Obeying God

Book:  Faith in God
Chapter 4
Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

If we believe a word is from God, we act on that word that we believe to be from God.

Abraham was greatly tested by God, even to giving up his most precious only son.

Genesis 22 ... And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.

And HE (God) said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.

Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.

And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.

And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?

And Abraham said, My son, God will provide HIMSELF a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.

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And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham:

and he said, Here am I.

And he (the angel) said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from ME.

And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.

And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, And said,

By MYSELF have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;  And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed MY voice.

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Again we see the pattern for faith in God.

God spoke ... Abraham believed it was God speaking to him so Abraham obeyed … even unto death!

Also we see in verses 6-7 that Isaac was old enough at this time that he could carry the wood and also we see Isaac was old enough to both speak and reason out the situation.

And Abraham was honored by God because Abraham obeyed even unto death of his most cherished son.

In Hebrews 11 we see Abraham's reasoning of the situation ...

Heb. 11:17 ... By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:  Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

(Isaac came from the dead bodies of Abraham and Sarah so Abraham knew God would be able to raise Isaac from physical death if he killed Isaac.)

In OT being raised from the dead was rare and not known by most people, but being raised from the dead is a fundamental principal of the NT Christian faith.

Paul said ... I Cor. 15 ... But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that HE raised up Christ: whom HE raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

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Because we believe God will raise us from the dead, we do not approach death as people of this world. That is because we have faith in that which the Bible teaches us about God raising HIS people from the dead and we have assurance that we belong to God and are HIS people.

I Thess. 4 ...  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep (dead), that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with HIM.

For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent (precede) them which are asleep.

For the Lord HIMSELF shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

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But Abraham knew this concept of God raising a person from the dead and had great faith that God could do this for Isaac.

Concerning Abraham:

God said ... Gen. 18:19 ... For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which HE hath spoken of him.

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Heb. 11:1 ... Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

When there is real faith, there is both substance and evidence. Faith is evidence. For when we believe something our actions show that is what we believe.

If a person comes to us saying, "I believe God will heal me, pray for me."

That person shows he does not believe God will heal him, for if he believes that, why would he need us to pray for something "already done" ... for faith and belief accepts that which is believed as "already done".

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Many church people think they have faith in God but often their faith is in their pastor, or their church, or even in themselves as they find scripture to "stand on".

Back in the 80's, Vinita Copeland, Kenneth Copeland's mother, told me this story. A child in their family was dying. Many were standing around the child quoting various scriptures.

Vinita said, "But the child was dying." Vinita said she left the room, got on her knees and began to talk to God, pleading with God for the life of the child.

Jesus said ... Jn. 5:39-40 ... (Ye)  Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of ME. And ye will not come to ME, that ye might have life.

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No man can keep alive his own self ... But God can.

God kills and God makes alive. HE is God and not we ourselves. So we don't tell God what to do. We plead with God.

God pronounced a sentence of death over the child David had with Uraiah's wife. Nathan the prophet said to David...

II Sam. 12:14 ... Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.

David shut himself away and fasted and prayed for the life of the child. David's servants were concerned about David. Then the child died and the servants were really concerned about what David would do.

II Sam. 12 ... But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead.

Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.

Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.

And he (David) said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?

But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again?

I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.

And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him.

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God does what HE wills. We can plead with God but God does as HE wills.

God sent Jonah to tell the great city of Nineveh that it would be destroyed. The people were terrified and fell down in sackcloth and begged God not to destroy them. God held back the planned destruction.

Unless God chooses to tell us what HE is going to do, we, like sheep of the pasture, do not know what will happen.

Paul was on a prison ship and a very stormy sea arose. The ship was in great danger of being destroyed. But God told Paul what would happen.

Acts 27 ... And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship; And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship. And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.

But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.

And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.

Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.

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This is faith:

Paul heard from God and believed that which God told him, and he told the others what God had said.

Moses was a great man of faith. Several times Moses went to Pharaoh and each time Moses told Pharaoh what God was going to do unless he, Pharaoh, let the people of Israel go. Moses boldly spoke of what God was going to do. These were not idle words. Moses had heard from God as to what God would do. But certainly it took faith for Moses to tell this to Pharaoh.

Ex. 7 ... And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh’s heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go. Get thee unto Pharaoh in the morning; lo, he goeth out unto the water; and thou shalt stand by the river’s brink against he come; and the rod which was turned to a serpent shalt thou take in thine hand.

And thou shalt say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee, saying, Let my people go, that they may serve ME in the wilderness: and, behold, hitherto thou wouldest not hear.

Thus saith the LORD,

In this thou shalt know that I am the LORD: behold, I will smite with the rod that is in mine hand upon the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood. And the fish that is in the river shall die, and the river shall stink; and the Egyptians shall lothe to drink of the water of the river.

