Matthew 24
3 And as HE (Jesus) sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto HIM privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of THY coming, and of the end of the world?
4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
5 For many shall come in MY name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
5 For many shall come in MY name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
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They come "saying" they are Christians ... but often their words and ways show opposite.
* When we were buying a car, the salesman sat and visited with me. He immediate identified himself to me as being a Christian. And immediately HE began telling me a riskay, worldly story.
Matthew 7:16 Jesus says: Ye shall know them by their fruits.
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* My neighbors on each side of Pam Padgett's house said to me they are Christians. And the neighbor across the street said he is Christian.
I shared many godly things God has done in my life. Had anyone telling me of these works God has done, I would have "rushed" to be with that person. Two of these showed no sign of wanting to visit with me again. One neighbor said he and his wife would like to come to my "Bible class". I told him I don't have a Bible class but we certainly could gather at the church as Paul told us to do:
I Cor. 14:26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm (prayer), hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. (This is the church being led by the Holy Spirit of God, meeting the needs of the elect of God.)
They showed no interest in that type of meeting.
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* A young man who did some secular work for us, identified himself as a Christian. But when he came into the house identifying himself as a Christian, I began sharing things God has done in my life, and he began arguing with me throwing out a "letter of the law", and I explained to him you cannot handle scripture that way but must go by the Spirit of God speaking to you.
I was very foolish ... continuing to share spiritual things with him. After several visits, he left me, breaking my heart. He spoke of "The Spirit" but didn't have any interest in gathering as a church which met as the Spirit led.
The only thing that is of any value is the leading of the Holy Spirit and the church must focus on this. At one church I attended in the 1980's our teacher always said, "Does anyone have a word from the Lord," opening the door for the Holy Spirit to speak.
But what I find is mostly people who say they are Christians and want to go to a church where men speak a prepared message and they can sit and hear and do nothing and have no "pressure" on themselves, and "feel" religious.
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Ezekiel 33
31 And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.
32 And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.
33 And when this cometh to pass, (lo, it will come,) then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them.
32 And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.
33 And when this cometh to pass, (lo, it will come,) then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them.
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I find the elect of God to be individuals who really want things of the Holy Spirit of God.
Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
At these terrible times, God shows me to begin speaking to those who show themselves to be the elect of God ... not just joiners of churches of men.
And that is what I am doing as I write books, the blog, and record Podcasts.
Joan Boney
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2 Timothy 3
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
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