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The Story Begins
That night, I went to bed and began reading one of Donna's books about sin.
I thought I was a Christian, having been baptized in Church of Christ when I was 15-years-old.
As I read that book, God began speaking to me.
By HIS Spirit, putting HIS word directly into my mind, God said:
"Joan ... You know all those mistakes you've been making all these years? Those weren't mistakes. Those were sins."
Sins?
... I shouted ... I thought they were mistakes.
With that, my
life changed forever. I was born again
by the Spirit of God, by the will of God, not by my works or by my will. I didn't even know I was lost until I was
saved.
*****
The next morning, I was leaving Donna's house and as I walked past her, I casually said, "Oh by the way, Donna, I don't think I've been a Christian until now."
Donna literally screamed out: "Joanie ... wait ... what did you just say? Come back here!"
I didn't think much about it at the time.
I turned and told her what had happened to me the night before and how God had spoken to me.
She, who was raised Baptist, was a little emotional and began crying as I told her.
*****
A few days later, I was asleep in the night.
I was
"transported" into heaven. I was
with God, with Jesus, with the Holy Spirit.
(No physical images. An experience in the Spirit.)
At that time, I was "merged" into the body of Jesus, THE WORD, made one with THE WORD, God and the Holy Spirit witnessing.
It was wonderful!
I thought this happened to all who became real Christians so I didn't mention it to anyone.
After that, it happened again, a few nights later.
I was asleep in the night. I was "transported" into heaven. I was with God, with Jesus, with the Holy Spirit. (No physical images. An experience in the Spirit.) At that time, I was "merged" into the body of Jesus, THE WORD, made one with THE WORD, God and the Holy Spirit witnessing.
Now everything changed for me. I owned a small business in Dallas, Texas, at the time this happened. I was no longer interested in my business. All I cared about was Bible and the church.
I continued operating the business for 4 more years. I had 3 very competent women working for me so I could stay home and read the Bible, which is what I did during those years.
I had no idea God had called me to be a minister.
I didn't know a woman could do this. My previous church experience was in Church of Christ and women were not allowed to speak in the main service, though they could teach Sunday school classes to children, a very strange doctrine for apparently they didn't consider these classes to be speaking in the church.
(No physical images. An experience in the Spirit.)
At that time, I was "merged" into the body of Jesus, THE WORD, made one with THE WORD, God and the Holy Spirit witnessing.
It was wonderful!
I thought this happened to all who became real Christians so I didn't mention it to anyone.
After that, it happened again, a few nights later.
I was asleep in the night. I was "transported" into heaven. I was with God, with Jesus, with the Holy Spirit. (No physical images. An experience in the Spirit.) At that time, I was "merged" into the body of Jesus, THE WORD, made one with THE WORD, God and the Holy Spirit witnessing.
Now everything changed for me. I owned a small business in Dallas, Texas, at the time this happened. I was no longer interested in my business. All I cared about was Bible and the church.
I continued operating the business for 4 more years. I had 3 very competent women working for me so I could stay home and read the Bible, which is what I did during those years.
I had no idea God had called me to be a minister.
I didn't know a woman could do this. My previous church experience was in Church of Christ and women were not allowed to speak in the main service, though they could teach Sunday school classes to children, a very strange doctrine for apparently they didn't consider these classes to be speaking in the church.
*****
This
was really the beginning of everything.
It was all by the will of God. I
wasn't trying to do anything or to be anything. God was just arranging the circumstances to
get me to the position where HE wanted me for HIS calling on my life. It was all God, as we should be able to see by
the following examples in this book and by what happened.
*****
During
that time, as I continued to run the business and to deal with the problems
from day to day, God taught me to hear HIM and to do things as HE instructed me
in running the business and in living my life day to day.
God started by teaching me of the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer:
John 14:26 Jesus says ... But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
So God taught me to just read the Bible and to know that the Holy Spirit would call to my mind verses from the Bible to show me what to do as I operated the business and in my life as I walked on this present earth.
John 16:13 Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come.
God started by teaching me of the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer:
John 14:26 Jesus says ... But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
So God taught me to just read the Bible and to know that the Holy Spirit would call to my mind verses from the Bible to show me what to do as I operated the business and in my life as I walked on this present earth.
John 16:13 Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come.
*****
I
saw how the Holy Spirit searches the heart of God to reveal the will of God to
us.
I Corinthians 2:4-13 (Paul says) And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
I Corinthians 2:4-13 (Paul says) And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
*****
I
saw, by these scriptures, what the Holy Spirit would do in my life:
- He would teach me all things. Jn. 14:26
- He would remind me of what Jesus said. Jn. 14:26
- He would guide me into all truth. Jn. 16:13
- He would show me things to come. Jn. 16:13
And I saw that the Holy Spirit hears from God, and searches the heart of God, and knows the will of God in the issues of this present life, and The Holy Spirit would show me the will of God by reminding me of specific scripture or by reminding me of dreams or concepts of God.
All I had to do was to pay attention to those things brought to my mind by the Holy Spirit and do that in the issues of this life as I continued on this present earth.
- He would teach me all things. Jn. 14:26
- He would remind me of what Jesus said. Jn. 14:26
- He would guide me into all truth. Jn. 16:13
- He would show me things to come. Jn. 16:13
And I saw that the Holy Spirit hears from God, and searches the heart of God, and knows the will of God in the issues of this present life, and The Holy Spirit would show me the will of God by reminding me of specific scripture or by reminding me of dreams or concepts of God.
All I had to do was to pay attention to those things brought to my mind by the Holy Spirit and do that in the issues of this life as I continued on this present earth.
*****
The following scripture was critical in teaching me to walk in the
ways of God.
John 5:30 (Jesus said) I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear (from God), I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
If the Son of God could do nothing of his own self, certainly I couldn't do anything by my own ideas. I must do as Jesus did and hear from God by HIS Spirit and do that.
Very soon I was to have a major test in this area.
John 5:30 (Jesus said) I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear (from God), I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
If the Son of God could do nothing of his own self, certainly I couldn't do anything by my own ideas. I must do as Jesus did and hear from God by HIS Spirit and do that.
Very soon I was to have a major test in this area.
*****
HYMN: PRAISE
HIM! PRAISE HIM!
Praise HIM! Praise Him!
Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Sing, ye saints!
HIS wonderful love proclaim!
Hail HIM! Hail HIM!
mightiest angels in glory;
Strength and honor
give to HIS holy name!
Like a shepherd,
Jesus will feed HIS people,
In HIS arms HE carries them
all day long;
O ye saints that live in the
light of HIS presence,
Praise HIM! Praise HIM;
ever in joyful song!
(To hear this hymn played on piano and to follow along with the words, click on the following link and then when it appears on screen, tap on the play arrow, >)
Praise HIM! Praise Him!
Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Sing, ye saints!
HIS wonderful love proclaim!
Hail HIM! Hail HIM!
mightiest angels in glory;
Strength and honor
give to HIS holy name!
Like a shepherd,
Jesus will feed HIS people,
In HIS arms HE carries them
all day long;
O ye saints that live in the
light of HIS presence,
Praise HIM! Praise HIM;
ever in joyful song!
(To hear this hymn played on piano and to follow along with the words, click on the following link and then when it appears on screen, tap on the play arrow, >)
*****