And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood; and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in vessels of stone.

And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood. And the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.

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Faith is very simple.

Faith is hearing from God ... believing HIM ... and acting according to that which God has shown you.

But it always starts with God.

First, God speaks to us ... Then we have faith "in God", in what HE has shown us about the matter. And we believe and obey.

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At the time I was born again, 1975, I owned a small business in Dallas, Texas.

A very freak occurrence happened at my business,  ending in a young woman taking me to court.

It was terrifying to me.

As the court trial approached, I heard the following words in the form of a thought sent to my mind and with all my heart I believed this was God telling me what to do.

The instruction I heard was two words:

"Don't testify."

I called my lawyer and told him he might not want to represent me in this case because I believed God had told me not to testify, therefore I would not be testifying.

Gordon said he would represent me.  He said he knew we would win the case if I testified and he didn't know what might happen if I didn't testify, but he would represent me even if I didn't  testify.

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A woman who worked for me had witnessed the entire event concerning the young woman and she would testify.

When she learned I was not going to testify, she became very angry at me!

She said all the burden of the case was now upon her since I wouldn't testify.

I told her, "What can I do?  God told me, 'Don't testify.' "

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The man I was dating at that time, said to me, "Joan, you aren't doing this woman any good by not testifying."

I replied:  "I'm not trying to do this woman any good.  I'm trying to obey what God told me which is,  'Don't testify.' "

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Everybody on my own side was upset with me!

In the courthouse, the judge was looking down at a piece of paper upon which he was writing while my lawyer told judge that I was not going to testify.

The judge froze in mid-sentence as my lawyer spoke. 

Judge looked directly at me with a shock on his face and questioned me:  "You're not testifying?"

Judge couldn't believe what he was hearing.

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The trial began.  It was such a low level case that we had right to choose trial by jury or we could let the judge try the case.  My lawyer recommended letting the judge try the case so that is what we did.

Flo, the woman who worked for me, gave her testimony.

My lawyer came to me and said, "Flo's testimony wasn't as strong as I hoped it would be.  If you will testify, I know we will win."

I replied, "I'll see ..."

I went in the rest room of the Court House and asked God what He wanted me to do.

I heard (in form of a thought) ...

"Don't testify."

I returned to the court room and as I entered the door, Gordon, lawyer, looked at me in an anxious way.

I shook my head, "No."

The trial continued.

I was acquitted by the judge.  It was over!

With this, God began teaching me faith in God ... to hear what HE said ... to trust what HE told me ... and to follow orders!

Faith in God is a very exciting adventure in life!

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BOOK: Faith in God

Chapter 4

Joan Boney

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Scriptures

I want to get scripture more deeply inside me and I know we can do that by meditating throughout the day on key scriptures. 

You can put scriptures into an email to yourself so when you open your email throughout that day, those scriptures will be there and this will give you more opportunity to think on those scripture and do them.

Joan Boney

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Our flesh craves excitement.

Thus we run about to and fro... making plans to entertain our flesh ... keeping busy in the way of the world.

God's yoke is easy and HIS burden is light.  Learn to live in peace.

Peace:

- freedom from disturbance

- quiet, tranquil, calm

- freedom from strife and war

- composed, content

John 18:36 ... Jesus says:  My kingdom is not of this world:

II Peter 3:10-14    But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

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I Timothy 6:5-12    Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

But godliness with contentment is great gain. (not wanting more or better) 

For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

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.

(To follow after money ... to take a job for purpose of getting more money rather than interest in the work, is to follow after money.  If you do that you will fall into a temptation and a snare and hurt your own self and your family.)

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.

But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

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God has put in us a tremendous power by HIS Spirit

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Holy Spirit will ...

   - teach us all things (secular and spiritual)  John 14:26

   - remind us of all Jesus has said (scriptures and dreams from God) John 14:26

   - guide us into all truth John 16:13

   - show us things to come  John 16:13

The world speculates.  But God shows us by HIS Spirit.

The Holy Spirit brings ideas to us in times of trouble to show us what to do!

***

I had a very serious problem with my sound equipment.  My sound processor would cut off and shut down everything (including TV) until it was reset by a switch on the back of the processor.

I couldn't get to that switch because a center channel speaker was sitting on the shelf that is above the sound processor.

Twice this happened and my sound guy had to come over to flip a simple switch which I could not reach because of the center channel.

I needed to have some way to enable me to get to this switch.

God has such simple answers for us!

I prayed for help.

A little later, a thought came to my mind.  

I could purchase, through Amazon on-line, simple furniture mover pads  (slides) and put two of these under the center channel and slip the center channel about 6 inches to the left when I needed to get to the sound processor which is on the shelf under the center channel.  This would enable me to get to the re-start switch for the TV and sound equipment!

