troubled without cause.
*****
* Life is as a vapor.
(Comments by Joan Boney)
Recently I was thinking of someone who was my very best friend and then all of a sudden we disappeared from each other lives.
It seemed so strange as I thought about it. I just never thought of her again for the next 30 years or so. (I suspect she had a similar experience where I was concerned for I never heard from her.)
What is this like? And as I thought on this I realized her life to me was as a vapor.
And I recalled the following scripture:
13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
***
What is important?
Following that which God shows us day by day, doing that, focusing on that Word given us by the Spirit of God.
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but MY words shall not pass away.
*****
Hymn: Praise Him, Praise Him, Jesus our blessed redeemer
(Click forward arrow > to play music:)
1. Praise Him! praise Him!
Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Sing, ye saints! His wonderful love proclaim!
Hail Him! hail Him! mightiest angels in glory;
Strength and honor give to His holy name!
Like a shepherd, Jesus will feed His people,
In His WORD He carries them all day long;
O ye saints that live in the light of His presence,
Praise Him! praise Him!
ever in joyful song!
2. Praise Him! praise Him!
Jesus, our blessed Redeemer,
For our sins He suffered and bled and died;
He, our Rock, our Hope of eternal salvation,
Hail Him! hail Him!
Jesus, the Crucified;
Loving Savior, meekly enduring sorrow,
Crowned with thorns that cruelly pierced His brow;
Once for us rejected, despised, and forsaken,
Prince of Glory, ever triumphant now.
3. Praise Him! praise Him!
Jesus, our blessed Redeemer,
Heavenly portals, loud with hosannahs ring!
(portal: doorway, way in, way out)
Jesus, Savior, reigneth for ever and ever;
Crown Him! crown Him!
Prophet and Priest and King!
Death is vanquished!
Tell it with joy, ye faithful,
Where is now thy victory, boasting grave?
Jesus lives!
No longer thy portals are cheerless;
Jesus lives, the mighty and strong to save.
(Click pause symbol, " ... at beginning of hymn, to stop music)
*****
Scripture pertaining to this hymn:
Romans 5:5-9 the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
But God commendeth HIS love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
(We didn't shed our blood for our sins, but Jesus shed His blood to pay for our sins ... without shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins Hebrews 9:22 ... we cannot hope to pay for our sins and our wrong actions by our good works ... only by shed blood are we redeemed from sin and cleansed)
Revelation 5:1-14 And I saw in the right hand of HIM that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
And HE came and took the book out of the right hand of HIM that sat upon the throne.
And when HE had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, THOU art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for THOU wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by THY blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto HIM that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped HIM that liveth for ever and ever.
***
Luke 24:1-8 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
(The dead human body decays and stinks. They brought spices to cover the odor of death. But God was not going to suffer the body of Jesus to see corruption as other flesh sees corruption.)
And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
HE is not here, but is risen: remember how HE spake unto you when HE was yet in Galilee,
Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
And they remembered HIS words,
*****
Wednesday, February 24, 2021
* A shocking question.
Comments by Joan Boney:
We have a neighbor who is a tennis coach. She stopped by our house yesterday and I showed her my colorful tennis wrist bands that I have been using to help with my two broken wrists.
As she looked at them, she asked, "Does this mean you support gay rights."
I was very shocked.
I replied, "I don't think so."
(I couldn't understand why anyone would think my tennis wristbands would imply that.)
I looked on Amazon where I had ordered the wristbands to see if in any way these referred to homosexual/lesbian and they did not.
Then I recalled an organization formed years ago to support black people and it was called "Rainbow Coalition".
The wrist bands have several colors: purple, green, yellow, orange, red.
I think our neighbor wanted to know our view concerning homosexuals and lesbians.
I prayed: "What do I do about this?"
Immediately I felt I had God's answer.
Pam Padgett heard this neighbor's question, so I called Pam into my room and asked her to send an email and a Podcast to this neighbor.
Pam sent the following:
"Since you mentioned "gay / lesbian support" yesterday when Joan showed you her wrist bands, you may be interested in God's view of this. Here is a podcast: "
Homosexual/lesbians. What Bible says.
***
As Pam and I spoke about this subject, she was reminded of the following:
When you showed neighbor your colorful tennis wristbands and asked if she knew what they were, and she replied, "Does it mean you show support for "gays" and lesbians?", I kept thinking "Why would she say, or even think of that?
Nothing other than the bands being colorful ever came to our minds regarding the bands.
Then I was reminded of the following scripture:
Titus 1:15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
Neighbor thought of "homosexual/lesbian" because her mind is defiled.
(defiled: foul, dirty, polluted, corrupted)
Titus 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny HIM, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
(Neighbor identifies herself as "Catholic" and she attends Catholic church.)
Another scripture:
Genesis 6
5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
6 And it repented the LORD that HE had made man on the earth, and it grieved HIM at HIS heart.
7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth ME that I have made them.
11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted HIS way upon the earth.
12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted HIS way upon the earth.
(They corrupted God's way.)
*****
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