* The devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour.

Joan Boney … apostle & prophet of Jesus Christ, by the will of God, according to Ephesians 4:11-12.

*****

I had been speaking about antichrist coming through individuals in churches and I was making a recording, and the thought came, "You're wrong. Antichrist doesn't come through humans."

God reminded me of the following scripture:

I John 2

18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

The Bible shows us antichrist coming through people in the church even in the days of the apostle John.

The object of antichrist is to cause us to depart from the Word of God and to set up doctrine contrary to the Word of God.  

The object of the devil is to destroy the people of God, if we allow ourselves to be destroyed.

Therefore the apostle Paul instructs:

II Corinthians 10

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. 

(Making every thought obedient to Christ, THE WORD.)

As long as we live on this earth, we must deal with every thought to make that which "we think" conform to the Word of God, casting all thoughts contrary to the scriptures from us, establishing the truth and what we believe by the scriptures by the Holy Spirit of God.

*****

Devil comes to destroy us, if we will let him.

I Peter 5

6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you
.

***

John 10:10   The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I (Jesus) am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

***

Jesus says:

John 8:31-32  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye MY disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

To the Pharisees Jesus said:

44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

When devil brings something to our mind concerning a situation, it is exactly opposite from that which is true.

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth.

We have to depend on God to show us which concept is truth so we will not be eaten alive by thoughts from devils.

I Peter 5:8-9   Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith.

***

Make no mistake.  It is a battle.  Find a word that you can believe and  hold onto that word.

When I was born again in 1975, and was under serious Satanic attack, I just kept saying to God over and over:  

"Praise God, thank YOU for my salvation ... Praise God, thank YOU for my salvation ... Praise God, thank YOU for my salvation."

In a few minutes, I went to sleep and the bombarding thoughts ended.

***

James 4:7    Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Pray, asking God to help you.   God will help you.  

Hold fast to any word brought to you by the Spirit of God.

Resist the devil with any word brought to you by God!

***

Our strength must not be in ourselves but in God.

Ephesians 6

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

*****

Hymn: Beneath the cross of Jesus

(Click forward arrow > to play music:)

1.  Beneath the cross of Jesus
I fain would take my stand,
The shadow of a mighty Rock
Within a weary land;
A home within the wilderness,
A rest upon the way,
From the burning of the noontide heat,
And the burden of the day.

2.  Oh, safe and happy shelter!
Oh, refuge tried and sweet!
Oh, trysting place where heaven’s love
And heaven’s justice meet *.
As to the holy patriarch
That wondrous dream was given,
So is my Savior by the cross
A ladder up to heaven.

3.  There lies beneath its shadow,
But on the farther side,
The darkness of an awful grave
That gapes both deep and wide;
And there between us stands the cross,
Two arms outstretched to save,
Like a watchman set to guard the way
From that eternal grave.

4.   Upon that cross of Jesus
Mine eye at times can see
The very dying form of One,
Who suffered there for me;
And from my smitten heart, with tears,
Two wonders I confess,
The wonders of His glorious love,
And my own worthlessness.

5.  I take, O cross, thy shadow
For my abiding place;
I ask no other sunshine than
The sunshine of His WORD;
Content to let the world go by,
To know no gain nor loss,
My sinful self my only shame,
My glory all the cross.


(Click pause symbol,  "  ... at beginning of hymn, to stop music)

***

* where heaven’s love And heaven’s justice meet: heaven's love is shown by God's sacrifice of His Son, and Jesus' willingness to die for us.  Heaven's justice requires payment for our sins for it to be just.  The only payment sufficient to justify our sins is the blood of Jesus. 

***

Scriptures pertaining to this hymn:

Hebrews 9:22 ... and without shedding of blood is no remission.

*** 

John 14:6   Jesus says:  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by ME.

The way of life and truth is The Word of God.

When we go that way, we live in HIM, doing that which HE says.

***

Psalm 119:105    Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Psalm 119:130   The entrance of THY words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

***

II Timothy 3:16-17    All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

***

I Timothy 4:13    Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

*****

Instruction in Righteousness: Jude

Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: 

² Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.

³ Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

⁴ For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁵ I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.

⁶ And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

⁷ Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

⁸ Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

⁹ Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

¹⁰ But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.

¹¹ Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

(The way of Cain was to kill his brother to get what he felt he deserved and for revenge.   Balaam wanted what man could give him and went after man for reward. God finally killed him.)

(Core: Korah ... led a rebellion against Moses, saying that Moses "took too much" upon himself and made himself to be too much and didn't fulfill his promise to lead the children of Israel into the promised land.   ... Korah wanted to promote himself to be more than God had assigned him in the religious hierarchy of his time.