I ordered these inexpensive furniture slides immediately!

I rejoice in God's help!

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Instruction in Righteousness: From Luke 1

Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,
² Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;
³ It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
⁴ That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.

⁵ There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

⁶ And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

⁷ And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

⁸ And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,
⁹ According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
¹⁰ And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.

¹¹ And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

¹² And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

¹³ But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

¹⁴ And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.

¹⁵ For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.

¹⁶ And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

¹⁷ And He shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

¹⁸ And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.

¹⁹ And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.

²⁰ And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

²¹ And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.

²² And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.

²³ And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
²⁴ And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,
²⁵ Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein He looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.

²⁶ And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
²⁷ To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
²⁸ And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

²⁹ And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

³⁰ And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
³¹ And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call His name Jesus.
³² He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David:
³³ And He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end.

³⁴ Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

³⁵ And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

³⁶ And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

³⁷ For with God nothing shall be impossible.

³⁸ And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.

And the angel departed from her.

³⁹ And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;
⁴⁰ And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.

⁴¹ And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

⁴² And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
⁴³ And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

⁴⁴ For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

⁴⁵ And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

⁴⁶ And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
⁴⁷ And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
⁴⁸ For He hath regarded the low estate of His handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
⁴⁹ For He that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is His name.
⁵⁰ And His mercy is on them that fear Him from generation to generation.
⁵¹ He hath shewed strength with His arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
⁵² He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
⁵³ He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich He hath sent empty away.
⁵⁴ He hath helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy;
⁵⁵ As He spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.


⁵⁶ And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

⁵⁷ Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.
⁵⁸ And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.

⁵⁹ And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.

⁶⁰ And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.

⁶¹ And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.

⁶² And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.

⁶³ And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.

⁶⁴ And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.

⁶⁵ And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.

⁶⁶ And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.

⁶⁷ And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,

⁶⁸ Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for He hath visited and redeemed His people,
⁶⁹ And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David;
⁷⁰ As He spake by the mouth of His holy prophets, which have been since the world began:
⁷¹ That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;
⁷² To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember His holy covenant;
⁷³ The oath which He sware to our father Abraham,
⁷⁴ That He would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve Him without fear,
⁷⁵ In holiness and righteousness before Him, all the days of our life.

⁷⁶ And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways;
⁷⁷ To give knowledge of salvation unto His people by the remission of their sins,
⁷⁸ Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
⁷⁹ To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

⁸⁰ And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

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Believing God

Book: Faith in God:  
Chapter 3
Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Abraham is a great man of faith and a wonderful example of faith at work.

From the time God revealed HIMSELF to Abraham, Genesis 12, to the end of his life on this earth, Abraham chose to believe God.

Even when the situation was impossible, Abraham chose to believe God.

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So much of faith has to do with recognizing it is God when HE speaks and choosing to believe what God says even over the things that our senses tell us.

Impossible situation ... God told Abraham HE would make his seed "as the dust of the earth" if a man can number the dust of the earth. Gen 13:16 ...

But at that time, Abraham didn't have any children by Sarah. She was barren. And they were both very old, in their 90's.

This is an impossible situation for man ... but it is not an impossible situation for the God who created heaven and earth and all things.

And when God speaks something, we can know that thing is going to be done.

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Genesis 15 ... After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt THOU give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? And Abram said, Behold, to me THOU hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.

And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,

This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.

And HE (God) brought him (Abram) forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and HE said unto him, So shall thy seed be.

And he (Abraham) believed in the LORD; and HE counted it to him for righteousness.

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Faith is believing that which God says, that which is not seen by natural eyes.

When God speaks it to us, we can safely believe that which God has spoken will happen.

Today God speaks to us through scripture, through dreams, through thoughts brought by the Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 46 ... I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like ME,

Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying,

MY counsel shall stand, and I will do all MY pleasure:

Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country:

yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.

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Several years ago, while I was living with my mother, God gave me a dream. The next time my mother fell it would be the end of her life.

From that point on, I watched her carefully when she got into the car or when she moved about. For I knew if she fell again it would end her life. This is what God showed me.

When my mother was 97 she fell in her bedroom in the night.

I was awakened by a strange pounding noise. I went into her room and she was on the floor, beating against the wall. I knew this ended her life.

She was taken to hospital and they operated on her hip which was broken. She lived 2 more months but to me she died when she fell that second time. I even went to funeral home after she fell and arranged for her funeral while she was in hospital. To me she was dead for that is what God showed me in the dream and that is what would happen.

Faith in God sees this way.

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Genesis 17 ... And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before ME, and be thou perfect. And I will make MY covenant between ME and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.

And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,

As for ME, behold, MY covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.

Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.

And I will establish MY covenant between ME and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

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We today, who are the children of the promise, the children of faith, are that seed of Abraham through the promise.

