Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet
Often when we follow God, man will rise up to try to stop us from doing or from saying that which God has told us to do or say.
I was on radio from coast to coast in USA in the early 1980's.
At first I was very popular for God had given me messages on the following subjects:
* Taking thoughts captive
* Work of the Holy Spirit
* Following God by HIS Spirit
* Dealing with destructive thoughts
Then in mid-1981, God said to me:
"The foundation is laid. Now we're really going to move."
A few weeks later, I was returning to Dallas from speaking to a church group in Hobbs, NM (USA), when God spoke the following to me:
"The time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God."
(I heard this same statement over and over in my mind as I returned home by plane.)
A short time after this, various "big-name" ministers were called to my attention along with various types of sins they were committing.
I tried to get a message to these ministers but the messages were intercepted and destroyed by their office workers.
So I decided to give the message on my radio broadcasts, naming the minister by name and telling of the sins committed by each of these ministers.
Then the ministers received the message.
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One minister, Jimmy Swaggart, owned two of the radio stations where I was broadcasting and they put me off the air immediately.
Hate mail poured into my office from Swaggart's followers.
At one point, I was having a meeting for radio audience in Seattle.
Outside the door stood the manager of the Seattle radio station. In previous months, George had been very friendly to me but not now.
He said to me: "Joan ... you have many 'good' messages ... just speak those messages. If you continue to speak these judgment messages, I don't know what will happen to you. We might have to put you off the air."
Immediately the Holy Spirit responded by speaking a defining word to George through me.
"If I don't speak the message I believe to be from God, then I don't have a message and I may as well be off the air."
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Persecution in the early church... Here is a magnificent story.
Acts 5:12-42 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them. And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.
But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,
Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught.
But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told, Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.
Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow.
Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.
Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.
And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.
Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are His witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey Him.
When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.
Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.
For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.
After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.
And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:
But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.
And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
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