Numbers 16:23-40  

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,  Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.  And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him.

And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of their's, lest ye be consumed in all their sins.

(I see same warning for us concerning staying with "wicked" ministers or congregations that approve unrighteous acts.)

So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children.

And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the Lord hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind.

If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the Lord hath not sent me.

But if the Lord make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the Lord. 

And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them:

And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.

They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.

And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also.

And there came out a fire from the Lord, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

Speak unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, that he take up the censers out of the burning, and scatter thou the fire yonder; for they are hallowed.

The censers of these sinners against their own souls, let them make them broad plates for a covering of the altar: for they offered them before the Lord, therefore they are hallowed: and they shall be a sign unto the children of Israel.

And Eleazar the priest took the brasen censers, wherewith they that were burnt had offered; and they were made broad plates for a covering of the altar: To be a memorial unto the children of Israel, that no stranger, which is not of the seed of Aaron, come near to offer incense before the Lord; that he be not as Korah, and as his company: as the Lord said to him by the hand of Moses.

*****

Jude 12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

(Ministers who entertain the people rather than tell the people of sin that they may repent ... ministers who seek after money ... ministers who seek after reputation among men and greatness in the sight of men.)

13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints,

15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.

(These ministers speak evil against various scripture as they explain away the instruction of those scriptures.)

16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.  17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18 How that they told you there should be mockers (copiers, imitators of others) in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. 19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

(They make themselves ministers without being called by God to the ministry.)

20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

24 Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,

25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

*****

Podcast: You can't control a real prophet. A real prophet will speak what God says.

*****

* Additional scriptures God has given me to meditate upon.

Isaiah 54:17   No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of ME, saith the Lord.

(Righteousness of God because it was God who told you to do this or gave you this information.)

Consider things God told you to do:


***

Matthew 11:15   He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

(Unless God gives the reader understanding, he cannot understand what you write. No matter how you speak the message, he cannot understand.)

I Corinthians 2:14   But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Matthew 16

17 ... Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

18 ...upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

***

Matthew 16

6  Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

***

James 4

4 ... know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

friend:  one who gives aid and support to

(We cannot support the ways of this world.)

***

Additional meditation scriptures:  see June 30, 2020

*****

* Unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Joan Boney … apostle and prophet of Jesus Christ by the will of God according to Ephesians 4:11-12.

*****

We cannot have unity of "the spirit" unless we both have the same spirit.  It won't work to try to do so.

If we are both of the Spirit of God, then we endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit.  If we have the Spirit of God, when differ in some matter, we turn to God and one of us is changed.  Then we have unity of the Spirit by that change which God caused in one of us.

We will not have peace if we try to go against something we believe and deny that which we believe in order to get along with someone of another spirit, we sin and deny the Holy Spirit which caused us to believe those things of God.  If we have any doubt concerning that which we believe, we can ask God to confirm to us that which we believe and to change us if we are wrong in the way we believe, praying:

Psalm 51:10  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

***

But when we both have "the same spirit" there is great joy and great peace for we are being led by the same spirit.

Romans 8:14    For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

***

Several years ago, I tried to be "friends" with a woman who is Catholic.

But she called men at her church  "Father".

Jesus says:  Call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Matthew 23:9

She follows the teaching of her church while I follow the teaching of Jesus in the Holy Bible. 

We are following different spirits.  There can be no unity when we are following different spirits.

I went to Barnes and Nobel and looked at a Catholic Bible to see if Matthew 23:9 is in their Bible.  It was in the Catholic Bible to call no man father.  I couldn't believe those Catholics would have put this into their Bible while they instruct their congregations to call their men "Father".

I sent this scripture by e-mail to this Catholic woman.

I heard nothing from this woman for about 3 weeks.  Then she wrote and said:  "Thank you for your message."  But she continued going to Catholic church and continued to call those men, "Father".

We are no longer "friends", no longer showing support for one another in our works.  

We no longer communicate with one another.  We are not the same spirit.

We cannot have unity of the spirit, for we have different spirits.  To try to be at peace with her would require me to denounce God, to denounce Jesus the Word.  Then I would damn myself.

Concerning this woman, I believe God said the following to me:  "Pay no attention to her.  But if she does come saying she did a thing because of a specific scripture, then pay attention again."

And the Bible says:

Titus 3

10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;

11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.

***

Paul told king Agrippa how Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus.  Then Paul said,  Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:  Acts 26:19

***

II Corinthians 6

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

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

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

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

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

***

Churches today have set up many religious idols for their congregations to worship.

An idol:  is anything set up by man which is not decreed by God.