Through all generations since the time God promised this to Abraham, there has been a line of God, seed of God, children of the promise... the remnant church.

Today we, who believe, are that seed of Abraham, seed of the promise of God to Abraham.

Heb. 11:40 ... they without us should not be made perfect.

Through us, that promise made to Abraham is fulfilled for we are that promised seed.

Romans 9 ... 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.

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Genesis 17 ... And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.  And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.

Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear? And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!

And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish MY covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.

And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation. 

But MY covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.

And HE left off talking with him, and God went up from Abraham.

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Now God is about to reveal to Sarah what HE is about to do.

Genesis 18 ... And the LORD appeared unto him (to Abraham) in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,

And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant: Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree: And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant.

And they said, So do, as thou hast said.

And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.  And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it. And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.

(Notice Abraham gave the best he had to God ... fine meal ... tender and good meat.)

And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.

By this, these men reveal they are not natural men. How did they know the name of Abraham's wife? But from the beginning verse, it certainly appears that Abraham recognized that these men were not natural men.

Genesis 18 ... And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son.

And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.

Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?

And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?

Is any thing too hard for the LORD?

At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid.

And HE said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.

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God is truth.

Sarah laughed ... she didn't see how such a thing could be possible ... But after God said to her, "is anything too hard for the LORD", Sarah believed God.

We know she believed because of that which is written about her in Hebrews 11

... Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged HIM faithful who had promised. Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

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Genesis 21 ... And the LORD visited Sarah as HE had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as HE had spoken.

For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.

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When God shows us something, that is what will happen.

Several years ago, I had a dream: The earth slipped on its axis. People were terrified. The politicians and religious leaders were meeting to see what could be done about the event. A TV newscaster was trying to tell what had happened and he was so frightened he couldn't continue the TV report.

In the end time, the heaven and the earth will move ... will be shaken, by God.

(Many prophets have been shown this and reported this in OT.)

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A common error concerning faith ...

Our faith must be based on that which God has told us by HIS Spirit. Our faith must not be in what we want to happen.

Pam Padgett told me a story about a man where she once worked. An accident happened to his son. The man reported they were all believing for God to heal his son. The son died.

Their faith was based on that which they wanted to have happen, for if God had told them their son would be healed, he would be healed.

When such a thing as this happens it can destroy so much and shake the people involved even more than the death, for this strikes at the foundation of God HIMSELF and if we lose that we lose everything.

Our faith must be in that which God says about the issue. So many people put faith in what they want to have happen and often they look for a scripture to justify what they want. When they do this their faith ends up being in their desire. It seems like their faith is in God, but it isn't.

Unless it is the Spirit of God who reveals the end of the situation, then we are on very shaky ground.

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I have a friend who had ALS. This is a disease where there is no hope according to doctors. Certainly I prayed for him. I had an open vision about him and I believed what God showed me is that this man was going to die before the rest of us.

In the open vision, he was on a golf course totally whole. He was going ahead of us but he was so excited and jumping up and down. He was signaling with his hands and arms to us telling us to come on ... everything was wonderful.

A mutual friend said to me, "Don't you think this is showing David is going to be healed by God?"

I replied: "David is dying. But he is alright in death."

I would have liked to see David healed by God. But the only thing I could afford to believe or report is that which I believe God showed me.

(David, at 48-years-of-age, died in September, 2015)

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Our faith must be in God, in that which God reveals about the matter at hand.

Another situation: I have had several dreams about a woman where I played bridge. I cared very much about her well being. But God has given me one dream after another showing me she is getting worse, not better.

In one dream, she was like a dwarf and very fat. She could hardly walk. In the most recent dream she threw up her hands in disgust and turned her back toward me and walked away. She had heard something I said, a Bible teaching.

This is what I must believe about her because I believe God is showing me this. If I believed what I wanted to believe I would deceive myself. It is very foolish to deceive yourself by what you want.

Our faith must be in what God tells us by HIS Spirit and not in our own desires.

So we focus on that which God tells us through scriptures, through dreams, through thoughts sent by HIS Spirit. We can believe that for it is truth and it will happen. And after we hear what God has to say, we believe and we act according to that which we have heard from God.

This is faith in God.

(Everything else would be faith in ourselves and what we want. Our faith must be in what God has said.)

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BOOK: Faith in God

Chapter 3

Joan Boney

E-book:  $.99

Paperback: $5.99

(USA Prices)

Order from:  Amazon.com

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Scriptures

I want to get scripture more deeply inside me and I know we can do that by meditating throughout the day on key scriptures. 

You can put scriptures into an email to yourself so when you open your email throughout that day, those scriptures will be there and this will give you more opportunity to think on those scripture and do them.

Joan Boney

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Philippians 4:19   The apostle Paul says to the church:

But my God shall supply all your need

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