If you are the Spirit of God, you cannot go to church and observe idols.

Examples of idols in churches:

* Calling their ministers "Reverend".  (In New Testament Bible, no man was called "Reverend."  To call a man such puts that man on a pedestal as a type of "god".  We, who are the Spirit of God follow those things in the Holy Bible.) 

* Partaking of crackers and grape juice while calling such "The Lord's Supper" or "Communion".   The Lord's supper is the eating and drinking of the Word of God.  Communion is talking with God and connecting with God in prayer and by doing the Word of God.

* Lighting of candles in context of religion.  (Man set this up in the church.  God did not set this up for the New Testament church.  There is no word from God to do such a thing as lighting of candles in the New Testament church nor are we told in the New Testament Bible to light candles at church for any reason.) 

*  If we think we have sinned, we confess that sin directly to God and not to any other human.  It is even possible that we think ourselves to have sinned when we did not sin.  We allow God to establish our minds on the subject and we follow God.  God only forgives sin.  Humans do not have the power to take the place of God and to forgive the sins of man.  1 John 1:9   If we confess our sins, HE (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

If we have a "fault" we might seek help of another Christian by telling them we need help and we have not been able to work through that "fault".  (KJV not "sin" ,but "fault" in James 5:16)  As a new Christian I did this one time.  But as my faith in God grew, I just talked to God about my tendencies, faults, and God always helped me to overcome.

***

Here is an outstanding story told to me by a famous American Indian potter, Margaret Tafoya.

Margaret removed her 7 children from the Catholic school at Santa Clara Pueblo in New Mexico.

The Catholic priest came to her and demanded that she put her children back into the Catholic school.

But Margaret said, "NO, I want my children to study the Bible."

The priest said, "People like you don't need to know the Bible.  We will tell you want you need to know."

Margaret said, "No, I want my children to study the Bible."

The priest then said:  "If you do this, we will put you out of the church and you will never again be able to confess your sins again.

The next part of this story Margaret told me with great shame.  She said to me, I don't know what came over me.  I said to that priest, "I don't have to confess my sins to a man like you.  I'll confess my sins to the Lord."

"That priest got so mad at me," said Margaret.  "He put me out of the church and said I could not be buried in the Catholic graveyard."

But Margaret continued with her 7 children in the school where they could study Bible.

***

Many of us have given up our churches in order to do what the scriptures say.

Do not follow those idols set up by men in churches.  If you cannot find that doctrine in the Bible, or if that doctrine is contrary to Bible, you cannot sit there where the doctrine is contrary to Bible.

II Timothy 3

14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of (by God), knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 

17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

*****

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.

*****

Instruction in Righteousness: III John

The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.

² Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

³ For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.

⁴ I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

⁵ Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;
⁶ Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:

⁷ Because that for His name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.

⁸ We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.

⁹ I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.¹⁰ Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.

¹¹ Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

¹² Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.

¹³ I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee:

¹⁴ But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.

*****

Podcast: At the time of sexual intercourse, the two become one flesh, says Paul

*****

* That which Bible says is coming concerning money.

Ezekiel 7:19   They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed: their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the Lord: they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels: because it is the stumblingblock of their iniquity.

***

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.

12 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.

17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

***

Revelation 18  ... The fall of Babylon

Destruction of a great city during the great tribulation, that wrath of God that is coming upon this earth in the last days, before the heaven and earth are destroyed by fire from God.

And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.

2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

6 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.

7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.

9 And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,

10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.

11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:

Coronavirus gave us a glimpse of that which is to come.  Coronavirus was not the "fall of the great city" of Revelation 18, but don't we think of that which we saw in various cities around the world in 2020?  NYC closed.  Times Square was vacant!  Stores were closed.  No one bought their merchandise any more.  

I think Coronavirus showed us how fast the destruction can happen!


12 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,

13 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.

14 And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.

They returned after Coronavirus, but in the great tribulation that is coming upon this earth, "they shall find them no more at all" ... and then the heaven and earth will be destroyed after the great tribulation ... destroyed by fire from God.  II Peter 3:10-14

15 The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,

16 And saying, Alas, alas that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!

17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,

18 And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!

19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

20 Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.

21 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.

22 And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;

23 And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

*****

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:

*****

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;

(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.

*****

Instruction in Righteousness: II John

The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;

² For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.

³ Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

⁴ I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.

⁵ And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.

⁶ And this is love, that we walk after His commandments. 

This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.

⁷ For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

(I think this has something to do with thinking you do not have to do the commandments of God today. It is definitely antichrist to fall away from scripture.  II Thessalonians 3-4)

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

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

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

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

¹² Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.

¹³ The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.

*****